UK: PM Sunak faces leadership test over Rwanda plan

LONDON, Dec 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sought to avoid a humiliating defeat for his latest plans to send migrants to Rwanda that have split his ruling Conservative party. The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill is Sunak’s answer to a unanimous Supreme Court ruling last month that…

Peru: Executive Branch approves decree to strengthen fight against drug trafficking

LIMA, Dec 13 (NNN-ANDINA) — Peruvian Prime Minister Alberto Otarola announced that a legislative decree has been approved to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking. The approval came on Monday during the session of the Council of Ministers. At a press conference, he said that the decree “specifies, updates, and upgrades the function…

Peru and Italy sign MoU to promote climate action

DUBAI (UAE), Dec 13 (NNN-ANDINA) — Peru marks a new milestone in climate action at the 28th United Nations Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP28), held in Dubai, by signing a new memorandum of understanding with Italy, the Peruvian Ministry of Environment (Minam) has reported. This document will allow for implementing measures…

Peru: Gov’t calls for calm and confidence to face eventual El Niño event

LIMA, Dec 13 (NNN-ANDINA) — The Peruvian Government made an appeal to the population asking for calm and confidence in the face of an eventual El Niño phenomenon, noting that prevention works are being implemented to handle the worst scenario that may arise. Defense Minister Jorge Chavez called on Peruvians to be…

South Africa to build new nuclear plants: govt

PRETORIA, Dec 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa, battling crippling power blackouts, plans to add 2,500 megawatts of new nuclear generation, the government announced. The country has Africa’s only nuclear power station but the Koeberg plant near Cape Town is currently only working at half capacity. The first of the new…

UN mission in Mali officially ends after 10 years

  BAMAKO, Dec 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations mission in Mali has officially ended a 10-year deployment in the country, its spokesperson said, in a pullout ordered by Mali’s military leaders. The mission, known as MINUSMA, on Monday lowered the UN flag on its headquarters in the capital Bamako,…

Bird flu expanding in Antarctic, high mortality among elephant seals

ANTARCTIC, Dec 11 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Mass elephant seal deaths have been reported in the Antarctic region after a high level of mortality has been detected among elephant seal pups at three sites around South Georgia. Animals have shown symptoms that are consistent with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), and the outbreak…

Deforestation hits record low in Brazilian Amazon in November

BRASILIA, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon hit a record low for the month of November, according to figures released, as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s government touted its environmental record at the UN climate talks. Satellite monitoring detected 201 square kilometers of forest cover destroyed…

Tanzania: Dodoma to host World Bee Day

DODOMA, Dec 11 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — Tanzania’s Capital City-Dodoma, is expected for the first-time to host next year’s World Bee Day (WBD) scheduled for May 20, 2024, the government has confirmed. The confirmation was made here by the Assistant Director of Beekeeping Development from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Daniel…

Swiss village set to vote to keep cowbells ringing

Mayor of the village of Aarwangen, Niklaus Lundsgaard-Hansen poses with a campaign flyer in Aarwangen, central Switzerland AARWANGEN (Switzerland), Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cows grazing on lush pastures with ornate metal bells gently tinkling around their necks may be one of the ultimate symbols of Switzerland, but not everyone is…