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February 10, 2024
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaUkraine says three children among killed in Russian drone strike on KharkivPublished16 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in UkraineImage source, Kharkiv regional prosecutor’s office via ReutersImage caption, Kharkiv mayor said 14 houses in the city were ablaze after the Russian strikeBy Jaroslav LukivBBC NewsAt least seven people have been killed in an overnight Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s north-eastern city of Kharkiv, the regional head says.Oleh Syniehubov says a baby and two children – aged four and seven – were among the victims.Photos from the city near the Russian border show a number of houses on fire after a petrol station was hit.One man was reported injured in Ukraine’s southern city of Odesa in a separate Russian drone attack.Visibly emotional, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said “the Russian aggressor is ruining our city”.”But we will overcome. We will win,” he said in a video message from the scene of the Russian attack.He added that 14 houses were set ablaze.Russia’s military has made no public comments on the reported strikes.Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion against Ukraine in February 2022.Related TopicsWar in UkraineRussiaUkraineMore on this storyThe Ukraine schools moving underground to keep pupils safePublished2 FebruaryThe Ukrainians ‘disappearing’ in Russia’s prisonsPublished5 hours agoRussian prisoner freed to fight arrested for woman’s murderPublished10 August 2023Threats, insults, and Kremlin ‘robots’: How Russian diplomacy diedPublished3 September 2023Top StoriesClapham attack: Police to search Thames for suspect’s bodyPublished4 hours agoGazans survive on animal feed and rice as food dwindlesPublished1 hour agoEx-Fujitsu boss ‘shocked’ by Post Office’s actionsPublished7 hours agoFeaturesCelebrities and the perils of oversharing daily routinesThe Papers: Gaza bloodbath fears and King bonds with FergieSpain’s LGBT matador: ‘More will come out because of me’Dinosaur Island: 40 years of discoveries on SkyeIs Iceland entering a new volcanic era?Cash-strapped clubbers make their nights out countHave we lost faith in tech?Swift, swimming and snow: Photos of the weekIsraeli soldier videos from Gaza could breach international law, experts sayElsewhere on the BBCIt’s make or break timeAnother set of eager entrepreneurs hope to impress the fearsome panelAttributioniPlayerHow are jelly beans made?Gregg Wallace visits a Dublin factory that makes over ten million of the sweets per day!AttributioniPlayerIs this the greatest Jurassic predator that ever lived?Sir David Attenborough investigates a unique discovery: the skull of a giant, prehistoric sea monsterAttributioniPlayerThe sound effect that became the ultimate movie in-jokeIt’s used in everything from Toy Story to Reservoir Dogs, but what is the Wilhelm Scream?AttributioniPlayerMost Read1Celebrities and the perils of oversharing daily routines2Man’s indefinite sentence a ‘serious injustice’3Ex-Fujitsu boss ‘shocked’ by Post Office’s actions4Tory donors and 27-year-old among new peers5Gaza bloodbath fears and King bonds with Fergie6Mum found under coat in A&E died days later7Cash-strapped clubbers make their nights out count8Police to search Thames for Clapham attack suspect9Rival parties each claim edge in Pakistan election10Is Iceland entering a new volcanic era?

[ad_1] They were among seven people killed when a petrol station was hit in Kharkiv, local officials say.

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2023Threats
2023Top
February 10, 2024
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaThe Ukrainians ‘disappearing’ in Russia’s prisonsPublished4 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Mykyta disappeared after being detained by Russian soldiers, according to his family, who say he did nothing wrongBy Olga Prosvirova & Zhanna BezpyatchukBBC World ServiceVolodymyr Buzynov has been searching for his brother Mykyta for nearly two years. Mykyta is one of thousands of Ukrainian civilians being held in prisons in Russia and the occupied territories for opposing the war. But with no charges, formal investigation, trial, or release date, their location is a mystery, and unlike prisoners of war, there is no formal mechanism to secure their freedom. Warning: This story contains descriptions of tortureWhen Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the Buzynov brothers, their mother, and Mykyta’s girlfriend fled their home in Chernihiv in the north of the country to avoid the conflict. They went to the village of Mykhailo-Kotsiubynske, but by early March, Russian soldiers arrived there too. “We’ve come to liberate you from your government. Putin is cool,” the soldiers exclaimed. Volodymyr says the soldiers searched the village, confiscating phones and accusing his family of sharing the location of the Russian army – something they all deny. Then, Volodymr says, the soldiers set up what sounded like a fake execution.”They took my brother Mykyta and others behind some trees and told them to line up against a wall, yelling: ‘Get ready! Aim!’ Then they took Mykyta’s girlfriend Kateryna, and made her kneel next to him. Aiming a rifle at her head, they said to my brother: ‘If you don’t confess, we’ll shoot her.'”Volodymyr says that was the last time he saw Mykyta. “He may have confessed to save his girlfriend because they let her go. They told us: ‘He admitted everything. He’s facing up to 15 years in prison.'”According to the Ukrainian government, as of November 2023 there were 4,337 Ukrainians in Russian captivity. Most were military personnel, but 763 were civilians. However, there is no official list of their names and Ukrainian authorities rely on data from the Red Cross. The Red Cross can’t always gain access to the places where Ukrainians are held in Russia, let alone in the occupied territories where unofficial detention facilities can include basements in hotels and abandoned buildings. The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets says that the figure could be much higher, with a total number of missing civilians estimated at 25,000.The BBC has asked the Russian defence ministry to disclose how many Ukrainian civilians are being detained and where they are being held but we have had no response.Under Russian law, a person can only be detained for 48 hours without a court order and records must be kept. Last year Russian President Putin extended the period to 30 days in occupied areas of Ukraine for serious offences or violating wartime prohibitions or restrictions.But often the time, place and grounds for detention are not being recorded, no criminal or administrative cases are opened, and no investigations are conducted, according to court papers reviewed by the BBC.Anastasia Panteleyeva from the Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIHR) says Russia is justifying the detention of Ukrainian civilians under the broad term of “resisting the special military operation”.”A person can be arrested just because the windows in their house overlook an area of potential importance to the Russian military. And if the soldiers get shot at, the person living nearby gets blamed,” she explains.Image caption, Ukrainian detainees have told the BBC they have experienced mock executions in Russian captivityThe Russian Ministry of Defence argues captured Ukrainians are “being held in accordance with the requirements of the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war”.The Geneva Conventions prohibit the taking of hostages but say nothing about taking civilians prisoner, only military personnel.They say non-combatants can only be detained “in accordance with the laws and rules of the occupying side” and with the guarantee of due judicial process. Lawyer Polina Murygina, who assists captives through her project, Every Human Being, says: “Finding someone in the system, let alone extracting them from it is very difficult. We have come across a legal paradox – it’s better if they think you’re a criminal.”When a person is charged they appear in the system and have rights or if they are prisoners of war, they can be exchanged. But captured civilians end up in detention without a defence, charge, or trial.Tracking Mykyta downDesperate to track Mykyta down, his friends and relatives started to use the prisons letter service, which allows you to send messages to some penal colonies and investigative isolation units.Eventually they received a response confirming he was being held in a pre-trial detention centre called SIZO-3 in Belgorod, just over the border in Russia. But when a lawyer went to visit, the prison said nobody of that name was there.Another lawyer, Leonid Solovyov, says this is a regular occurrence: “Pretty often, I arrive and they tell me the person isn’t there. Either they just won’t let me in, or the person has in fact been relocated. You can’t go there and expect to be able to check all the cells. You have to rely on the answer you get at the door or, in the best case, from the prison chief’s office.”The BBC also tried to track Mykyta down. We wrote to SIZO-3, Penal Colony 4 which is also in the Belgorod region, and other institutions where human rights activists believe Ukrainian prisoners are being held.Most institutions came back saying they did not have any such prisoner. However, SIZO-3 said the message had “cleared censorship and was handed over to the addressee” – this should have meant Mykyta was there, but a day later we received the same response from Penal Colony 4.As the long and frustrating hunt for Mykyta continues, the BBC has managed to speak to former detainees. Often their stories paint a grim picture, with one prisoner saying Ukrainians in Russian prisons are treated “like sub-humans”.Image caption, Anton Lomakin says he was beaten and faced a mock execution in Russian captivityAnton Lomakin, a police officer in Kherson, was not able to get away when the Russian invasion began, so he hid. Then in the summer of 2022 he also disappeared and his family could not find him.Anton says he had gathered some information which he passed on to the Ukrainian military. He says he was betrayed by a colleague who was bringing him supplies, captured by the Russian army and taken to a temporary detention facility in Kherson.”During the journey they used a taser on my legs and other parts of my body. They staged a mock execution and led me out to a hole in the ground. They made me kneel and told me to pray.”They loaded their guns and fired just past my left ear. There were three or four short bursts. Then a mobile phone rang, they put it on loud speaker and someone at the other end said not to shoot me.”Anton says when he got to the centre, he was interrogated, beaten, threatened, and doused with cold water, almost causing him to choke. His account matches the testimony of other prisoners held at the institution at the time the city of Kherson was occupied by Russian forces.”One time, they told me to lift my legs with my heels up. I refused. They put a gun to my genitals and gave me a choice. Of course, I chose to raise my feet,” Anton says.”They took two rubber truncheons and bludgeoned my heels with them for a long time. Any time I lowered my feet, I was made to lift them again. Otherwise they’d beat me, hitting my head and back,” he recalls.The BBC has asked the Russian Ministry of Defence about Anton’s case and is waiting for a response.Russia does not acknowledge holding civilians as captives and has previously denied accusations of aggression or crimes against them. Anton says he shared a cell with seven other men: one was a former Ukrainian police officer, and another lived in the centre of Kherson, near the building where Russian military were stationed. Both were accused of being Ukrainian intelligence agents. The other cellmates could not explain why they had been imprisoned.Anton was transferred twice