News in Brief-(2024-02-13)

FE Team | Published: February 12, 2024 22:11:01

Nearly half of the world's migratory species
are in decline, UN report says
WASHINGTON, Feb 12: Nearly half of the world's migratory species are in decline, according to a new United Nations report released Monday. Many songbirds, sea turtles, whales, sharks and other migratory animals move to different environments with changing seasons and are imperiled by habitat loss, illegal hunting and fishing, pollution and climate change. About 44% of migratory species worldwide are declining in population, the report found. More than a fifth of the nearly 1,200 species monitored by the U.N. are threatened with extinction. "These are species that move around the globe. — AP
Austin transfers duties to deputy
WASHINGTON, Feb 12: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who is fighting prostate cancer, has transferred his duties to his deputy Kathleen Hicks, hours after he was taken to hospital for an "emergent bladder issue," a spokesman said. "At approximately 4:55 pm today, Secretary Austin transferred the functions and duties of the office... to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. The Deputy Secretary of Defense has assumed the functions and duties," Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said in a statement, adding that Austin was still receiving treatment and that the White House and Congress had been informed. — AFP

Republicans blast Trump for NATO comment
CAROLINA, Feb 12: Some of former President Donald Trump's fellow Republicans on Sunday lashed out at him for saying he would not want to protect NATO members from a future attack by Russia if those countries' contributions to the defense alliance were lagging. "This is why I've been saying for a long time that he's unfit to be president of the United States," former Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie said in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" program. — Reuters