Top UN official lauds Pakistan’s record tree planting

UNITED NATIONS: The top UN environment official has lauded Pakistan’s efforts in setting a Guinness World Record for planting over 500,000 trees in one day, part of the South Asian nation’s pledge in the global Billion Tree Campaign.

In the record-breaking feat, 541,176 young mangrove saplings were planted in 24 hours by 300 volunteers on 15 July without using any mechanical equipment in the vast wetlands of the Indus River Delta in Thatta District, according to a news release issued by the Nairobi-based UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

The event was part of Pakistan’s pledge to plant 120 million trees in UNEP’s Billion Tree Campaign, which seeks to plant seven billion trees ‘or one for every person on the planet, with a bit to spare’ by the end of 2009.

‘The Billion Tree Campaign has been setting records since it was launched in 2006 as one avenue and conduit for global public concern over climate change’ noted UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

He added that Pakistan’s Guinness World Record will contribute to the goal of seven billion trees by December, when world leaders gather for the UN climate change conference in Denmark to ‘seal the deal’ on a new global pact to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which contains legally binding targets for reducing emissions.

‘I am ever more confident that this record can be broken too and inspire governments to seal the deal in Copenhagen in December,’ Steiner added.

With the destruction of natural forests emitting more greenhouse gases every year than the transport sector, planting trees ‘which absorb carbon dioxide and store nearly 300 gigatonnes of carbon in their biomass ‘ is a crucial defence in the fight against global warming.

Mangroves, which are being cut down in Pakistan and other countries for fodder, fuel and timber, are particularly useful in carbon sequestration. In addition to providing a breeding ground for fish and other wildlife, mangroves protect coastlines from erosion as well as tsunamis.

The previous record for the most trees planted in a single day was held by India with 447,874 trees, UNEP noted. — APP

SCIENCE & TECH: Swiss seek Pope’s blessing to stop glacier melting

ZURICH: After centuries of praying for a local glacier to stop growing, Swiss villagers are now seeking an audience with Pope Benedict to get his blessing for prayers against the global warming that is causing it to recede.

In 1678, the inhabitants of the Alpine villages of Fieschertal and Fiesch made a formal vow to live virtuously and to pray against the growth of the Aletsch glacier, Europe's longest, which had caused a lake to flood into their homes.

To reinforce their prayers, they started holding an annual procession in 1862, when the glacier reached its longest during the mini-Ice Age Europe suffered in the mid-19th century.

But the villages now want to seek permission from Pope Benedict to change their vow as the glacier is melting fast due to climate change and have requested an audience with him.

'The residents of Fiesch and Fischertal hope that this will happen in September or October and are optimistic that the Holy Father will decide in their favour as he has repeatedly spoken out about climate change,' they said in a statement.

Switzerland's glaciers shrank by 12 percent over the past decade, melting at their fastest rate due to rising temperatures and lighter snowfalls, a recent study showed.

Glaciers are a key source of water for hydro-electric plants in Switzerland as well as an important tourist attraction.

Researchers are predicting that the temperatures in the Swiss Alps will rise by 1.8 degrees Celsius in winter and by 2.7 degrees Celsius in the summer by 2050. -Reuters

SPORTS: Australia in danger of slipping to fourth in ICC Test rankings

LEEDS: Australia stand to lose substantially more than their aura over the next month.An Ashes series defeat would precipitate a stunning fall from grace by relegating Ricky Ponting’s men to fourth place on the ICC Test ladder behind South Africa, Sri Lanka and India.

A drawn series will place them second after Graeme Smith’s men. Either rain or England could seal Australia’s demise in the coming weeks.

The tourists require victory at both Headingley and The Oval to retain their No 1 Test ranking, but a bleak weather forecast for Yorkshire could greatly reduce their chances of forcing a result in the fourth Test.

Not since 2003, when South Africa held the ICC Test mace for a four-month period, have Australia occupied a place anywhere other than the pinnacle of Test cricket.

South Africa made clear their intentions to recapture the No 1 ranking when they defeated Australia in a Test series for the first time in 16 years last summer, but Australia’s stirring riposte on South African soil provided them with a degree of breathing room.

Australia have won just five of their past 14 Tests, three of which were against the South Africans, and their inability to register a victory in the first three Tests of the Ashes series has drawn Smith’s side to within two points of the top ranking.

Mickey Arthur, who so very nearly engineered Australia’s overthrow earlier this year, was adamant his side was worthy of recognition as the world’s premier Test side, even if rain proves the deciding factor.

‘I have been following the rankings a little bit, and I don’t think we would be out of place at all [with the No 1 ranking] if that was to happen,’ Arthur said.

‘We have played some very solid cricket over the past 18 months. We defeated England, Australia and Pakistan away, and we are certainly proud of that. But whatever happens, I think what is clear is that there is very little now between us, Australia, India and even England. That’s healthy for the game.’ Arthur has been underwhelmed by Australia’s performances over the course of the Ashes, having previously predicted them to comfortably account for England.

The South African coach queried the move to overlook the dependable Stuart Clark for the first three Tests of the series, and expressed surprise at Australia’s general inability to combat pressurised situations.

Like Andrew Strauss, Arthur feels the Australians have lost their aura, but warned England against underestimating them in the final two Tests of the Ashes series.

