The United States and European Union have agreed to end a festering dispute over US&nbsp;steel and aluminum tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump in 2018, removing an irritant in transatlantic relations and averting a spike in EU retaliatory tariffs, US&nbsp;officials said on Saturday.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told reporters that the deal will maintain US&nbsp;"Section 232" tariffs of 25 per cent&nbsp;on steel and 10 per cent&nbsp;aluminum, while allowing "limited volumes" of EU-produced metals into the United States duty free.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/aukus-deal-joe-biden-tells-emmanuel-macron-that-us-was-clumsy-425127">AUKUS deal: Joe Biden tells Emmanuel Macron that US was 'clumsy'</a>

It eliminates a source of friction between the allies and lets them focus on negotiating a new global trade agreement to address worldwide excess steel and aluminum capacity mainly centered in China and reduce carbon emissions from the industries.

EU trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis confirmed the deal, writing on Twitter&nbsp; that "we have agreed with US&nbsp;to pause" the trade dispute and launch cooperation on a future global arrangement on sustainable steel and aluminum. Dombrovskis said the deal will be formally announced by Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday.

US&nbsp;officials did not specify the volume of duty-free steel to be allowed into the United States under a tariff-rate quota system agreed upon with the EU. Sources familiar with the deal, speaking on condition of anonymity, have said annual volumes above 3.3 million tons would be subject to tariffs.

The deal grants an additional two years of duty-free access above the quota for EU steel products that won Commerce Department exclusions in the past year, US&nbsp;officials said.

The agreement requires EU steel and aluminum to be entirely produced in the bloc - a standard known as "melted and poured" - to qualify for duty-free status. The provision is aimed at preventing metals from

China and non-EU countries from being minimally processed in Europe before export to the United States. 
Europe exported&nbsp;around 5 million tons of steel annually to the United States prior to Trump's imposition of the tariffs on national security grounds.

"The agreement ultimately to negotiate a carbon-based arrangement on steel and aluminum trade addresses both Chinese overproduction and carbon intensity in the steel and aluminum sector," White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters, adding that the climate and workers can be protected at the same time.

US&nbsp;steel production, which relies heavily on electric-arc furnaces, is regarded as having far lower carbon emissions than the coal-fueled blast furnaces prevalent in China.

Biden has sought to mend fences with European allies following Trump's presidency to more broadly confront China's state-driven economic practices that led to Beijing building massive excess steelmaking capacity that has flooded global markets.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pressure-of-blackmail-eu-court-imposes-massive-fine-of-over-1-million-per-day-on-poland-424592">'Pressure of blackmail': EU court imposes massive fine of over $1 million per day on Poland</a>

The deal will eliminate Europe's retaliatory tariffs against US&nbsp;products including bourbon whiskey, Harley-Davidson motorcycles and motor boats that were set to double on December&nbsp;1, US&nbsp;officials said.

"The end of this long tariff nightmare is in sight for US&nbsp;distillers, who have struggled with the weight of the tariffs and the pandemic," Distilled Spirits Council President Chris Swonger said, also urging Britain to lift its tariff on American whiskeys.

Record Steel Prices

Raimondo said the deal will reduce costs for steel-consuming US&nbsp;manufacturers. Steel prices have more than tripled in the past year to records topping $1,900 a ton as the industry has struggled to keep up with a demand surge after COVID-19 pandemic-related shutdowns, contributing to inflation.

US&nbsp;primary aluminum producers, which had dwindled to two companies by the time Trump imposed the tariffs, will be able to maintain their investments in reviving domestic capacity because the quotas are set at very low levels, well below pre-tariff volumes, said Mark Duffy, CEO of the American Primary Aluminum Association industry group.

American Iron and Steel Institute President Kevin Dempsey said the quota arrangement will help "prevent another steel import surge that would undermine our industry and destroy good-paying American jobs."

"We urge the US&nbsp;and EU to take active steps to hold China and other countries that employ trade-distorting policies to account," Dempsey added. "We also believe US-EU cooperation should focus on new trade approaches to address climate change, including through development of effective carbon border adjustment measures."

Due to its exit from the EU, Britain's steel exports remain subject to the tariffs, as are those of other US&nbsp;allies including Japan. The US&nbsp;Chamber of Commerce, which opposed the metals tariffs from the start, said the duties and quotas should be dropped from "close allies."

The United States and European Union have agreed to end a festering dispute over US steel and aluminum tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump in 2018, removing an irritant in transatlantic relations and averting a spike in EU retaliatory tariffs, US officials said on Saturday.

