Nara Park Deer Stay Genetically Pure for Over 1,000 Years
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2023
A team of researchers from Japanese universities has found that a herd of Japanese deer inhabiting Nara Park has maintained a unique genotype for over 1,000 years.
Amid shrinking deer habitats caused by hunting and development, the herd in the park adjacent to Kasugataisha Shrine and local temples survived without mixing with other herds, as it was protected as sacred by humans, according to a paper released Jan. 31 by researchers at Fukushima University, Nara University of Education and Yamagata University.
The paper was published in the Journal of Mammalogy of the American Society of Mammalogists.
The team, including Toshihito Takagi, a graduate student at Fukushima University, collected muscle and blood samples from a total of 294 wild deer in 30 locations in the Kii Peninsula, including Nara Park, and analyzed their genetic structures.
The team found that deer in all locations had the same ancestors and could be divided into three groups — one in Nara Park, one in the western part of the Kii Peninsula and another in the eastern part of the peninsula.
The group from Nara Park had never mixed with the others after diverging from the ancestor group more than 1,000 years ago. The groups from the western and eastern parts of the Kii Peninsula diverged around the 16th century and mixed with each other in the central part of the peninsula.
The team said the outcome reflects the effects of human activities, noting that the overall number of deer has been decreasing due to the spread of rice cultivation, urbanization and hunting. In contrast, the worshipped herd of deer at Nara Park had been subject to protection.
It concluded that the unique genetic identity of the herd at the park has therefore been preserved for more than 1,000 years.
“Problems for people and the environment caused by deer overpopulation have become an issue. We hope the finding of our research will help people understand the origin of deer at Nara Park and devise new deer protection plans for the future,” Takagi said.
Invited by Russia, Roger Waters tells UN: Ukraine invasion illegal
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2023
Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters on Wednesday addressed the UN Security Council at Russia’s invitation, condemning Moscow’s invasion of its neighbour as illegal – though adding he believed it was provoked – and calling for a ceasefire.
The High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, said that in Ukraine, “The prospect of a negotiated settlement of the conflict seems, at present, to be slim as long as the current military logic continues to prevail.”
Briefing the Security Council on Feb 8, on Ukraine, Nakamitsu stressed that the large-scale influx of weapons into any armed conflict “amplifies concerns regarding the escalation of the conflict and risks of diversion.”
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has recorded 18,657 civilian casualties. This total includes 7,110 killed and 11,547 injured. According to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, the actual figures are likely considerably higher.
Explosive weapons cause most civilian deaths and injuries with wide-area effects, including heavy artillery, multiple-launch rocket systems, and missiles. Aside from destroyed homes, schools, roads, bridges, hospitals, and health facilities have also been attacked.
Nakamitsu said, “The disruption of water, gas, heating and electricity caused by Russian attacks on energy infrastructure is causing the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine to reach even more dire dimensions.”
The High Representative for Disarmament Affairs stated that these attacks constitute “an unacceptable escalation of the war, and civilians are paying the highest price.” She said, “further escalation and prolongation of the conflict will only bring more unbearable suffering. The transfer of military equipment in support of Ukraine must not derail the aspiration for peace.”
She then reiterated the General Assembly’s call to support the de-escalation of the situation and a peaceful resolution of the conflict, with respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and by the principles of the Charter.
Roger Waters, artist and civil peace activist, also addressed the Security Council. He asked, “What are your goals, by the way? And here, maybe I direct my inquiries more to the five permanent members of this council. What are your goals? What is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Bigger profits for war industries? More power globally? A bigger share of the global cake? Is Mother Earth a cake to be gobbled up?
Waters also stated, “The invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation was illegal. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. Also, the Russian invasion of Ukraine was not unprovoked. So, I also condemn the provocateurs in the strongest possible terms.”
He concluded, “From the 4 billion or so brothers and sisters in this voiceless majority – who, together with the millions in the international anti-war movement, represent a huge constituency – enough is enough. We demand change. President Biden, President Putin, President Zelenskyy, USA, NATO, Russia, the EU, all of you, please change course now. Agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine today.”
Representing his country, Vasily Nebenzya, Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations, said to the Council, “The problem is that the leavers that could influence the pursuit of a peaceful settlement to the conflict around Ukraine have ended up in the hands of western arms companies and corporations, and they, as you will fully understand, are the last people who would be interested in peace.”
Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China, Richard Mills, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States, and Sergiy Kyslytsya, Permanent Representative of Ukraine, briefed the Council, too.
Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China, said the Ukraine crisis is “global and multifaceted in nature to which there is not a purely military solution.” He added, “In the past year, parting on sanctions and upgrading weapons did not calm the situation but instead made the conflict more acute and issues more complicated, pushing the situation to a more dangerous precipice.”
Richard Mills, Permanent Representative of the United States, said, “The security assistance, including weapons that the United States and more than 50 other countries are providing and will continue to provide, is for Ukraine’s self-defence.” He stressed, “This distinction cannot be more important. Ukraine is using its weapons to repel the invading Russian forces that are committing war crimes on Ukraine’s territory.”
Sergiy Kyslytsya, Permanent Representative of Ukraine, said, “If the Security Council remains immobilized by the evil-doer himself and cannot punish it, let us and all responsible nations do this work for the Council and for our common good, as the first lines of the UN Charter read ‘…to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.’”
After fleeing war in Gaza, an entire Palestinian family dies in Turkey’s earthquake
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2023
Twelve years ago, Abdel-Karim Abu Jalhoum fled war and poverty in the Palestinian territory of Gaza for safety in Turkey. On Monday (February 6), the massive earthquake that devastated parts of Turkey and Syria killed him and his entire family.
The Palestinian foreign ministry said Abu Jalhoum, his wife Fatima, and their four children, were among 70 Palestinians who had been found dead. The overall death toll in the quake has shot beyond 11,000.
At the family house in Beit Lahiya, Abu Jalhoum’s mother, Wedad, prayed their bodies could be returned home for burial.
“I haven’t seen my son, nor his children for 12 years,” the weeping mother said, dressed in black and surrounded by neighbours trickled into the family’s house on Wednesday (February 8) to pay respects.
“I want my children, I want to see them and bid them farewell.” She added.
Abu Jalhoum had worked as a taxi driver in Gaza but struggled to support a growing family and left in 2010 for Turkey. There, he worked in a wood factory in Antakya, and Fatima and their children joined him once he was established.
“My brother went to Turkey to seek a better life away from wars and blockades here in Gaza,” Abu Jalhoum’s brother, Ramzy, 43, told Reuters.
In Antakya, life was promising for the 50-year-old father, 33-year-old Fatima and their children, Noura, 16, Bara, 11, Kenzi, 9 and Mohammad, their 3-year-old who was born in Turkey. Six months ago, they had moved to a new apartment, according to the family.
In the hours after the tremors, the extended family desperately tried to make contact, calling everyone who could offer any information. On Tuesday (February 7), they recognised the family in a photo showing them buried under the rubble, lifeless.
In the picture, Abu Jalhoum is seen embracing his children, seemingly trying to protect them with his own body as their home collapsed on them.
There are no exact figures as to how many Palestinians live in Turkey, but many, especially from Gaza, have in recent years moved to Turkey, fleeing a densely populated territory that has witnessed frequent wars that have left the economy in ruins.
The United Nations relief agency UNRWA estimates around 438,000 Palestinian refugees live in Syria.
The Palestinian Authority, which has limited rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, said it had sent a rescue mission to the impacted areas.
The confirmed death toll in Turkey and neighbouring Syria has now risen to 12,391.
In State of the Union speech, Biden challenges Republicans, weighs in on China
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2023
President Joe Biden challenged Republicans to lift the US debt ceiling and support tax policies that were friendlier to middle-class Americans on Tuesday in a State of the Union speech that served as a blueprint for his 2024 re-election campaign.
Assailing oil companies for making high profits and corporate America for taking advantage of consumers, Biden used his prime-time speech to outline progressive priorities of his Democratic Party that are anathema to many Republican lawmakers.
Making his first address to a joint session of Congress since Republicans took control of the House of Representatives in January, Biden pledged to work with opposition lawmakers even as he sparred with them in the chamber.
Some Republicans heckled and jeered him at times during a speech that lasted some 73 minutes.
Biden took them on, challenging Republicans to raise the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, which must be lifted in the coming months to avoid a default. The White House has said Biden will not negotiate over that necessity; Republicans want spending cuts in exchange for their support.
The president called for reforms in policing after Tyre Nichols, a Black man, died last month after being beaten by officers in Memphis, Tennessee. Nichols’ mother and stepfather were among the guests at the speech.
Highlighting topics that could feature prominently in a re-election campaign, Biden said the economy was benefiting from 12 million new jobs, Covid-19 no longer controls American lives, and US democracy remains intact despite facing its biggest threat since the Civil War.
