President Buhari Attends World Leaders Summit In Scotland

President Muhammadu Buhari has departed Abuja for Glasgow, Scotland to attend the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC). UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is heading the conference has invited Heads of State and Government to participate in a World Leaders Summit, which will take place on Monday, 1 November and Tuesday November. After the opening ceremony of the summit the high-level segment will begin with the delivery of national statements by Heads of State. In a statement the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu said that the President is scheduled to deliver his national statement at the High-Level segment for Heads of State and Government at the conference on Tuesday, November 2.

Pope Francis Urges Leaders To Take ‘Radical’ Action On Climate Change

Pope Francis has urged world leaders to take “radical decisions” at next week’s global environmental summit in a special message recorded for BBC Radio 4’s Thought for the Day. Leaders attending the Cop26 conference in Glasgow must offer “concrete hope to future generations”, the pontiff noted. Francis is not attending the summit, despite earlier suggestions that he would fly in for a brief appearance to reinforce the significant of the event. His message was recorded in Italian and lasted almost five minutes. It was broadcast on Friday morning with a voiceover in English. He said: Climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic have exposed our deep vulnerability and raised numerous doubts and concerns about our economic systems and the way we organize our societies.

Germany Flood Kills 42, Many Others Missing

Torrential downpours in parts of Western and Central Germany has killed at least 42 people while many are missing following severe floods, which caused immense damage to property and transport disruption. It follows record rainfall that has caused major rivers to burst their banks. The worst of the flooding has been in the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia, where buildings and cars have been washed away. At least six others have died in neighbouring Belgium, and the city of Liège has urged all residents to leave. The Netherlands has also been badly hit, with flooding rivers destroying many houses in the southern province of Limburg. A number of care homes have also been evacuated. Authorities used inflatable boats and helicopters, and the German army deployed 200 soldiers to assist in the rescue operation.

G20 Leaders Meet, Climate, Global Economy, Covid-19 Pandemic, Top Agenda

In the first time since the start of the pandemic almost two years ago the G20 leaders are meeting face-to-face to discuss on climate change, Covid-19 and relaunch of global economy. The heads of the world’s 20 biggest economies kicked off two days of talks on Saturday where they were set to acknowledge the threat of climate change. A draft communique seen by Reuters show major countries are only likely to slightly toughen previous pledges on climate action, while failing to set tough new targets that activists say are vital to prevent environmental catastrophe. The talks come amid rising dire warnings for the future if urgent action is not take to cut emissions. China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin are not in Rome for the summit. They chose to appear via video link instead. The G20 group, made up of 19 countries and the European Union, is estimated to account for 80% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres cautioned G20 leaders Friday to show "more ambition and more action" and overcome mistrust in order to advance climate goals.

Gunman Kills Six At Perm University In Central Russia

A gunman has killed six people and injured 28 others at Perm State University in the Russian city of Perm, officials have said. The assailant, a student at the university walked onto the campus on Monday morning and opened fire on innocent unsuspecting students and teachers. Those inside the campus building at the time of the incident built barricades out of chairs to prevent the shooter from entering their classrooms. Others were however seen screaming and jumping down from windows. According to Russia's interior ministry, the attacker was shot during an exchange of gunfire with a police officer Konstanin Kalinin, who was one of the first to arrive at the scene. Mr. Kalinin then disarmed the assailant, who had a gun and a knife, before administering first aid. State media broadcast revealed amateur video footage reportedly taken during the attack showing a man clad in black tactical clothing, including a helmet, carrying a weapon, and walking through the campus. The video from outside the university showed distressed students jumping out of windows, fleeing the campus, and making phone calls to friends and family behind a cordon of police wearing helmets and body armour.

Pope Francis Departs To Vatican 10 Days After Surgery

Pope Francis who recently had half of his colon removed for a severe narrowing of his large intestine has left the hospital in Rome after 10 days on Wednesday. The 84 years old, was released at 10:30 a.m. local time (4:30 a.m. ET) from Gemelli Polytechnic hospital. On his way home to Casa Santa Maria in Vatican City, he stopped to pray at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.