SYRIA UPDATE

Syria condemns statements of US Senator Lindsey Graham regarding occupied Syrian Golan

Syria condemns in the strongest of terms the statements made by US Senator Lindsey Graham regarding occupied Syrian Golan, an official source at the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said on Tuesday. The source said that these statements show the arrogant mentality of the US administration and that it views the region’s issues with “Zionist eyes” in a manner that serves Israeli interests.

https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=160819

Syria and Russia Repeat Calls for al-Rukban to be Opened

In a joint statement, the Russian and Syrian coordination committees overseeing the return of displaced Syrians called on the US to immediately evacuate the civilians suffering the most, namely the sick, the elderly, women and children.

The statement said the US forces’ strict refusal to cooperate is preventing the residents of the camp from returning to their original places of residence, all while the US claim that they are not preventing the displaced from leaving the camp in a clear case of misdirection and hypocrisy.

https://syrianobserver.com/EN/news/49073/syria-and-russia-repeat-calls-for-al-rukban-to-be-opened.html

Militants Continue Attacking Syrian Army Positions Near Idlib Despite Turkish Patrols In Demilitarized Zone (Map)

A brief overview of the recent developments in the area:

Pro-militant sources claim that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham raided several government-linked “cells” in Idlib city;

Clashes between militants and pro-government forces were reported in the Research Center and the Lirmun district in the Aleppo countryside;

The M5 highway remained closed despite previous claims that Turkish forces are going to work to propel its reopening;

The Turkish Army conducted patrols in the demilitarized zone in northern Hama and southeastern Idlib. Despite this, ceasefire violations continue;

Government forces reportedly shelled the militant-held town of Kafrniji;

Two civilians were reportedly killed in an artillery strike by government forces on the village of Telmans;

https://southfront.org/militants-continue-to-attack-syrian-army-positions-near-idlib-despite-turkish-patrols-in-demilitarized-zone-map/

Russian Airstrikes Pound Idleb

The bombing comes despite Russian and Turkish troops beginning joint patrols in and around Syria’s Idleb with hopes the agreement could ease shelling on the province.

https://syrianobserver.com/EN/news/49066/russian-airstrikes-pound-idleb.html

Military Situation In Syria On March 12, 2019 (Map Update)

Members of Liwa al-Quds finished a training course under a supervision of Rusisa-linked private military contractors in Aleppo;

At least 100 people, including multiple children, died in the al-Hol refugee camp or en rote to it;

The humanitarian crisis in al-Rukban continues to develop;

Unknown persons reportedly assassinated a commander of the air force detachment in eastern Daraa;

Alleged ISIS members killed 3 SDF fighters in south of Raqqah city;

Pro-militant sources claim that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham raided several government-linked “cells” in Idlib city.

https://southfront.org/military-situation-in-syria-on-march-12-2019-map-update/

Authorities find mines and explosive devices, left by Daesh in al-Sukhna, Palmyra

An expert in dismantling the mines told SANA that the authorities found a big quantity of mines and explosive devices, of different volumes and kinds that weigh between 50-100 kg, all filled with C4 and TNT.

https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=160840

>>5647385

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Study Shows Air Pollution Leads to Extra 8.8 Million Deaths Globally Each Year

Air pollution causes 790,000 premature deaths annually in Europe, double the number quoted by recent World Health Organization (WHO) assessments, according to a study published Tuesday in the European Heart Journal.

The researchers used a model to simulate atmospheric chemical processes and "interactions with the hand, oceans and biosphere," according to the study, to determine the global exposure of the population to air pollution in the year 2015. Although the study focused on Europe, statistical models were used to extend the findings to other parts of the world, leading to a worldwide figure of 8.8 million premature deaths each year.

According to the researchers, between 40 and 80 percent of deaths from ambient air pollution in Europe are due to cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes. In addition, the report found that air pollution reduces the mean life expectancy in Europe by 2.2 years.

"This means that air pollution causes more extra deaths a year than tobacco smoking, which the WHO estimates was responsible for an extra 7.2 million deaths in 2015," senior author Thomas Munzel, a professor at the University Medical Centre Mainz in Germany, told AFP.

"The number of deaths from cardiovascular disease that can be attributed to air pollution is much higher than expected. In Europe alone, the excess number of deaths is nearly 800,000 a year, and each of these deaths represents an average reduction in life expectancy of more than two years… Smoking is avoidable, but air pollution is not," he added.

In May 2018, the WHO estimated that air pollution in cities and rural areas had resulted in 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide in 2016.

The recent study published in the European Heart Journal also found that most deaths were caused by fine particulate matter, or PM2.5. PM2.5 consists of microscopic solids and liquid droplets in the air that are so small they can be inhaled and even absorbed by the bloodstream, according to the WHO.

The current average annual limit for PM2.5 in Europe is 25 micrograms per cubic meter, which is 2.5 times greater than the WHO guideline of 10 microgram per cubic meter.

https://sputniknews.com/environment/201903131073178388-study-shows-air-pollutions-lead-deaths-globally/

Research findings docs:

https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehz135/5372326