2025 on track to tie second hottest year on record: EU monitor

PARIS, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The planet is on track to log its second hottest year on record in 2025, tied with 2023 after a historic high in 2024, Europe’s global warming monitor said Tuesday. The data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service reaffirms that global temperatures are on course…

UK health agency identifies new mpox strain in person who travelled to Asia

LONDON, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it had identified a new strain of the mpox virus in England in a person who had recently travelled to Asia. “Our genomic testing has enabled us to detect this new mpox strain,” said Katy Sinka from the…

France returns smuggled dinosaur skeleton to Mongolia

PARIS, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France was to hand over a 70 million-year-old dinosaur skeleton to Mongolia which was looted from the Gobi desert and seized by French customs. The “extremely rare” fossil of a Tarbosaurus baatar, considered to be the Asian cousin of the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex, was seized by French officials…

UN slams world’s ‘apathy’ in launching aid appeal for 2026

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations hit out at global “apathy” over widespread suffering as it launched its 2026 appeal for humanitarian assistance, which is limited in scope as aid operations confront major funding cuts. “This is a time of brutality, impunity and indifference,” UN humanitarian chief…

Spain: Choppy wave kills four in Tenerife, a tourist island hotspot

MADRID, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A wave that crashed into Tenerife at the weekend has killed four after sweeping away bathers on the Spanish tourist island hotspot, according to the authorities. Two men and a woman died on Sunday after visiting a section of coastline closed to the public because…

Greece: Protesting farmers disrupt airport flights in Crete

ATHENS, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Greek farmers demanding the payment of EU subsidies on Monday shut down the two main international airports on the island of Crete after clashing with riot police in a growing showdown with the government. The shutdown forced the cancellation of several flights at Heraklion and…

Türkiye To Guarantee Continued Russian Gas Flow To Hungary

ISTANBUL, Dec 9 (NNN-TRT) – Türkiye and Hungary, yesterday, reaffirmed their energy partnership, with Ankara promising to guarantee the transit of Russian natural gas to Hungary. Speaking after talks with Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Istanbul, visiting Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, described Türkiye’s role in securing gas and…

Philippines Bans Pork Imports From Spain Amid ASF Outbreak

MANILA, Dec 8 (NNN-PNA) – The Philippines has imposed a temporary ban on all pig and pork imports from Spain, following a confirmed African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in the European country, the country’s Department of Agriculture said, yesterday. Agriculture Secretary, Francisco Tiu Laurel, said, the import freeze, which covers…

EU set to back migrant ‘return hubs’

BRUSSELS, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — EU countries on Monday are expected to approve a significant tightening of Europe’s immigration policy, including endorsing the concept of setting up “return hubs” for migrants outside the 27-nation bloc. Fearful of far-right parties making gains at the ballot box, governments across Europe are scrambling…

Romanians vote in partial local elections as Bucharest chooses new mayor

BUCHAREST, Dec 8 (NNN-XINHUA) — Romanians went to the polls on Sunday in partial local elections, with the capital Bucharest chosing a new mayor. The mayoral post in the city has been vacant since May, when then-mayor Nicusor Dan was elected president. Nearly 1.8 million eligible voters are expected to…
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