July hit a crucial warming threshold that scientists have warned the world should stay under
The world got its first preview last month of what summer will be like at 1.5 degrees of global warming — a threshold that scientists warn the planet should stay under, yet one that it has flown increasingly close to in recent years.
The average global temperature in July, the hottest month on record by far, was around 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than the pre-industrial era that ended in the mid-to-late 1800s, the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reported Tuesday.
The announcement came after a series of deadly heat waves and remarkable record-breaking temperatures for several continents, as well as unprecedented ocean heat around the globe. Copernicus scientists say it’s the first summer month that has surpassed 1.5 degrees, offering a glimpse of future summers.
Leaders of Amazon nations gather in Brazil for summit on rainforest’s future
Conclave represents handbrake turn in Brazilian government policy since Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took power
The leaders of Amazon nations including Brazil, Colombia and Peru have gathered in the Brazilian city of Belém for a rare conclave about the future of the world’s largest rainforest amid growing concern over the global climate emergency.
The environmental summit – convened by Brazil’s leftist president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva – represents a handbrake turn in Brazilian government policy after four years of Amazon destruction and international isolation under the country’s previous leader, Jair Bolsonaro.
Those who have flown into Belém for the meeting include Bolivia’s president, Luis Arce, Colombia’s president, Gustavo Petro, Guyana’s prime minister, Mark Phillips, and Peru’s Dina Boluarte. Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, pulled out at the last minute blaming an ear infection. The other members of the eight-country Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), Ecuador and Suriname, have sent senior representatives.
Five French police officers detained over death of a man during Nahel riots
Five French police were arrested on Tuesday over the death of a 27-year-old man in the southern city of Marseille in early July during nationwide rioting, prosecutors said.
France was convulsed in late June and early July by violent rioting over the killing outside Paris on June 27 of a teenager by a policeman during a traffic check.
The riots were met by a forceful police response.
Hundreds of people were arrested and hundreds of police officers were wounded.
But there has never been any confirmation of a member of the security forces or a protester losing their life during the events.
The five police officers, all members of the elite Raid unit, were detained in Marseille for questioning in the probe over the death of Mohamed Bendriss, prosecutors said.
Several civilians and police are also giving evidence as witnesses, the prosecutors added.
Niger coup: Calls grow for diplomacy before ECOWAS summit
Niger's junta has ignored an ultimatum by the West African bloc for the reinstating of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. Whether ECOWAS will follow through with its threat and intervene militarily remains uncertain.
Envoys from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) , the United Nations and the African Union are expected to hold talks in Niger's capital, Niamey, on Tuesday, according to a report by the Associated Press (AP) news agency.
This comes as the West African bloc is set to hold a meeting on Thursday to discuss a response to Niger's defiance to its ultimatum, which ECOWAS had set for the reinstating of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
Last week, ECOWAS defense chiefs agreed on a possible military action plan if Bazoum was not released and reinstated. But they said any operational decisions would be taken by heads of states.
Aso: A resolve to fight needed to deter China from invading Taiwan
By HARUNA SHIROMI/ Staff Writer
August 8, 2023 at 18:48 JST
Taro Aso, vice president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said Japan and other countries should show they are prepared to fight China to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
“Like-minded countries, led by Japan, Taiwan and the United States, should be prepared to set a very powerful deterrence into motion,” Aso, a former prime minister, said in a speech at a hotel here on Aug. 8. “It is the resolve to fight.”
Niger coup: Wagner taking advantage of instability - Antony Blinken
Russia's Wagner mercenary group is "taking advantage" of instability in Niger, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has told the BBC.
The country has been ruled by a junta following the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum nearly two weeks ago.
There have been suggestions the coup leaders have asked for help from Wagner, which is known to be present in neighbouring Mali..
Mr Blinken said he did not think Russia or Wagner instigated Niger's coup.
However the US was worried about the group "possibly manifesting itself" in parts of the Sahel region, he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme
"I think what happened, and what continues to happen in Niger was not instigated by Russia or by Wagner, but... they tried to take advantage of it.
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