Latest news with #VanDamme
NBC News
5 days ago
- NBC News
Millions of years of evolution could be wiped out on 'Galapagos of the Indian Ocean,' conservationists warn
Sitting off the Horn of Africa, the Yemeni island of Socotra was largely left to its own devices for centuries, its few guests arriving to trade for aromatic frankincense, the healing plant aloe and the crimson sap of the dragon's blood tree, used for dyes. Roughly the size of New York's Long Island, Socotra is about 140 miles off the coast of Somalia, a remote location that has allowed a unique ecosystem to flourish. It has a rich array of bird and animal life, and the coral reefs off its shores teem with colorful marine of its 825 plant species cannot be found anywhere else on Earth, according to UNESCO. Some, including conservationist Kay Van Damme, have called it the Galápagos of the Indian Ocean and along with other experts, he is warning that millions of years of evolution on Socotra could be under 'serious threat.' 'Climate change is by far the biggest threat to the island's biodiversity,' Van Damme, who has worked on Socotra for more than two decades, told NBC News in a call last month. 'It is a relatively small island with a predominantly arid climate. Even small additional impacts from climate change can have an outsized effect, putting further pressure on fragile ecosystems.' Prolonged droughts brought on by climate change are compounding damage from devastating cyclones in 2015 and 2018 that destroyed reefs, eroded soil and uprooted rare plants. The island's lifeblood, endemic species of frankincense trees, are also under threat. Four of the 11 recognized species on the island were classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in March. Five were recognized as endangered.'Their decline reflects the wider degradation of terrestrial habitats across the island and the ecosystems they support,' said Van Damme, adding that overgrazing — predominantly from goats — is another significant challenge, leading to habitat degradation and 'leaving behind overmature trees with fewer younger trees to replace them.' Tourism's growing footprint Attracted by Socotra's pristine beaches, turquoise waters and surreal flora, tourists are also placing mounting pressure on the island's fragile ecosystem. While there is only a handful of hotels, mostly in the capital Hadibo, a growing number of tour operators offer luxury camping and 4x4 tours around the island, some of which are packaged as ecotourism. Authorities have agreed to limit the number of tourists to around 4,500 per year, Ali Yahya, a local conservationist and tour operator, said in an interview last month, adding that when it came to 'very sensitive areas in terms of ecosystems, biodiversity and cultural heritage, it's strictly not allowed to build any big buildings or large-scale hotels.' But despite Socotra's UNESCO World Heritage designation — requiring preservation under international agreements — violations occur frequently, another local guide, Abdulraoof al-Gamhi, said in a series of voice and written messages last month. 'Some tourists build fires under dragon blood trees, carve inscriptions into rare trees, leave trash behind them and scare birds with their drones,' he said. But he added that many of the island's residents benefit from tourism and that it is 'very important' for 'tour companies, car owners, drivers, restaurants, hotels and sellers of handcrafts.' Echoing his concerns, Van Damme also said endangered species were 'being killed just for a selfie,' with rare species like chameleons being captured so tourists can take pictures with them. Al-Gamhi also said he expected the number of tourists to rise as more people discover the unique locale, and 'that will put a lot of pressure on our environment.' 'It will be a big challenge,' he added. A cautionary tale Although the Galápagos comparison is often used to celebrate Socotra's biodiversity, it can also serve as a warning, according to Van Damme, who co-authored a 2011 study on human impacts on the island. Since the 19th century, the Galápagos, remote islands some 600 miles off the coast of mainland Ecuador known for their unique flora and fauna, have lost numerous endemic species to habitat disruption, overtourism and invasive species. 'Perhaps Socotran ecosystems,' Van Damme wrote at the time, 'could now be considered as having at least, a similar state of health of those in the Galápagos at the time of [the Ecuadorian islands'] nomination as world heritage site 30 years ago.' He added that Socotra risked a similar fate without 'timely conservation efforts.' 'If we consider the present-day condition in the Galápagos, we might catch a glimpse of Socotra's future, or better, what could happen if trends and threats continue in parallel,' the paper added. That assessment 'turned out to be very predictive,' particularly in terms of climate change, he told NBC News. The Galápagos Islands now host over 250,000 annual visitors, under strict controls including visitor caps, mandatory guides, designated trails and substantial tourism fees, which fund conservation. Socotra needs to implement similar protections before damage becomes irreversible, Van Damme said. Culture and tradition Beyond the environment, there are signs that tourism is also eroding the island's social fabric, according to Yahya, who said there was already a 'cultural shift' among its 60,000 residents, many of whom remain deeply traditional and speak Soqotri, an ancient, unwritten language with pre-Islamic roots. 'International behaviors are influencing locals, and we worry about the erosion of our traditions,' he said, adding that while tourists were welcome, some of them needed to be more respectful. An Instagram picture of a woman posing in a bikini beneath a dragon's blood tree had upset residents of one mountain village, he said, adding that it was seen as highly disrespectful by the conservative residents. Despite the pressures, there are reasons to be positive, Van Damme said, noting that authorities on the island are open to collaboration and local conservation projects are gaining traction. 'Community-led and other ongoing initiatives are vital,' he said. 'As long as they continue, there's genuine hope for the island's future.'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Not Lovin' It: McDonald's Suffers Third Downgrade in as Many Trading Days
