World News

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.

British Transport Police (BTP) Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi QPM has offered a fulsome apology to Britain's African heritage community for the trauma it suffered, during the reign of terror by rogue police officer DS Derek Ridgewell and colleagues, particularly in the 1970s.

“I am sincerely sorry for the trauma suffered by the British African community through the criminal actions of former police officer DS Derek Ridgewell who worked in BTP during the 1960s and 70s,” the Chief Constable stated.

An ambitious project to construct a giant pyramid and time capsule, inspired by the COP15 climate summit in 2009, has moved a step closer with significant interest being shown by West African nation Senegal.

The Earth Pyramid project, aimed at promoting peace and sustainability through the creation of an iconic structure that reflects the lives of the entire human population, could generate up to $14 billion for social and environmental charities.

Some of the world’s leading experts in the areas of wealth, investment management and financial services will be headlining the CISI’s Global Wealth Summit series, with the Africa Wealth Summit 16 November, China Wealth Summit 18 November and the London Wealth Summit 23 November 2021.

World class speakers from Africa, China, US and the UK will share their thoughts on the issues and trends ahead for the profession.

In the days since launching at Buckingham Palace, the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay has visited six Commonwealth nations, spanning two continents.

The Queen’s Baton Relay is a tradition that celebrates, connects, and excites communities from across the Commonwealth during the build up to the Games. It is now embarking on a 294-day journey, visiting all 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth, before returning to the Opening Ceremony of Birmingham 2022 on 28 July 2022.