EU Agrees To Be Carbon Neutral By 2050

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April 21, 2021

The European Union has agreed a tentative climate deal that should make the 27-nation bloc climate-neutral by 2050.

The move comes with member states and parliament agreeing on the targets on the eve of a virtual summit that U.S. President Joe Biden will host.

Under the provisional deal reached after officials negotiated through the night, the EU also commits itself on an intermediate target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030.

Early Wednesday, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said their political commitment to becoming the first climate neutral continent by 2050 is now a legal commitment.

MEP Peter Liese, the negotiator for the EPP Christian Democrat group said It was high time for the agreement, as Europe had to show where it stands in view of the positive developments in the USA and China.

Up to now, the 2030 target had been 40% but under the pressure of increasing evidence of climate change, that target was pushed up, even if the EU legislature had wanted a 60% target.

The United States, the world’s second-biggest polluter after China, is preparing to announce its new target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Under Biden, the United States has returned to the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement and all global partners will be meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, to push for strong targets.

However, Wednesday’s EU deal still needs to be officially approved by the member states and the legislature but should be little more than a rubber stamp.

Chad’s New President Mahamat, Appoints 14-man Cabinet

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Zoe Maven

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April 21, 2021

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Mahamat Idriss Deby, head of the presidential guard, is set to take over as Chad’s new head of state, according to a charter released Wednesday by the presidency.

The presidency moved swiftly to put the reins of power in the hands of the 37-year-old general, establishing a “Transition Charter” that lays out a new basic law for the country of 16 million people.

The new charter issued Wednesday proclaimed that Mahamat, a career soldier like his father, will “occupy the functions of the president of the republic” and also serve as head of the armed forces.

Mahamat had already been named the head of a military council on Tuesday soon after the announcement of Deby’s death in combat, a move Analysts say has sidelined other political institutions in Chad and has been branded a coup d’etat by opposition groups.

Mahamat immediately took charge of a transitional military council and appointed 14 of the most trusted generals to a junta to run Chad until “free and democratic” elections in 18 months’ time.

The military council said Chad reopened its borders on Wednesday, a day after they were closed following the death in combat of President Idriss Deby Itno.

In the meantime, the rebel forces who have been blamed for Deby’s death have categorically rejected the transition of power and have vowed to press on with their offensive.

A statement from the group known as the Front for Change and Concord in Chad said Chad is not a monarchy and so there can be no dynastic devolution of power in the country.”

Hundreds Of Protesters Backing Putin’s Opponent Navalny Arrested

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Zoe Maven

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April 21, 2021

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Police in Russia have detained at least 300 protesters who have rallied in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on Wednesday, according to the OVD-Info protest monitoring group.

Protests in support of Navalny began in each city around 7pm and moved west across the country with the largest turnouts expected in Moscow, where demonstrators are gathering in a square adjacent to the Kremlin, and in St. Petersburg.

Many of the protesters were detained before protests even began, including two top Navalny associates in Moscow. His supporters fear he soon could die in prison, where he is on hunger strike, and are demanding he be given proper medical care.

Navalny’s team called the unsanctioned demonstrations after reports that his health is deteriorating while on hunger strike, which he began March 31b but Officials say he has been treated as any other convict would be and have warned the rallies are illegal.

A close Navalny ally and executive director of the Foundation for Fighting Corruption, Vladimir Ashurkov, told Newsmen that the situation with Alexei was critical, and so they moved up the day of the mass protests.

His organisation had said protests would take place in more than 180 cities, but it was not immediately clear if they would match the massive turnout for protests in January.

The nationwide protests were called on the same day that Putin gave his annual state-of-the-nation address in which he denounced foreign governments’ alleged attempts to impose their will on Russia.

U.S Launches Probe Into Minneapolis Policing Practices

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Zoe Maven

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April 21, 2021

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US Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday launched a sweeping investigation into policing practices in Minneapolis following a jury’s verdict that former city police officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd.

