he language of diplomacy rarely allows for a true sense of emotion or urgency. But reading between the lines of the commissioned by the (UNFCCC)—the body representing the 197 member nations of the to minimize a global average temperature rise this century—the message is clear. The world has precisely ten months to get our act together if there is to be any hope of staving off a climate catastrophe by the end of the century. If member nations are to achieve the Paris Agreement target of limiting global temperature rise above preindustrial levels by 2°C—ideally 1.5°C—by 2100, they must...…he language of diplomacy rarely allows for a true sense of emotion or urgency. But reading between the lines of the commissioned by the (UNFCCC)—the body representing the 197 member nations of the to minimize a global average temperature rise this century—the message is clear. The world has precisely ten months to get our act together if there is to be any hope of staving off a climate catastrophe by the end of the century. If member nations are to achieve the Paris Agreement target of limiting global temperature rise above preindustrial levels by 2°C—ideally 1.5°C—by 2100, they must...WW…

More than 400 prisoners were on the run in Haiti on Friday after they escaped from jail in a violent breakout that left 25 people dead, including the prison director, officials said."Twenty-five people died including six prisoners and Divisional Inspector Paul Hector Joseph who was in charge of the prison," Secretary of Communication Frantz Exantus said of the Thursday mass escape from the jail in the suburbs of capital ."Among those killed were some ordinary citizens who were killed by the prisoners during their escape," Exantus told a press conference, adding 1,125 of the 1,542 prisoners...…More than 400 prisoners were on the run in Haiti on Friday after they escaped from jail in a violent breakout that left 25 people dead, including the prison director, officials said."Twenty-five people died including six prisoners and Divisional Inspector Paul Hector Joseph who was in charge of the prison," Secretary of Communication Frantz Exantus said of the Thursday mass escape from the jail in the suburbs of capital ."Among those killed were some ordinary citizens who were killed by the prisoners during their escape," Exantus told a press conference, adding 1,125 of the 1,542 prisoners...WW…

Environment minister Lily D’Ambrosio says single-use plastics such as straws and plastic cups make up a third of the state’s litterFri 26 Feb 2021 22.35 ESTLast modified on Fri 26 Feb 2021 22.37 ESTVictoria has become the third Australian jurisdiction to ban single-use plastics, including polystyrene containers, straws, cutlery, plates and plastic cotton bud sticks.On Saturday the environment minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, announced a phase-out and ban of specific single-use plastics by 2023, including at bars, cafes and restaurants, in a bid to reduce the amount of plastic waste that goes to...…Environment minister Lily D’Ambrosio says single-use plastics such as straws and plastic cups make up a third of the state’s litterFri 26 Feb 2021 22.35 ESTLast modified on Fri 26 Feb 2021 22.37 ESTVictoria has become the third Australian jurisdiction to ban single-use plastics, including polystyrene containers, straws, cutlery, plates and plastic cotton bud sticks.On Saturday the environment minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, announced a phase-out and ban of specific single-use plastics by 2023, including at bars, cafes and restaurants, in a bid to reduce the amount of plastic waste that goes to...WW…

Abu Dhabi (AFP)More than 60 fighters were killed in clashes in Yemen Friday between Iran-backed Huthi rebels and government forces in the strategic northern province of Marib, government sources said.Earlier this month, the Huthis resumed a push to capture Marib city, 120 kilometres (75 miles) east of the rebel-held capital Sanaa.The city lies close to some of Yemen's richest oil fields and its capture would be major prize for the rebels.Friday's dead included at least 27 pro-government forces and 34 Huthi rebels, a government source told AFP, adding it was the "most violent" day of clashes...…Abu Dhabi (AFP)More than 60 fighters were killed in clashes in Yemen Friday between Iran-backed Huthi rebels and government forces in the strategic northern province of Marib, government sources said.Earlier this month, the Huthis resumed a push to capture Marib city, 120 kilometres (75 miles) east of the rebel-held capital Sanaa.The city lies close to some of Yemen's richest oil fields and its capture would be major prize for the rebels.Friday's dead included at least 27 pro-government forces and 34 Huthi rebels, a government source told AFP, adding it was the "most violent" day of clashes...WW…

