Briefly

UNITED KINGDOM

Carbon emissions fall due to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic reduced global greenhouse gas emissions by a record 7 percent this year, according to latest estimates released on Friday by the Global Carbon Project in its annual assessment. The amount fell by 2.4 billion metric tons to the current level of 34 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide, or CO2, said the study published in the journal Earth Systems Science Data. The drop occurs chiefly because people are staying home and traveling less by car and plane, and emissions are expected to jump back up after the pandemic ends, the research team said. The data show that ground transportation makes up about one-fifth of emissions of carbon dioxide, the chief man-made heat-trapping gas.

UNITED STATES

Airbnb valuation surges past $100b

Shares of Airbnb soared in their stock market debut on Thursday, valuing the home rental firm at $101.6 billion in the biggest US flotation of 2020 and capping a bumper year that saw investors flock to tech darlings. Shares opened at $146 on the Nasdaq, far above the initial public offering, or IPO, price of $68 apiece which raised $3.5 billion for the company. The stock hit a high of $165, rising 142.6 percent after the debut. The IPO highlights a stunning recovery in Airbnb's fortunes after the firm's business was heavily damaged by the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year. But as lockdowns eased, more travelers opted to book homes instead of hotels.

INDIA

Govt offers more talks with farmers

India's government on Thursday offered to meet again with leaders of tens of thousands of farmers who have been blockading key highways for two weeks, but rejected their demand for the repeal of three laws on agricultural reform. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told reporters that the government is willing to amend the new laws to allay the farmers' concerns, and they "should give up their insistence on scrapping" them. There was no immediate response from the protest leaders. Five round of talks since November have failed to produce a breakthrough, with the farmers insisting on their demand that the laws be repealed.

CHILE

Nation has third Confucius Institute

Chilean and Chinese officials on Thursday inaugurated the Confucius Institute at southern Chile's La Frontera University, or UFRO, the third one of its kind in the South American country. Established in conjunction with the Communication University of China, the institute aims to bring communities in this part of Chile closer to China's culture and language, and strengthen the bonds between the two nations. The ceremony also commemorated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Chile and China, with the participation of representatives from both universities and the Chinese International Education Foundation, as well as diplomats from their respective embassies.

Xinhua - Agencies