On the eve of the International Lynx Day, WWF-Ukraine has launched the project “Don’t hesitate to save the lynx”. The goal of the project is to preserve the lynx in the Carpathian and Polissia regions where it lives. To do this, WWF-Ukraine is looking for and uniting friends of the lynx. Ukrainian brands Oliz and Yakush have become the first friends of the Eurasian lynx: they donate part of the proceeds from their spotted collections to support the work of WWF-Ukraine. We are creating a trend to support the largest cat in Europe, which is losing its home! By choosing an animal print, you emphasize the problem and contribute to its solution.Since 1994, when the lynx was included in the Red Book of Ukraine and hunting was banned, the animal’s population has not increased significantly, and little is known about its life. In Ukraine, lynxes are found in the Carpathians (about 400 individuals) and in Polissia (up to 100 individuals). The health of ecosystems and the life cycle of other species of animals and plants (including Red Data Book species) living near it depend on this species. “For effective protection of any species, it is necessary to have solid data on its number, distribution, and dynamics of these indicators, to understand the threats and challenges it faces. We believe that it is critically important to create a state biodiversity monitoring system. Without it, it will be impossible to ensure effective protection of the fauna of Ukraine, in particular the Red Book species,” said Taras Yamelynets, Head of the Rare Species Unit at WWF-Ukraine. WWF-Ukraine has already managed to collect and analyze data on lynx sightings in 650 locations and from more than 500 institutions in the Carpathians and Polissia to create an up-to-date map of the lynx distribution in Ukraine and its forest habitats for effective planning of conservation measures and study of the species; to significantly increase lynx monitoring in the Carpathians and Polissia using photo traps. In total, since 2019, 74 tracking devices and necessary accessories have been transferred to nine nature conservation and three forestry institutions; to develop methodological recommendations for monitoring lynx in the Carpathians and Polissia, which are recommended by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Ukraine for forestry workers and nature reserve institutions. Funding: WWF-Poland, HORIZON and Interreg programs of the European Union.
Ukrainians, brands and companies can support the activities of WWF-Ukraine, which will help to find out how many lynxes are left in Ukraine today, to purchase the necessary equipment for their monitoring, conservation and comfortable existence of lynxes in Ukraine. As an organization that cares about the future, WWF-Ukraine aims to inspire Ukrainians to support the nature-friendly restoration of Ukraine right now.
You can view the project and support it at https://specials.wwf.ua/lynx.
The development was implemented by the Ukrainian web team Figmatica.
WWF-Ukraine is a chapter of WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature), one of the most influential and largest independent conservation organizations in the world. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural systems and build a future where people live in harmony with nature.
At a meeting on Monday, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Energy, Housing and Utilities approved draft law No. 11146 on the siting, design and construction of Khmelnytsky NPP Units 3 and 4 (Kh3/X4).
According to the explanatory note to the draft law, the construction of the units based on the VVER-1000 reactor provides for the purchase of nuclear fuel, technologies, equipment, facilities, special non-nuclear materials and related services by NNEGC Energoatom from Westinghouse (USA).
The construction of X3/X4 will increase annual electricity production by 16.2 billion kWh and electricity supply by 15.4 billion kWh.
According to the Minister of Energy of Ukraine, Herman Galushchenko, the third unit can be connected to the grid in three years after the start of its completion, and the fourth unit in four years.
He clarified that the construction of X3/X4 is planned to be financed mostly by loans, and to a lesser extent by NNEGC’s own funds.
In his turn, Energoatom’s Chairman Petro Kotin reminded that the third unit will not be constructed from scratch, and the equipment for the construction part of the third unit is 80% ready.
“Today, the practical readiness for equipment installation is very high. As soon as the law you approved is signed, we will be able to start installing the equipment the next day,” he said.
Kotin clarified that a large number of specialists from the occupied Zaporizhzhya NPP who left the plant’s territory will take part in the construction of the units.
“By the end of the year, if everything goes well with the law, we plan to increase the number of people to 2,000 directly at the unit, most of them will be from ZNPP,” he said.
As reported, in July 2023, the Bulgarian parliament delegated the country’s energy minister to hold talks with the head of the Ukrainian Energy Ministry on the possibility of selling equipment intended for the Belene NPP to Kyiv. Bulgaria abandoned the project in 2012.
Earlier, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said that the construction of Khmelnytsky NPP units 3-4 would add 2.2 GW to the power system to compensate for the loss of power capacity due to the war.
The Turkish company Anadolu Isuzu will supply new low-floor buses to Mykolaivpastans for a total of EUR 4.5 million as part of the Urban Public Transport of Ukraine project funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The announcement of the award of the contract based on the results of the tender was published in an annex to the Official Journal of the EU, which AllTransUA refers to.
The number of buses is not specified, however, as reported, in July 2023, the Chernihiv Automobile Plant of the Etalon Corporation stated that it had offered 55 buses for this amount, while two Turkish companies offered 26 and 28 units, respectively.
As reported, the terms of the tender provide for the supply of diesel-powered buses with a length of 8.2 m to 10.5 m, including basic and consumable spare parts, equipment and tools for maintenance and repair, and related services.
The buses must have a passenger capacity of at least 60 people, including at least 24 seats (plus one wheelchair space).
The first batch of buses should be delivered no later than five months from the date of receipt of the advance payment by the supplier, and the contract should be completed in 12 months.
Mykolaivpastrans announced the tender on April 5, 2023, as part of the resumption of cooperation with the EIB under the Urban Public Transport of Ukraine project.
In turn, in April this year, Kyivpastrans signed a contract with the same Turkish company for the supply of 12-meter fully low-floor buses for EUR 18.595 million (approximately up to 85 units) with EIB funding.
Ukrainian bus manufacturers have repeatedly noted that they are either unable to participate in EIB tenders due to the conditions or prefer foreign bidders.
The AM Best rating agency has revised its outlook for the global reinsurance industry sector from stable to positive, citing expectations of high reinsurer profitability, according to the AM Best website.
Despite the slowdown in reinsurance rate growth, underwriting discipline remains strong and profitability remains high enough to cover higher loss activity, as evidenced by the recently published Best’s Segment Outlook.
At the same time, it is emphasized that AM Best’s outlook for the global reinsurance market is positive for the first time in several years.
“Demand for insurance coverage remains strong due to increasing activity in natural catastrophe losses and general economic uncertainty,” said Carlos Wong-Fupui, senior director of AM Best. “We have also taken into account expectations of a slower decline in interest rates than originally anticipated, which is likely to support strong earnings in the short term.”
It is also noted that the reinsurance portfolios of the largest players continue to expand due to a combination of higher reinsurance rates and increased demand. Although the loss ratios in the first quarter of 2024 were affected by large losses, in particular the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, the insurance margin and annual return on capital remain high.
AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in more than 100 countries and has regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed with Kenyan President William Ruto the creation of hubs for Ukrainian grain in African ports.
“Held a meeting with the President of Kenya William Ruto. Thank you for participation in the Peace Summit and a principled position of support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” – wrote Zelensky in his Telegram channel on Sunday night.
The Ukrainian head of state noted that at the meeting they discussed food security issues, which are very important for both countries, the development of Ukrainian-Kenyan relations and projects in the field of agricultural exports.
In addition, the parties considered the possible participation of Kenya in the creation of hubs for Ukrainian grain in African ports.
AFRICA, hubs, President of Kenya, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE, UKRAINIAN GRAIN
