Brazil’s Amazon risks tipping from forest to savanna: study by Europe-based scientists

PARIS, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — As much as 40 percent of the Amazon risks crossing a tipping point from rainforest to savanna as greenhouse gas emissions reduce the rainfall needed to sustain its unique ecosystem, scientists said. Forests are particularly sensitive to changes that affect rainfall for extended periods, and…

UK court asks for more clarity on Venezuela presidency recognition

Venezuela has $1bn worth of gold stored in the Bank of England LONDON, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Court of Appeal in London asked the High Court to re-examine a ruling that said the UK government “unequivocally recognised” Venezuela’s opposition leader as president. A High Court judge in July interpreted…

26 countries urge Western sanctions lifting to tackle COVID-19

Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Zhang Jun UNITED NATIONS, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — China and 25 other nations called for the immediate lifting of sanctions by the United States and Western countries to ensure an effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking on behalf of the 26 countries at…

Storm Alex: Three more bodies found as French villages dig out from flooding

ROGUEBILLIERE (France), Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rescue workers found the bodies of three more victims of intense flooding that hammered southeast France over the weekend, with the toll expected to rise further as searches continue for survivors. Four deaths have now been confirmed in France and two in Italy, where authorities…

Covid-19: One in 10 may have caught virus, as world heads into ‘difficult period’ – WHO

GENEVA, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Roughly one in 10 people may have been infected with the coronavirus, leaving the vast majority of the world’s population vulnerable to the COVID-19 disease it causes, the World Health Organization said. Mike Ryan, the WHO’s top emergency expert, was addressing the agency’s Executive Board,…

Kyrgyz protesters take government house, free ex-leader after after post-vote clashes

BISHKEK (Kyrgyzstan), Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Protesters seized Kyrgyzstan’s seat of government and freed a jailed former president on Tuesday after demonstrations against an election marred by vote-buying accusations spiralled into violent clashes with police. Opposition supporters hit the streets of the capital Bishkek the previous evening to demand the…

IMF approves aid for world’s 28 poorest countries

WASHINGTON, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The International Monetary Fund approved new emergency aid for 28 of the world’s poorest countries to help them alleviate their debt and better cope with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement, which follows a similar measure passed in mid-April for 25 countries, is…

Belarus opposition leader joins Berlin protest ahead of Merkel meeting

BERLIN, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya urged protesters to keep up their fight against strongman Alexander Lukashenko after she arrived in Berlin Monday for a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. “This, our struggle, has not only united the Belarusians in our homeland but in the…

Covid-19: India and South Africa ask WTO to waive rules to aid drug production

GENEVA, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — India and South Africa want the World Trade Organization (WTO) to waive intellectual property rules to make it easier for developing countries to produce or import COVID-19 drugs, a letter to the WTO shows. In their letter dated Oct 2 the two countries called on…

Covid-19: EU commission president says she’s self-isolating after contact with positive person

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen BRUSSELS, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — European Commission PresidentS Ursula von der Leyen has said she is self-isolating after having contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19. “I’ve been informed that I participated in a meeting last Tuesday (Sept 29) attended by a…
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