The United States and European Union have agreed to end a festering dispute over US steel and aluminum tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump in 2018, removing an irritant in transatlantic relations and averting a spike in EU retaliatory tariffs, US officials said on Saturday. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told reporters that the deal will maintain US "Section 232" tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent aluminum, while allowing "limited volumes" of EU-produced metals into the United States duty free. Also Read | AUKUS deal: Joe Biden tells Emmanuel Macron that US was 'clumsy' It eliminates a source of friction between the allies and lets them focus on negotiating a new global trade agreement to address worldwide excess steel and aluminum capacity mainly centered in China and reduce carbon emissions from the industries. EU trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis confirmed the deal, writing on Twitter that "we have agreed with US to pause" the trade dispute and launch cooperation on a future global arrangement on sustainable steel and aluminum. Dombrovskis said the deal will be formally announced by Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday. US officials did not specify the volume of duty-free steel to be allowed into the United States under a tariff-rate quota system agreed upon with the EU. Sources familiar with the deal, speaking on condition of anonymity, have said annual volumes above 3.3 million tons would be subject to tariffs. The deal grants an additional two years of duty-free access above the quota for EU steel products that won Commerce Department exclusions in the past year, US officials said. The agreement requires EU steel and aluminum to be entirely produced in the bloc - a standard known as "melted and poured" - to qualify for duty-free status. The provision is aimed at preventing metals from China and non-EU countries from being minimally processed in Europe before export to the United States. Europe exported around 5 million tons of steel annually to the United States prior to Trump's imposition of the tariffs on national security grounds. "The agreement ultimately to negotiate a carbon-based arrangement on steel and aluminum trade addresses both Chinese overproduction and carbon intensity in the steel and aluminum sector," White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters, adding that the climate and workers can be protected at the same time. US steel production, which relies heavily on electric-arc furnaces, is regarded as having far lower carbon emissions than the coal-fueled blast furnaces prevalent in China. Biden has sought to mend fences with European allies following Trump's presidency to more broadly confront China's state-driven economic practices that led to Beijing building massive excess steelmaking capacity that has flooded global markets. Also Read | 'Pressure of blackmail': EU court imposes massive fine of over $1 million per day on Poland The deal will eliminate Europe's retaliatory tariffs against US products including bourbon whiskey, Harley-Davidson motorcycles and motor boats that were set to double on December 1, US officials said. "The end of this long tariff nightmare is in sight for US distillers, who have struggled with the weight of the tariffs and the pandemic," Distilled Spirits Council President Chris Swonger said, also urging Britain to lift its tariff on American whiskeys. Record Steel Prices Raimondo said the deal will reduce costs for steel-consuming US manufacturers. Steel prices have more than tripled in the past year to records topping $1,900 a ton as the industry has struggled to keep up with a demand surge after COVID-19 pandemic-related shutdowns, contributing to inflation. US primary aluminum producers, which had dwindled to two companies by the time Trump imposed the tariffs, will be able to maintain their investments in reviving domestic capacity because the quotas are set at very low levels, well below pre-tariff volumes, said Mark Duffy, CEO of the American Primary Aluminum Association industry group. American Iron and Steel Institute President Kevin Dempsey said the quota arrangement will help "prevent another steel import surge that would undermine our industry and destroy good-paying American jobs." "We urge the US and EU to take active steps to hold China and other countries that employ trade-distorting policies to account," Dempsey added. "We also believe US-EU cooperation should focus on new trade approaches to address climate change, including through development of effective carbon border adjustment measures." Due to its exit from the EU, Britain's steel exports remain subject to the tariffs, as are those of other US allies including Japan. The US Chamber of Commerce, which opposed the metals tariffs from the start, said the duties and quotas should be dropped from "close allies."

US, EU end Trump-era tariff war over steel and aluminum

Canada on Saturday pledged at the G20 summit to donate millions more Covid vaccine doses to poor countries worldwide.

"Canada will donate the equivalent of at least 200 million doses to the COVAX Facility by the end of 2022," Prime &nbsp;Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement, referring to the global vaccine-sharing alliance. Of this number, 10 million doses of Moderna&nbsp;vaccine will be delivered "quickly" to developing countries, he said.&nbsp;

Canada has also pledged $15 million to help increase vaccine production in South Africa, said Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland at a Rome briefing.

Those funds should contribute to the creation of a "technology transfer center" so that the region can produce messenger RNA vaccines against COVID-19

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-sending-millions-more-covid-19-doses-to-developing-nations-425299">Britain sending millions more COVID-19 doses to developing nations</a>

"We do not control production, but by 2022, we are certain that it will be possible to contribute at this level," Freeland said.&nbsp;

In August, the American company Moderna announced that it wanted to build a vaccine manufacturing plant in Canada, the first outside the United States.&nbsp;

According to the Canadian government, fewer than three million of the 40 million doses already promised by Canada had been received by the COVAX programme on Saturday, with additional deliveries planned in coming days.

Canada on Saturday pledged at the G20 summit to donate millions more Covid vaccine doses to poor countries worldwide. "Canada will donate the equivalent of at least 200 million doses to the COVAX Facility by the end of 2022," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement, referring to the global vaccine-sharing alliance.

Canada on Saturday pledged at the G20 summit to donate millions more Covid vaccine doses to poor countries worldwide. "Canada will donate the equivalent of at least 200 million doses to the COVAX Facility by the end of 2022," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement, referring to the global vaccine-sharing alliance. Of this number, 10 million doses of Moderna vaccine will be delivered "quickly" to developing countries, he said. Canada has also pledged $15 million to help increase vaccine production in South Africa, said Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland at a Rome briefing. Those funds should contribute to the creation of a "technology transfer center" so that the region can produce messenger RNA vaccines against COVID-19 Also Read | Britain sending millions more COVID-19 doses to developing nations "We do not control production, but by 2022, we are certain that it will be possible to contribute at this level," Freeland said. In August, the American company Moderna announced that it wanted to build a vaccine manufacturing plant in Canada, the first outside the United States. According to the Canadian government, fewer than three million of the 40 million doses already promised by Canada had been received by the COVAX programme on Saturday, with additional deliveries planned in coming days.