and his family was only able to locate him with the help of a friend who had a Russian passport.He was finally released after 104 days, penniless and without documents.Image source, Suspilne/Taras Ibragimov/BBCImage caption, Anton Lomakin says this picture shows the conditions in the cells in which he was heldThe Ukrainian police and the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine consider the detention of civilians a war crime and are involved in searching for missing or abducted people.Irina Didenko from the prosecutor’s office says that “90% of those detained are subjected to torture”.In international law, there is no specific mechanism for freeing civilians from captivity. The Geneva Conventions state that a combatant can only be exchanged for a combatant. You can release a civilian, but not in exchange for someone who is a soldier. “Potentially, the best way to release and repatriate civilian hostages might be through a third party state,” says Didenko. Middle Eastern countries have already negotiated exchanges of prisoners of war, the return of deported children and civilians and the release of foreigners from Russian captivity. When it comes to the United Nations (UN), human rights activists argue its mechanisms are outdated, saying – UN documents do not cover this kind of “detainee”.And for people like Volodymyr, who dreams of being reunited with his brother Mykyta once again, hopes are fading fast. “There’s nowhere we haven’t turned to,” he says. “To start with, we had the illusion that we’d get help from international organisations. But all we got from them was: ‘Registered. Received.’ We never got further than that.”More on this storyRussian prisoner freed to fight arrested for woman’s murderPublished10 August 2023Threats, insults, and Kremlin ‘robots’: How Russian diplomacy diedPublished3 September 2023Top StoriesClapham attack: Police to search Thames for suspect’s bodyPublished3 hours agoGazans survive on animal feed and rice as food dwindlesPublished14 minutes agoEx-Fujitsu boss ‘shocked’ by Post Office’s actionsPublished6 hours agoFeaturesCelebrities and the perils of oversharing daily routinesThe Papers: Gaza bloodbath fears and King bonds with FergieDinosaur Island: 40 years of discoveries on SkyeIs Iceland entering a new volcanic era?Cash-strapped clubbers make their nights out countHave we lost faith in tech?Swift, swimming and snow: Photos of the weekIsraeli soldier videos from Gaza could breach international law, experts sayAn ‘impossible’ country tests its hard-won democracyElsewhere on the BBCIt’s make or break timeAnother set of eager entrepreneurs hope to impress the fearsome panelAttributioniPlayerHow are jelly beans made?Gregg Wallace visits a Dublin factory that makes over ten million of the sweets per day!AttributioniPlayerIs this the greatest Jurassic predator that ever lived?Sir David Attenborough investigates a unique discovery: the skull of a giant, prehistoric sea monsterAttributioniPlayerThe sound effect that became the ultimate movie in-jokeIt’s used in everything from Toy Story to Reservoir Dogs, but what is the Wilhelm Scream?AttributioniPlayerMost Read1Celebrities and the perils of oversharing daily routines2Man’s indefinite sentence a ‘serious injustice’3Ex-Fujitsu boss ‘shocked’ by Post Office’s actions4Tory donors and 27-year-old among new peers5Gaza bloodbath fears and King bonds with Fergie6Mum found under coat in A&E died days later7Police to search Thames for Clapham attack suspect8Israeli soldier videos from Gaza could breach international law, experts say9Cash-strapped clubbers make their nights out count10Rival parties each claim edge in Pakistan election

[ad_1] Volodymyr Buzynov has been searching for his brother Mykyta for nearly two years. Mykyta is one of thousands of Ukrainian civilians being held in prisons in Russia and the…

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27yearold
February 10, 2024
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaSenegal: Clashes spread over election postponementPublished33 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Parts of Dakar looked like a war zone on FridayViolent protests in Senegal against the postponement of presidential elections have spread across the country, with the first fatality reported.A student died in clashes with police on Friday in the northern city of Saint-Louis, an opposition leader and a local hospital source said.In the capital Dakar, security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the crowds.The 25 February elections were last week delayed by MPs until 15 December.President Macky Sall had earlier called off the polls indefinitely, arguing this was needed to resolve a dispute over the eligibility of presidential candidates. Lawmakers later extended Mr Sall’s mandate by 10 months.Opponents of the move have warned that Senegal’s reputation as a bastion of democracy in an unstable region of West Africa is on the line.Opposition leader Khalifa Sall, who is not related to the president, earlier called the election delay a “constitutional coup”.The death of the student in Saint-Louis was reported by Khalifa Sall in a post on social media. “The hearts of all democrats bleed at this outburst of clashes provoked by the unjustified halting of the electoral process,” he said.The death was confirmed by a local hospital source speaking on condition of anonymity, and by an official at the university the student attended, according to the AFP news agency.The Senegalese authorities have not publicly commented on the issue.Ecowas in crisis: Why West Africa’s united front is in tattersThe country’s mass protests erupted last weekend. On Friday, demonstrators in Dakar fought running battles with security forces, throwing stones and burning tyres. President Sall has said he is not planning to run for office again – but his critics accuse him of either trying to cling on to power or unfairly influencing whoever succeeds him. Twenty candidates had made the final list to contest the elections, but several more were excluded by the Constitutional Council, the judicial body that determines whether candidates have met the conditions required to run. West Africa’s regional bloc Ecowas on Tuesday pleaded for Senegal’s political class to “take steps urgently to restore the electoral calendar” in line with the constitution.Senegal has long been seen as one of the most stable democracies in West Africa. It is the only country in mainland West Africa that has never had a military coup. It has had three largely peaceful handovers of power and never delayed a presidential election.