MOSCOW—Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced that his nation’s military had attempted a coup on Thursday, the latest development in a country still recovering from last year’s lost war with Azerbaijan.Now, politicians and political analysts are speaking of Russia’s hand in the attempted coup, pointing to President Vladimir Putin’s strained relationship with Pashinyan. On Tuesday, Pushinyan had insulted Moscow by complaining about Russian missiles, an indirect criticism of the Kremlin’s strategy of waiting to intervene until Armenia was weakened in the conflict, despite its...…MOSCOW—Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced that his nation’s military had attempted a coup on Thursday, the latest development in a country still recovering from last year’s lost war with Azerbaijan.Now, politicians and political analysts are speaking of Russia’s hand in the attempted coup, pointing to President Vladimir Putin’s strained relationship with Pashinyan. On Tuesday, Pushinyan had insulted Moscow by complaining about Russian missiles, an indirect criticism of the Kremlin’s strategy of waiting to intervene until Armenia was weakened in the conflict, despite its...WW…

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Read full articleYoumi Kim and Mike IvesSEOUL, South Korea — The students and the survivor were divided by two generations and 7,000 miles, but they met on Zoom to discuss a common goal: turning a Harvard professor’s widely disputed claims about sexual slavery during World War II into a teachable moment.A recent academic journal article by the professor — in which he described as “prostitutes” the Korean and other women forced to serve Japan’s troops — prompted an outcry in South Korea and among scholars in the United States.It also offered a chance, on the Zoom call last week, for the...…Read full articleYoumi Kim and Mike IvesSEOUL, South Korea — The students and the survivor were divided by two generations and 7,000 miles, but they met on Zoom to discuss a common goal: turning a Harvard professor’s widely disputed claims about sexual slavery during World War II into a teachable moment.A recent academic journal article by the professor — in which he described as “prostitutes” the Korean and other women forced to serve Japan’s troops — prompted an outcry in South Korea and among scholars in the United States.It also offered a chance, on the Zoom call last week, for the...WW…

There has been an outcry on social media and from women's groups, who say that the banning of the vital sanitary product is a violation of their rights.by AdvertisementAdvertisementMorePrivacy Settings…There has been an outcry on social media and from women's groups, who say that the banning of the vital sanitary product is a violation of their rights.by AdvertisementAdvertisementMorePrivacy SettingsWW…

AP NEWSADVERTISEMENThttps://apnews.com/article/port-au-prince-shootings-prisons-prison-breaks-haiti-fafa74cb388da63e1ca3bc439539d1a6Click to copyhttps://apnews.com/article/port-au-prince-shootings-prisons-prison-breaks-haiti-fafa74cb388da63e1ca3bc439539d1a6Click to copyRelated topicsPORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haitian authorities announced Friday that more than 400 inmates escaped and 25 people died in a prison breakout, making it the country’s largest and deadliest one in a decade, with the prison director and a powerful gang leader among those killed.Some believe Thursday’s jailbreak at...…AP NEWSADVERTISEMENThttps://apnews.com/article/port-au-prince-shootings-prisons-prison-breaks-haiti-fafa74cb388da63e1ca3bc439539d1a6Click to copyhttps://apnews.com/article/port-au-prince-shootings-prisons-prison-breaks-haiti-fafa74cb388da63e1ca3bc439539d1a6Click to copyRelated topicsPORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haitian authorities announced Friday that more than 400 inmates escaped and 25 people died in a prison breakout, making it the country’s largest and deadliest one in a decade, with the prison director and a powerful gang leader among those killed.Some believe Thursday’s jailbreak at...WW…

SINGAPORE: Singapore received its first shipment of Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday (Feb 23), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday. The vaccine has not been authorised for use in the country, noted MOH, adding that the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is awaiting the submission of information for its assessment."Sinovac has started submitting initial data, and HSA is currently awaiting Sinovac's submission of all the necessary information in order to carry out a thorough scientific assessment of the manufacturing process, safety and efficacy of the vaccine under the Pandemic...…SINGAPORE: Singapore received its first shipment of Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday (Feb 23), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday. The vaccine has not been authorised for use in the country, noted MOH, adding that the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is awaiting the submission of information for its assessment."Sinovac has started submitting initial data, and HSA is currently awaiting Sinovac's submission of all the necessary information in order to carry out a thorough scientific assessment of the manufacturing process, safety and efficacy of the vaccine under the Pandemic...WW…

home pageDamage is seen in the Israeli-owned ship that hit by an explosion in the Gulf of Oman on February 26, 2021. (Screen capture/Channel 13)Israeli officials believe Iran was behind a blast on an Israeli-owned cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, according to Friday reports.Hebrew media quoted unnamed Israeli officials as saying they believe Iran was responsible for the Friday explosion, which did not disable the ship or injure its crew, but forced it ashore for repairs.The area of the blast, off Iran’s coast at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, saw a series of explosions in 2019 that the US...…home pageDamage is seen in the Israeli-owned ship that hit by an explosion in the Gulf of Oman on February 26, 2021. (Screen capture/Channel 13)Israeli officials believe Iran was behind a blast on an Israeli-owned cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, according to Friday reports.Hebrew media quoted unnamed Israeli officials as saying they believe Iran was responsible for the Friday explosion, which did not disable the ship or injure its crew, but forced it ashore for repairs.The area of the blast, off Iran’s coast at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, saw a series of explosions in 2019 that the US...WW…

