World news in brief
Mauritius races to empty oil tanker before it breaks up
Urgent efforts have increased in Mauritius to empty a stranded Japanese ship of an estimated 2,500 tons of oil before the vessel breaks up. Already more than 1,000 tons of fuel has washed up on the eastern coast, polluting its coral reefs, protected lagoons and shoreline. High winds and waves are pounding the Japanese bulk carrier MV Wakashio, which ran aground on a coral reef two weeks ago and is showing signs of breaking up and dumping its remaining cargo of oil into the Indian Ocean waters surrounding Mauritius. French experts have arrived from Reunion island and are deploying booms to try to contain any new oil spill. AP
Six French citizens among eight killed in Niger shooting
Six French aid workers and two local guides were shot dead at a wildlife park near Niger’s capital in what officials believe was a terrorist attack. The leaders of France and Niger have expressed their condolences to the victims’ families and pledged to continue fighting against terrorism. President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger said: “I condemn this cowardly and barbaric terrorist attack perpetrated this Sunday in the peaceful town of Koure.” Mr Macron added: “Our countries are affected, but our determination to fight armed terrorist groups remains intact. The fight continues.” The attack took place in a protected national park in the Tillaberi region, where jihadists linked to the so-called Islamic State killed four US soldiers and five Nigeriens in 2017. The region has been under a state of emergency since 2017.
Rise in dolphins, turtles and rays drowning in shark nets
The number of endangered dolphins, turtles, sharks and rays drowning in shark nets off the Australian coast has risen to what conservationists say are “shocking” levels. In all, 284 dolphins, turtles, sharks and rays were killed in the nets in the latest annual season. Nets are designed to kill sharks to allow swimmers to go into the sea without fear of being bitten, but they are also fatal to other species, including certain sharks that are harmless to humans. In New South Wales, there are 51 shark nets installed at numerous beaches, including at all those in Sydney. Some 480 animals were caught in nets between September last year and April, the data shows. Of those that died, 183 were classified as threatened or protected, including seven dolphins, six turtles and 14 grey nurse sharks, described as “critically endangered and harmless”. Conservationists say even animals released from nets alive may die soon afterwards from stress and injuries.
Rubbish set to pile up across Europe after pandemic
Concerns are rising across Europe that the coronavirus-induced slump in oil prices could knock demand for recycled plastics but data is still patchy on how the pandemic has affected the amount of trash piling up, the European Union’s environment chief said. As lockdowns around the world caused a drop in demand for fossil fuels, oil prices have plummeted this year, making virgin plastics even cheaper than recycled versions of the material. That could spell trouble for EU plans to improve recycling rates. The EU generates around 26 million tons of plastic waste each year. Only 30 per cent of that is recycled.