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, ‘We deserve freedom’: Delayed election sparks protests, arrests in SenegalRelated TopicsSenegalMore on this storyWhy West Africa’s united front is in tattersPublished2 hours agoSenegal on the brink after elections postponedPublished3 days agoElection delay sparks protests, arrests in Senegal. Video, 00:01:09Election delay sparks protests, arrests in SenegalPublished4 days ago1:09Is Senegal’s democracy under threat?Published3 days agoAround the BBCFocus on Africa podcastTop StoriesClapham attack: Police to search Thames for suspect’s bodyPublished2 hours agoIsraeli soldier videos from Gaza could breach international law, experts sayPublished9 hours agoEx-Fujitsu boss ‘shocked’ by Post Office’s actionsPublished5 hours agoFeaturesDinosaur Island: 40 years of discoveries on SkyeThe Papers: Gaza bloodbath fears and King bonds with FergieIs Iceland entering a new volcanic era?Celebrities and the perils of oversharing daily routinesCash-strapped clubbers make their nights out countHave we lost faith in tech?Swift, swimming and snow: Photos of the weekAn ‘impossible’ country tests its hard-won democracyWeekly quiz: Who beat Miley to win Song Of The Year?Elsewhere on the BBCIt’s make or break timeAnother set of eager entrepreneurs hope to impress the fearsome panelAttributioniPlayerHow are jelly beans made?Gregg Wallace visits a Dublin factory that makes over ten million of the sweets per day!AttributioniPlayerIs this the greatest Jurassic predator that ever lived?Sir David Attenborough investigates a unique discovery: the skull of a giant, prehistoric sea monsterAttributioniPlayerThe sound effect that became the ultimate movie in-jokeIt’s used in everything from Toy Story to Reservoir Dogs, but what is the Wilhelm Scream?AttributioniPlayerMost Read1Man’s indefinite sentence a ‘serious injustice’2Celebrities and the perils of oversharing daily routines3Ex-Fujitsu boss ‘shocked’ by Post Office’s actions4Tory donors and 27-year-old among new peers5Mum found under coat in A&E died days later6Gaza bloodbath fears and King bonds with Fergie7Police to search Thames for Clapham attack suspect8Israeli soldier videos from Gaza could breach international law, experts say9Cash-strapped clubbers make their nights out count10Is Iceland entering a new volcanic era?

[ad_1] A first fatality is reported, amid warnings the West African nation could lose its image as a stable democracy.

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2023Iceland
February 10, 2024
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityScience & EnvironmentIs Iceland entering a new volcanic era?Published2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Dramatic aerials show fast lava spread after Iceland eruptionBy Rebecca Morelle and Alison Francis BBC News ScienceThis week, Iceland woke up to yet another day of fire, as towering fountains of lava lit up the dark morning sky.This time the evacuated town of Grindavik was spared, but the molten rock still wrought havoc – engulfing a pipe that provides heat and hot water to thousands living in the area and cutting off a road to the Blue Lagoon tourist attraction.It is the third short-lived eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula since December 2023 and the sixth since 2021. But scientists think this is just the start of a period of volcanic activity that could last for decades or even centuries.So what is going on? Image source, ReutersImage caption, A road was swamped with lava in the most recent eruptionIceland is no stranger to volcanoes – it is one of the most volcanically active places in the world.That is because the country is positioned above a geological hotspot, where plumes of hot material deep within the Earth rise towards the surface. But Iceland also sits on the boundary between the Eurasian and North America tectonic plates. These plates are very slowly pulling apart from each other, creating a space for hot molten rock – or magma – to flow up. As the magma builds up underground, the pressure increases until it breaks through the surface in an eruption (at this point the hot rock is called lava). There are more than 100 volcanoes across Iceland and more than 30 are currently active. But the last time the Reykjanes peninsula saw any lava flow was hundreds of years ago – that may have started as early as the 8th or 9th Century and continued until 1240.Now the eruptions have started again – but why has there been an 800-year gap? “Over geological time, the tectonic plates are pulling apart at about the speed that your fingernails grow, so a few centimetres a year,” explains Prof Tamsin Mather, an Earth scientist from the University of Oxford.”But they don’t seem to smoothly pull apart – they go through these pulses of higher activity. And this is likely what we’re seeing right now in the Reykjanes.”The rocks in the region can reveal even more about the past – and they show a pattern of periods of quiet lasting around 1,000 years – followed by eruptions that continue for a few centuries.”There’s evidence for about three of these types of episodes in the last 4,000 years in this area” Prof Mather explains. “So this is proceeding as expected at the moment. And what we’re expecting is a series of these relatively small, relatively short-lived eruptions over the coming years and decades.”Image source, Getty Images/CopernicusImage caption, This satellite