World News

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Malaysian government body to co-operate in the area of transport innovation and smart cities development for the next three years.

The MoU with Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) will be an opportunity for the West Midlands to share knowledge, ideas, and lessons learned from within the urban and transport planning realms, as well as promote mutual recognition of international design standards for inclusive transport.

When Indian PM Narendra Modi announced the repeal of three controversial farm laws after a year of protests, it followed after thousands of farmers had camped at Delhi's borders, since last November, and dozens dying from heat, cold and Covid.

They said that the laws will allow the entry of private players in farming and that will hurt their income. The announcement marks a major U-turn as the government had not taken any initiative to talk to farmers in recent months.

The World Health Organization is "very worried" about the spread of Covid-19 in Europe as the continent battles a fresh wave of infections.

Regional director Dr Hans Kluge warned that 500,000 more deaths could be recorded by March unless urgent action is taken, saying that an increase in mask wearing could immediately help.

Building on the success of the virtual version of Caribbean Travel Marketplace (CTM) held earlier this year, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), organizers of the Caribbean’s largest marketing event, have announced that the 40th edition of Marketplace will return to an in-person format in Spring 2022.

Next year will mark 40 years of Marketplace, the Caribbean’s leading event that brings together buyers and sellers of the region’s tourism products, goods and services.

US Vice-President Kamala Harris will become the first woman to briefly be given presidential powers as Joe Biden undergoes his regular health check.

President Biden will transfer power to Ms Harris for the period in which he is placed under anaesthesia for a routine colonoscopy. The medical examination will be Mr Biden's first as president and comes on the eve of his 79th birthday - Ms Harris will temporarily take control of the US military and nuclear weapons.

Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market has been listed in the top 10 most picturesque Christmas markets, a new study has revealed. 

Out of over 600 markets that take place across the UK and mainland Europe Birmingham came in at No. 10 with 12,662 posts on instagram using the market's hashtag. The research, which was carried out by PaulCamper, provides some festive inspiration for the winter, with a jolly road trip in a campervan, or a city get-away to soak up traditional Christmas traditions across Europe. 

COP26 has confirmed that world-wide net zero emissions by 2050 won’t happen. The drive to tackle climate change needs to start with solutions that are available here and now, argues Ben Richardson, CEO of greentech company SulNOx Group PLC.

One of the key aims of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow was to get the world to agree to reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

Okyeame Kwame led a 100,000 climate activists march in Glasgow for Climate Justice at #COP26.

This year’s COP26 was a little more than business as usual. After the geo-political power play of G20 verses developing nations who emit the least of carbon emissions but suffer the most negative impact of climate change, the negotiations between the parties were a little more ambitious than finger pointing.

The former president of South Africa, FW de Klerk, has died after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.

As the last white person to lead the country, he ordered Nelson Mandela's release from prison, leading to historic polls where the anti-apartheid leader became the first Back president.

Qatar Airways welcomes industry leaders, international and regional aviation organizations, airline manufacturers and air transport executives from around the world to Doha as it hosts the 54^th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Arab Air Carriers’ Organization (AACO).  

The landmark event is the first in-person AACO AGM since the COVID-19 pandemic. It is being hosted under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Jassim bin Saif bin Ahmed Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transport of the State of Qatar, and at the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive of Qatar Airways. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday approved an eighth vaccine against COVID-19, which follows a slight uptick in new cases globally. COVAXIN, made by Indian company Bharat Biotech, has received WHO emergency use listing (EUL), meaning it could soon be available to millions worldwide. 

The EUL process assesses the quality, safety and efficacy of vaccines and is a prerequisite for their inclusion in the global solidarity initiative, COVAX.

Peter McHugh, a partner and specialist in construction, property and engineering, particularly in the green energy sector, at national law firm Clarke Willmott LLP, looks at how polluted our water is and what we can do to combat it.

The Environmental Bill currently going through the House of Lords places a duty on government to publish a plan by September 2022 to reduce sewerage discharge from storm overflows.

Former US president Barack Obama has called on young people to "stay angry" in the fight against climate change at the COP26 summit by urged them to apply political pressure to make a change, but warned they would need to accept compromises along the way.

Mr Obama said the world is nowhere near able to avoid a future climate catastrophe and criticised Donald Trump's hostility toward climate science.

Marília Mendonça, one of Brazil's most popular contemporary singers, has been killed in a plane crash - officials say.

Four other people - her uncle, her producer and two crew members - also died in the accident in a rural area in south-eastern Minas Gerais state.

Indians across the world celebrated the Diwali festival amid the ongoing concerns over the Covid pandemic and air pollution.

Celebrated typically by social gatherings, plus sharing food gifts with family and friends, many lit oil lamps or candles to symbolize the victory of light over darkness, as well as fireworks, which was set off as part of the celebrations.

Greta Thunberg told a mass rally in Glasgow that the COP26 climate summit has been a "failure". The Swedish activist had earlier joined thousands of young people - including striking school pupils - for a march through the city. She addressed the crowd, saying: "Immediate and drastic cuts to emissions are needed.