This may be further evidence of the severity of the climate crisis. The concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have reached record levels in 2021, according to the annual bulletin published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on Wednesday, October 26. This additional greenhouse effect leads to an increase in global temperature (+1.2 °C since pre-industrial times), the multiplication of extreme events and even rise in sea level.

In 2021, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) was 416 parts per million (ppm), methane was 1,908 parts per billion (ppb) and nitrous oxide was 335 ppb, increases of 149% and 262%, respectively. and 124% compared to the pre-industrial era, when human activities did not yet disturb the natural balance of these gases in the atmosphere.

The concentration of CO2, the main greenhouse gas, has now reached levels not seen in more than 2 million years. The 2021 record is no surprise, however, as the concentrations are due to CO2 emissions, which continue to increase year after year due to human activities, particularly the exploitation of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) and deforestation. Thus, after the extraordinary drop in 2020 with the Covid-19 crisis, CO2 emissions have largely started to increase again in 2021 and should see a slight increase in 2022. Concentrations will therefore continue to increase worldwide in 2022.

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Only achieving CO2 neutrality, i.e. the principle that emissions must not exceed the absorptive capacity of natural sinks (forests, oceans, etc.), “allows the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere to stabilize and then slowly decrease”. recalls climatologist Pierre Friedlingstein, director of research at the CNRS, the Ecole Normale Supérieure and the University of Exeter (UK).

” It’s urgent “

Mount Chacaltaya in Bolivia, September 2021. AIZAR RALDES / AFP

Concentrations of methane, the second most common greenhouse gas, have seen an “extraordinary” increase in 2020 and 2021, the WMO reports. With an increase of 15 ppb and then 18 ppb, these are the largest increases since measurements began almost forty years ago. The cause of this increase is not clear, but several hypotheses have been put forward, relating to both biological and anthropogenic processes.

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The European Commission has presented a proposal to make euro payments to and from citizens and businesses in Europe faster, but at the same time more convenient, safer and without any obstacles. With Instant Payments you can transfer money at any time of the day in 10 seconds – explain the experts from Brussels -. much faster than traditional transfers. The EU intends to amend and update the regulation introduced in 2012 (Sepa, Single Euro Payments Area) and make instant money transactions widely available and at the same price as traditional transfers.

The EU proposal

Until now, if a transfer was made in the countries of the European Union late in the afternoon on a Friday, the recipient will receive it on Tuesday of the following week. With the system the European Commission plans to propose, a transfer leaving at 7pm (any day) will arrive a minute later. At the beginning of 2022, only 11% of money transfers to the EU were instant transfers. They dramatically increase speed, contribute to a significant improvement in cash flow and lead to cost savings for companies, especially SMEs, including traders, explain again from Brussels. In addition, they are currently releasing money blocked in the financial system on the way, the so-called “payment float”, which can initially be used for consumption or investments (almost 200 billion euros are blocked per day).

The 4 requirements

Based on the basic assumption that a current account is required for an immediate payment, the European Commission’s proposal is based on four requirements. The first is to make instant euro payments widely available, with EU payment service providers already offering euro transfers being obliged to also offer their instant version within a set period of time, the Commission said. The second is to make euro instant payments accessible, whereby payment service providers are obliged to ensure that the price charged for euro instant payments does not exceed the price charged for traditional euro instant payments. The third requirement is to increase confidence in instant payments, whereby suppliers are required to verify the match between the bank account number (Iban) and the payee name provided by the payer in order to alert the payer to a possible error or fraud before payment is made. Finally, the fourth removes the friction of processing instant payments in euros while preserving the effectiveness of screening individuals subject to EU sanctions, through a process whereby payment service providers check their customers against EU sanctions lists at least daily, instead of The European executive concludes that all transactions should be checked individually.