image shows the extent of the most recent eruptionWorking out how to predict when the eruptions will happen is a key concern for Iceland right now – especially as the town of Grindavik and a geothermal power plant – a key piece of national infrastructure – are in the danger zone.”Now that the eruptions are repeating themselves, scientists have a much better idea of what is happening,” explains Dr Evgenia Ilyinskaya, a volcanologist from the University of Leeds. “So they’ve been tracking how the ground is inflating as magma is coming out from deep below. And now they actually can tell with a lot more certainty than was possible when to expect the magma to start breaking through the ground.”Image source, ReutersImage caption, In January several houses were destroyed by an eruptionBut pinpointing exactly where an eruption will happen is harder. These aren’t cone-shaped volcanoes like Italy’s Mount Etna, for example, where the lava comes out at more or less the same place.In the Reykjanes Peninsula, the magma is held more loosely under a larger area – and it erupts through cracks – or fissures – that can be miles long.The Icelandic authorities are building large barriers around the town and power station – and these are good at holding lava back. But if a fissure opens up inside the barriers – as was the case in Grindavik in January when some houses were destroyed – not much can be done.A long period of eruptions will have major consequences for Iceland.”This is the most densely populated part of Iceland – so 70% of the population lives within 40km or so,” explains Dr Ilyinskaya.”And all of the key infrastructure is there – so the main international airport, big geothermal power plants, and a lot of tourist infrastructure too, which is a big part of Iceland’s economy.”Key roads being cut off by lava flow and air pollution from the eruptions are just some of the risks.The country’s capital Reykjavik also has the potential to be impacted, says Dr Ilyinskaya.”One scenario that would be hazardous for Reykjavik (Iceland’s capital) is if the eruptions move further east along the peninsula – there are lava flows from 1,000 years ago from the last eruptive cycle that are in what is now Reykjavik, so based on that it is not unfeasible that the lava flows could flow there in future eruptions”So is there a way to predict what will happen in the longer term?Scientists are looking at a number of different volcanic systems that sit across the peninsula.”In the last cycle, the first eruptions started in the systems to the east and migrated to the west, with a few fits and starts here and there,” explains Dr Dave McGarvie from Lancaster University. This time, the first eruptions – which started in 2021 – happened in a system that sits more in the middle of the peninsula.”That system now just seems to have completely switched off – there’s no clear indication of a gathering of magma beneath it. We don’t know whether that’s temporary or whether it’s a permanent thing and it may never erupt again in this cycle.”The most recent eruptions, which began in December, are now in a neighbouring system a little further west.Image source, EPAImage caption, Scientists are learning more with every eruptionDr McGarvie says scientists can get an idea of how much magma is held underground – and whether it is likely to shift away from Grindavik and the power station to another neighbouring volcanic system. “If they saw the rate of magma inflow declining, then that would be an indication that perhaps it’s starting to switch off and if so it may take a few months for it to completely die down.”The question then would be is this a temporary lull or is it actually the end of this phase of activity – we’re into unknown territory at that point.”Scientists are learning more with every eruption, but there’s still a great deal of uncertainty for Iceland as a new volcanic era begins. Follow Rebecca on X (formerly known as Twitter)Related TopicsVolcanoesIcelandMore on this storyThey fled as lava spilled into town – and they may never returnPublished6 days agoIceland lava slowing down after day of destructionPublished15 JanuaryWhy this Iceland volcano won’t cause flight chaosPublished19 December 2023Iceland volcano: What could the impact be?Published14 November 2023Top StoriesClapham attack: Police to search Thames for suspect’s bodyPublished1 hour agoIsraeli soldier videos from Gaza could breach international law, experts sayPublished8 hours agoEx-Fujitsu boss ‘shocked’ by Post Office’s actionsPublished4 hours agoFeaturesDinosaur Island: 40 years of discoveries on SkyeThe Papers: Gaza bloodbath fears and King bonds with FergieIs Iceland entering a new volcanic era?Celebrities and the perils of oversharing daily routinesCash-strapped clubbers make their nights out countHave we lost faith in tech?Swift, swimming and snow: Photos of the weekAn ‘impossible’ country tests its hard-won democracyWeekly quiz: Who beat Miley to win Song Of The Year?Elsewhere on the BBCBritain’s toughest job interview is backLord Sugar’s class of 2024 chase the ultimate investmentAttributioniPlayerThe art of healthy eatingProfessor Tim Spector offers a new approach to the way we eat foodAttributionSoundsThe sound effect that became the ultimate movie in-jokeIt’s used in everything from Toy Story to Reservoir Dogs, but what is the Wilhelm Scream?AttributioniPlayerExpensive vs High Street skincare products…investigating whether more expensive face creams really are worth the moneyAttributionSoundsMost Read1Man’s indefinite sentence a ‘serious injustice’2Ex-Fujitsu boss ‘shocked’ by Post Office’s actions3Tory donors and 27-year-old among new peers4Mum found under coat in A&E died days later5Gaza bloodbath fears and King bonds with Fergie6Police to search Thames for Clapham attack suspect7Celebrities and the perils of oversharing daily routines8Israeli soldier videos from Gaza could breach international law, experts say9Cash-strapped clubbers make their nights out count10Is Iceland entering a new volcanic era?