The Centre on Thursday opposed any changes to the existing laws on marriage to recognise same sex marriages, saying such interference would cause “a complete havoc with the delicate balance of personal laws in the country”.“Living together as partners and having sexual relationship by same sex individuals is not comparable with the Indian family unit concept of a husband, a wife and children which necessarily presuppose a biological man as a ‘husband’, a biological woman as a ‘wife’ and the children born out of the union between the two,” the Centre argued in the Delhi High Court.It said...…The Centre on Thursday opposed any changes to the existing laws on marriage to recognise same sex marriages, saying such interference would cause “a complete havoc with the delicate balance of personal laws in the country”.“Living together as partners and having sexual relationship by same sex individuals is not comparable with the Indian family unit concept of a husband, a wife and children which necessarily presuppose a biological man as a ‘husband’, a biological woman as a ‘wife’ and the children born out of the union between the two,” the Centre argued in the Delhi High Court.It said...WW…

 Friday, Feb 26th 2021| 381 The FBI has confirmed it is 'aware' of an American Airlines flight which had a close encounter a fast-moving, 'long cylindrical object' on a trip from Cincinnati to Phoenix on Sunday.The encounter, which occurred at 36,000 feet above the remote northeast corner of New , west of Des Moines on Sunday, involved AA Flight 2292, an Airbus A320, according to.The FBI has since been notified of the incident, although they did not say if they were launching an investigation.'The FBI is aware of the reported incident,' FBI spokesperson Frank Connor told .'While our policy...… Friday, Feb 26th 2021| 381 The FBI has confirmed it is 'aware' of an American Airlines flight which had a close encounter a fast-moving, 'long cylindrical object' on a trip from Cincinnati to Phoenix on Sunday.The encounter, which occurred at 36,000 feet above the remote northeast corner of New , west of Des Moines on Sunday, involved AA Flight 2292, an Airbus A320, according to.The FBI has since been notified of the incident, although they did not say if they were launching an investigation.'The FBI is aware of the reported incident,' FBI spokesperson Frank Connor told .'While our policy...WW…

By NEW DELHI/DHAKA (Reuters) - India’s coast guard found 81 survivors and eight dead on a boat crammed with Muslim Rohingya refugees adrift in the Andaman Sea, and were repairing the vessel so that it can return safely to Bangladesh, Indian officials said on Friday.The Indian government was in discussions with Bangladesh to facilitate the safe return of the vessel, which was found drifting in international waters having left southern Bangladesh about two weeks ago with hopes of reaching Malaysia.The boat had sailed on Feb. 11 from Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh carrying 56 women and eight girls as...…By NEW DELHI/DHAKA (Reuters) - India’s coast guard found 81 survivors and eight dead on a boat crammed with Muslim Rohingya refugees adrift in the Andaman Sea, and were repairing the vessel so that it can return safely to Bangladesh, Indian officials said on Friday.The Indian government was in discussions with Bangladesh to facilitate the safe return of the vessel, which was found drifting in international waters having left southern Bangladesh about two weeks ago with hopes of reaching Malaysia.The boat had sailed on Feb. 11 from Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh carrying 56 women and eight girls as...WW…

×ViewBEIJING, Feb 27 (Global Times): Despite the impact of Covid-19 over the past year, many Chinese military analysts and observers believe that the country's defense budget for 2021 will continue to increase, likely at a higher growth rate than 2020, and they name China's positive economic growth, the tough military threats China is facing and China's own rightful needs to develop national defense capacity as the main reasons.Economists and fiscal experts expect the world's second-largest economy to taper spending at large in 2021 on a tightening budget though, after a record 3.6 percent...…×ViewBEIJING, Feb 27 (Global Times): Despite the impact of Covid-19 over the past year, many Chinese military analysts and observers believe that the country's defense budget for 2021 will continue to increase, likely at a higher growth rate than 2020, and they name China's positive economic growth, the tough military threats China is facing and China's own rightful needs to develop national defense capacity as the main reasons.Economists and fiscal experts expect the world's second-largest economy to taper spending at large in 2021 on a tightening budget though, after a record 3.6 percent...WW…

