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☆ Comedy Wildlife Photo Award 2023 winners revealed
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The judges of the UK-based Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards have studied more than 1,800 images submitted from 85 countries, assessing whether they are chucklesome, rib-tickling or an out-and-out hoot. And the overall winner for 2023 – drumroll, please, for this is a photo that welcomes musical accompaniment – is a kangaroo striking an air guitar pose. Wildlife conservationThere were an additional 10 entries that were recognized as Highly Commended winners. The awards, founded in 2015 by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam, also promote wildlife conservation. The first Comedy Wildlife Guided African Safari will launch in Tanzania in October 2024, guided by the awards’ co-founders Hicks and Sullam and wildlife expert Kate Humble.

Persons: – drumroll, Jason Moore, He’s, Mara, photographerJacek, Otter, joey, ”, Paul Joynson, Hicks, Tom Sullam, Kate Humble Organizations: CNN, Whitley Fund for Nature Locations: Perth, Australia, Tanzania, Sullam

☆ Kenya to sell 35 state companies as Africa seeks to jumpstart IPOs
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NAIROBI, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Kenya's President William Ruto said on Thursday the government was poised to privatise 35 state companies after enacting a law last month to guide the process. Kenya last privatised a state-owned company in 2008 with an initial public offering (IPO) for 25% of the shares in telecommunications firm Safaricom (SCOM.NR). "We have identified the first 35 companies that we are going to offer to the private sector. Kenya's President William Ruto speaks during the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit at United Nations headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., September 18, 2023. "If well harnessed, stock exchanges can be the engine that transforms Africa into a global economic powerhouse and financial centre of the world," the president said.

Persons: William Ruto, Ruto, Njuguna Ndung'u, Ndung'u, Caitlin Ochs, Bourses, Thapelo, Ducan Miriri, Marc Jones, Aaron Ross, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: African, Nairobi . Finance, Reuters, Sustainable, United Nations, REUTERS, Botswana Stock Exchange, Bharti Airtel, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, Kenya, Nairobi, New York City , New York, U.S, Africa, Uganda, London

Abandoned bicycles lie at the international border crossing, as migrants arrive to the northern border stations between Finland and Russia, in Salla, Lapland, Finland November 23, 2023. Finland on Wednesday said it will close all but the northernmost crossing point on its 1,340 km (830 miles) border with Russia, leaving open only a remote Arctic route from Friday morning onwards. Frontex in a statement said it would deploy 50 border guard officers and other staff to Finland along with equipment such as patrol cars, to bolster control activities. Frontex said it would send a first group of staff on Nov. 29, including border surveillance officers, support for registering migrants, document experts and interpreters. Reporting by Anna Ringstrom in Stockholm and Essi Lehto in Helsinki, editing by Terje Solsvik and Christina FincherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lehtikuva, Jussi Nukari, Coast Guard Agency Frontex, Mari Rantanen, Rantanen, Frontex, Anna Ringstrom, Essi, Terje Solsvik, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Coast Guard Agency, Nordic, Kremlin, Finland, Thomson Locations: Finland, Russia, Salla, Lapland, Rights STOCKHOLM, Helsinki, Moscow, funnelling, Yemen, Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Stockholm

☆ EU to deploy more staff on Finnish-Russian border amid asylum crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Abandoned bicycles lie at the international border crossing, as migrants arrive to the northern border stations between Finland and Russia, in Salla, Lapland, Finland November 23, 2023. Helsinki has accused Moscow of funnelling migrants to the border from nations such as Yemen, Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia and Syria, a charge the Kremlin has denied. Frontex in a statement on Thursday said it would deploy 50 border guard officers and other staff to Finland along with equipment such as patrol cars, to bolster control activities. Finland earlier this week said it had asked for 60 Frontex officers on top of 10 already stationed in the country. Frontex said it would send a first group of staff on Nov. 29, including border surveillance officers, support for registering migrants, document experts and interpreters.

Persons: Lehtikuva, Jussi Nukari, Coast Guard Agency Frontex, Frontex, Anna Ringstrom, Essi Lehto, Terje Solsvik Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Coast Guard Agency, Nordic, Kremlin, Finland, Thomson Locations: Finland, Russia, Salla, Lapland, Rights STOCKHOLM, Helsinki, Moscow, Yemen, Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria

☆ ‘Travelling Telescope’ inspires children to look to the sky
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Arya Jyothi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“Instead, I was inspired too.”In 2006, Murabana joined a teacher training program called Global Hands-On Universe, where she led a space education project. Here, she realized she wanted children in Africa to be as exposed to opportunities as children in the US were. Daniel Chu Owen and Susan Murabana, co-founders of Travelling Telescope. Daniel Chu Owen, Travelling Telescope“There’s a satisfaction you get from going to a school, talking to the children, and seeing their reaction and their anticipation,” said Murabana. Daniel Chu Owen, Travelling TelescopeBut there is also a more personal motivation for Murabana’s work — combatting the perception that astronomy is a Western science.