Canada vows to donate 200 million Covid vaccine doses

American Airlines has had to cancel hundreds of flights this weekend due to staffing shortages triggered by weather-related disruptions, according to Flight Aware data on Saturday.

The website, which tracks delays and cancellations in the US skies, showed that American Airlines cancelled more than 800 flights on Friday and Saturday and expects more than 400 cancellations on Sunday.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-alitalia-flight-attendants-strip-down-in-protest-against-ita-airways-423122">Former Alitalia flight attendants strip down in protest against ITA airways</a>

American Airlines CEO David Seymour said in a memo to staff on Saturday that the difficulties began on Thursday with strong wind storms that blocked capacity at the company's Dallas hub and delayed staff positioning for upcoming flights.&nbsp;

The company boss said that with additional weather issues, staffing "begins to run tight as crew members end up out of their regular flight sequences."&nbsp;

He said he hoped that operations will be restored "quickly with the start of a new month."

He also announced the return of 1,800 flight staff who have been on standby since the pandemic and the hiring of another 600 by the end of December, as well as 4,000 airport employees.&nbsp;

Most travellers affected by the cancellations were able to rebook for the same day, said the airline, which operates 6,700 daily flights worldwide to 350 destinations in 50 countries.&nbsp;

American Airlines is not the first airline to suffer a staffing shortage as travel demand picks up with vaccinations and the lifting of restrictions.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/japan-airlines-surprise-ticket-gapachon-machine-helps-boost-sales-421860">Japan airlines' surprise ticket gapachon machine helps boost sales</a>

Last week Southwest had to cancel more than 2,000 flights, costing it $75 million.&nbsp;

The problems were triggered on a Friday afternoon by bad weather and a temporary lack of air traffic controllers in one area of Florida. But the situation was quickly exacerbated by limited staffing levels and then snowballed over several days.&nbsp;

American Airlines has had to cancel hundreds of flights this weekend due to staffing shortages triggered by weather-related disruptions, according to Flight Aware data on Saturday.

American Airlines has had to cancel hundreds of flights this weekend due to staffing shortages triggered by weather-related disruptions, according to Flight Aware data on Saturday. The website, which tracks delays and cancellations in the US skies, showed that American Airlines cancelled more than 800 flights on Friday and Saturday and expects more than 400 cancellations on Sunday. Also Read | Former Alitalia flight attendants strip down in protest against ITA airways American Airlines CEO David Seymour said in a memo to staff on Saturday that the difficulties began on Thursday with strong wind storms that blocked capacity at the company's Dallas hub and delayed staff positioning for upcoming flights. The company boss said that with additional weather issues, staffing "begins to run tight as crew members end up out of their regular flight sequences." He said he hoped that operations will be restored "quickly with the start of a new month." He also announced the return of 1,800 flight staff who have been on standby since the pandemic and the hiring of another 600 by the end of December, as well as 4,000 airport employees. Most travellers affected by the cancellations were able to rebook for the same day, said the airline, which operates 6,700 daily flights worldwide to 350 destinations in 50 countries. American Airlines is not the first airline to suffer a staffing shortage as travel demand picks up with vaccinations and the lifting of restrictions. Also Read | Japan airlines' surprise ticket gapachon machine helps boost sales Last week Southwest had to cancel more than 2,000 flights, costing it $75 million. The problems were triggered on a Friday afternoon by bad weather and a temporary lack of air traffic controllers in one area of Florida. But the situation was quickly exacerbated by limited staffing levels and then snowballed over several days.

American Airlines cancels 100s of flights due to staff shortage

Factory activity in China plunged more than expected in October, official data showed Sunday, suggesting the industrial sector continued struggling as it grappled with tight power supply and surging raw material costs.

The key Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) -- a gauge of manufacturing activity in the world's second-largest economy -- fell to 49.2 this month, down from 49.6 in September, said the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/fertiliser-shipment-row-chinese-embassy-blacklists-peoples-bank-of-sri-lanka-424943">Fertiliser shipment row: Chinese embassy blacklists People’s Bank of Sri Lanka</a>

This marks the second straight month in which China's PMI dipped below the 50-point mark separating growth from contraction.

A Bloomberg poll of economists had pegged the reading at 49.7, which would have been a slight improvement.

Although the country's PMI contracted when the spread of COVID-19 -- which first surfaced in the central city of Wuhan -- forced most business activity to a halt, life has largely returned to normal as strict measures brought the outbreak under control.

But the NBS said Sunday: "In October, due to factors such as still-tight power supply and the high costs of some raw materials, the manufacturing PMI fell."

Both the production and new-order indexes were in contraction, pointing to weakening supply and demand, senior statistician Zhao Qinghe said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the price index continued rising, reflecting higher purchase prices of raw materials such as petroleum and coal, and that of sales costs.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/due-to-fuel-shortages-china-rations-diesel-424700">Due to fuel shortages, China rations diesel</a>&nbsp;

The production index has fallen to among its lowest levels since 2005, said Pinpoint Asset Management chief economist Zhiwei Zhang -- warning of stagflation.

"A worrying sign is the passthrough of inflation from input prices," he said, adding this could pile pressure on consumer inflation.