[ad_1] Scientists think eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula could continue for decades or even centuries.

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27yearold
February 10, 2024
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaEcowas in crisis: Why West Africa’s united front is in tattersPublished51 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, AFPImage caption, File photo of Nigerian soldiers dancing with their rifles around flags at the closing ceremony of joint military exercises in BeninBy Paul MellyWest Africa analystAs West African ministers gathered in Nigeria’s capital for yet another emergency meeting, they must have been wondering what further shocks could befall their region – its stability and political cohesion already tested to breaking-point.The session of the mediation and security council of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) had originally been summoned to discuss last month’s announcement from the military juntas leading Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger of their intention to withdraw from the 15-member bloc “without delay”.But by the time they arrived in Abuja, the ministers found themselves confronted with an entirely new crisis added to their agenda – the decision of Senegal’s head of state, Macky Sall, to postpone the 25 February presidential election.On Monday, with gendarmes ejecting opposition members from the national assembly, his parliamentary supporters voted to push the polls back until 15 December.This sparked a storm of protest from the opposition and civil society, with even the governing party’s own candidate, Prime Minister Amadou Ba, opposed to a decision that shakes to its foundations a country that had hitherto been seen as one of West Africa’s most resilient and institutionally rooted democracies.Just when Ecowas’ civilian-led member states most need to maintain a united front in defence of constitutional rule in the face of the military regimes that have swept across West Africa since 2020, one of the region’s most high-profile democratically elected presidents has unilaterally changed the rules.Mr Sall intends to extend his stay in power by nine months beyond the official 2 April handover date, in the possibly vain hope of boosting his camp’s hopes of victory at the polls when he does eventually stand down. Many wonder if his ultimate goal is a U-turn, abandoning his promise to stand down and instead running for a further term.Image source, EPAImage caption, President Macky Sall’s decision to delay elections in Senegal has sparked protestsAlready Ecowas was struggling to sustain serious pressure on the military leaders of the Sahel region – who have bolstered their domestic support by painting the regional bloc as bullying neighbours in thrall to France, the former colonial power in much of the region.The heavy-duty economic sanctions imposed previously on Mali and now on Niger, have hurt their populations – driving up prices as key import supplies are squeezed, hitting government finances, and putting the payment of salaries at risk.But this has only generated popular resentment which has bolstered support for the military regimes, at least in the short term.Soft diplomacy – mediation by Togo, which has kept friendly relations with the military regimes despite being an Ecowas state – looked like it might bring a breakthrough, with rumours of a draft agreement on a timetable for Niger’s restoration of civilian rule, only for the country then to suddenly announce its departure from the bloc altogether.Mali’s transitional head of state, Colonel Assimi Goïta, did not even bother to suggest a new election schedule after abandoning his earlier promise to organise polls this month.Instead his regime this week simply issued a new statement denouncing sanctions and reiterating its determination to walk out of the regional bloc.One of the most awkward challenges for Ecowas as it tries to resist and reverse the tide of coups is the accusation of hypocrisy or double standards – that the bloc talks tough when soldiers seize power from civilians, but rarely speaks or acts with any force when elected civilian leaders stage “constitutional coups” and change or bend the rules to prolong their own stay in office – as happened in Guinea in 2020. And that is not the only example. The previous year, Togo had passed constitutional amendments to allow President Faure Gnassingbé to stand for two more terms.In neighbouring Benin all opposition parties were excluded from the legislative polls and then in 2021 two of the leading opposition contenders for the presidency were detained before the election and later sentenced to long jail terms.Against the background of such manipulations and abuses by civilian-led governments, the Ecowas 2001 protocol on “democracy and good governance” risks reading like empty words. Among the bloc’s senior policymakers there has been a spreading recognition that this undermines its moral leverage and chances of mobilising public support for efforts to pressure coup leaders into restoring democracy. Image source, EPAImage caption, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali – which all face jihadist insurgencies – feel Ecowas is too deferential to France, a former colonial powerThat is why its reaction to President Sall’s postponement of the Senegalese election will be so critical.After earlier attempts to agree a region-wide limit of only two presidential terms were blocked by some member governments, officials have been exploring other ways of toughening the rules to penalise or block constitutional manipulation.But those changes have not yet been finalised or approved. So for now Ecowas civilian leaders have to work with tools that they have – of which peer-group pressure, traditionally a real strength of West African regional political culture, may be the strongest.There have been successes.Last month, George Weah, Liberia’s incumbent president, handed over power to the opposition challenger Joseph Boakai, having gracefully accepted defeat at the polls.And mediation by Ecowas persuaded the Sierra