Foreign
New York City Mayor announces rat summit to tackle rodent problem

By Francesca Hangeior.
The United States’ New York City Mayor, Eric Adams, has disclosed that there will be an inaugural National Urban Rat Summit to combat the worsening rodent problems.
Adams in a statement said the summit will take place on September 18 and 19 to assemble the best individuals in rat business from Boston, New Orleans and Seattle.
While making the statement, the mayor said “I hate rats” and the “best way to defeat our enemy is to know our enemy.”
According to the mayor, the summit is meant to bring experts on rats — “from researchers at academic institutions to municipal pest control managers” — to share “best practices” and discuss “rodent mitigation, and advance the science of urban rat management”.
“New Yorkers may not know this about me, but I hate rats, and I’m confident most of our city’s residents do as well,” Adams said.
“With rat sightings down nearly 14% in our city’s Rat Mitigation Zones year over year, we continue to make progress, but we’re not stopping there. The best way to defeat our enemy is to know our enemy. That’s why we’re holding this inaugural summit.”
Speaking about the challenges of rats, the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner, Sue Donoghue said that the city is “laser focused” on containing and mitigating rats.
“New York City is laser-focused on rat control and we’re grateful to Mayor Adams and Cornell University for spearheading this summit that will advance best practices and allow cities from across the nation to collaborate on ways to keep rats on the run,” Donoghue said.
Reports have emerged of the rising population of rats in NYC found on subway tunnels and burrows within empty lots and city parks, which has driven out a number of the residents to other neighbouring cities and states.
Last month, New York City health officials issued a warning about the increase in transmitted bacterial illness spread by rat urine after 24 cases were reported in 2023, the most for any year.
Six cases of leptospirosis connected to rat urine have been reported so far in New York City, according to city health officials.
Leptospirosis can lead to kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, trouble breathing and, in extreme cases, death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The homeless population or people living in shelters or other facilities where large clusters of people live in tight corridors are at a higher risk of contracting the disease, which has symptoms that can be mistaken for other illnesses, the CDC said.
Foreign
US Secretary of State Rubio to meet Ukrainian counterparts in Saudi Arabia this week

The US Department of State announced on Sunday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Saudi Arabia from March 10-12 to hold discussions with his Ukrainian counterparts.
A statement from spokesperson Tammy Bruce mentioned that Rubio will also meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
After his time in Saudi Arabia, Rubio will head to Canada for the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled for March 12-14.
It’s worth noting that Rubio had a conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Friday, during which he expressed that President Donald Trump aims to bring the Russia-Ukraine conflict to an end as soon as possible.
Trump had halted military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine following a dispute with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 28.
Zelenskyy has also confirmed plans to visit Saudi Arabia for a Monday meeting with Mohammed bin Salman, with Ukrainian diplomatic and military representatives set to meet the U.S. team on Tuesday.
Foreign
Russia releases 870 drones, 80 missiles on Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia conducted over 2,100 aerial bomb attacks on Ukraine in the past week.
In a post on his X account on Sunday, Zelenskyy also stated that Russian forces launched nearly 870 attack drones and more than 80 missiles of various types at Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader emphasized that many of Russia’s weapons depend on foreign-made components.
“Throughout this week, Russia has carried out hundreds of attacks against our people using various types of weapons: around 1,200 guided aerial bombs, nearly 870 attack drones, and over 80 missiles of different types,” Zelenskyy wrote.
“Every Shahed drone and aerial bomb Russia uses contains components supplied in circumvention of sanctions. These weapons include more than 82,000 foreign components.
“Every day, we work with our partners to ensure that decisions are made to provide life-saving support: air defense systems, investments in our defense production, and the strengthening of sanctions against Russia.
“We continue our efforts to bring a just peace closer and ensure reliable security guarantees.”
Ukraine and Russia have been engaged in conflict for more than three years since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale military operation in Ukraine in February 2022.
Foreign
Forget it, we can never be part of US, new Canada PM Carney hammers Trump

The newly elected leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Mark Carney sharply criticised United States President Donald Trump in his victory speech on Sunday, Forbes reported.
Carney rejected Trump’s suggestion that Canada should become the 51st US state, declaring that “Canada will never, ever… be a part of America in any way, shape or form.”
The economist, who previously served as governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, also condemned Trump’s trade policies, accusing the US president of attempting to weaken Canada’s economy through unjustified tariffs.
Carney warned that if Trump succeeded in his objectives, it would lead to the destruction of Canada’s way of life.
The prime minister-designate said the Americans “want our resources, our water, our land, our country…if they succeeded, they would destroy our way of life.”
Carney, speaking on the U.S. healthcare system, saying, “In America, healthcare is a big business…in Canada it is a right.”
The newly elected leader, who won the leadership race with nearly 86 percent of the vote, vowed to maintain retaliatory tariffs against the US “until the Americans show us respect.”
He framed Canada’s response as part of a broader effort to protect the country’s resources, economy, and sovereignty.
Carney is poised to take over from Justin Trudeau as Canada’s prime minister after being sworn in by the country’s Governor General.
Trudeau announced his decision to step down earlier this year, facing pressure from his own party. Following his swearing-in, Carney is expected to call for an early federal election.
-
News18 hours ago
BREAKING! Fubara to honourably resign or face disgraceful impeachment process
-
News18 hours ago
BREAKING: Resign Within 48 Hours Or Face Impeachment, Rivers APC Tells Fubara
-
News12 hours ago
Pastor Adeboye rejects living beyond a century
-
News19 hours ago
Finally , El-Rufai dumps APC, joins new political party
-
News19 hours ago
SAD: Ex-Deputy Gov of Kogi state is dead
-
News17 hours ago
BREAKING! Rivers Assembly issues warrant of arrest on RSIEC chairman
-
News11 hours ago
Suspension: Akpabio queries Court’s Jurisdiction To Hear Natasha’s Suit
-
News11 hours ago
Why I abandoned APC -El-Rufai