Tommy Xie of OCBC Bank told AFP that smaller companies appear to be "paying the price for the power shortages", suggesting the need for more policy support.

Non-manufacturing activity fell in October also, official data showed, as authorities noted "the recovery of the service industry has slowed".

China's non-manufacturing PMI came in at 52.4, down from 53.2 in September.

While the reading still indicates expansion, helped by holiday activity in early October, the NBS said the threat of local outbreaks continued to cast a pall over consumer sentiment.

"The real situation could be worse," said Nomura chief China economist Lu Ting, noting that surveys may not reflect the impact of escalating anti-virus measures in late October.

"We expect another round of cuts of growth forecasts," Lu added.

Factory activity in China plunged more than expected in October, official data showed Sunday, suggesting the industrial sector continued struggling as it grappled with tight power supply and surging raw material costs.

Factory activity in China plunged more than expected in October, official data showed Sunday, suggesting the industrial sector continued struggling as it grappled with tight power supply and surging raw material costs. The key Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) -- a gauge of manufacturing activity in the world's second-largest economy -- fell to 49.2 this month, down from 49.6 in September, said the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Also Read | Fertiliser shipment row: Chinese embassy blacklists People’s Bank of Sri Lanka This marks the second straight month in which China's PMI dipped below the 50-point mark separating growth from contraction. A Bloomberg poll of economists had pegged the reading at 49.7, which would have been a slight improvement. Although the country's PMI contracted when the spread of COVID-19 -- which first surfaced in the central city of Wuhan -- forced most business activity to a halt, life has largely returned to normal as strict measures brought the outbreak under control. But the NBS said Sunday: "In October, due to factors such as still-tight power supply and the high costs of some raw materials, the manufacturing PMI fell." Both the production and new-order indexes were in contraction, pointing to weakening supply and demand, senior statistician Zhao Qinghe said in a statement. Meanwhile, the price index continued rising, reflecting higher purchase prices of raw materials such as petroleum and coal, and that of sales costs. Also Read | Due to fuel shortages, China rations diesel The production index has fallen to among its lowest levels since 2005, said Pinpoint Asset Management chief economist Zhiwei Zhang -- warning of stagflation. "A worrying sign is the passthrough of inflation from input prices," he said, adding this could pile pressure on consumer inflation. Tommy Xie of OCBC Bank told AFP that smaller companies appear to be "paying the price for the power shortages", suggesting the need for more policy support. Non-manufacturing activity fell in October also, official data showed, as authorities noted "the recovery of the service industry has slowed". China's non-manufacturing PMI came in at 52.4, down from 53.2 in September. While the reading still indicates expansion, helped by holiday activity in early October, the NBS said the threat of local outbreaks continued to cast a pall over consumer sentiment. "The real situation could be worse," said Nomura chief China economist Lu Ting, noting that surveys may not reflect the impact of escalating anti-virus measures in late October. "We expect another round of cuts of growth forecasts," Lu added.

China factory activity slumps further on energy woes

Leaders of the Group of 20 major economies sit down for a second day of talks on Sunday faced with the difficult task of bridging their differences on how to combat global warming ahead of a crucial United Nations summit on climate change.

The first day of the Rome summit - the leaders&nbsp;first face-to-face gathering since the start of the Covid pandemic - focused mainly on health and the economy, while climate and the environment is front and centre of Sunday's agenda.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g20-leaders-agree-on-historic-corporate-tax-deal-425387">G20 leaders agree on historic corporate tax deal</a>

Climate scientists and activists are likely to be disappointed unless late breakthroughs are made, with drafts of the G20's final communique showing little progress in terms of new commitments to curb pollution.

The G20 bloc, which includes Brazil, China, India, Germany and the United States, accounts for an estimated 80 per cent of the global greenhouse gas emissions which scientists say must be steeply reduced to avoid climate catastrophe.

For that reason, this weekend's gathering is seen as an important stepping stone to the UN's "COP26" climate summit attended by almost 200 countries, in Glasgow, Scotland, where most of the G20 leaders will fly directly from Rome.

"The latest reports are disappointing, with little sense of urgency in the face of an existential emergency," said Oscar Soria of the activist network Avaaz. "There is no more time for vague wish-lists, we need concrete commitments and action."

A fifth draft of the G20's final statement seen by Reuters on Saturday did not toughen the language on climate action compared with previous versions, and in some key areas, such as the need to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, it softened it.

This mid-century target date is a goal that United Nations experts say is needed to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius, seen as the limit to avoid a dramatic acceleration of extreme events such as droughts, storms and floods.

UN&nbsp;experts say even if current national plans to curb emissions are fully implemented, the world is headed for global warming of 2.7C.

The planet's largest carbon emitter China, is aiming for net zero in 2060, while other major polluters such as India and Russia have also not committed to the mid-century deadline.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g20-summit-kicks-off-in-rome-with-focus-on-climate-covid-and-economy-425330">G20 Summit kicks off in Rome with focus on climate, COVID and economy</a>

G20 energy and environment ministers who met in Naples in July failed to reach agreement on setting a date to phase out fossil fuel subsidies and end coal power,&nbsp;asking the leaders to find a resolution at this weekend's summit.

Based on the latest draft, they have made little progress, pledging to "do our utmost" to stop building new coal power plants before the end of the 2030s and saying they will phase out fossil fuel subsidies "over the medium term."

