COP26: More than 100 global leaders pledge to end deforestation by 2030

Deforestation has accelerated in the Amazon in recent years GLASGOW, Nov 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 100 global leaders pledged to halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation by the end of the decade, underpinned by US$19 billion in public and private funds to invest in protecting and restoring forests.…

Covid-19: US gives 1.5 million more vaccine doses to Taiwan

WASHINGTON, Nov 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States is delivering an additional 1.5 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to Taiwan, a senior US administration official said, increasing to 4 million the total number of shots donated by Washington to the self-ruled island, which is under increasing pressure from China.…

China, Russia revive push to lift UN sanctions on North Korea

UNITED NATIONS,Nov 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — China and Russia are pushing the UN Security Council to ease sanctions on North Korea by reviving a 2019 attempt to remove a ban on Pyongyang’s exports of statues, seafood and textiles and expanding it to include lifting a refined petroleum imports cap. In a reworked…

In Chile’s Atacama Desert, astronomers search for alien life and “dark energy”

The black box set to revolutionize the search for life beyond Earth ATACAMA DESERT (Chile), Nov 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — In Chile’s dry Atacama Desert, astronomers scan the clear night sky for the existence of life on other planets and study the so-called “dark energy,” a mysterious cosmic force which would…

Nigeria: Up to 100 construction workers missing after 22-storey tower block collapses in Lagos

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency says life detection equipment has been dispatched in an effort to find survivors LAGOS, Nov 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Up to 100 people are missing after a luxury residential high-rise under construction in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, collapsed on Monday, trapping construction workers under a pile…

French Pres Macron says Australian PM lied to him over subs spat; Morrison says not true

  ROME, Nov 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French President Emmanuel Macron said Australia’s prime minister outright lied to him over a cancelled submarine deal, deepening an already fraught diplomatic crisis.    “I don’t think. I know,” Macron said when asked by Australian media if Scott Morrison was untruthful in their private dealings.   …

Covid-19: White House press secretary tests positive; self-quarantine for 10 days

 WASHINGTON, Nov 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said she has tested positive for Covid-19, after deciding not to travel to Europe with US President Joe Biden when members of her family contracted the virus.   Psaki said in a statement that though she had tested negative several times…

Last seven years on track to be hottest on record: UN

   GLASGOW, Nov 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The years from 2015 to 2021 are on track to be the seven hottest on record, the World Meteorological Organization said, warning that the planet was heading into “uncharted territory”.   The preliminary WMO state of the climate report, launched as the UN COP26…

Brazil: Nine firefighters killed in cave collapse during training exercise

The accident occurred as 26 firefighters were on a training exercise in the Duas Bocas cave SAO PAULO, Nov 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nine firefighters have died near Brazil’s Altinopolis city after the roof collapsed in a cave while they were training inside, according to Brazilian authorities. “There were nine dead and…

Covid-19: President tells vaccine-sceptic Ukrainians to ‘turn on your brain’, get jabs

   KIEV, Oct 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded with his compatriots to “turn on your brain” and get vaccinated as the country struggles to contain a surge in coronavirus infections.    Ukraine reported 26,870 new Covid cases in 24 hours on Friday — a record for the…