Private jets, the most polluting form of transport per passenger, continue to soar in popularity despite growing climate concerns. A new report by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) reveals that each private jet emitted, on average, the same greenhouse gases in 2023 as 177 cars or eight heavy trucks, while transporting far fewer people. In total, private aviation produced 19.5 million tons of CO₂ equivalent last year — nearly matching emissions from all flights departing Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport. The ICCT counted 3.57 million private flights in 2023, with U.S.-based jets making up two-thirds of global departures and…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
Europe is bracing for its first major heatwave of the summer, with scorching temperatures expected to reach 42°C (107.6°F) in parts of the continent. As the fastest-warming region on Earth, Europe is once again feeling the sting of a worsening climate crisis. In Spain, the national weather agency Aemet issued a special alert on Friday, warning that southern regions could see daytime highs of 42°C in the coming days. The agency cautioned that the extreme and persistent heat—both during the day and at night—could be dangerous, especially for vulnerable groups. “Very high and persistent temperatures are expected, both during the…
[ASHENEWS] June 28, 2025 – Nigeria’s total public debt has continued its upward trajectory, reaching a staggering ₦149.39 trillion (approximately $97.24 billion) as of March 31, 2025, according to fresh data released by the Debt Management Office (DMO). This figure marks a significant increase from ₦144.67 trillion recorded at the end of 2024, underscoring the country’s growing fiscal pressures and reliance on borrowing. Breakdown of debt figures As of December 31, 2024: External Debt stood at ₦70.29 trillion Domestic Debt was ₦74.38 trillion Total Public Debt: ₦144.67 trillion By March 31, 2025: External Debt increased slightly to ₦70.63 trillion Domestic…
More than four years after the outbreak of COVID-19, the virus’s exact origin remains unclear due to critical data gaps, particularly from China. This is the conclusion of the World Health Organization’s Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO), which presented its final report on Friday after a lengthy investigation. The 27-member international team stated that “most scientific data and accessible published evidence” supports the theory that SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, most likely originated in animals—either directly from bats or through an intermediate host—before infecting humans. However, the possibility of a laboratory leak cannot be…
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has said Nigeria and Ethiopia hold the largest stake in Africa’s future and must lead by example in tackling the continent’s most pressing challenges, particularly climate change. Shettima made the declaration in Addis Ababa during the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative (GLI), a bold environmental programme aimed at planting 20 billion tree seedlings over four years to fight deforestation, preserve biodiversity, and mitigate climate change. Speaking at the event on Friday, the Vice President commended Ethiopia’s vision and commitment to environmental sustainability, describing the GLI as “an inspiring blueprint to reimagine the future”…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired General Buba Marwa, and the Agency’s operatives for arresting 66,085 illicit drug dealers, seizing 11.1 million kilograms of drugs, convicting 26,393 persons, and rehabilitating the same number over 53 months. The President, at the Grand Finale of a weeklong programme to commemorate the 2025 World Drug Day, held at the Presidential Villa Conference Centre, Abuja, on Thursday, 26th June 2025, declared that the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria must be embraced by all as a national movement—not one…
Dr. Jean Baptiste Tignegre, Regional Representative for West Africa at the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and Project Manager of the Pod Borer-Resistant (PBR) Cowpea initiative, has been named one of the recipients of the 2025 Top Agri-Food Pioneer (TAP) award by the World Food Prize Foundation. Introduced as part of the Foundation’s 39th anniversary, the TAP award recognizes 39 outstanding individuals from 27 countries who are driving agricultural innovation and transforming global food systems. Dr. Tignegre and fellow honorees will be celebrated during the prestigious Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa, in October 2025. A globally respected plant breeder…
China has unveiled a new generation of cutting-edge micro-drones modeled on birds and insects, marking a significant leap in stealth reconnaissance capabilities. The breakthrough was presented at the 2025 China Military Intelligent Technology Expo, where researchers from the National University of Defence Technology (NUDT) showcased flapping-wing drones designed to blend seamlessly into urban and natural environments. Among the most notable of these innovations is a miniature flapping drone nicknamed the “magpie.” Weighing just 90 grams, this hand-launched drone mimics the flight of a small bird and is equipped with a high-definition micro-camera capable of transmitting real-time surveillance footage. Experts say…
A senior Iranian official has announced that the Islamic Republic of Iran now has what it considers a “legal right” to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)—the landmark international agreement designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. The statement, made during a televised interview on Iranian state media, comes amid renewed friction between Tehran and Western powers, particularly the United States and European Union, over Iran’s nuclear program. The official, who has not yet been named, reportedly cited ongoing “unjust pressure” and “double standards” by NPT signatories as justification for Tehran potentially reconsidering its treaty commitments. Iran’s background…
By Abdallah el-Kurebe [ASHENEWS] June 25, 2025 – South Sudan has been ranked as the world’s poorest country in 2025, according to new data released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with an estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of just $251. The war-torn East African nation is followed by Yemen at $417 and Burundi at $490. The IMF’s list of the 50 poorest countries by GDP per capita shows that the majority of low-income nations remain concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa, with persistent challenges such as conflict, weak institutions, climate vulnerability, and low investment in infrastructure and education. Central…