On the other hand, they do pledge to halt financing of overseas coal-fired power generation by the end of this year.

Some developing countries are reluctant to commit to steep emission cuts until rich nations make good on a pledge made 12 years ago to provide $100 billion per year from 2020 to help them tackle the effects of global warming.

That promise has still not been kept, contributing to the "mistrust" which UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Friday was blighting progress in climate negotiations.

Leaders of the Group of 20 major economies sit down for a second day of talks on Sunday faced with the difficult task of bridging their differences on how to combat global warming ahead of a crucial United Nations summit on climate change.

Leaders of the Group of 20 major economies sit down for a second day of talks on Sunday faced with the difficult task of bridging their differences on how to combat global warming ahead of a crucial United Nations summit on climate change. The first day of the Rome summit - the leaders first face-to-face gathering since the start of the Covid pandemic - focused mainly on health and the economy, while climate and the environment is front and centre of Sunday's agenda. Also Read | G20 leaders agree on historic corporate tax deal Climate scientists and activists are likely to be disappointed unless late breakthroughs are made, with drafts of the G20's final communique showing little progress in terms of new commitments to curb pollution. The G20 bloc, which includes Brazil, China, India, Germany and the United States, accounts for an estimated 80 per cent of the global greenhouse gas emissions which scientists say must be steeply reduced to avoid climate catastrophe. For that reason, this weekend's gathering is seen as an important stepping stone to the UN's "COP26" climate summit attended by almost 200 countries, in Glasgow, Scotland, where most of the G20 leaders will fly directly from Rome. "The latest reports are disappointing, with little sense of urgency in the face of an existential emergency," said Oscar Soria of the activist network Avaaz. "There is no more time for vague wish-lists, we need concrete commitments and action." A fifth draft of the G20's final statement seen by Reuters on Saturday did not toughen the language on climate action compared with previous versions, and in some key areas, such as the need to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, it softened it. This mid-century target date is a goal that United Nations experts say is needed to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius, seen as the limit to avoid a dramatic acceleration of extreme events such as droughts, storms and floods. UN experts say even if current national plans to curb emissions are fully implemented, the world is headed for global warming of 2.7C. The planet's largest carbon emitter China, is aiming for net zero in 2060, while other major polluters such as India and Russia have also not committed to the mid-century deadline. Also Read | G20 Summit kicks off in Rome with focus on climate, COVID and economy G20 energy and environment ministers who met in Naples in July failed to reach agreement on setting a date to phase out fossil fuel subsidies and end coal power, asking the leaders to find a resolution at this weekend's summit. Based on the latest draft, they have made little progress, pledging to "do our utmost" to stop building new coal power plants before the end of the 2030s and saying they will phase out fossil fuel subsidies "over the medium term." On the other hand, they do pledge to halt financing of overseas coal-fired power generation by the end of this year. Some developing countries are reluctant to commit to steep emission cuts until rich nations make good on a pledge made 12 years ago to provide $100 billion per year from 2020 to help them tackle the effects of global warming. That promise has still not been kept, contributing to the "mistrust" which UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Friday was blighting progress in climate negotiations.

G20 leaders face tough climate talks on second day of summit

In a recent cyberattack on its servers, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) informed that no financial loss or data breach has been observed, the bank said on Saturday. It did report that the attack impacted “some of the bank’s services”. &nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NBP has reported a cyber security related incident which is being investigated. NBP has not observed any data breach or financial loss. No other bank has reported any such incidence. SBP is monitoring the situation closely to ensure safety and soundness of banking system.
— SBP (@StateBank_Pak) <a href="https://twitter.com/StateBank_Pak/status/1454478620131536899?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2021</a></blockquote>
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On Twitter, the central bank announced, “NBP has reported a cybersecurity-related incident, which is being investigated. NBP has not observed any data breach or financial loss.” &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-send-envoy-to-pakistan-as-diplomats-start-work-in-capital-city-islamabad-425114" hreflang="en">Taliban send envoy to Pakistan as 'diplomats' start work in Islamabad</a>

It clarified that no other bank reported such incident. The central bank is also currently monitoring the situation to ensure the safety and soundness of the banking system. &nbsp;

The bank said it took "immediate steps" to isolate the affected systems. “At this point, no customer or financial data has been compromised,” it stated. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-islamist-group-vows-to-march-to-capital-amid-deadlock-in-talks-with-govt-424929" hreflang="en">Pakistan Islamist group vows to march to capital amid deadlock in talks with govt</a>

In a statement, the bank said, “Remediation efforts are underway using industry-leading subject matter experts including international resources where ever required.” &nbsp;

Currently, the NBP's services to its customers have been disrupted. The NBP said that the bank is making concerted efforts to address the breach. It is confident that essential customer services will be restored by Monday morning. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In a recent cyberattack on its servers, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) informed that no financial loss or data breach has been observed, the bank said on Saturday.