A significant step

The benefits are not just money or wallets, but create opportunities both in the areas of digital transition and innovation, as well as in industrial and employment terms, if we consider the need to create computer programs, algorithms and systems capable of supporting the new instant payment tool . They are quickly becoming the norm in many countries – said Valdis Dombrosvskis, Vice-President of the European Commission -. They should be accessible to everyone in Europe in order to remain globally competitive and make the most of the innovation opportunities of the digital age. People earn with more choice and convenience, businesses earn with better cash flow control and lower operating costs. Today’s proposal will strengthen our economy, make it more efficient and encourage its growth. Mairead McGuinness, Commissioner for Services and Financial Markets, also agrees, stating: The move from “next day” transfers to “10-second seismic” transfers is akin to moving from post to email. Nevertheless, today almost nine out of ten euro transfers are still processed as conventional “slow” transfers. There is no reason why many citizens and businesses in the EU are unable to send and receive money instantly, the technology that has enabled instant payments since 2017

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 36.8 percent of Ecuadorians are currently experiencing some difficulty in obtaining nutritious food, the media reported.

The study adds that in this universe 2.3 million are severely food insecure, meaning they spend more than a day without eating.

According to the international organization, the lack of resources to buy food is leading people to turn to cheap, low-nutrient foods to satisfy hunger.

The residents of the provinces of Morona Santiago, Napo, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Pastaza, Bolívar and Esmeraldas are those most at risk of food insecurity due to poverty, the newspaper stressed.

Furthermore, the text, published this Wednesday in the paper and digital versions of the newspaper, says that the children of Tungurahua, Chimborazo and Cotopaxi are the ones suffering the worst conditions, with the highest rates of malnutrition.

The President of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, said Tuesday, during the opening of a seminar on chronic child malnutrition organized by the World Bank, that tackling this problem entails high costs for governments.

Statistics show that 27 percent of Ecuador’s minors are malnourished, and in light of this unavoidable reality, the executive announced investing $350 million a year to reduce the problem by 2025.

More than 500,000 new suitable jobs have been created during his tenure, the chief executive said the day before, but the country’s economic and social situation does not reflect this growth, observers warn.

For public policy analyst Juan Pablo Jaramaillo, Ecuador has not yet recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Unfortunately, there is only a partial recovery, the expert commented on Twitter on the statements made by Economy and Finance Minister Pablo Arosemena, who celebrated half a million new jobs in the country.

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Ten others were injured, the state news agency reported on Wednesday afternoon. An Iranian newspaper had previously reported that three attackers opened fire on those present at the shrine of Shah Cheragh, brother of the eighth Imam Resa.

Previously there were riots in Saghes. An eyewitness told Portal that protesters were shot. Dozens of people were arrested. The semi-state news agency INSA reported that around 10,000 people attended Saghes on the last day of the mourning period. In Iran, a family member is traditionally mourned for 40 days. Authorities also shut down the internet in Amini’s hometown for “security reasons”, according to a report.

The death of the 22-year-old Iranian Kurd was the trigger for the system-critical mass protests in Iran. Religious police arrested her for allegedly violating Islamic dress codes. The woman died in police custody on September 16. Since her death, thousands have demonstrated across the country against the repressive course of the government and the Islamic system of government.

“Woman, Life, Freedom”

This was also the case on Wednesday: Videos on social media showed thousands of people in Saghes who, despite a large-scale police operation, went to the cemetery or gathered in front of Amini’s grave. Many of them chanted “Death to the Dictator”, videos posted online showed. According to the Iranian news agency Fars, around 2,000 people chanted “Woman, Life, Freedom”, the slogan of the protest movement.

Clapping, shouting and honking the mourners huddled on the road that connects Saghes to the cemetery five miles away. The authenticity of the corresponding recordings has been verified by Hengaw in accordance with its own statements.

Activists: Security forces threatened Amini’s family

According to activists, security forces had previously threatened Amini’s family saying they would “fear for their son’s life” if a ceremony was held at the cemetery. Images shared by Hengaw showed a strong police presence in Saghes. Security forces tried to block access to the city.

Still, dozens of people managed to enter the city in cars and motorcycles, some on foot. The cemetery was filled with police officers and members of the Basij militia, an eyewitness told Portal. “They tried to stop us from entering the cemetery, but I managed to get in. I still haven’t seen Mahsa’s parents.” Another witness reported that many residents were on their way to the cemetery.