Could GLP-1 weight loss drugs and changing economic winds really take a bite out of the almighty Big Mac? Analyst after analyst after analyst seems to think so, as Redburn Atlantic on Tuesday became the third firm in as many trading days to downgrade McDonald's stock, often heralded as recession-proof. READ ALSO: Meta's Scoping Out a Superintelligence Lab and Robinhood, AppLovin Locked Out of S&P 500 Yet Again For years, McDonald's has been like the Dennis Rodman of the market. No, not for the ear piercings or the wild publicity antics or the Van Damme action movie: for being possibly the best defensive stock in the business. Shares in the fast food company outperformed the market in the 12 months leading up to all five recessions in the past 40 years and in the majority of recessionary periods that followed. With 41,000 locations, its massive scale allows it to set competitive prices, and 90% of its locations are franchises, meaning it obtained that scale with minimal capital investment. That has allowed McDonald's to focus on its chief proposition to customers: value. The sudden spate of downgrades, however, has called into question whether both behavioral and financial realities could erode the defensive prowess of the Golden Arches by rendering that proposition insufficient on its own: First under threat is McDonald's value proposition to consumers worried about the economy. McDonald's has seen same-store sales drop in the US for two straight quarters, with a 3.6% dip in the latest period and executives flagging even more concerning 10% drop-offs in traffic from lower- and middle-income consumers in the same period. On top of that, Redburn Atlantic analysts argued as they double-downgraded McDonald's from 'buy' to 'sell' on Tuesday, there are 'new behavioral challenges': the proliferation of glucagon-like peptide-1 drugs such as Ozempic, they said, could have a 'cumulative' impact on the chain's business, noting 'a 1% drag today could easily build to 10% or more over time.' There's also, according to Morgan Stanley analysts, a threat to McDonald's value proposition to investors: They pointed out on Monday upon their downgrade of the stock that the fast food chain is trading at nearly 25 times this year's earnings estimates. Compare that with Burger King-owner Restaurant Brands, Wendy's and Jack in the Box, which trade at 19, 12, and 4 times earnings estimates, respectively. An ongoing 'value war' among these and other chains, they noted, also means McDonald's 'pricing power has eroded,' reducing its leverage against its bargain-priced competitors. What Others Are Saying: Loop Capital, which downgraded McDonald's on Friday, cited negative feedback about the company's new chicken strips. Other words on the street might not bode well for business either. In April, Pepsico CEO Ramon Laguarta said GLP-1 consumers were 'keeping our brands in their repertoire, probably in a smaller portion,' hinting that food brands might have to cope with less consumptive consumers. Campbell's CEO Mick Beekhuizen said earlier this month that the budget-friendly canned goods company is observing people eating at home the most since the start of the pandemic in 2020. McDonald's shares fell 1.4% on Tuesday, paring this year's gains to 2.7%. Still, if you don't believe in the Cramer curse, CNBC clairvoyant Jim Cramer says the analysts betting against the Golden Arches are wrong. This post first appeared on The Daily Upside. To receive delivering razor sharp analysis and perspective on all things finance, economics, and markets, subscribe to our free The Daily Upside newsletter. Sign in to access your portfolio
Euronews
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Jean-Claude Van Damme asks Putin for ambassadorial job and sends 'big kiss' to Russia
ADVERTISEMENT Actor and former bodybuilder Jean-Claude Van Damme has addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin in a strange new video message published on Telegram by pro-Russian Ukraine-born journalist Diana Panchenko. Panchenko has been accused of treason by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) in 2023. Van Damme said in the video that he was ready to come to Russia and become 'an ambassador of peace'. "We want to come to Russia. We will try to do this the way you want to do this, to be an ambassador of peace. I would love to be... I would be honourred to have this title…' The action star then recounted a protracted anecdote about how he and Putin met in Sochi at a martial arts event and how their shoes touched. He indeed visited Russia in 2010 and in 2007, when he attended a reception in St. Petersburg (see picture below). The Muscles from Brussels concluded the video by saying: "Let's do this. Ambassador of peace. We won't talk politics – only about peace, sport and happiness. We love you.' At the end of the appeal, Van Damme blew a kiss to Russia and sent 'a big kiss to Putin and his family.' Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Jean Claude Van Damme and Vladimir Putin attend a reception in St. Petersburg, Russia - 14 April 2007 AP Photo Tasteless declarations of love aside, Van Damme hit headlines earlier this month when he was accused of allegedly meeting with several people under investigation for sex trafficking crimes – people who offered to let him have sex with five Romanian models as a "gift." The Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) reportedly filed a criminal complaint against the Belgian actor, with this alleged incident having taken place in Cannes. No timeframe was noted. Adrian Cuculis, the lawyer of one of the alleged victims, stated: 'At an event organised by Jean-Claude Van Damme in Cannes, several Romanians, who are currently under investigation for forming a criminal group and pimping, allegedly offered Jean-Claude Van Damme five Romanian women - photo models in Romania - for sex.' He added: 'The person who received these services was aware of their condition.' Van Damme has denied the accusations of knowingly engaging in sexual relations with women he knew to be trafficked, with the actor's agent calling the claims 'unfounded'. 'We have become aware of articles alleging an alleged affair in Cannes involving Mr Jean-Claude Van Damme,' Patrick Goavec said in a statement. 'The reported facts are both grotesque and non-existent. Mr Van Damme does not wish to comment or fuel this rumour, which is as absurd as it is unfounded.'