In a recent cyberattack on its servers, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) informed that no financial loss or data breach has been observed, the bank said on Saturday. It did report that the attack impacted “some of the bank’s services”. NBP has reported a cyber security related incident which is being investigated. NBP has not observed any data breach or financial loss. No other bank has reported any such incidence. SBP is monitoring the situation closely to ensure safety and soundness of banking system. — SBP (@StateBank_Pak) October 30, 2021 × On Twitter, the central bank announced, “NBP has reported a cybersecurity-related incident, which is being investigated. NBP has not observed any data breach or financial loss.” Also Read: Taliban send envoy to Pakistan as 'diplomats' start work in Islamabad It clarified that no other bank reported such incident. The central bank is also currently monitoring the situation to ensure the safety and soundness of the banking system. The bank said it took "immediate steps" to isolate the affected systems. “At this point, no customer or financial data has been compromised,” it stated. Also Read: Pakistan Islamist group vows to march to capital amid deadlock in talks with govt In a statement, the bank said, “Remediation efforts are underway using industry-leading subject matter experts including international resources where ever required.” Currently, the NBP's services to its customers have been disrupted. The NBP said that the bank is making concerted efforts to address the breach. It is confident that essential customer services will be restored by Monday morning. (With inputs from agencies)

National Bank of Pakistan gets hit by cyberattack, reports no financial loss or data breach

We bring you the biggest stories of the day so far. From&nbsp;financially-crippled Lebanon getting entangled in Saudi-Iran tug-of-war to&nbsp;National Bank of Pakistan getting hit by cyberattack, reporting no financial loss,&nbsp;we have it all.

You can also read about&nbsp;India is getting ready to produce 5 billion Covid vaccines.

Please click on the headline to read the full story.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/financially-crippled-lebanon-gets-entangled-in-saudi-iran-tug-of-war-425437">Financially-crippled Lebanon gets entangled in Saudi-Iran tug-of-war</a>

<img alt="Brief 2" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="885ce456-8391-457b-987f-78afc8d7fb82" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/F1.JPG" />

Middle East seems to have got embroiled into a tug-of-war between&nbsp;Saudi Arabia and Iran. This time the victim is financially-crippled Lebanon as Riyadh and other Gulf states expelled the envoy of the country.&nbsp;The measures were taken after a Lebanese minister made "insulting" remarks on the Yemen war.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/national-bank-of-pakistan-gets-hit-by-cyberattack-reports-no-financial-loss-or-data-breach-425446">National Bank of Pakistan gets hit by cyberattack, reports no financial loss</a>

<img alt="Brief 3" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1e16a88a-1fc1-4df9-a491-29f60437320a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/F2.JPG" />

National Bank of Pakistan recently suffered a cyberattack on its servers. It&nbsp;informed that no financial loss or data breach was observed. The attack, however,&nbsp;impacted “some of the bank’s services”. It clarified that no other bank reported such incident.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-rome-modi-pitches-one-earth-one-health-vision-says-ready-to-produce-5-billion-covid-vaccines-425443">India ready to produce 5 billion Covid vaccines: PM Modi at G20 Summit</a>

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Stressing on 'One Earth, One Health' vision of collaborative approach in dealing with Covid virus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is ready to produce over 5 billion coronavirus vaccine doses by the end of next year to help the world in the fight against the pandemic.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-of-protesters-march-on-rome-streets-as-g20-summit-kicks-off-425412">Thousands of protesters march on Rome streets as G20 Summit kicks off</a>

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G20 Summit in Rome was no exception to the staging of protests that is common when a major global conference takes place anywhere in the world. On Saturday thousands of people marched on streets of Rome to call on G20 leaders to act against climate change and to ensure fair access to COVID-19 vaccines.

&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;US Treasury hits Iran's drone program with sanctions

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We bring you the biggest stories of the day so far. From financially-crippled Lebanon getting entangled in Saudi-Iran tug-of-war to National Bank of Pakistan getting hit by cyberattack, reporting no financial loss, we have it all.

We bring you the biggest stories of the day so far. From financially-crippled Lebanon getting entangled in Saudi-Iran tug-of-war to National Bank of Pakistan getting hit by cyberattack, reporting no financial loss, we have it all. You can also read about India is getting ready to produce 5 billion Covid vaccines. Please click on the headline to read the full story. Financially-crippled Lebanon gets entangled in Saudi-Iran tug-of-war Middle East seems to have got embroiled into a tug-of-war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. This time the victim is financially-crippled Lebanon as Riyadh and other Gulf states expelled the envoy of the country. The measures were taken after a Lebanese minister made "insulting" remarks on the Yemen war. National Bank of Pakistan gets hit by cyberattack, reports no financial loss National Bank of Pakistan recently suffered a cyberattack on its servers. It informed that no financial loss or data breach was observed. The attack, however, impacted “some of the bank’s services”. It clarified that no other bank reported such incident. India ready to produce 5 billion Covid vaccines: PM Modi at G20 Summit Stressing on 'One Earth, One Health' vision of collaborative approach in dealing with Covid virus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is ready to produce over 5 billion coronavirus vaccine doses by the end of next year to help the world in the fight against the pandemic. Thousands of protesters march on Rome streets as G20 Summit kicks off G20 Summit in Rome was no exception to the staging of protests that is common when a major global conference takes place anywhere in the world. On Saturday thousands of people marched on streets of Rome to call on G20 leaders to act against climate change and to ensure fair access to COVID-19 vaccines. Watch: US Treasury hits Iran's drone program with sanctions ×

Morning news brief: Lebanon gets hit in proxy war, India to produce vaccines and more

