Namibia to sell 170 elephants to protect its wildlife

According official estimates, Namibia is home to some 28,000 elephants WINDHOEK, Dec 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Namibia is to sell 170 elephants amid pressure from drought and territorial conflict with humans.The Pachyderms on sale would comprise entire herds in order to preserve the important social structure in elephant communities.The ministry says…

Covid-19: US expects 100 million people vaccinated by February 2021

WASHINGTON, Dec 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US hopes to have immunized 100 million people against Covid-19 by the end of February, a top official said, which is approximately 40 percent of the country’s adult population. The push should start within weeks, when vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna-NIH are expected…

Covid-19: How the world has sped up vaccine approvals

PARIS, Dec 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain has become the first Western country to approve a Covid-19 vaccine for general use, giving the green light to the Pfizer/BioNTech drug. As authorities in the US and Europe probe other candidates, here is how countries have sped up their approval procedures to face…

Japan set to ban sales of new petrol cars in mid-2030s in bid to reach carbon neutrality: reports

TOKYO, Dec 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Japan wants to ban sales of new petrol cars in around 15 years’ time as part of efforts to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, reports said. The new policy could be announced as soon as next week, building on an existing push to promote electric…

India expresses concern over construction of dam on Brahmaputra river by China

NEW DELHI, Dec 4 (NNN-BSS) – India has expressed its concern over construction of a “super dam”, the largest installed hydro-power capacity in the world, by China on its part of the Brahmaputra river. China will build the dam on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo river, which flows…

US refurbishes 12 multi-purpose cyclone shelters in Cox’s Bazar

DHAKA, Dec 4 (NNN-BSS) — The United States (US) government through USAID has refurbished 12 multi-purpose cyclone shelter (MPCS) in Cox’s Bazar to strengthen capacity and resilience of Bangladesh coastal communities during natural disasters. One of the shelter centres, located at Uttar Mithachari Government Primary School in Ramu, Cox’s Bazar,…

Bangladesh seeks Swedish investment in special economic zones: PM Hasina

DHAKA, Dec 4 (NNN-BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged Swedish investors to invest in Bangladesh’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs), saying that many opportunities have been created there for doing business. “We’re setting up 100 special economic zones. We have created conducive business environment and opportunities there. So, Sweden can…

Panama’s new foreign minister sworn in

PANAMA CITY, Dec 3 (NNN-Xinhua) — Erika Mouynes was sworn in as Panama’s new minister of foreign affairs at government headquarters here on Wednesday. Mouynes was appointed by Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo as the new foreign minister after the resignation of Alejandro Ferrer. Mouynes briefly served as the foreign ministry’s…

Peru: Authorities approve a state of emergency due to droughts

LIMA, Dec 3 (NNN-TELESUR) — Peruvian President Francisco Sagasti’s administration decreed a state of emergency in six northern departments due to persistent droughts. The state of emergency was put into effect in 181 districts located in the Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque, Cajamarca, La Libertad, and Ancash Departments. The provision states that…

Second cyclone in a week threatens Sri Lanka, India

NDRF said it deployed 26 teams across the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala COLOMBO, Dec 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sri Lanka and southern India battened down the hatches for the second time in a week on Wednesday ahead of the scheduled arrival of another cyclone from the Bay of Bengal. Burevi…