Latest news with #AleksandarRankovic
LeMonde
17 hours ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
Global plastic pollution treaty talks extended in 'haze' of confusion
Talks on striking a global treaty on combating plastic pollution were extended an extra day into Friday, August 15, but with no clear endgame in sight. Ten days of negotiations at the United Nations in Geneva were due to wrap up on Thursday, but with 23 minutes of the day left, the talks were prolonged. However, after a day of frantic negotiations, there were few signs that rival country blocs were any closer to bridging their differences and striking a text on dealing with the scourge of plastic that pollutes land, oceans and people's bodies. "As consultations of my revised draft text are still ongoing, this plenary is therefore adjourned, to be convened on August 15, 2025, at a time to be announced," talks chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso said before gavelling the session closed. The plenary session – bringing all 185 negotiating countries together in the UN Palais des Nations' main assembly hall – lasted less than a minute, with shocked reactions among the delegates packing the room. 'Complete haze' "It's such a mess. I've never seen that. The room is full of people standing, trying to understand what's going on," Aleksandar Rankovic from The Common Initiative think-tank, told AFP. "It smells like no deal." "The room is very discontented," he added, but "even if people don't believe that a deal is achievable this time, they also might want to be pushing the text in their direction up to the very last minute." Throughout the day, Ecuadorian diplomat Vayas was doing the rounds between regional delegations, trying to stitch together a consensus agreement following a botched attempt on Wednesday. "We are in a complete haze. We've got the impression something is missing," a diplomatic source in one of the regional delegations told AFP. During the long hours of waiting, backroom negotiations and informal meetings, one head of delegation told AFP they were convinced there would be another "compromise" text coming, while another, from another continent, despaired at seeing "neither text nor process," fearing a complete failure of the long negotiations that began more than two years ago in Nairobi. Elusive middle ground After three years of negotiations, nations wanting bold action to turn the tide on plastic garbage were trying to build last-minute bridges with a group of oil-producing states. "We need to have a coherent global treaty. We can't do it on our own," said Environment Minister Deborah Barasa of Kenya, a member of the High Ambition Coalition seeking aggressive action on plastic waste. Barasa told AFP that nations could strike a treaty now, then work out some of the finer details down the line. "We need to come to a middle ground," she said. "And then we can have a step-wise approach in terms of building up this treaty... and ending plastic pollution." "We need to leave with the treaty," she added. Back-to-back regional and cross-regional groups huddled in meetings throughout Thursday. The High Ambition Coalition, which includes the European Union, Britain and Canada, and many African and Latin American countries, wants to see language on reducing plastic production and the phasing out of toxic chemicals used in plastics. A cluster of mostly oil-producing states calling themselves the Like-Minded Group – including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia, Iran, and Malaysia – want the treaty to focus primarily on waste management. Macron's call to action The plastic pollution problem is so ubiquitous that microplastics have been found on the highest mountain peaks, in the deepest ocean trench and scattered throughout almost every part of the human body. On current trends, annual production of fossil-fuel-based plastics will nearly triple by 2060 to 1.2 billion tonnes, while waste will exceed one billion tonnes, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. With 15 million metric tons of plastic dumped in the ocean every minute, French President Emmanuel Macron asked: "What are we waiting for to act?" "I urge all states gathered in Geneva to adopt an agreement that truly meets the scale of this environmental and public health emergency," he posted on X.
