Negotiations on a first global treaty to curb plastic pollution are moving “very, very slowly”, diplomats and observers told AFP on Wednesday, threatening the chances of reaching an agreement.Delegates from nearly 200 countries are meeting in South Korea’s Busan with the goal of reaching a deal by December 1, after two years of talks.But the …
‘Very, very slow’: plastic treaty talks grind forward Read More »
The wars in the Mideast and Ukraine-Russia have dominated world headlines in 2024 but several other conflicts are ravaging countries and regions. Here we turn the spotlight on five of those:- Sudan -War has raged in Sudan since April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has left tens of …
Eddie Jones has urged Japan to keep faith in him despite lacklustre results that have included several heavy defeats since he returned as head coach almost a year ago.Japan have won four games and lost seven since the Australian took over in January, and were beaten by 40 points or more by New Zealand, France …
Eddie Jones tells Japan to keep faith after heavy defeats Read More »
Passers-by stop and stare at the ramshackle, hand-built concrete tower that looks like it has been lifted right out of a Japanese animation and dropped onto a real-life Tokyo street.Its creator, who spent almost 20 years making the distinctive four-storey Arimaston Building, thinks his slow approach to construction can be an example to the world.”It …
Hand-built fantasy tower brings value to Tokyo, creator says Read More »
Long one of the world’s top sources of ocean plastic, the Philippines is hoping new legislation requiring big companies to pay for waste solutions will help clean up its act.Last year, its “Extended Producer Responsibility” (EPR) statute came into force — the first in Southeast Asia to impose penalties on companies over plastic waste.The experiment …
To tackle plastic scourge, Philippines makes companies pay Read More »
Paddington, the affable clumsy bear from British children’s books, has transformed into an international sensation over the past decade, thanks to a clever film strategy and with the help of the royal family.Visitors to London’s train stations and airports are never far from a flood of Paddington soft toys, replete with his signature red hat …
Paddington: the affable bear who became a lucrative business Read More »
China and Mexico lashed out Tuesday after Donald Trump threatened to begin his presidency with an immediate trade war against the top three US economic partners.Trump made his threat in social media posts, announcing huge import tariffs against neighbors Canada and Mexico and also rival China if they don’t stop illegal immigration and drug smuggling …
Trump threatens trade war on Mexico, Canada, China Read More »
A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon took effect on Wednesday after more than a year of fighting that has killed thousands of people.The truce, which began at 4:00 am (0200 GMT), should bring to a halt a war that has forced tens of thousands of people in Israel and hundreds of thousands more …
The Grammy- and Pulitzer-winning artist Rhiannon Giddens has long made music that sheds light on America’s untold stories, and her latest project brings to the fore marginalized groups that built its railroad.The ambitious, multi-year “American Railroad” project tells the story of the transcontinental grid’s construction through the lens of workers including African American, Chinese, Japanese, …
‘American Railroad’ musical project showcases untold immigrant stories Read More »
Russia on Tuesday expelled a British diplomat it accused of spying, telling London it would not tolerate “undeclared” intelligence officers operating on its territory, accusations that have ignited a fresh diplomatic feud with London.Britain has rejected the claims one of its embassy employees was a spy, the latest in a string of espionage allegations that …
Russia accuses UK diplomat of spying in fresh diplomatic spat Read More »