Persons: Susan Murabana’s, “, ”, Murabana, —, Daniel Chu Owen, Susan Murabana, ‘, Owen Organizations: CNN, Cosmos Education, James Cook University, University of California, Kenyan, Travelling Telescope, Kenya Space Agency, International, European Space Agency, Travelling Locations: Kenya, Australia, Africa, Malindi, Western, Ghana, Mali

☆ Finland may shut entire Russian border, foreign minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Essi Lehto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A car is seen at the border between Russia and Finland at the Nuijamaa border checkpoint in Lappeenranta, Finland, November 16, 2023. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday that Russia will "of course" respond if Finland closes the remaining border posts between the two countries. Valtonen confirmed observations by the Finnish border guards and said Finnish decision-makers had additional evidence that the Russian border service was transporting the migrants to the border but declined to reveal her sources. Valtonen said Finland had tried discussing the matter with Russia but Moscow had so far declined to engage in dialogue. On Wednesday, 51 migrants arrived from Russia to apply for asylum at the Salla border crossing and at least 11 at Vartius in Northern Finland, the Border Guard said.

Persons: Moilanen, Elina Valtonen, Valtonen, Maria Zakharova, Ylva Johansson, Essi, Anne Kauranen, Terje Solsvik, Frances Kerry Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, European Union, Kremlin, Foreign, Valtonen, NATO, Frontex, Border Guard, Thomson Locations: Russia, Finland, Lappeenranta, Helsinki, Moscow, Yemen, Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Ukraine, Russian, EU's, Finnish, Vartius, Northern Finland

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — An American man convicted of sexual offences in Kenya nine years ago was denied bail on new charges of defilement, months after he was mysteriously released from prison where he was serving a 50-year sentence. He faces additional charges of being in Kenya illegally. Senior Principal Magistrate Barbra Ojoo denied Krieger bail after prosecutors argued successfully that he was a repeat offender and a flight risk. He was released in November 2022 under unclear circumstances after only serving eight years of his sentence. Krieger, from Michigan, was convicted in the United States in 1992 for sexual conduct with a minor and served three years in jail before his release in in 1995.

Persons: Terry Ray Krieger, Barbra Ojoo, Krieger Locations: NAIROBI, Kenya, Mavoko County, Nairobi, Michigan, United States

☆ Finland to close all but northernmost border crossing with Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Essi Lehto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"The government has today decided to close more border stations," Orpo told a press conference. Finland said Russia was letting migrants through those two crossing points by foot despite an agreement that they could only be crossed by car. "There are growing signs that the situation is worsening on the eastern border," Orpo said. Finland will shut three of the four remaining border crossing points from midnight on Friday, leaving only the Raja-Jooseppi crossing in the Arctic open. "Raja-Jooseppi is the northernmost (border crossing) and it requires a real effort to get there," Orpo said.

Persons: Petteri Orpo, Orpo, Ylva Johansson, Sauli Niinisto, Moscow's, Essi Lehto, Jacob Gronholt, Pedersen, Alexandra Hudson, Christina Fincher, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Nordic, European Union, Kremlin, Finland, Russia, Thomson Locations: HELSINKI, Finland, Russia, Helsinki, Moscow, Yemen, Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, EU, Estonia, Baltic, Finnish, Vartius, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus, East, Africa

☆ Finland May Shut Entire Russian Border, Foreign Minister Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

"We have already taken measures to close border crossing points, and if need be, we will be doing further closings," Valtonen said in an interview, adding that closing the entire border was one option the government was currently discussing. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday that Russia will "of course" respond if Finland closes the remaining border posts between the two countries. Valtonen confirmed observations by the Finnish border guards and said Finnish decision-makers had additional evidence that the Russian border service was transporting the migrants to the border but declined to reveal her sources. Valtonen said Finland had tried discussing the matter with Russia but Moscow had so far declined to engage in dialogue. On Wednesday, 51 migrants arrived from Russia to apply for asylum at the Salla border crossing and at least 11 at Vartius in Northern Finland, the Border Guard said.