‘I do agree with Andrew in that the Australians have looked susceptible when placed under pressure,’ Arthur said. ‘With Australian sides of old, you could try and place all the pressure in the world on them and they would come through it unscathed more often than not. This younger side has shown the odd crack in those situations, and we saw that when we won many of the big moments when we played them in Australia. The aura has gone a little bit.

‘Their bowling attack has disappointed me. I’m not surprised that they have tried to stick with the fast bowlers who did the job in South Africa, but I was at the move not to play Clark, especially with [Mitchell] Johnson and [Peter] Siddle leaking runs.’—Agencies

Alonso completes Real Madrid move

MADRID: Midfielder Xabi Alonso completed his transfer to big-spending Real Madrid from Liverpool on Wednesday.

Alonso passed his routine medical to become Madrid's eighth signing in a euro254 million ($365 million) spending spree since Florentino Perez returned to the club presidency in June.

Liverpool will receive a reported fee of euro30 million ($43 million) for the 27-year-old Spain international, who has signed a five-year contract.

‘It's a really important step in my career. I'm very happy to form part of this club and let's hope it all goes well,’ Alonso was quoted as saying by news agency Europa Press.

Alonso made his first appearance as a Madrid player on Wednesday at the club's training ground for a session with his new teammates. The club said he would be officially presented at an evening news conference.

The Basque midfielder will travel with the team on its two-game North American exhibition tour.

Madrid plays at Toronto FC on Friday and against D.C. United on Sunday, ahead of its league opener against Deportivo La Coruna on Aug. 29 or 30.

Madrid hopes Alonso's organisational skills will help balance an offensive lineup which includes newcomers Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema.

The club aims to avoid the mistakes of Perez's previous presidency when _ despite the presence of ‘galacticos’ David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and Luis Figo _ the team lacked cohesion and endured a trophy drought from 2003-06, its worst run for over 50 years.

‘I will try to do what I know how, provide teammates with someone to pass to, balance the team and get the ball to move from one side to another,’ Alonso said.

Madrid's director general Jorge Valdano has said Alonso will be Madrid's final signing of an offseason in which it bought Ronaldo from Manchester United for a world-record fee of euro94 million ($135 million), Kaka from AC Milan for euro65 million ($93.5 million) and Benzema from Lyon for euro35 million ($50 million).

The powerhouse is aiming to return to the top of the game after its bitter rival Barcelona enjoyed the most successful ever campaign by a Spanish club by winning the Champions League and the domestic league and cup last season.

‘It's a project aimed at doing big things. I think the formula which has been adopted is a good one, with Spanish players who know each other and adding some world-class players,’ Alonso said.

Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez said Wednesday that Alonso asked to leave Liverpool in May and then pushed for a move by submitting a transfer request.

Alonso joined Liverpool in 2004 from Real Sociedad and helped the English club win the Champions League the following year with a goal against AC Milan in the final. At international level, he helped Spain become European champion in 2008.

At Madrid, Alonso will join former Liverpool teammates Alvaro Arbeloa, who moved to Real last week, and goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek.

Alonso thanked the Liverpool supporters for their support. ‘I'm really grateful to them. My five years there have been fantastic. It will be really difficult to match what they have given me,’ he said.

Liverpool, which finished runner-up to Manchester United in the Premier League last season, has agreed to sign AS Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani as Alonso's replacement.

US to issue a record $75bln in 3Q

WASHINGTON: The Treasury Department on Wednesday said it will raise a record $75 billion in a series of auctions next week to help deal with the government’s soaring debt.

The $75 billion surpasses the $71 billion record set in the prior three-month period. It is part of total borrowing needs for the July-September quarter that the government estimates will hit $406 billion.

The projected borrowing, while significant, is below the record $530 billion it borrowed in the same period in 2008.

The department also said it expects to issue Treasury inflation-indexed securities, or TIPS, more frequently next year and ‘will consider replacing 20-year TIPS with 30-year TIPS.’ Any changes to that program will be announced in November.

The upcoming quarterly refunding will include auctions of $37 billion in three-year notes, $23 billion in 10-year notes and $15 billion in 30-year bonds.

Treasury also said the government will hit the current debt limit of $12.1 trillion in the fourth quarter. While its existing suite of securities ‘is sufficient to address our borrowing needs; market participants should expect auction sizes to continue to rise in a gradual manner over the medium term.’

Treasury already this year has tripled the frequency of auctions for 30-year bonds to 12 times annually from four.

The huge amounts of borrowing reflect the government’s soaring budget deficits, which are being driven by the costs of financing the $700 billion financial rescue program and the impact of longest recession since World War II. Increased spending from the Obama administration’s $787 billion stimulus package and lower tax receipts will drive borrowing in the near future, Treasury said.

The economic slump has cut sharply into tax revenue and boosted government spending for benefit programs such as unemployment insurance and food stamps.

Treasury also said earlier this week that it borrowed $343 billion in the April-June quarter, less than the $361 billion it projected in April but still a record for that period.

The improvements — at least compared with last year’s record levels — are due to several factors, including the repayment of $70 billion in June by 10 large banks and a number of smaller ones as part of the federal bailout program.

Treasury also said it expects to borrow $486 billion in the October-December quarter, down from a record $569 billion in the same period last year.

The White House projects the deficit will hit $1.85 trillion for the budget year ending Sept. 30, a record that would quadruple last year’s all-time high gap of $455 billion. — AP