Leone government to allow former head of state Ernest Bai Koroma – who faced dubious accusations of links to a failed coup attempt – to leave for Nigeria on “medical grounds”.Yet in the case of larger or more influential countries, the bloc has generally lacked the diplomatic clout, and sometimes the political will, to enforce meaningful and consistent adherence to its proclaimed democratic governance standards.Responding to the insistence of the Nigérien, Malian and Burkinabè regimes on pulling out of Ecowas, Thursday’s ministerial meeting refrained from threats or further sanctions. It simply noted that the juntas had not consulted their citizens on this move and then made the positive case for staying in the bloc, to co-operate together in tackling common challenges like climate change, violent extremism, migration and organised crime.However, this shift away from confrontation will probably not change the minds of the military leaders.It marks an Ecowas recognition that restoring regional unity will have to be a long-term game, based on restoring goodwill and waiting for pressure from the ordinary citizens of the Sahel states – including the millions who live as long-term settled immigrants in coastal West African countries – to begin to make itself felt. But this comes close to an admission that extending common democratic principles to the Sahel once more will have to wait for another day.Tackling the urgent new threat to Senegal’s democracy cannot be shelved or phased. The country is a cornerstone of Ecowas – and albeit with flaws, its political system is built on fundamental principles and institutions. The stakes are huge.Much of the Senegalese political class and public are in uproar over the president’s postponement of the election.Numerous constitutional experts insist that President Sall and his parliamentary majority do not even have the legal power to change the date of the polls or extend the head of state’s term beyond its previously scheduled end on 2 April.And there is international pressure too: the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for example, has accused Mr Sall of putting his country “on a dangerous path towards dictatorship”. Against this background, if Ecowas retreats from clear defence of basic constitutional principles, opting instead for a soft stance towards an incumbent civilian leader who is “a member of the club”, its already eroded credibility as a defender of any common democratic principles will be profoundly damaged in the eyes of many West Africans.Paul Melly is a consulting fellow with the Africa Programme at Chatham House in London.You may also be interested in:Senegal on the brink after elections postponed The doctor forced to go to the jihadist front lineWhy Niger is saying goodbye to France but not the USBoost for Wagner as Mali shuns UN troopsRelated TopicsNigeriaEcowasBurkina FasoSenegalMaliNigerAround the BBCFocus on Africa podcastsRelated Internet LinksEcowasThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.Top StoriesClapham attack: Police to search Thames for suspect’s bodyPublished17 minutes agoIsraeli soldier videos from Gaza could breach international law, experts sayPublished7 hours agoEx-Fujitsu boss ‘shocked’ by Post Office’s actionsPublished2 hours agoFeaturesDinosaur Island: 40 years of discoveries on SkyeThe Papers: Gaza bloodbath fears and King bonds with FergieIs Iceland entering a new volcanic era?Celebrities and the perils of oversharing daily routinesCash-strapped clubbers make their nights out countHave we lost faith in tech?Swift, swimming and snow: Photos of the weekAn ‘impossible’ country tests its hard-won democracyWeekly quiz: Who beat Miley to win Song Of The Year?Elsewhere on the BBCBritain’s toughest job interview is backLord Sugar’s class of 2024 chase the ultimate investmentAttributioniPlayerThe art of healthy eatingProfessor Tim Spector offers a new approach to the way we eat foodAttributionSoundsThe sound effect that became the ultimate movie in-jokeIt’s used in everything from Toy Story to Reservoir Dogs, but what is the Wilhelm Scream?AttributioniPlayerExpensive vs High Street skincare products…investigating whether more expensive face creams really are worth the moneyAttributionSoundsMost Read1Man’s indefinite sentence a ‘serious injustice’2Ex-Fujitsu boss ‘shocked’ by Post Office’s actions3Tory donors and 27-year-old among new peers4Clapham suspect died in Thames, police believe5Mum found under coat in A&E died days later6Gaza bloodbath fears and King bonds with Fergie7Israeli soldier videos from Gaza could breach international law, experts say8Celebrities and the perils of oversharing daily routines9German chancellor finds doppelganger in US senator10Cash-strapped clubbers make their nights out count

[ad_1] Responding to the insistence of the Nigérien, Malian and Burkinabè regimes on pulling out of Ecowas, Thursday’s ministerial meeting refrained from threats or further sanctions. It simply noted that…

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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaFrom Poland to Spain, Europe’s farmers ramp up protestsPublished54 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, REUTERS/Kacper PempelImage caption, One of the biggest demonstrations in Europe was in the western Polish city of PoznanBy Paul Kirby, Adam Easton in Warsaw & Nick Thorpe in BudapestBBC NewsEurope’s farmers have ramped up protests against EU measures and rising prices, with roads blocked in Poland, Hungary, Spain and Belgium.In western Poland some 1,400 tractors took part in a protest in Poznan and roads were blocked across the country.For the fourth day in a row, tractors cut off traffic in several Spanish regions, hoping to enter cities including Toledo and Zaragoza.The protests have galvanised farmers across the continent.However, their grievances vary widely.Farmers in Poland and Hungary complain that the European Union is not doing enough to halt cheap imports from Ukraine undercutting local produce. They want the EU to restore a requirement on Ukrainian truckers to obtain a permit to work across the 27 member