Middle East seems to have got embroiled into a tug-of-war between regional kingpins, Saudi Arabia and Iran, said analysts. This time the victim is financially-crippled Lebanon as Riyadh and other Gulf states expelled the envoy of the country. &nbsp; &nbsp;

On Friday, the crisis erupted when Saudi Arabia gave ambassador of Lebanon 48 hours to leave the country. It also recalled its envoy from Beirut and suspended all imports from Lebanon. The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait also followed suit. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/car-explodes-at-the-entrance-of-yemens-aden-airport-casualties-reported-425389" hreflang="en">Car explodes at the entrance of Yemen's Aden airport; Casualties reported</a>

As per the Saudi foreign ministry, the measures were taken after a Lebanese minister made "insulting" remarks on the Yemen war. The root cause seems to be the influence of Lebanon's Iran-backed Shiite movement Hezbollah. &nbsp;&nbsp;

It said, the group controls Lebanese ports and "hijacks" the government's decision-making in Beirut. &nbsp;&nbsp;

This is a fresh blow to Lebanon, which has been suffering financial and political turmoil at this time. The fragile government of the county is also struggling to secure international aid. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g20-summit-biden-macron-merkel-johnson-discuss-iran-deal-on-sidelines-425373" hreflang="en">G20 Summit: Biden, Macron, Merkel, Johnson discuss Iran deal on sidelines</a>

In an interview recorded in August but aired on Monday, Information Minister Georges Kordahi slammed the Saudi-led military intervention against Iran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Kordahi said the Huthis were "defending themselves... against an external aggression". The remarks sparked anger in Saudi Arabia and its allies, and calls for his resignation begun in Lebanon. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Middle East seems to have got embroiled into a tug-of-war between regional kingpins, Saudi Arabia and Iran, said analysts. This time the victim is financially-crippled Lebanon as Riyadh and other Gulf states expelled the envoy of the country.

Middle East seems to have got embroiled into a tug-of-war between regional kingpins, Saudi Arabia and Iran, said analysts. This time the victim is financially-crippled Lebanon as Riyadh and other Gulf states expelled the envoy of the country. On Friday, the crisis erupted when Saudi Arabia gave ambassador of Lebanon 48 hours to leave the country. It also recalled its envoy from Beirut and suspended all imports from Lebanon. The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait also followed suit. Also Read: Car explodes at the entrance of Yemen's Aden airport; Casualties reported As per the Saudi foreign ministry, the measures were taken after a Lebanese minister made "insulting" remarks on the Yemen war. The root cause seems to be the influence of Lebanon's Iran-backed Shiite movement Hezbollah. It said, the group controls Lebanese ports and "hijacks" the government's decision-making in Beirut. This is a fresh blow to Lebanon, which has been suffering financial and political turmoil at this time. The fragile government of the county is also struggling to secure international aid. Also Read | G20 Summit: Biden, Macron, Merkel, Johnson discuss Iran deal on sidelines In an interview recorded in August but aired on Monday, Information Minister Georges Kordahi slammed the Saudi-led military intervention against Iran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen. Kordahi said the Huthis were "defending themselves... against an external aggression". The remarks sparked anger in Saudi Arabia and its allies, and calls for his resignation begun in Lebanon. (With inputs from agencies)

Financially-crippled Lebanon gets entangled in Saudi-Iran tug-of-war

The mural, showing a rising sun and two children of color wearing crowns, was intended to promote racial equity at a school building in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Fifth graders from PS 295 spent months designing the artwork, which was spread across the cafeteria wall that their school shares with MS 443, a middle school, with the help of Groundswell, a longtime community arts organization.

As the project came together in July, the elementary school principal, Lisa Pagano, became uncomfortable with the slogans that had been added — “Black Lives Matter” and “Black Trans Lives Matter” — as well as a quote by Black gay feminist writer Audre Lorde, which read, “Your Silence Will Not Protect You.”

Pagano asked Groundswell in an email to substitute a broader message, such as “Hate has no home here,” to reflect the schools’ recognition of many different marginalized groups who make up the student body. “This will assist us in building more inclusivity for all viewers in our school and the middle school we are co-located with,” Pagano wrote.

Groundswell pushed back, and the mural went up unchanged in July.

But days later, a custodian was ordered to take the thin mural — attached with an adhesive — off the wall. It’s not clear who ordered the removal, which staff and parents say destroyed the mural.

The events, from the mural’s installation to its removal, have created a rift among teachers, parents and school administrators that has rattled the school community.

Parents who are upset that the mural was put up in the first place have squared off against parents who supported it. Pro-mural parents and students have protested by writing the mural’s messages in chalk on the sidewalk. At least one elementary school staff member, upset about the removal, left the school.

The Department of Education is now investigating, and both principals could face disciplinary action, a spokesperson said.

“Our schools must be safe and inclusive environments, and this should not have happened, and we’re very sorry this happened to our students,” said Nathaniel Styer, the deputy press secretary for the department. “We are assisting the school communities to come to a resolution, convening mediations and will take disciplinary action as appropriate following the outcome of the investigation.”

The discord reflects a wider debate roiling schools across the country over race and how it manifests itself in curriculum and school life. Interviews with dozens of parents at both schools, as well as former and current teachers, paint a picture of two schools grappling with the complexities of race, ethnicity, inequality and diversity.