Addressing a News conference, Garland said the Justice Department had opened a civil investigation to determine whether the Minneapolis Police Department engaged in a pattern or practice of unlawful policing

He said the civil probe which was separate from an ongoing criminal investigation into Floyd’s death would examine whether the police systematically engaged in the use of excessive force.

It will also examine whether the city force showed a pattern of discrimination against people with behavioral health disabilities, Garland said.

He added that the Justice department would be unwavering in its pursuit of equal justice under law. Also the investigation could possibly lead to a civil lawsuit seeking to compel the city to undertake sweeping reforms of its police department.

Garland has previously said he will make cracking down on police misconduct a priority and the Justice Department is still investigating whether the officers involved in the death of George Floyd violated his civil rights.

Derek Chauvin’s conviction has continued to garner reactions and Analysts say it is a milestone in the racial history of the United States as well as a rebuke of law enforcement.

President Joe Biden called the conviction of Chauvin a “giant step” towards justice in the United States.

Pfizer, Unions, Others Donated $61.8 Mln For Biden’s Inauguration Event

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Elizabeth Williams

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April 21, 2021

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U.S. President Joe Biden raised $61.8 million for his inauguration events, receiving large contributions from corporations, labor unions and wealthy individuals, according to a financial disclosure.

The Democratic president’s inaugural committee took in $1 million in contributions each from about 10 big companies, including Pfizer Inc, the maker of one of the COVID-19 vaccines being deployed in the United States, as well as from AT&T Services Inc, Bank of America Corp and Boeing Co.

Corporations making $1 million donations also included Uber Technologies Inc (UBER.N), Lockheed Martin Corp and Qualcomm Inc., according to the filing submitted on Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission.

The committee also received $1 million from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, a major labor union.

About a dozen individuals donated $500,000 each, according to the filing.

Nigerian Government Eyes 1.7m MT Of Milk Production Target By 2024

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Elizabeth Williams

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April 21, 2021

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to increase milk production from the current 600,000 metric tonnes to 1,700,000 metric tonnes by 2024.

Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who gave the short-term target, said the government will provide the needed infrastructure to enhance milk aggregation and distribution and that the plan will reduce the $1.3 billion dairy importation bill.

Osinbajo also welcomed the strategic partnership of FrieslandCampina WAMCO, URUS, Barenbrug and Agrifirm tagged Value4Dairy Consortium in their commitment to increase self-sufficiency in Nigeria’s dairy sector.

The Vice President represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, at a webinar organised by FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc to launch its Value4dairy Consortium, said dairy is one of Nigeria’s priority products for domestic production as it is a source of demand for foreign exchange, adding that it also has the potential to create wealth for farmers.

Nigerian Senate Is Considering A Bill That Will Create A Database For Livestock

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Elizabeth Williams

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April 21, 2021

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The bill for an Act to ‘establish national livestock and management (protection, control and management etc) bureau’ scaled second reading on Tuesday. It is sponsored by Lawmaker Bima Enagi (APC, Niger South).

The legislation is aimed at solving the challenge of animal identification and management by establishing the National Livestock Bureau for the purpose of livestock identification, traceability, registration, cattle rustling control and livestock disease control.

Leading the debate, Enagi noted that although livestock identification was originally intended to indicate ownership and prevent rustling, it has been expanded to include information on animals’ origins (birthplace, parentage, sex, breed, genetics) as well as the ability to trace an animal product back through the marketing chain to its source.

He said the movement of livestock and their products has increased the spread of diseases, increased the threat to human health and reduced consumer confidence in animal products. The Bureau, when established, will ensure the traceability of animal products into the country, in order to safeguard the lives citizens.

Highlights of the Bill include

* Creation of a National Livestock Identification database.

* Ensure management, traceability, and control of movement of livestock.

* Ensure livestock health and disease management through disease surveillance, prevention and quick response to disease outbreaks.

