Nov 2021. COP26 Part 6

The countries who have signed the deforestation pledge – including Canada, Brazil, Russia, China, Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the US and the UK  – cover around 85% of the world’s forests. Some of the funding will go to developing countries to restore damaged land, tackle wildfires and support indigenous communities. Governments of… Continue reading Nov 2021. COP26 Part 6

Nov 2021. COP26 Part 5

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is hosting the global meeting in Glasgow, said “more leaders than ever before” – a total of 110 – had made the “landmark” deforestation commitment.”We have to stop the devastating loss of our forests,” he said – and “end the role of humanity as nature’s conqueror, and instead become… Continue reading Nov 2021. COP26 Part 5

Nov 2021. COP26 Part 4

More than 100 world leaders have promised to end and reverse deforestation by 2030, in the COP26 climate summit’s first major deal. Brazil – where stretches of the Amazon rainforest have been cut down – was among the signatories on Tuesday. The pledge includes almost £14bn ($19.2bn) of public and private funds. Experts welcomed the… Continue reading Nov 2021. COP26 Part 4

Nov 2021. COP26 Part 3

Climate activist Greta Thunberg has told young protesters that politicians attending COP26 are “pretending to take our future seriously”. The arrival of world leaders in Glasgow for the COP26 summit triggered a series of demos across the city. The gathering attended by Ms Thunberg was one of dozens taking place. She told fellow activists from… Continue reading Nov 2021. COP26 Part 3

Jun 2021. Ethiopia and Human Rights

There was a time when a report by Ethiopia’s human rights commission was a staid affair, its findings offering window-dressing for hand-wringing donors and legal cover to the government. Between 2013 and 2017 the commission systematically “whitewashed human rights violations through compromised methodologies, dismissing credible allegations”, according to a 2019 Amnesty International study that accused… Continue reading Jun 2021. Ethiopia and Human Rights

May 2021. Prince Michael

Prince Michael of Kent has been accused of being willing to use his royal status for personal profit, and to seek favours from Russian President Vladimir Putin, following an undercover investigation. Undercover reporters, posing as investors from a South Korean business, were told the Queen‘s cousin could be hired for £10,000 a day to make… Continue reading May 2021. Prince Michael

Apr 2021. Navalny on Hunger Strike

Jail staff are threatening to force-feed Putin critic Alexei Navalny, who has lost 15kg (33lbs) in weight since he was taken to the prison last month, according to his allies. The Russian opposition leader, 44, began a hunger strike at penal colony number 2 in Pokrov at the end of March to highlight what he… Continue reading Apr 2021. Navalny on Hunger Strike

Apr 2021. Netanyahu Corruption

April 2021. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared in court today at his corruption trial to hear prosecutors make their allegations against him. Prosecutors say Israel’s longest-serving Prime Minister used his political influence as ‘currency’ to buy favours from media executives and wealthy businessmen. The evidentiary phase of the trial was beginning as Israel’s political… Continue reading Apr 2021. Netanyahu Corruption