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— US$10.5 billion is required annually for low- and middle-income countries. So far only around 10% of that has been committed to The Pandemic Fund. For emergencies, US$50-$100 billion must be made available immediately when a threat emerges to protect low- and middle-income countries from catastrophic economic and fiscal crises, and ensure purchase of pandemic supplies. A mechanism to identify and trigger those funds must be urgently agreed.
— Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian primary school in the occupied West Bank, citing safety issues and drawing sharp criticism from the European Union which had funded the project. Israel has often cited a lack of building permits, which Palestinians and rights groups say are nearly impossible to obtain, in destroying Palestinian structures.
— Back on the campaign trail just days after giving birth, Paetongtarn Shinawatra is confident of a landslide victory
— Researchers have warned that invertebrates living in the cold meltwater rivers of the European Alps could experience widespread habitat loss as a result of the glaciers melting at previously unheard-of speeds owing to climate change.
Many of the species are likely to become confined to frigid habitats that will only survive higher up in the mountains, and these regions are also probably going to face pressure from the expansion of hydroelectric plants or the skiing and tourism sectors.
— The last time the federal government had a balanced budget — when revenue exceeded spending — was in 2000, under the Clinton Administration. The first U.S. president to increase the national debt by over a trillion dollars during his time in office was Ronald Reagan. In dollar terms, the national debt increased the most under President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump, who oversaw increases of $8.3 trillion and $8.2 trillion, respectively, during their time in office.
— Between 80 and 90 percent of marine litter in the basin is plastic, and an estimated 230,000 tons of land-sourced plastic leak into the sea each year. Tourism is the main sector contributing to beach litter (up to 60%) followed by fishing and aquaculture (5-10%). Only 10 types of items account for 66.4% of the beach litter in the Mediterranean Sea, 9 of them are made partly or entirely of plastic, and 7 of them of single-use plastic. Cigarette butts and cigarette filters are the most common (27.3%). Shipping activities are estimated to contribute up to 20,000 tons of plastic per year.
— Between March 6 and April 28, a dummy portfolio of 38 stocks gained 4.9% while 10 leading investment funds clocked an average loss of 0.8%, according to an experiment conducted by financial comparison site finder.com.
— The Natrium plant uses liquid sodium to cool its reactor. Unlike the traditional coolant — water – the liquid sodium can absorb far more heat from the reactor without increasing in pressure, reducing the risk of an explosion. It also continues to cool even if the plant loses power.
— AFP: Mexico has denied that fentanyl is manufactured in its territory. Lopez Obrador's appeal follows calls from Republican senators in the United States to designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organisations and even send troops to fight them. The US Justice Department last month singled out two Chinese companies for sanctions for allegedly selling chemical ingredients to the notorious Sinaloa cartel to produce fentanyl.
— "...the most comprehensive knowledge review on kelp to date, revealing the state of science on the world’s kelp forests and providing recommended actions to build the recovery of the world’s kelp forests."