RTÉ News
19 hours ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Global plastic pollution treaty talks extended
Talks on striking a global treaty on combating plastic pollution were extended an extra day with no clear endgame in sight. Ten days of negotiations at the United Nations in Geneva were due to wrap up yesterday but with 23 minutes of the day left, the talks were prolonged. However, after a day of frantic negotiations, there were few signs that rival country blocs were any closer to bridging their differences and striking a text on dealing with the scourge of plastic that pollutes land, oceans and people's bodies. "As consultations of my revised draft text are still ongoing, this plenary is therefore adjourned, to be convened on 15 August 2025, at a time to be announced," talks chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso said before gavelling the session closed. The plenary session - bringing all 185 negotiating countries together in the UN Palais des Nations' main assembly hall - lasted less than a minute, with shocked reactions among the delegates packing the room. 'Complete haze' "It's such a mess. I've never seen that. The room is full of people standing, trying to understand what's going on," Aleksandar Rankovic from The Common Initiative think-tank, told AFP. "It smells like no deal. The room is very discontented," he said, but "even if people don't believe that a deal is achievable this time, they also might want to be pushing the text in their direction up to the very last minute". Throughout the day, Ecuadoran diplomat Mr Vayas was doing the rounds between regional delegations, trying to stitch together a consensus agreement following a botched attempt on Wednesday. "We are in a complete haze. We've got the impression something is missing," a diplomatic source in one of the regional delegations told AFP. During the long hours of waiting, backroom negotiations and informal meetings, one head of delegation told AFP they were convinced there would be another "compromise" text coming, while another, from another continent, despaired at seeing "neither text nor process", fearing a complete failure of the long negotiations that began more than two years ago in Nairobi. Elusive middle ground After three years of negotiations, nations wanting bold action to turn the tide on plastic garbage were trying to build last-minute bridges with a group of oil-producing states. "We need to have a coherent global treaty. We can't do it on our own," said Environment Minister Deborah Barasa of Kenya, a member of the High Ambition Coalition seeking aggressive action on plastic waste. Ms Barasa told AFP that nations could strike a treaty now, then work out some of the finer details down the line. "We need to come to a middle ground," she said. "And then we can have a step-wise approach in terms of building up this treaty and ending plastic pollution." "We need to leave with the treaty," she added. Back-to-back regional and cross-regional groups huddled in meetings throughout yesterday. The High Ambition Coalition, which includes the European Union, Britain and Canada, and many African and Latin American countries, wants to see language on reducing plastic production and the phasing out of toxic chemicals used in plastics. A cluster of mostly oil-producing states calling themselves the Like-Minded Group - including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia, Iran, and Malaysia - want the treaty to focus primarily on waste management. Macron's call to action The plastic pollution problem is so ubiquitous that microplastics have been found on the highest mountain peaks, in the deepest ocean trench and scattered throughout almost every part of the human body. On current trends, annual production of fossil-fuel-based plastics will nearly triple by 2060 to 1.2 billion tonnes, while waste will exceed one billion tonnes, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. With 15 million tonnes of plastic dumped in the ocean every minute, French President Emmanuel Macron asked: "What are we waiting for to act?" "I urge all states gathered in Geneva to adopt an agreement that truly meets the scale of this environmental and public health emergency," he posted on X.
Independent Singapore
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Independent Singapore
Lion City Sailors bolster squad with Safuwan loan deal, extends coach Rankovic's contract
SINGAPORE: Singapore Premier League champions Lion City Sailors have strengthened their squad ahead of the new season, signing national defender Safuwan Baharudin, and extending the contracts of head coach Aleksandar Rankovic and Portuguese left-back Diogo Costa. Head coach Rankovic was offered a two-year extension with the club, as the Sailors are looking to continue building on the strong foundation laid during a historic 2024-2025 season, including leading the club to the final of the inaugural Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two. The Sailors became the first Singaporean side to reach the final of a major Asian club competition. Although the team narrowly fell 2-1 to UAE's Sharjah FC, the campaign firmly cemented the Sailors' reputation on the continental stage. 