APA/AFP/ESN Several people on their way to Amini’s hometown

Schools and universities closed in Kurdish provinces

Schools and universities in the Kurdish province were closed on Wednesday – officially because of a flu epidemic. Observers, on the other hand, say the closures were meant to prevent protests. It was mainly the students who were the first to protest the leadership. They were joined by people from virtually all walks of life.

“The cities of Sanandaj, Saghes, Divandarreh, Mariwan and Kamjaran in Kurdistan province are on general strike,” Hengaw said on Twitter. Witnesses also reported a massive police presence on the streets of the capital Tehran and in Tabriz and Rascht in the north of the country.

Police use tear gas against doctors’ demonstration

In the evening, people also gathered in the Iranian capital to sing exuberantly in the street. In the north of the metropolis, many women were seen without the mandatory scarf, according to eyewitness accounts.

Hours earlier, Tehran police had used tear gas against a medical demonstration. Doctors spoke out against the presence of security forces in the clinics, where protesters are also treated. Eyewitnesses confirmed a large police presence and checks on Tehran’s main streets. Many stores were closed due to fear of riots.

According to the human rights organization Iran Human Rights (IHR), at least 141 protesters were killed across the country during the protests and the violent crackdown by Iranian security forces.

New US sanctions

Because of the brutal crackdown on national protests in Iran, the US has imposed new sanctions on Iran’s leadership. As the US Treasury Department announced in Washington on Wednesday, the new US sanctions target the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and his deputy, high-ranking officials such as the warden of the notorious Ewin prison in the capital Tehran, and members of the service. secret.

The US accuses them of overseeing organizations involved in the violent repression of protests and killings, including of children. As a result of the sanctions, any assets of those affected in the US will be frozen. Doing business with them is prohibited for US citizens.

Iran had already put European politicians and institutions on a sanctions list in response to punitive measures against the country. The Persian language department of Deutsche Welle (DW) is mentioned in today’s statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Members of the European Parliament and two German companies are also affected. About a week ago, Iran put more than a dozen British people and institutions on a terrorist list.

Giorgia Meloni has been identified as an admirer of Mussolini and has been trying since adolescence to end criticism of his militancy.

Andreas SOLARO / AFP
Giorgia Meloni is the first woman to become Italy’s prime minister

Giorgia Meloni, Italian Prime Minister and leader of the extreme right, this Tuesday, 25, denied any sympathy or proximity to fascism. “I have never had sympathy or closeness to antidemocratic regimes. For any regime, including fascism,” he said in an attempt to quell criticism of his youthful militancy in movements founded by fascism’s heirs. The 45yearold politician, who was sworn in on Saturday as Italy’s first female head of government, presented her government program and addressed the most sensitive issues in international politics. “THE Italy it is a complete part of Europe and the western world,” Meloni explained to reassure European allies. “We will not stop or sabotage the EU, we will make it more effective in responding to crises,” he added, after noting that he would respect “the rules in place” on the budget issue. During his speech in parliament, which is to vote on the motion of confidence in his government, Meloni promised that Italy would continue to be a “reliable partner for the NATO“, is replaced with “Support for Ukraine and his opposition to Russian aggression”.

The successor to Mario Draghi, whom he praised, should easily receive the vote of confidence, since his coalition has a large majority in both chambers. A sensitive issue that is causing disagreements among his allies in the rightwing coalition, notably with the leader of the League Party, Matteo Salvini, and with the founder of Forza Italia, the magnate Silvio Berlusconi, a personal friend of the Russian president. Wladimir Putin. Meloni spoke about his proposal to tackle inflation, the energy crisis and the threat of recession in the eurozone’s third largest economy. Inflation will be a “priority” issue for which she wants to “step up measures to support families and businesses,” an economic gamble “that will deplete a large part of available resources,” she acknowledged. When it comes to the €200 billion in grants and loans available from the postpandemic recovery fund European UnionShe assured that the amount would be spent “without delay and without waste”. Meloni promised that the government, Italy’s most farright executive since World War II, would “not deviate an inch” from democratic values ​​and “fight every form of racism, antiSemitism, political violence, discrimination”.

*With information from AFP