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told her G20 colleagues on February 26 that Washington is dropping a push for a controversial provision in a , opening the door to a likely agreement.The U.S. shift — part of a broader repositioning by President Joe Biden from the “America First” agenda of former President Donald Trump — prompted immediate praise from Germany and France, which said a deal was now “within reach” following the U.S. pivot.Ms. Yellen announced at the G20 finance ministers meeting that U.S. officials “will engage robustly” in the talks and “is no longer advocating for ‘safe...…U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told her G20 colleagues on February 26 that Washington is dropping a push for a controversial provision in a , opening the door to a likely agreement.The U.S. shift — part of a broader repositioning by President Joe Biden from the “America First” agenda of former President Donald Trump — prompted immediate praise from Germany and France, which said a deal was now “within reach” following the U.S. pivot.Ms. Yellen announced at the G20 finance ministers meeting that U.S. officials “will engage robustly” in the talks and “is no longer advocating for ‘safe...WW…

Thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Algeria's capital on Friday as the "Hirak" pro-democracy movement gathers renewed momentum after a year-long hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.Despite a ban on gatherings over the pandemic, crowds gathered in several neighbourhoods of Algiers in the early afternoon and marched toward the city centre, AFP journalists said."It's awesome. It's like the big Friday protests," one demonstrator said.The Hirak protests were sparked in February 2019 over president 's bid for a fifth term, and the long-time leader was forced from...…Thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Algeria's capital on Friday as the "Hirak" pro-democracy movement gathers renewed momentum after a year-long hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.Despite a ban on gatherings over the pandemic, crowds gathered in several neighbourhoods of Algiers in the early afternoon and marched toward the city centre, AFP journalists said."It's awesome. It's like the big Friday protests," one demonstrator said.The Hirak protests were sparked in February 2019 over president 's bid for a fifth term, and the long-time leader was forced from...WW…

Canada’s stimulus plan is valued at $100 billion Canadian dollars ($79bn) – and justified by the economic hole caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, government sources told Reuters news agency, as analysts warned Ottawa against racking up too much debt and making investments that fail to boost growth.The International Monetary Fund fired a shot across the bow of sorts last week when it said Canada’s fiscal risks had risen and that unjustified further spending could “weaken the credibility of the fiscal framework”. Canada’s Liberal Party government plans to roll out the stimulus over three...…Canada’s stimulus plan is valued at $100 billion Canadian dollars ($79bn) – and justified by the economic hole caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, government sources told Reuters news agency, as analysts warned Ottawa against racking up too much debt and making investments that fail to boost growth.The International Monetary Fund fired a shot across the bow of sorts last week when it said Canada’s fiscal risks had risen and that unjustified further spending could “weaken the credibility of the fiscal framework”. Canada’s Liberal Party government plans to roll out the stimulus over three...WW…

Police in Nigeria’s Zamfara State have said that 317 schoolgirls were abducted in an armed raid on Friday morning, just one week after 42 people were kidnapped from a boys’ school in neighboring Niger State last week.“The Zamfara State Police Command in collaboration with the military have commenced a joint search and rescue operation with a view to rescuing the 317 students kidnapped by the armed bandits in Government Girls Science Secondary School Jangebe,” police spokesman Mohammed Shehu said in a statement on Friday. Speaking earlier on Friday, Sulaiman Tanau Anka, information...…Police in Nigeria’s Zamfara State have said that 317 schoolgirls were abducted in an armed raid on Friday morning, just one week after 42 people were kidnapped from a boys’ school in neighboring Niger State last week.“The Zamfara State Police Command in collaboration with the military have commenced a joint search and rescue operation with a view to rescuing the 317 students kidnapped by the armed bandits in Government Girls Science Secondary School Jangebe,” police spokesman Mohammed Shehu said in a statement on Friday. Speaking earlier on Friday, Sulaiman Tanau Anka, information...WW…