Australia Scraps State’s Belt And Road Deal With China, Beijing Rails At ‘Provocative’ Move

By

Elizabeth Williams

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April 21, 2021

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Senate Estimates As Parliament Continues — CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 25: Senator Marise Payne during an appearance at Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee at Parliament House on March 25, 2021 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Australia said Wednesday it would revoke a state government’s deal to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative because it was inconsistent with the nation’s foreign policy — prompting an angry response from Beijing.

Canberra last year introduced new laws widely seen as targeting China that allow it to scrap any agreements between state authorities and foreign countries deemed to threaten the national interest.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Wednesday the federal government would override the Victorian state government’s decision to sign up to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) — a vast network of investments that critics say is cover for Beijing creating geopolitical and financial leverage.

The move prompted the Chinese embassy in Australia to rail at what it called the “unreasonable and provocative” move, as relations between the two countries continue to freefall.

Payne said two documents signed in 2018 and 2019 respectively — a memorandum of understanding and framework agreement — were among four she would tear up under the new powers.

“I consider these four arrangements to be inconsistent with Australia’s foreign policy or adverse to our foreign relations,” she said in a statement.

The announcement comes at a time of deteriorating relations between Beijing and Canberra, with the two governments at loggerheads over trade and competing for influence in the Pacific.

The BRI is the flagship of President Xi Jinping’s geostrategic vision for the Asia-Pacific region, and damage to its progress is likely to further rupture relations between the two countries.

Airlines Face Another Bleak Year As Outlook Worsens

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Elizabeth Williams

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April 21, 2021

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Airlines face another bleak year with steeper losses than previously forecast, as some regions struggle to speed up Covid-19 vaccination campaigns and control virus variants, an industry group said Wednesday.

The industry is expected to register net post-tax losses of $47.7 billion (39.7 billion euros) in 2021, greater than the $38 billion forecast in December, according to the International Air Transport Association.

On a brighter note, IATA slightly raised its forecast for global air passenger traffic, saying it would reach 43 percent of pre-pandemic levels this year.

“Financial performance will be worse and more varied this year than we expected in our December forecast, because of difficulties in controlling the virus variants and slower vaccination in some regions,” the association said in a report.

IATA said it now expected “much more limited” flying during the key summer season, when people take to the air on holiday.

Airlines lost more than $126 billion last year as the Covid-19 crisis prompted countries to lock down cities, close borders and ban international flights.

IATA expects more people to fly in 2021, with 2.4 billion passengers compared to 1.8 billion in 2020.

It still remains far from pre-pandemic air traffic: some 4.5 billion people travelled by plane in 2019.

Indonesia Navy Searching For Submarine With 53 Aboard

By

Elizabeth Williams

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April 21, 2021

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Indonesia’s military said it was searching for a submarine with 53 crew aboard after losing contact with the vessel during naval exercises off the coast of Bali on Wednesday.

The German-built KRI Nanggala 402 was scheduled to do live torpedo exercises when it asked for permission to dive early Wednesday morning, authorities said.

“After permission was given according to the procedure, the submarine lost contact and could not be reached,” the defence ministry said.

A helicopter looking for the missing vessel spotted an oil spill in waters where the submarine was thought to have submerged, it added.

The navy said it has not pinpointed the exact location of the submarine but had narrowed down the search based on the spill.

The oil “could indicate damage on the body” of the submarine, navy spokesman Julius Widjojono told MetroTV.

The military has dispatched some 400 personnel and two warships in the hunt, while a third vessel was being deployed from the capital Jakarta.

It also sent out an international distress signal, and “several countries have responded and are ready to help including Singapore, Australia and India,” the defence ministry said.

Map of Indonesia locating Bali, where a search is ongoing off the northern coast for a submarine that lost contact Wednesday.

There were 53 crew aboard the vessel, which was believed to be in waters about 700 metres (2,300 feet) deep.

Indonesia, which has been moving to upgrade its military equipment in recent years, has five German and South Korean-built submarines in its fleet.

The 1,300-tonne KRI Nanggala 402 was built in 1978, according to a government website.

While the Southeast Asian archipelago has not previously suffered a major submarine disaster, other countries have been struck by accidents in the past.