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China

CHINESE President Xi Jinping announced at the UN General Assembly this week that his country would stop funding for the building of new coal-fired power projects abroad. China has funded coal projects in a number of developing countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia through its Belt and Road Initiative. Nations are trying to reduce their carbon emissions to meet the goals of the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Xi said China would also step up the development of low-carbon energy. The country is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases. | African News Agency

Australia

A RARE quake rattled south-eastern Australia yesterday, shaking buildings, knocking down walls and sending Melbourne residents running into the streets. The shallow 5.9-magnitude tremor with a depth of 10km hit east of the country’s second-largest city and was one of the largest to hit the country in decades. With Melbourne beginning its eighth week of pandemic lockdown and braced for a third straight day of violent anti-vaccine protests, most residents were at home. Sizeable earthquakes are unusual in Australia. There were no initial reports of injuries. | AFP

India

NEARLY 2 500 rare rhino horns were destroyed yesterday in the first ceremony of its kind in north-eastern India as part of an anti-poaching drive to mark World Rhino Day. The endangered one-horned rhinoceros used to be widespread in the region but hunting and habitat loss have slashed its numbers to just a few thousand, with most now found in India’s Assam state. Conservationists warn poaching attempts continue amid demand from China and Vietnam, rhino horn is promoted as a wonder ingredient in traditional medicine. The town is near the Kaziranga National Park, home to more than 2 000 one-horned rhinos. | AFP

Lebanon

LEBANON yesterday raised fuel prices for the second time in less than a week amid severe rationing spurred by the collapse of a subsidy system that has depleted state coffers. Lebanon has gradually increased fuel prices because the cashstrapped central bank can no longer afford to fund fuel imports. The latest price hike seen as a prelude to a final lifting of fuel subsidies by the government. Since the end of June, the price of petrol has more than tripled. To fill a mediumsized vehicle’s tank, it would cost close to the monthly minimum wage of 675 000 Lebanese pounds. | AFP