Pandemic leads to biggest drop ever in global emissions, but trend not expected to last

A locked-down pandemic-struck world cut its carbon dioxide emissions this year by seven per cent, the biggest drop ever, new preliminary figures show.

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/pandemic-emissions-drop-7-1.5836958?cmp=rss

'Strong possibility' post-Brexit trade talks with EU will fail, says U.K. PM

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says there is a "strong possibility" that talks on a post-Brexit trade agreement with the EU will end without agreement.

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/no-deal-brexit-strong-possibility-boris-johnson-1.5836028?cmp=rss

Lebanon prosecutor charges PM, other politicians in Beirut port explosion

The Lebanese prosecutor probing last summer's port explosion in Beirut filed charges on Thursday against the caretaker prime minister and three former ministers, accusing them of negligence leading to the death of hundreds of people, Lebanon's official news agency said.

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/lebanon-beirut-explosion-charges-1.5835675?cmp=rss

New whale species discovered off Mexico

Researchers looking for an elusive species of beaked whale say they think they've found another new, previously unknown species off Mexico's western Pacific coast.

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/new-whale-species-1.5835576?cmp=rss

More than 3,000 COVID-19 deaths recorded in U.S. yesterday, a record

Steady movement toward a vaccine rollout in the United States and fitful congressional negotiations on a relief bill came Wednesday as COVID-19 infections surged ominously higher in the country, straining health-care systems in some pandemic hot spots to the breaking point.

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/coronavirus-what-s-happening-in-canada-and-around-the-world-on-thursday-1.5835527?cmp=rss

U.S. advisory panel analyzes Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine data in open hearing

Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is entering the final phase of review before the U.S. government decides whether to allow millions to get the shots.

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/fda-advisory-hearing-pfizer-vaccine-1.5835567?cmp=rss

Children, parents separated on arrival despite CBSA directive

Advocacy group Action réfugiés Montréal says last year alone, 182 children were separated from their families after seeking asylum in Canada, despite a Canada Border Services Agency directive forbidding the practice. This is the story of one of those families.

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/children-parents-separated-cbsa-1.5832951?cmp=rss

Fort McMurray, Alta., builder charged in California after more complaints from fire victims

An Alberta builder who has been embroiled in disputes with victims of the massive 2016 wildfire in Fort McMurray that destroyed hundreds of homes and displaced thousands of people faces charges in California after state investigators looked into his dealings with fire victims in Sonoma County.

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/fort-mcmurray-builder-lawsuit-1.5832628?cmp=rss

Eastern resentment over rule of law threatens EU's pandemic budget

In an act of retaliation over criticism of their national politics, Hungary and Poland have threatened to veto the European Union's massive budget, which would provide grants to countries hardest-hit by the pandemic, writes Don Murray.

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/european-union-budget-hungary-poland-1.5834287?cmp=rss

IPOs this week have DoorDash and Airbnb worth billions of dollars despite not turning a profit

The pandemic has been a boon for tech company shares as lockdown measures for millions of people feed record demand for digital services. And two big companies are cashing in by selling their shares to the public this week for billions of dollars despite not turning an annual profit.

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/airbnb-doordash-ipo-tech-stocks-1.5833944?cmp=rss