August 17, 2022

*) Biden inks landmark climate crisis, health care bill into law US President Joe Biden has signed into law the most significant climate legislation in US history. The Inflation Reduction Act is a 750 billion dollar package aiming to reduce carbon emissions and extend health insurance subsidies. It also imposes new taxes on large corporations. Not a single Republican in the Senate or the House backed the bill targeting four billion tons of emissions. *) Donetsk separatist chief seeks North Korea's cooperation Donetsk separaist head Denis Pishilin has written a letter to North Korea’s Kim Jong-un. It states that the east Asian country and the Russian-backed separatist region of Ukraine will develop "equally beneficial bilateral cooperation," according to North Korean state media. In July, North Korea recognised the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics in eastern Ukraine's Donbass region, as independent states. *) ​​Zimbabwe measles outbreak kills scores of children A measles outbreak in Zimbabwe has killed at least 157 children, with more than 2,000 infections reported across the country. Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the government was going to step up vaccinations. The government has also invoked special legislation allowing it to draw money from the National Disaster Fund to deal with the emergency. *) UN ship with grain for Africa leaves Ukraine: ministry A UN-chartered vessel carrying 23 thousand tonnes of wheat departed from Ukraine for Africa on Tuesday following a deal to relieve a global food crisis. The MV Brave Commander left the Black Sea port of Pivdennyi and will sail to Djibouti "for delivery to Ethiopia", the infrastructure ministry said on Telegram. It is the first ship chartered by the UN World Food Programme to leave Ukraine since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February. *) US police rush to zoo after monkey dials 911 A 911 call has forced Californian police to rush to a zoo only to find it had been placed by a mischievous monkey. Dispatchers se