As a candidate in 2020 and at his inauguration in 2021, shortly after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Biden said he wanted to unify the country. And he stuck to that theme, highlighting a massive infrastructure bill and ribbing Republican lawmakers who opposed it.
Despite his efforts, Biden remains unpopular.
His public approval rating edged one percentage point higher to 41% in a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll that closed on Sunday (February 5). That is close to the lowest level of his presidency, with 65% of Americans saying they believe the country is on the wrong track, compared to 58% a year earlier.
Similarly, in the autumn of 2020, when Donald Trump was president, 65% of registered voters believed the country was on the wrong track, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who once served as press secretary for Trump, rejected Biden’s upbeat vision of the country in her Republican response to his address.
Biden aides see the speech as a milestone ahead of the second presidential campaign he is expected to launch in the coming weeks.
Singapore remains the most liveable location in the world
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2023
Singapore remains the most liveable location in the world for expatriates from East Asia with an improved liveability score in the past year, as revealed by the latest Location Ratings survey published by global mobility expert, ECA International.
Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in Singapore sooner than in other major locations in Asia, which had a positive effect on Singapore’s liveability score and its attractiveness as a desirable location for expatriates.
“A location’s position in our rankings is influenced by what happens in that location as well as other locations we research,” advised Lee Quane, Regional Director – Asia at ECA International. “Singapore relaxed social distancing restrictions earlier than other locations which facilitated a return to pre-pandemic norms, allowing the country to retain its top position in our rankings and increasing its lead over other locations in terms of liveability.
Furthermore, the gap in liveability between Singapore and locations such as Hong Kong and Shanghai – both of which maintained or even enhanced Covid-19 related restrictions in 2022 – widened during the year, making it an even more compelling destination versus other locations in the region competing for international talent.”
ECA’s Location Ratings system objectively evaluates a host of factors to form an assessment of the overall quality of living in over 500 locations worldwide. Factors assessed include climate; availability of health services; housing and utilities; natural phenomena; isolation; access to a social network and leisure facilities; infrastructure; personal safety; political tensions; and air quality.
Asia Highlights
Hong Kong’s liveability ranking has fallen 15 places to 92nd this past year. This decline is largely due to the impact of Covid-19 restrictions in 2022 and changes in its political environment. In contrast, other Asian locations have seen improvements as restrictions were lifted in the post-pandemic era.
“Hong Kong’s maintenance of its Covid-19 mitigation measures this past year stood in contrast against many of its peers, both regionally and globally,” Quane observed. “Continued quarantine restrictions, the limitation of access to recreational activities and other social distancing measures persisted throughout 2022, which put Hong Kong in a less favourable position compared to other locations. Furthermore, recent legislative council and elections for Hong Kong’s Chief Executive also signalled changes in its political environment, which contributed to the decline in its liveability score and ranking.”
“Likewise, cities in mainland China have all fallen in our rankings due exclusively to the impact of China’s zero-Covid strategy that was maintained throughout most of 2022,” explained Quane.
Asean locations generally improved in scores and rankings in the past year, owing to the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions. Locations across Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines saw a climb in their rankings, while Yangon, Myanmar, is the only Asean location which saw a fall in its ranking owing to the continued deterioration of security circumstances in the country.
“Asean locations followed Singapore’s lead and relaxed their Covid-19 restrictions accordingly. In doing so, they improved their positions in our liveability rankings,” said Quane. “Nonetheless, the impact of these improvements remains largely limited as the gap between Singapore and Bangkok – the second-highest location ranked in the Asean region but ranked 115th globally – indicates a wide disparity within the region that must be narrowed before other locations in Asean can offer similar living standards to the Lion City.”
Elsewhere, major cities in the Asia Pacific have seen significant improvements due to the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Cities in Australia saw major improvements in their liveability scores, while Auckland, New Zealand, was the biggest riser, climbing up 20 places to become the 4th most liveable location in the world for East Asian expatriates.
Unicef Thailand launches appeal to help children after earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2023
Unicef Thailand is launching an emergency appeal to the Thai public to provide urgent assistance for tens of thousands of children and their families who are severely suffering from catastrophic earthquakes that struck the border of Syria and Turkey on February 6.
According to authorities, in the two countries, thousands of people have been killed, including children, with thousands more injured. These numbers are only likely to increase.
“Time is absolutely critical in an emergency like this,” said Kyungsun Kim, Unicef Representative in Thailand. “Unicef is working to provide essential supplies including medical supplies, hygiene kits, blankets, and winter clothes, nutrition to families in need, restore water supplies after water stations were damaged, protect children who have lost or been separated from their families and provide emotional support to traumatized children. It is also working to create child-safe spaces for displaced children and families.”