Persons: Elina Valtonen, Valtonen, Maria Zakharova, Ylva Johansson, Essi Lehto, Anne Kauranen, Terje Solsvik, Frances Kerry Organizations: Essi Lehto, Reuters, European Union, Kremlin, Foreign, Valtonen, NATO, Frontex, Border Guard Locations: Essi Lehto HELSINKI, Finland, Russia, Helsinki, Moscow, Yemen, Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Ukraine, Russian, EU's, Finnish, Vartius, Northern Finland

Now they say they have nowhere to hide from intense flooding as rainfall exacerbated by the weather phenomenon El Nino pummels large parts of Somalia. Somalia's federal government declared a state of emergency in October after extreme weather exacerbated by El Nino destroyed homes, roads and bridges. Scientists believe climate change is making El Nino stronger. Hakima said her family may be safe from flooding in their camp, but they are hungry and desperate for warm shelter. At least 53 people have been confirmed killed by flooding across Somalia, said Hassan Issee, who manages emergency operations at the Somalia Disaster Management Agency.

Persons: Nino, Hakima Mohamud, “, El Nino, El, Beledweyne, Hakima, ”, Mukhtar Moalim, Hassan Issee, Hamza Abdi Barre Organizations: El Nino, Information Management, Somalia Disaster Management Agency Locations: MOGADISHU, Somalia, Ethiopia, Beledweyne, Shabab, Somali, Kutiimo, Horn of Africa, Kenya, Hiran, Mogadishu, Dollow, Gedo, Africa, africa

☆ Climate: The UAE is hosting the world’s biggest annual summit. It’s also planning a massive fossil fuel expansion
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Angela Dewan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

The flurry of forest conservation deals with Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Liberia and Tanzania were announced in the months ahead of the annual United Nations’ COP28 climate summit, being hosted this year in December by the United Arab Emirates. The annual climate summit is where global leaders and negotiators from nearly 200 countries will convene to decide how and when to ramp down fossil fuel use. Its parent company, Global Carbon Investments, has already agreed to transfer $1.5 billion to Zimbabwe in “pre-financing for carbon credits.” That’s more than the country spends on education and childcare, which combined are Zimbabwe’s biggest national expense. Minimum Emissions” slogan is a viable climate solution, even as global temperatures soar and scientists press for rapid fossil fuel cuts. Ironically, COP28 could be the arena that transforms ADNOC into a global oil major.

Persons: CNN —, Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, —, Sultan Al Jaber —, Al Jaber, ”, Sultan Al Jaber, Callaghan O'Hare, Reuters Al Jaber, ADNOC, Jamie Henn, It’s, Henn, “, Philip Morris, ” Henn, Renat Heuberger, Zinyange Auntony, Julia Jones, ’ ” Justin Kenrick, ” Patrick Galey, “ ADNOC, COP28, Bethlehem Feleke Organizations: CNN, Carbon, United Nations, United, Blue, US Department of Commerce, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, US, Reuters, Free Media, Climate Watch, UN, COP28, Global Carbon Investments, Mucheni conservancy, Getty, “, Bangor University, Peoples, Forest Peoples Programme, Shell, BP, Global, Energy Locations: Dubai, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Liberia, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Abu Dhabi, Houston, UN, COP28, Africa, “, Swiss, Mucheni, Binga, AFP, Wales, Azerbaijan, Nairobi

Fortescue approved investments in the U.S. hydrogen hub in Phoenix, Arizona; the Gladstone 50 megawatt green hydrogen project in Queensland, Australia; and the Christmas Creek green iron trial commercial plant in Western Australia. About $550 million will be used for developing an electrolyser and liquefaction facility in Phoenix, where first production of liquid green hydrogen is targeted for 2026. I think some of the market's concerns will be allayed because the capital investment required is pretty minimal in the scheme of things." Under a plan to ramp up its green energy business, Fortescue said in August it would stop allocating 10% of its net profit to that unit. Fortescue shares were up 1% on Tuesday in a strong market for iron ore miners, with peers BHP (BHP.AX) and Rio Tinto (RIO.AX) up 1.5% and 2% respectively.

