News in Brief (2023-11-24)

FE Team | Published: November 23, 2023 21:26:32

Peru loses more
than half of its
glacier surface
in 50 yrs
LIMA, Nov 23: Peru has lost more than half of its glacier surface in the last six decades, and 175 glaciers became extinct due to climate change between 2016 and 2020, Peruvian scientists from the state agency that studies glaciers said Wednesday. "In 58 years, 56.22% of the glacial coverage recorded in 1962 has been lost," said Mayra Mejía, an official with Peru's National Institute of Research of Mountain Glaciers and Ecosystems, or Inaigem. — AP
Incoming NZ PM
forms three-party
coalition govt
WELLINGTON, Nov 23: New Zealand's incoming conservative prime minister said Thursday that an agreement to form a three-party coalition government had been reached, 40 days after the country went to the polls. Christopher Luxon's National Party, which secured 48 seats in the 123-seat parliament in last month's general election, needed the support of the conservative ACT and populist New Zealand First parties to form a government. After protracted talks, Luxon said negotiations had "concluded" and the agreement now needed to be ratified by the three coalition partners.
— AFP
India restores
e-visa services
for Canadians
NEW DELHI, Nov 23: India restored electronic visa services for Canadian nationals, an Indian foreign ministry official said Wednesday, two months after Canada alleged the South Asian nation was involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist in Canada. The electronic visa was back in order on Wednesday, the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to reporters. — AP
Wildfire engulfs homes in W Australia
SYDNEY, Nov 23: Australian firefighters Thursday battled a runaway bushfire that has incinerated 10 homes and forced scores of people to evacuate in the northern outskirts of Perth during a fierce heatwave. Fire services issued emergency warnings for fire-swept areas north of the Western Australian capital, urging people to flee their homes if they can, or shelter in place if it is already too late to move. — AFP