In Turkey, efforts are currently focused on search and rescue and Unicef is coordinating with the Government, and the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency on the emerging needs linked to the wider humanitarian response. In Syria, Unicef is assessing the impact of the earthquakes and preparing to support the humanitarian response in coordination with partners.
The initial 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit just after 04:00 local time, when many children and families were asleep at home, with a second 7.5 magnitude quake hitting later in the day.
Thousands of homes are likely to have been destroyed, displacing families and exposing them to the elements at a time of year when temperatures regularly drop below freezing and snow and freezing rain are common. Heavy snowstorms have also recently hit parts of Syria and Turkey, with further sub-zero temperatures forecasted.
“The images we’re seeing out of Syria and Turkey are heart-wrenching,” said Unicef Executive Director Catherine Russell. “That the initial earthquake happened so early in the morning, when many children were fast asleep, made it even more dangerous, and the aftershocks bring continuing risks. Our hearts and thoughts are with the children and families affected, especially those who have lost loved ones or who have been injured. Our immediate priority is to ensure children and families affected receive the support they so desperately need.”
It is likely that schools, hospitals and other medical and educational facilities will have been damaged or destroyed by the quakes, further impacting children. Potential damage to roads and critical infrastructure will also complicate search and rescue efforts and the wider humanitarian response.
Children in Syria continue to face one of the most complex humanitarian situations in the world. A worsening economic crisis continued localized hostilities after more than a decade of grinding conflict, mass displacement and devastated public infrastructure have left two-thirds of the population in need of assistance. Food insecurity, reliance on unreliable and alternative water sources protection concerns, and high levels of school dropouts are acute.
Waterborne diseases pose another deadly threat to children and families affected. In Syria, a cholera outbreak declared on 10 September 2022 quickly spread across the country, with children especially vulnerable.
To make a donation:
Online donation: http://www.unicef.or.th/syria Bank transfer: Bangkok Bank 201-3-01324-4 SMS: Type UNICEF send to 4712225, to donate THB 100
Scoot’s first Pokémon-themed Pikachu Jet landed at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Tuesday.
Scoot, a low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, is the first carrier in the Asean region to launch an exclusive design in collaboration with The Pokémon Company, the Japan-based firm responsible for the media franchise.
Check out the jet-powered cuteness of Thailand’s new arrival:
Syria insists earthquake aid go through Damascus, citing sovereign rights
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2023
Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations said on Tuesday that any outside assistance for earthquake victims must be done in coordination with Damascus and delivered from within Syria, not across the Turkish border.
“I think I answered it very clear yesterday. I said ‘cross line’ is available. The Syrian government is ready to help to support any countries who wanted to provide the shelters, the food supply, the medications to the Syrians,” Syrian ambassador Bassam Sabbagh told reporters.
Damascus has long opposed the humanitarian operation that has delivered aid into Syria from Turkey, saying assistance should be delivered from inside Syria.
When pressed by reporters if the urgent need for the earthquake response might change that requirement, Sabbagh said it was a matter of sovereignty.
“It’s not that we consider, it’s the international law. It is the UN charter. So don’t characterize it as this is a position of Syria. It is a position of each and every country who are keen to maintain sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. So it’s a principle,” said Sabbagh.
Many Syrians sheltering in the rebel-held northwest fear this would once again put their fate in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad‘s hands.
Aid flows from Turkey to northwest Syria have temporarily stopped due to the fallout of a devastating earthquake, a UN spokesperson said on Tuesday, leaving aid workers grappling with the problem of how to help people in a country fractured by war.
The cross-border aid operation overseen by the United Nations since 2014 has been crucial to Syrians who fled Assad’s rule during the conflict, bypassing the territory he controls.
There was no clear picture of when the aid – upon which some 4 million people depend – would resume.
“We continue to use the Bab al-Hawa crossing as the transhipment hub is actually intact. However, the road that is leading to the crossing has been damaged and that’s temporarily disrupted our ability to fully use it,” said United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Tuesday.
The quake that struck in the early hours of Monday has killed more than 7,900 people in Syria and Turkey.
Some 1,220 died in northwestern Syria, with many more believed to be trapped under the rubble in a region where people were already heavily dependent on aid before the disaster.
A similar number of people have been killed in government-held areas, according to the government.
Aid already positioned in the northwest will likely be rapidly depleted, aid officials said.
The Damascus-based Syrian Red Crescent said on Tuesday it was ready to deliver aid across Syria, including to opposition areas.
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