Eilat (Israel) (AFP) – The Red Sea’s spectacular coral reefs face a new threat, marine biologists warn — the mass death of sea urchins that may be caused by a mystery disease. Because the long-spined creatures feed on algae that can suffocate corals, their die-off could “destroy our entire coral reef ecosystem,” warns scientist Lisa-Maria Schmidt.
Sarmin (Syria) (AFP) – Two civilians have been killed after government forces fired rockets that struck a displaced persons’ camp in Syria’s rebel-held northwest.
Scarborough Shoal (Philippines) (AFP) – Filipino fishermen rely on regular resupply missions by the Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to continue to fish near the shallow waters of Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. China, which claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, seized control of Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines in 2012. Since then, it has deployed coast guard and other vessels to block or restrict access to the fishing ground that has been tapped by generations of Filipinos. The fishermen complain that China’s actions are robbing them of a key source of income and a place to shelter safely during a storm.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) – During accusations of direct Western involvement in the Ukraine conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claims the West is “de facto fighting against us using the hands and bodies of Ukrainians” at a press conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Paris (AFP) – The Techno Parade celebrates its 25th anniversary with its annual parade through the streets of Paris, starting at Place de la Bastille. Once again this year, the popular event aims to promote electronic music. For their part, the organisers and participants are calling for greater recognition of this culture.
Sicili (Italy) (AFP) – Firefighters have been battling wildfires in northern Sicily for more than forty-eight hours. 800 firefighters are on duty, 300 of whom are concentrating on extinguishing fires in the provinces of Palermo and Messina, where houses and vehicles were caught in the flames. Images published 23 September 2023.
Poissy (France) (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain’s football coach Luis Enrique says that Sunday’s Ligue 1 clash with Olympique Marseille is one of the “most important matches of the season”, and that the team must “pay particular attention to the emotional component”.
Lima (AFP) – Archaeologists recover ancient human remains and artifacts discovered by workers digging a road in a rural area in northern Lima, Peru. The crew which was working to lay gas pipes found eight bundles of burials, including six children, belonging to an 800 to 1,000-year-old pre-Hispanic culture.
Eagle Pass (United States) (AFP) – In Eagle Pass, Texas, migrants cross the Rio Grande River that separates the United States and Mexico to encounter an almost impassable wall of razor wire preventing them from entering US territory.
London (AFP) – In a bid to put invasive species on restaurant menus, Silo — a zero-waste venue in London — serves up a range of destructive non-native ingredients. “They’re all delicious” says Douglas McMaster, Silo’s director. At one of the restaurant’s special dinners, American Signal crayfish are the focus. Introduced as a food source in the 1970s, the species has spread throughout the UK’s waterways, decimating the native white claw variety, of which populations have dropped by between 80 and 90 percent.