'It's an honour to continue this journey with the Lion City Sailors. The trust from the management, the players, and the fans means a huge deal to me. What we've achieved last season was extraordinary and will be difficult to replicate, but we relish this challenge,' said 46-year-old Rankovic, who has a record of 50 wins and 12 draws in 79 matches in charge. Aleksandar Ranković signs a two-year extension with Lion City Sailors after historic treble-winning season. (Photo credit: Lion City Sailors) Since taking the reins in June 2023, the Serbian native has guided the Sailors to four trophies, including a domestic treble last season, winning the Singapore Premier League (SPL) title, Singapore Cup, and Community Shield. Rankovic also lifted the Singapore Cup in 2023, just six months into his tenure with the club. 'We're in the midst of assembling a strong squad for the season ahead, and we're determined to write new chapters in the club's history,' added Rankovic, who previously held coaching roles at Dutch Eredivisie sides Vitesse Arnhem, Sparta Rotterdam, ADO Den Haag, and FC Utrecht. The club will also welcome the return of Singapore national defender Safuwan to the Singapore league after he played nearly ten years abroad, including a stint with Australia's Melbourne City in 2015. Safuwan, who had been with Selangor since 2023, was reportedly not in their new head coach Katsuhito Kinoshi's plans for the upcoming Malaysia Super League campaign. With a year left on his contract, the lanky defender was allowed to leave the Malaysian club and join the Sailors on loan. 'I'm very excited to be part of a team that's doing everything it can to raise the bar for Singapore football,' said Safuwan in a media release by the Sailors. 'Safuwan is a proven top player in the region. His calming presence, winning mentality and versatility will add valuable strength and depth to our squad,' commented Sailors executive director Bruce Liang. There will be familiar faces when Safuwan joins his new team for the pre-season training, as he will be reunited with national teammates such as Hariss Harun, Hami Syahin, Lionel Tan, and Shawal Anuar. 'I followed the club's run in last season's ACL Two closely — it was something truly inspiring for the country. The club's lofty ambitions are very much aligned with my own goals, and I'm ready to help us reach even greater heights this season,' added the 33-year-old. Diogo Costa (left), and Rui Peres winning the 2025 Singapore Cup. (Photo credit: Lion City Sailors) The Sailors have also decided to convert Diogo Costa's loan spell into a permanent move after a successful season in which he played a key role in the club's historic treble-winning campaign. Blending European pedigree with a fearless style of play, Costa added steel to the Sailors' defence while posing a constant attacking threat with his overlapping runs and pinpoint deliveries. 'From the moment I arrived, I felt something special building here — from the players and fans to the club's ambition, I feel a deep connection and a strong desire to contribute to this project,' expressed Costa, who came through the youth ranks at Primeira Liga side FC Famalicão. 'It's an honour to be a Sailor for the next five years, and I'm committed to doing my part to help us realise our dream of becoming one of Asia's top football clubs.' The 21-year-old arrived in Singapore during the mid-season transfer window in January 2025 and wasted no time in making his mark as he quickly became a fan favourite, earning plaudits for his dynamism, grit, and relentless work rate down the left flank. Costa recorded 11 assists in 21 appearances across all competitions, including four in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two, where he played a pivotal role in the club's dream run to a first-ever continental final. The Sailors have begun their pre-season preparations as they have a massive campaign ahead, with the club not only aiming to defend their domestic titles, but also make further strides in both the ACL Two and the ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup. In the regional ACC Shopee Cup, Sailors have been drawn in Group B alongside Johor Darul Ta'zim (Malaysia), Bangkok United (Thailand), Nam Dinh FC (Vietnam), and Svay Rieng (Cambodia). The competition will begin with qualifying play-off matches on Aug 8 and 15 involving clubs from Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines. The winners will advance and join 10 top ASEAN clubs in the group stage proper, which is scheduled to kick off on Aug 20.
New Paper
01-06-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Lion City Sailors retain Singapore Cup to cement domestic dominance
Lion City Sailors completed a clean sweep of domestic titles with a fiercely contested 1-0 victory over BG Tampines Rovers in the Singapore Cup final at Jalan Besar Stadium on May 31. Adding the cup to their Community Shield and Singapore Premier League (SPL) triumphs, Sailors coach Aleksandar Rankovic described the club's first domestic treble as an "unbelievable achievement". "To win everything domestically and to play in the Asian Champions League Two final - winning it would have been a dream. But even without that, I think it's one of the best seasons in Singapore football," the Football Association of Singapore Coach of the Year nominee said. Fielding an unchanged side from their semi-final, second leg against Brunei DPMM, Rankovic opted for stability in what was his side's 58th match, including the 2-0 Community Shield win over Albirex Niigata last May. "I wanted stability in our play, and not to change a lot. We were much better in the first half and, if there was somebody who would score then, it would have been us... But credit to Tampines, they are a very good team, and they had a great season," the Serb said. Tampines coach Gavin Lee, also nominated for the SPL Coach of