By LONDON (Reuters) - A UK-born woman who went to Syria as a schoolgirl to join Islamic State should not be allowed to return to Britain to challenge the government taking away her citizenship, because she poses a security risk, Britain’s Supreme Court ruled on Friday.Shamima Begum left London in 2015 when she was 15 and went to Syria via Turkey with two school friends. While there, she married an Islamic State fighter. She gave birth to three children, all of whom died as infants, and is now being held in a detention camp in Syria.She was stripped her of her British citizenship in 2019 on...…By LONDON (Reuters) - A UK-born woman who went to Syria as a schoolgirl to join Islamic State should not be allowed to return to Britain to challenge the government taking away her citizenship, because she poses a security risk, Britain’s Supreme Court ruled on Friday.Shamima Begum left London in 2015 when she was 15 and went to Syria via Turkey with two school friends. While there, she married an Islamic State fighter. She gave birth to three children, all of whom died as infants, and is now being held in a detention camp in Syria.She was stripped her of her British citizenship in 2019 on...WW…

A watchdog says that, more than 35 years after the introduction of stop and search, "no force fully understands the impact".Police are still unable to explain why their powers are disproportionately used on people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, a watchdog has said.Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) warned that police risk losing the trust of the communities they serve after the latest inspection on the disproportionate use of powers.In the report, published on Friday, the inspectorate said: "Over 35 years on from the...…A watchdog says that, more than 35 years after the introduction of stop and search, "no force fully understands the impact".Police are still unable to explain why their powers are disproportionately used on people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, a watchdog has said.Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) warned that police risk losing the trust of the communities they serve after the latest inspection on the disproportionate use of powers.In the report, published on Friday, the inspectorate said: "Over 35 years on from the...WW…

It looks like you're using an ad blocker.To enjoy our content, please include The Japan Times on your ad-blocker's list of approved sites.Thank you for supporting our journalism.The Japan Coast Guard could directly fire a weapon against foreign vessels aiming to land on the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, ruling party members said Thursday, citing government officials.The government officials told a ruling party panel that they have changed their interpretation of existing laws. China enacted a new law earlier this month that allows its coast guard to use weapons against foreign...…It looks like you're using an ad blocker.To enjoy our content, please include The Japan Times on your ad-blocker's list of approved sites.Thank you for supporting our journalism.The Japan Coast Guard could directly fire a weapon against foreign vessels aiming to land on the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, ruling party members said Thursday, citing government officials.The government officials told a ruling party panel that they have changed their interpretation of existing laws. China enacted a new law earlier this month that allows its coast guard to use weapons against foreign...WW…

AP NEWSADVERTISEMENThttps://apnews.com/article/climate-un-carbon-cut-pledges-not-enough-baf7d41df6a3e909afecaa54025cdf7aClick to copyhttps://apnews.com/article/climate-un-carbon-cut-pledges-not-enough-baf7d41df6a3e909afecaa54025cdf7aClick to copyRelated topicsThe newest pledges by countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions are falling far short of what’s needed to limit global warming to what the Paris climate accord seeks, a new United Nations report finds. So the U.N.’s climate chief is telling nations to go back and try harder.Most countries — especially top carbon polluters China, United...…AP NEWSADVERTISEMENThttps://apnews.com/article/climate-un-carbon-cut-pledges-not-enough-baf7d41df6a3e909afecaa54025cdf7aClick to copyhttps://apnews.com/article/climate-un-carbon-cut-pledges-not-enough-baf7d41df6a3e909afecaa54025cdf7aClick to copyRelated topicsThe newest pledges by countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions are falling far short of what’s needed to limit global warming to what the Paris climate accord seeks, a new United Nations report finds. So the U.N.’s climate chief is telling nations to go back and try harder.Most countries — especially top carbon polluters China, United...WW…

SINGAPORE: Singapore's total fertility rate (TFR) fell to a historic low of 1.1 last year, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Indranee Rajah on Friday (Feb 26). She said that the COVID-19 pandemic caused some Singaporeans to postpone their marriage, resulting in about 10 per cent fewer marriages last year than in 2019. Others have delayed their parenthood plans, she added.Ms Indranee, who oversees the National Population and Talent Division under the PMO, was speaking in Parliament during the Committee of Supply debate. East Asian societies like South Korea and Taiwan, as...…SINGAPORE: Singapore's total fertility rate (TFR) fell to a historic low of 1.1 last year, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Indranee Rajah on Friday (Feb 26). She said that the COVID-19 pandemic caused some Singaporeans to postpone their marriage, resulting in about 10 per cent fewer marriages last year than in 2019. Others have delayed their parenthood plans, she added.Ms Indranee, who oversees the National Population and Talent Division under the PMO, was speaking in Parliament during the Committee of Supply debate. East Asian societies like South Korea and Taiwan, as...WW…