A "doomsday" vault storing food crop seeds from around the world in man-made caves on a remote Norwegian Arctic island will receive more than 14,000 new samples on Tuesday, a custodian of the facility said.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, set deep inside a mountain to withstand disasters from nuclear war to global warming, was launched in 2008 as a backup for the world's gene banks that store the genetic code for thousands of plant species.
Protected by permafrost, the vault has received samples from across the world, and played a leading role between 2015 and 2019 in rebuilding seed collections damaged during the war in Syria.
"The seeds deposited this week represent not just biodiversity, but also the knowledge, culture and resilience of the communities that steward them," Executive Director Stefan Schmitz of the Crop Trust said in a statement.
The new contributions include a sample of 15 species from Sudan, consisting of several varieties of sorghum - a plant that is significant both for the country's food security and its cultural heritage, the Crop Trust said.
The war between the Rapid Support Forces and the army which broke out in April 2023 has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced 12 million, while plunging half of Sudan into hunger and several locations into famine.Arctic
"In Sudan...these seeds represent hope," the director of Sudan's Agricultural Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Research Centre said in a statement.
The total of 14,022 new samples will be deposited at 1430 GMT, including seeds of Nordic tree species from Sweden and rice from Thailand, the Crop Trust said.
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Jens Stoltenberg, the former NATO Secretary General, has been appointed as the country’s new finance minister.
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A passenger plane skidded off the runway during an emergency landing in Norway. All 182 onboard were unharmed. This marks the third aviation incident in 24 hours.
An Israeli airstrike on Beit Lahiya killed 9 Palestinians as Hamas holds ceasefire talks in Cairo.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order cutting funding to Voice of America’s parent agency, forcing staff out.
Crowds in Aleppo and Damascus celebrated 14 years since the Syrian uprising that ousted Bashar al-Assad.
U.S. airstrikes on Yemen’s capital killed nine civilians as President Trump vowed to pressure Houthi rebels to halt maritime attacks.
Thousands protested in Tel Aviv, urging the government to negotiate a hostage deal and a ceasefire with Hamas.
XPeng Motors plans to mass-produce flying cars by 2026, becoming the first company globally to do so. CEO He Xiaopeng also highlighted advancements in autonomous driving and humanoid robotics as part of the company’s future tech initiatives.
World leaders welcomed the 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine has agreed to, calling it a step toward ending the conflict with Russia.
In Tuesday’s closely watched parliamentary election, Greenland’s pro-business opposition Demokraatit party took a commanding lead after over 90% of the ballots were counted.
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Zara owner Inditex reported a 10% rise in transport emissions in 2024, driven by increased air freight to avoid shipping delays caused by Red Sea disruptions. While the retailer made progress in reducing sourcing-related emissions, it faces challenges in meeting its long-term climate targets.
Ireland has committed €15 million ($16.3 million) to Brazil's Amazon Fund over the next three years, aiming to support efforts to combat deforestation in the world's largest tropical rainforest.
The world’s leading banking climate coalition is reassessing its membership rules following the departure of major banks and slower-than-expected progress on climate goals, its chair told Reuters.
A WaterAid study finds major cities swinging between droughts and floods as climate change disrupts water cycles. Asia faces more floods, while Europe and the Middle East dry out. Cities like Hangzhou and Jakarta suffer extreme shifts, urging urgent infrastructure adaptation.
An Israeli airstrike on Beit Lahiya killed 9 Palestinians as Hamas holds ceasefire talks in Cairo.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order cutting funding to Voice of America’s parent agency, forcing staff out.
Crowds in Aleppo and Damascus celebrated 14 years since the Syrian uprising that ousted Bashar al-Assad.
U.S. airstrikes on Yemen’s capital killed nine civilians as President Trump vowed to pressure Houthi rebels to halt maritime attacks.
Thousands protested in Tel Aviv, urging the government to negotiate a hostage deal and a ceasefire with Hamas.
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