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jean-Claude Van Damme asks Putin for ambassadorial job and sends 'big kiss' to Russia
Actor and former bodybuilder Jean-Claude Van Damme has addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin in a strange new video message published on Telegram by pro-Russian Ukraine-born journalist Diana Panchenko. Panchenko has been accused of treason by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) in 2023. Van Damme said in the video that he was ready to come to Russia and become 'an ambassador of peace'. "We want to come to Russia. We will try to do this the way you want to do this, to be an ambassador of peace. I would love to be... I would be honourred to have this title…' The action star then recounted a protracted anecdote about how he and Putin met in Sochi at a martial arts event and how their shoes touched. He indeed visited Russia in 2010 and in 2007, when he attended a reception in St. Petersburg (see picture below). The Muscles from Brussels concluded the video by saying: "Let's do this. Ambassador of peace. We won't talk politics – only about peace, sport and happiness. We love you.' At the end of the appeal, Van Damme blew a kiss to Russia and sent 'a big kiss to Putin and his family.' Tasteless declarations of love aside, Van Damme hit headlines earlier this month when he was accused of allegedly meeting with several people under investigation for sex trafficking crimes – people who offered to let him have sex with five Romanian models as a "gift." The Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) reportedly filed a criminal complaint against the Belgian actor, with this alleged incident having taken place in Cannes. No timeframe was noted. Adrian Cuculis, the lawyer of one of the alleged victims, stated: 'At an event organised by Jean-Claude Van Damme in Cannes, several Romanians, who are currently under investigation for forming a criminal group and pimping, allegedly offered Jean-Claude Van Damme five Romanian women - photo models in Romania - for sex.' He added: 'The person who received these services was aware of their condition.' Van Damme has denied the accusations of knowingly engaging in sexual relations with women he knew to be trafficked, with the actor's agent calling the claims 'unfounded'. 'We have become aware of articles alleging an alleged affair in Cannes involving Mr Jean-Claude Van Damme,' Patrick Goavec said in a statement. 'The reported facts are both grotesque and non-existent. Mr Van Damme does not wish to comment or fuel this rumour, which is as absurd as it is unfounded.'
Fox News
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Jean-Claude Van Damme hits back at 'grotesque' sex trafficking allegations
Jean-Claude Van Damme called the sex-trafficking allegations against him "absurd" and "grotesque." Van Damme has been accused of knowingly engaging in a sexual encounter with a group of sex-trafficked women, according to multiple reports. "We have become aware of articles alleging an alleged affair in Cannes involving Mr. Jean-Claude Van Damme. The reported facts are both grotesque and non-existent," Patrick Goavec, the actor's agent, told Fox News Digital. "Mr. Van Damme does not wish to comment or fuel this rumor, which is as absurd as it is unfounded," the statement concluded. The statement has been translated from French. A criminal complaint against Van Damme detailing the allegations was filed with the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), Romanian outlet Antena 3 reported. "Several Romanians who are currently being investigated for forming a criminal group and pimping, allegedly offered Jean-Claude Van Damme five Romanian women – photo models in Romania – for him to have sexual relations with. The person who received those benefits knew their condition," attorney Adrian Cuculis told the outlet. The alleged encounter occurred in Cannes, where Van Damme received a "gift" of five Romanian women and reportedly knew they were victims of a sex-trafficking ring. Cuculis explained that the women "were in a state of vulnerability" with "suspicion that they were exploited," according to Atena 3. The next step in the case would be for the High Court of Cassation in France to sign off on criminal proceedings before each suspect would be required to give statements in Romania. Van Damme gained fame in the '80s with his breakout role in "Bloodsport." The Belgian actor quickly became known for his action films, including "Universal Soldier," "Double Impact," "Street Fighter" and "Kickboxer." The 64-year-old movie star has two projects currently in pre-production after starring in "The Gardener" in 2025.