states.In Poland, lines of tractors, many flying the Polish flag, appeared on roads in 256 places, blocking traffic and forcing police to arrange diversions. One of the blockades halted traffic at the Medyka border crossing west of the Ukrainian city of Lviv.Protesters in Poznan lit flares and firecrackers and a barrel of waste was poured on to the street. Organisers said some 6,000 farmers had converged on the city.Many of the farmers bore banners saying no to the EU’s Green Deal, aimed at bringing down greenhouse gas emissions.The atmosphere was more febrile in the city of Bydgoszcz where a pile of tyres and straw were set alight, as well as an EU flag. A group of protestors tried to force their way into a local authority building but the police used pepper spray to stop them.The new agriculture minister, Czeslaw Siekierski, met protesting farmers in Przyborowice, northwest of Warsaw: “Farmers are protesting because they are in a difficult situation. My duty, as agriculture minister, is to be here today with the farmers to talk to them”.Image source, ERIC LALMAND/BELGA MAP/AFPImage caption, Belgian farmers targeted an EU meeting of ministers in GenkEarlier this week the European Commission recommended that net emissions should be slashed by 90% by 2040 compared with 2015 levels, but scrapped its Green Deal plan to halve pesticide use across the EU. Farmers have complained that cutting pesticides will harm their crops and jeopardise food production.Why Europe’s farmers are taking their anger to the streetsEU scraps plans to halve pesticide useHundreds of Hungarian farmers converged in their tractors on the main border-crossing with Ukraine at Zahony, on Friday, joining the Europe-wide protests for the first time.Organisers said they were protesting against cheap Ukrainian imports which were undermining Hungarian markets, and also in solidarity with farmers elsewhere in Europe. “According to my calculations, the average loss this year to a farmer for the wheat we planted last September will be about €300 per hectare,” Hungarian agriculture expert Csaba Juhasz told the BBC. “That’s taking any subsidies or support we receive into account.”He says medium-sized farms of 100-400 hectares have been worst hit.Hungary’s farmers share many of the concerns of their counterparts elsewhere, such as high fertiliser prices and cheap imports of Ukrainian grain, dairy produce, eggs and meat.But they have the full support of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who met protesting farmers at last week’s EU summit and accused Brussels of prioritising Ukrainian farmers ahead of the rest of Europe.An estimated 600 farmers headed to the Belgian city of Genk, where EU ministers were holding an industry summit.Politicians should be supporting them, dairy farmer Wim Kwanten told Flemish broadcaster VRT, but instead they were “being held hostage by climate and environment targets – we want a level playing field for all European farmers”.Image source, VILLAR LOPEZ/EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockImage caption, Tractors snarled up the centre of PamplonaIn Spain, farmers shut down roads for a fourth day in several areas, snarling up traffic in big cities such as Bilbao where 100 tractors headed to the centre in columns. Residents in Pamplona woke up to find dozens of tractors parked in two columns in the city centre, while a motorway in Toledo was brought to a standstill and hundreds of tractors blocked access to the heart of the historic city.Agriculture unions in the Basque country complained about EU policies and minister Luis Planas said that he respected their right to demonstrate, but urged farmers to avoid intimidation or violence.Image source, ReutersImage caption, Four tractors staged a drive-past around the Colosseum in RomeIn Greece, farmers have demanded lower electricity prices, tax-free diesel and subsidised animal feed, as well as changes to EU environment rules.Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to meet farmers’ leaders next Tuesday but the government has insisted that the roads must remain open. The prime minister’s spokesman said he was always open to dialogue, but the right of one group to protest could not be at the expense of others.Farmers in Italy were heading for the Sanremo song festival on Friday where they planned to read a statement out on stage.A parade of tractors were due to drive around Rome’s motorway ring road on Friday evening, but a large tractor rally in the central Piazza San Giovanni was cancelled so as not to annoy the public.A symbolic convoy of four tractors drove past the Colosseum shortly before the big agriculture organisations met Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has criticised “ideological” EU rules.Farmers are also angry about an income tax break that was scrapped as part of this year’s budget. Ms Meloni said during the meeting that instead of being scrapped it would be better targeted to help those on the lowest farming incomes, Ansa news agency reported.Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida insisted his government was on the same side as the farmers on nine out of 10 points.Related TopicsSpainItalyEuropean UnionHungaryPolandBelgiumMore on this story’We’re not playing by the same rules’: French farmers on protestsPublished7 days agoOrban picks his next EU battle – farmers’ protestsPublished1 FebruaryTop StoriesClapham attack suspect died in Thames, police believePublished1 hour agoHarry settles phone-hacking case with Mirror groupPublished1 hour agoNetanyahu orders military to plan Rafah evacuationPublished2 hours agoFeaturesWhat’s next in Prince Harry’s war against the media?Weekly quiz: Who beat Miley to win Song Of The Year?Fact-checking Treasury minister’s claim on debtFact-checking Putin’s ‘nonsense’ historyIs Joe Biden too old to run for President again? 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[ad_1] The new agriculture minister, Czeslaw Siekierski, met protesting farmers in Przyborowice, northwest of Warsaw: “Farmers are protesting because they are in a difficult situation. My duty, as agriculture minister,…