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Mar312021 by adminNo Comments

Climate change: China absent from key UK meeting

Science

WPA PoolA critical meeting on climate change, organised by the UK, appears to be the latest victim of an ongoing row with China. Ministers from around 35 countries are due to participate in today's summit on climate and development.But while the US, EU, India and others are taking part, China is notable by its absence. The UK says that China was invited to the event but is not participating. Relations between the UK and China have deteriorated in recent weeks after angry exchanges about human rights. Why are people not doing more about climate change?The people under threat from Uganda's melting glacierConsumers pose 'growing threat' to tropical forestsJust a few days ago China imposed sanctions on nine UK citizens - including five MPs- for spreading what it called "lies and disinformation...

Mar62021 by adminNo Comments

Pope, top Iraq Shiite cleric hold historic, symbolic meeting

World

PLAINS OF UR, Iraq -- Pope Francis and Iraq's top Shiite cleric delivered a powerful message of peaceful coexistence Saturday, urging Muslims in the war-weary Arab nation to embrace Iraq’s long-beleaguered Christian minority during an historic meeting in the holy city of Najaf.Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said religious authorities have a role in protecting Iraq’s Christians, and that Christians should live in peace and enjoy the same rights as other Iraqis. The Vatican said Francis thanked al-Sistani for having “raised his voice in defense of the weakest and most persecuted” during some of the most violent times in Iraq’s recent history.Al-Sistani, 90, is one of the most senior clerics in Shiite Islam and his rare but powerful political interventions have helped shape present-da...

Sep152020 by adminNo Comments

Stock futures flat as investors await Fed meeting

Finance

U.S. stock futures were flat in overnight trading as investors readied for comments from the Federal Reserve on Wednesday. Dow futures rose 12 points. S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures were also set to open flat, with gains of 0.02% and 0.07%, respectively.Better-than-expected earnings from FedEx and Adobe after the bell boosted sentiment. FedEx released a blowout quarter with earnings $ 2.18 per share above analyst estimates, fueled by the e-commerce boom. The shipping company rallied more than 9% in extended trading. Adobe jumped 2% after hours. Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwards On Tuesday, the Dow closed up marginally, after gaining more than 200 points earlier in the session. Apple shares came off their highs following the technology giant's new product event, dragging d...

May102020 by adminNo Comments

Premier League clubs meeting to discuss ‘Project Restart’ as government offer no timescale over when live sport can resume

Sports

Premier League clubs will meet again on Monday to discuss plans to restart the 2019/20 season – but there appears little prospect of football resuming any time soon. The determination remains to complete the campaign but Prime Minister Boris Johnson looked to have put the brakes on a swift return for professional sport on Sunday after revealing the coronavirus transmission rate is still too high to significantly ease the lockdown. getty No football has been played in England since early March due to the coronavirus pandemic Johnson indicated that – while the general population will be allowed to exercise outdoors more than once a day and play sports from Wednesday – they must do so only with those in their own households. “We want to encourage more a...

Apr12020 by adminNo Comments

Coronavirus forces postponement of COP26 meeting in Glasgow

Science

A key climate summit in Glasgow will be delayed until next year due to disruption caused by the coronavirus. The announcement was made in a joint statement from the UK and UN after a "virtual" meeting of officials.Dozens of world leaders were due to attend the COP26 gathering that was set to run in Glasgow from November 9 this year. It is expected that the conference will now take place by the middle of next year. As the virus has spread around the world, there has been a growing expectation in recent weeks that the COP26 talks would be delayed.Around 30,000 delegates, journalists and environmental campaigners were due in Scotland for the meeting.However the changing priorities that coronavirus has forced on governments can be cl...