The Hague (AFP) Nov 23, 2023 Far-right firebrand Geert Wilders urged his shaken political rivals on Thursday to find common ground to govern the country, after a bombshell election win that reverberated around the Netherlands and Europe. His PVV (Freedom Party) won 37 seats in parliament, more than doubling his share from the last election and outstripping opponents, according to near complete results. A left-wing … Continue reading Far-right Wilders seeks partners after election earthquake

Washington DC (SPX) Nov 16, 2023 EagleView, a leader in geospatial intelligence and analytics, has announced the launch of EagleView Developer, a new portal designed to streamline access to the company’s APIs and developer resources. This innovative platform marks a significant advancement in the utilization of EagleView’s comprehensive geospatial intelligence solutions, offering a single point of access for developers. Ehttp://dlvr.it/SzFkBW Continue reading EagleView Unveils Developer Portal to Enhance Geospatial Intelligence Integration

Santo Domingo (AFP) Nov 23, 2023 The death toll in the Dominican Republic from days of torrential rain has risen to 30, authorities said Thursday. The Caribbean nation’s Emergency Operations Center said in a bulletin that “due to heavy rains, urban and rural flooding, and the collapse of bridges and a viaduct, around 30 people have lost their lives.” The bulletin described the downpour, which … Continue reading Death toll from Dominican Republic downpour rises to 30

Washington (AFP) Nov 23, 2023 More than 15 train cars have derailed in the southern US state of Kentucky, spilling molten sulfur, sparking a fire, and prompting authorities to encourage nearby communities to evacuate on the eve of a major national holiday. CSX, the transport company operating the train, said two of the at least 16 cars affected were carrying molten sulfur. Specialized equipment was … Continue reading Kentucky train derailment spills molten sulfur, prompts evacuations

Tokyo (AFP) Nov 22, 2023 Tokyo’s well-kept streets may not be the most obvious place to do it, but competitive litter-hunters on Wednesday sifted through the Japanese capital in their first world championship. The Spogomi World Cup saw 21 countries battle it out to collect the most rubbish within a set time limit, scouring the streets in search of plastic, cigarette butts and other trash. … Continue reading Load of rubbish: litter-hunters vie for unusual world title in Tokyo

Wanaka, New Zealand (AFP) Nov 23, 2023 Classical music, soft mattresses and the gentlest touch of a wool clipper: welcome to the New Zealand farm indulging what may be the world’s most pampered sheep. Forget any preconceptions of rough-hewn shearers manhandling the flock as they quickly deprive them of their fleece in crowded, noisy wool-sheds. At Lake Hawea Station on New Zealand’s South Island, owners … Continue reading Shear bliss for New Zealand’s pampered sheep

Strasbourg, France (AFP) Nov 22, 2023 EU lawmakers on Wednesday rejected a proposal to cut pesticide use by half by the end of the decade, dealing a blow to the bloc’s push towards more environmentally-friendly farming. The full European Parliament shot down, in a 299-to-207 vote, a recommendation endorsed by its environment committee based on a text put forward by the European Commission in 2022. … Continue reading EU lawmakers reject proposal to halve pesticide use

Garissa, Kenya (AFP) Nov 22, 2023 Days after floodwaters swallowed her home in eastern Kenya, Fatuma Hassan Gumo waded through thigh-deep murky water to collect her only remaining possessions – floating utensils. Flash floods from the Tana river in Garissa, a county on the border with Somalia, forced the 42-year-old fruit vendor to flee at night from her submerged home built from mud and corrugated … Continue reading From drought to deluge: Kenyan villagers reel from floods

Cairo (AFP) Nov 21, 2023 Atlantic fishing nations have agreed to better protect sharks and rays by limiting the retention of several bycatch species, but advocacy groups warn progress is still lagging. At the conclusion of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) this week, countries agreed on “new measures for the protection of cetaceans, whale sharks and mobulid rays” and the … Continue reading Fishing nations pledge shark, ray protection

Hong Kong (AFP) Nov 22, 2023 Eyes closed, hips swaying, retiree Polly Chan danced like no one was watching at a community centre in Hong Kong, where experts warn of a loneliness epidemic among the ballooning elderly population. The 71-year-old and about 30 others were part of a pilot programme called “Noon-D” – for “afternoon disco” – intended to reach out to an increasingly isolated … Continue reading Disco, dogs help Hong Kong’s elderly out of post-Covid isolation