the Year gong, which will be presented at the SPL Awards Night at Orchard Hotel on June 1, conceded that his side were slow to settle in the game as they struggled to create chances early on. "In the first half, both sides were more cautious. It's something you see a lot in finals. We were overly protective in the first half. And in the second half, it was just reminding everybody that we're a very good team, we have good players. We trusted ourselves a little bit more," Lee said. With some Tampines players left in tears after the final whistle, he added that "we cannot allow one game to define our whole season". "Nights like this will hurt us, it stings us very badly. But the moment we have caught our breath, we get a few nights' sleep and get calmer, we will probably realise that this season we've done a lot of good stuff," Lee said, after leading his side to a runners-up finish in the SPL. Despite kick-off being delayed by 15 minutes due to the activation of the lightning warning system, the 2,766 fans were raring to go, drumming up a din. On the pitch, it was a more cagey affair, with neither side producing any clear-cut chances. The Sailors spent much of the first period camped in the opposition's half as Belgian winger Maxime Lestienne found joy on the right flank, linking up well with wingback Hami Syahin to craft a handful of left-footed efforts. However, those were easy pickings for the Stags' goalkeeper Syazwan Buhari, who was rarely troubled. At the other end, the Stags failed to create any openings, finishing the first half without a single attempt on goal as the teams went into the break deadlocked at 0-0. The Sailors drew first blood in the 49th minute when midfielder Song Ui-young pounced on a defensive error by fullback Milos Zlatkovic and played the ball out wide to Lestienne, who drove a low cross to the feet of attacking midfielder Bart Ramselaar. With his back to goal, the 28-year-old Dutchman swivelled and drilled his shot into the roof of the net for his sixth goal of the tournament, making him the joint-top scorer in the competition with Geylang International striker Tomoyuki Doi and Balestier Khalsa forward Kodai Tanaka. Toasting the goal, Ramselaar said: "It's quite special because I'm not a real striker, and to be in this list with a striker like Doi, it's really nice. But, in the end, it's about winning the trophy, and that was our goal. We made it happen, so we're happy with it." Tampines thought they had equalised in the 57th minute when forward Itsuki Enomoto tapped in a cross from playmaker Seia Kunori, but his effort was struck off for offside. A long ball in the 81st minute sent Ramselaar through on goal, but a heavy touch allowed Syazwan to rush out and smother the danger. With two minutes remaining, Tampines had another chance when a loose ball fell to Kunori, but his effort cannoned off the crossbar, leaving the Japanese to pound the ground in exasperation. "Really unlucky. I should have applied less power. Overall, it was a really tough game. A very short break since the semi-finals, but all of us gave our best," said the 24-year-old, who is in the running for the Young Player of the Year award on June 1. Tempers flared in stoppage time as a foul on Shah Shahiran by Ramselaar resulted in the Tampines midfielder headbutting the Dutchman in a fit of anger. The pair received warnings for their troubles but, after a video assistant referee check, Shah was given his marching orders, to end any hopes of a Stags comeback.
Malay Mail
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Lion City Sailors miss out on continental glory after last-gasp defeat to UAE's Sharjah in Bishan final
SINGAPORE, May 18 – The Lion City Sailors fell just short of making history yesterday after losing 2-1 to United Arab Emirates side Sharjah in the AFC Champions League Two final at Bishan Stadium. Marcus Meloni's dramatic goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time clinched the win for Sharjah, denying the Sailors a chance to become the first Singapore club to win a continental title. 'Our guys did a tremendous job, especially after going 1-0 down. It was a shame that we [conceded] a very late 2-1 goal, but I have nothing to say except that I am very, very proud of my boys,' Sailors head coach Aleksandar Rankovic was quoted telling CNA. The Sailors had reached the final after defeating Sydney FC 2-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals and overcoming Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the quarter-finals, thanks to a ruling that overturned their first-leg loss. Firas Ben Larbi gave the visitors the lead in the 74th minute before Maxime Lestienne equalised in stoppage time, sending the home crowd of 9,737 into raptures. Despite dominating possession, Sharjah had two early goals ruled out for offside, while the Sailors came close through Diogo Costa, who struck the post in the first half. Sharjah, who are currently second in the UAE Pro League, secured their spot in the final after edging Saudi Arabia's Al-Taawoun 2-1 on aggregate. Originally slated for Jalan Besar Stadium, the final was moved to Bishan Stadium after Sharjah raised concerns about the venue, prompting capacity upgrades to accommodate around 10,000 fans. The prestigious match could not be hosted in the National Stadium, as it was already booked for Lady Gaga's Asian exclusive tour. The Sailors' run marked the furthest any Singaporean club has progressed since 2018, when Home United, their predecessor, reached the inter-zone semi-finals of the AFC Cup.