Persons: Melanie Burton, Australia's Fortescue, Fortescue, David Coates, BHP, Himanshi, Richard Chang, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Fortescue Metals Group, REUTERS, Arizona, MELBOURNE, Gladstone, Fortescue Energy, Fortescue, Rio Tinto, Thomson Locations: Pilbara, Port Hedland, Western Australia, U.S, Phoenix , Arizona, Queensland, Australia, Phoenix, Brazil, Kenya, Norway, BellPotter, Sydney, Michigan, New York, Rio, Bengaluru

☆ U.N. Plastic Treaty Talks Grapple With Re-Use, Recycle, Reduce Debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Some said the number of submissions represented progress, while campaign group Greenpeace said it was "chaos". Greenpeace said a successful deal would require the United States and the European Union to show greater leadership than they have so far. The International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), a global network of non-governmental organisations, however, said the proposals reflected the robustness of the Nairobi talks. Less than 10% of the plastic waste is recycled, the U.N. Members of the Saudi delegation at the talks declined to talk to Reuters, while Russian delegates could not immediately be reached for comment.

Persons: Duncan Miriri, INC3, Graham Forbes, IPEN, George Obulutsa, Barbara Lewis Organizations: United Nations, Greenpeace, Kenyan, European Union, International Union for Conservation, Nature, European, Saudi Locations: Duncan Miriri NAIROBI, Russia, Saudi Arabia, United States, Nairobi, Switzerland, Uruguay, Canada, Kenya, European Union

☆ U.N. plastic treaty talks grapple with re-use, recycle, reduce debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Persons: INC3, Graham Forbes, IPEN, Duncan Miriri, George Obulutsa, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Greenpeace, Plastics, United Nations, Kenyan, European Union, International Union for Conservation, Nature, European, Saudi, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, Russia, Saudi Arabia, United States, Nairobi, Switzerland, Uruguay, Canada, Kenya, European Union

☆ Kenya's rail operator says floods, landslide disrupting its services from port city
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] People wade through flood waters along a street following heavy rains in Kisauni district of Mombasa, Kenya November 17, 2023. Heavy rains followed by flash floods have submerged towns across East Africa, rendering hundreds of thousands of people homeless. In Kenya, the death toll from the floods stands at at least 46, and is expected to rise. Floods and a landslide on the railway route between the capital Nairobi and Mombasa has forced Kenya Railways to close all cargo services, it said in a statement. Kenya Railways said limited passenger services would continue.

Persons: Stringer, George Obulutsa, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Kenya Railways, Kenya National Bureau, Statistics, Thomson Locations: Kisauni district, Mombasa, Kenya, Rights NAIROBI, East Africa, Nairobi, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan

☆ Kenya's Rail Operator Says Floods, Landslide Disrupting Its Services From Port City
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Flooding and landslides in Kenya's coastal region has resulted in delays in delivering cargo to and from the port city of Mombasa, the state-owned rail operator said on Saturday. Heavy rains followed by flash floods have submerged towns across East Africa, rendering hundreds of thousands of people homeless. In Kenya, the death toll from the floods stands at at least 46, and is expected to rise. Floods and a landslide on the railway route between the capital Nairobi and Mombasa has forced Kenya Railways to close all cargo services, it said in a statement. Kenya Railways said limited passenger services would continue.

Persons: George Obulutsa, Alex Richardson Organizations: Kenya Railways, Kenya National Bureau, Statistics Locations: NAIROBI, Mombasa, East Africa, Kenya, Nairobi, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan

☆ IMF reaches deal with Kenya to raise current financing by $938 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view shows the Nairobi Expressway undertaken by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis, in Nairobi, Kenya May 8, 2022. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNAIROBI, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund has reached a staff-level agreement with Kenya for immediate access of $682.3 million and an increase in its current program's funding by $938 million, the fund said on Thursday. That will include a new augmentation to Kenya's access under the financing program by an equivalent amount of $938 million. The facility was bumped up in May by an extra $1 billion, including $544 million under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), and a new arrangement under the same RSF. Writing by George Obulutsa; Additional reporting by Bangalore Newsroom; Editing by Duncan Miriri and Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Thomas Mukoya, George Obulutsa, Duncan Miriri Organizations: China, Bridge Corporation, REUTERS, Rights, Monetary Fund, East, Fund, Resilience, Sustainability, Bangalore, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Rights NAIROBI

☆ This report on teens having to view horrific material to train AI is a really sad read
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Katie Notopoulos | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

AdvertisementHe earned $1 to $2 an hour on a site that uses crowdsourcing to train algorithms, Wired reports. (Wired gave an example of one teenager who it said he used his grandmother's face to pass an age-verification test.) Workers in Kenya who helped train ChatGPT said that they were exposed to horrific material, including text centering on sexual violence. Content moderation for social media has long been outsourced to India and the Philippines and elsewhere — potentially exposing workers to horrific images and traumatic material. But Wired's report that some of this work is apparently being done by young teenagers is particularly alarming.

Persons: ChatGPT Organizations: Wired, Workers Locations: Pakistan, East Africa, Venezuela, Philippines, Kenya, India

☆ Four goals for Egypt's Salah but shock setback for Nigeria
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

CAPE TOWN, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Mohamed Salah scored four times and took his goal tally for Egypt past 50 as they began their World Cup qualifying campaign with an expected victory over tiny Djibouti while Nigeria were held to a shock home draw by Lesotho on Thursday. Nigeria, without injured Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, were held to a 1-1 draw at a rainy Uyo by the small mountain kingdom of Lesotho, who are 113 places below them in the FIFA rankings. Burundi also won in Group F, edging the Gambia 3-2 in their match played in Tanzania because of Burundi’s lack of a suitable stadium. The first two rounds of African qualifiers are played from Wednesday to next Tuesday, and will resume next June. Editing by xxOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mohamed Salah, Victor Osimhen, Motlomelo Mkhwanazi, Jose Peserio, Jonathan Muiomo, Riyad, Djamel Belmadi, Denis Bouanga, Kevin Denkey Organizations: Egypt, Lesotho, Qatar, Napoli, FIFA, Africa, Nations, football, Kenya, Major League Soccer, Belgian, U.S, Thomson Locations: CAPE, Djibouti, Nigeria, Cairo, Egypt, Lesotho, London, Kelechi, Mozambique, Botswana, Algeria, Somalia, Algiers, Gabon, Franceville, Burundi, Gambia, Tanzania, Sudan, Togo, Benghazi, Libya, Canada, Mexico

☆ African online retailer Jumia's Q3 losses narrow with further fall expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Workers are seen inside an Africa-focused tech startup Jumia Technologies, pickup station in downtown central business district in Nairobi, Kenya November 16, 2021. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJOHANNESBURG, Nov 15 (Reuters) - African e-commerce firm Jumia Technologies said on Wednesday that cost savings had helped it reduce third quarter losses by 67% from a year earlier, with a further sharp drop expected this year. It now expects an adjusted 2023 EBITDA loss of $80 million to $90 million compared to the previously communicated range of $90 million to $100 million. Quarterly active consumers fell 24.3% to 2.3 million, largely driven by deliberate decisions to focus on core categories and reduce consumer incentives. Inflation effects persisted in the period, affecting both consumers' spending power and sellers' ability to source goods from abroad, Jumia said.

Persons: Monicah, Jumia, Francis Dufay, Nqobile Dludla, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Technologies, REUTERS, Rights, Jumia Technologies, New York Stock Exchange, Revenue, Thomson Locations: Africa, Nairobi, Kenya, Rights JOHANNESBURG

UKRAINE DIVERSIONReuters spoke to around a half dozen Czech and Polish defence companies and government officials who described renewed efforts to carve out a bigger share of the African arms market as the Ukraine conflict diverts Russia's attention. Privately-held defence and civil manufacturing company Czechoslovak Group - the biggest Czech defence company - said its ability to maintain and modernize armoured vehicles using Soviet-era standards has helped it win business in Africa. ...in Poland where our stand was visited by numerous delegations from African countries that appeared here for the first time," WB Group spokesman Remigiusz Wilk said. The effort to supply Ukraine has pushed Czech companies to boost production and expand supply lines, something Czech-based independent defence analyst Lukas Visingr said has burnished the region's reputation. "The Czech arms industry is stepping up its efforts towards certain African countries still using Soviet-style equipment but who start to see Russia as a problematic supplier," Visingr said.

Persons: David W Cerny, Jiri Hynek, Filip Kulstrunk, Andrej Cirtek, Pieter Wezeman, Sebastian Chwalek, –, Remigiusz Wilk, Petr Fiala, Tomas Pojar, Tomas Kopecny, Kopecny, Lukas Visingr, Visingr, Michael Kahn, Anna Koper, Alex Richardson Organizations: Aero Vodochody, REUTERS, Western, Central, Russia Czech, Defence, Western NATO, Warsaw, Defence and Security Industry Association of, Reuters, Aero, Privately, Czechoslovak Group, CSG, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, WB Group, WB, Ivory, Thomson Locations: Odolena Voda, Czech Republic, Russia, Africa, PRAGUE, WARSAW, European, Western, Czechoslovakia, Czech, UKRAINE, Polish, Ukraine, Stockholm, China, Saharan Africa, Poland's, Poland, Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Prague, Mozambique

Kenya's President William Ruto called the treaty “the first domino” in a shift away from plastic pollution. The U.N. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution is charged with developing the first international, legally binding treaty on plastic pollution on land and at sea. Kenya is a global leader in fighting plastic pollution, and in 2017, the country banned the manufacture, sale and use of single-use plastic bags. Nonetheless, he said, it is evident that negotiations have moved beyond plastic waste and into addressing plastic production and toxic chemicals used to make plastic. “The focus is on ending plastic pollution, not plastic production," he said.

Persons: Gustavo Adolfo Meza, Cuadra Velasquez, William Ruto, ” Graham Forbes, ” Eirik Lindebjerg, Björn Beeler, haven't, IPEN, Chris Jahn, Karen McKee, Jahn, ___ McDermott Organizations: United Nations Environment, Global, reconvening, Intergovernmental, UNEP, Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund, Plastics, Industry, International Council of Chemical Associations, ExxonMobil, Solutions Company, AP Locations: NAIROBI, Kenya, Kenya's, Nairobi, Paris, Punta del Este, Uruguay, Norway, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, Russia, United States, Baytown , Texas, Baytown, Providence , Rhode Island

☆ Somalia floods kill at least 31, UN warns of once-in-a-100-years event
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The United Nations flag waves during preparations for the UNGA 2023 at the United Nations headquarters on September 13, 2023 in New York City. Floods caused by torrential rainfall have killed at least 31 people in various parts of Somalia, authorities said Sunday. Since October, floods have displaced nearly half a million people and disrupted the lives of over 1.2 million people, Minister of Information Daud Aweis told reporters in the capital Mogadishu. They have also caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure notably in the Gedo region of southern Somalia, he said. Floods are also affecting neighboring Kenya, where the death toll stood at 15 on Monday, according to the Kenya Red Cross.

Persons: Daud Aweis, OCHA Organizations: United Nations, Humanitarian Affairs, Kenya, Kenya Red Cross Locations: New York City, Somalia, Mogadishu, Gedo, Kenya, Kenya Red, Mombasa, Mandera

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and China are the two global economic heavyweights. The meeting will bring together 21 Pacific Rim countries, which collectively represent 40% of the world’s people and nearly half of global trade. Indeed, imports of Chinese goods to the United States were down 24% through September compared with the same period of 2022. Xi, too, has reason to try to restore economic cooperation with the United States. “This will not be an easy sell.’’Complicating matters is that the tensions between Washington and Beijing go well beyond economics.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi, Eswar Prasad, “, Prasad, Donald Trump, Trump, Biden, Chad Bown, Janet Yellen, Lifeng, —, ” Yellen, ’ ’, Wendy Cutler, Raja Krishnamoorthi, ’ ’ Krishnamoorthi, ’ Organizations: WASHINGTON, International Monetary Fund, “, Cornell University, Economic Cooperation, Biden, World Trade Organization, U.S, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Prosperity, Trump, Group, Bain & Co, Micron, IMF, United, Asia Society Institute, Chinese Communist Party, Republicans, Pew Research Center, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Rep, Illinois Democrat Locations: United States, China, Washington, Beijing, U.S, Ukraine, Gaza, Asia, San Francisco, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, India, Philippines, South China, Taiwan, Chinese, Kenya, Nigeria, Illinois

☆ In UN Talks for a Global Plastic Treaty, Delegates to Face off Over Production Limits
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

That position is opposed by the plastic industry and by oil and petrochemical exporters like Saudi Arabia, who want to see plastic use continue. They argue that the treaty should focus on recycling and reusing plastics, sometimes referred to in the talks as "circularity" in the plastics supply. In a submission ahead of this week's negotiations, Saudi Arabia said the root cause of plastic pollution was "inefficient management of waste." "The plastics agreement should be focused on ending plastic pollution, not plastic production," Kastner told Reuters in a statement. Countries will also be debating whether the treaty should set transparency standards for chemical use in plastics production.

Persons: Valerie Volcovici, David Azoulay, Matthew Kastner, Kastner, Bjorn Beeler, Beeler, Christina Dixon, Katy Daigle, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Center for International Environmental, UN, European Union, U.S . State Department, Reuters, The International Council of Chemical Associations, Network, Saudi, Environmental Investigation Agency Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Japan, Canada, Saudi Arabia, United States, U.S

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