PS 295, also known as the Studio School of Arts and Culture, and MS 443, known as New Voices, are on the southern edge of Park Slope, a largely white neighborhood, not far from the heavily Latino and Asian neighborhood of Sunset Park, and share common spaces, including the cafeteria. Pagano, formerly the assistant principal, was promoted to principal of the elementary school a year ago, while Frank Giordano has been the principal of the middle school for nearly two decades.

In the two schools, the largest contingent of students is Hispanic, with a sizable number of white students; Asian students make up 9% of the elementary school and 13% of the middle school; Black students account for less than 10% of the student body. Overall, half of all students receive free or reduced-price lunches. Although the group of muralists included children of Latino, Asian and Black heritage, some school leaders and parents said the mural did not capture the racial, religious and ethnic dynamics of the school.

Some parents did not believe their children were represented by the children depicted in the mural.

“What happened to the Hispanics, to the Asians?” Karen Rafael, who is Latina and the mother of an eighth grader, asked.

She questioned why images of front-line workers during the pandemic, many of whom are Hispanic, were not featured on the mural. The transgender slogan may also not resonate as widely with Hispanic and Arab families, she added, many of whom come from religiously conservative backgrounds.

Her daughter, she said, told her recently: “Hispanics are the middle child of the races — usually forgotten.”

Some students involved in creating the mural are upset and confused by its removal.

“I was really, really sad and angry to hear that the mural was taken down and destroyed,” one of the muralists, Kai Gelber-Higgins, 11, said. “I still don’t fully understand why it was taken down and destroyed.”

Hollis Albaeck, 11, another muralist, said: “I feel like people of color need more respect because they are just as important as white folks, but our country is not showing that, so now we need to bring back their trust in us as being kind people.”

The schools are within District 15, which spearheaded a diversity and equity initiative that involved making admissions lottery-based and is seen as a template for the rest of the city.

Some parents and teachers questioned whether Pagano and Giordano, who are both white, are culturally equipped to manage the evolving culture of a majority nonwhite school. Some staff members have lauded the two school leaders as being devoted to achieving academic excellence.

Under Giordano’s leadership, New Voices has developed a reputation as one of the best schools in Brooklyn. Parents and staff described him as an affable leader who endears himself to students with practical jokes, but can be brusque. Some parents and staff find his jokes off-putting.

Pagano, Giordano and Anita Skop, superintendent of District 15, did not respond to requests for comment. But in several meetings with parents and teachers, the three administrators explained how the events unfolded.

Before the mural, there were rumblings about racial and cultural insensitivity: Several parents at the elementary school said they spent more than $1,000 of their own money to buy books by authors of color for the school library. During a “Colonial Day,” students at the elementary school were made to play roles on settler ships, something that made students of color and their parents uncomfortable.

“By the time our second child was in that school, I said, ‘No, I’m not going to put my kid in a Pilgrim dress and take on the persona of white settler colonizer,’” said Victor Quiñonez, who is of Mexican descent and whose daughter was one of the muralists.

Doug Hecklinger, a fifth grade teacher at PS 295 who came out as queer to his students a few years ago, blamed the school administrators for creating an environment that has failed to nurture cultural understanding. “It was not uniform,” Hecklinger said. “Some teachers didn’t feel comfortable using a diversity of books without more training.” He recalled a colleague complaining, “Why can’t we read normal children’s books?”

And then came the mural.

Carlos Menchaca, a Democratic council member who represents Sunset Park, Red Hook and Greenwood Heights, allocated a $20,000 grant to Groundswell for the mural, which he had done for more than a dozen other schools in the past.

Groundswell, which has completed more than 200 pieces of public art at 128 schools around the city in its 25-year history, recruited students from the elementary school to brainstorm on the content and design.

The Park Slope mural diverged from artwork at other schools. A number of Groundswell works in the district used slogans like “Resilience” and “You Are Welcome Here,” none of which referred explicitly to current events.

But the mural that would be spread across the cafeteria wall during the summer tapped into a reckoning of 2020, when the murder of George Floyd by a white police officer set off worldwide protests. Those demonstrations included a march in Brooklyn that drew an estimated 15,000 supporters of Black transgender people, who are disproportionately the victims of police violence. Though Pagano had urged Groundswell to broaden the mural’s message, Sarah Katz, a Groundswell official, told her in an email that the mural was inclusive in its specificity.

“We believe that naming and supporting communities most impacted by oppressive systems is essential to cultivating authentic inclusion,” Katz said in the email. Using the phrase “Black Trans Lives Matter,” as opposed to a more generalized message, “acknowledges a truth that certain communities have been historically undervalued, and seeks to center those communities to move closer to justice. It is for these reasons that our hope would be for this statement to remain unchanged.”

When Giordano saw the mural for the first time, days later, he reached out to Skop. The mural was removed.

This fall, Giordano later told parents and staff that the mural had violated Department of Education rules around shared space. It was not approved by a building committee or by the legal department. (The Department of Education is looking into the rules as part of its investigation.)

Giordano’s main concern, however, was the lack of inclusivity and what he believed was an infusion of political beliefs.

“We needed to create a mural that encompasses all of our communities, and was not political in any sense,” Giordano said in a call to parents in September.

“We’ve gotten to this point in society,” he added, where “I don’t even want to watch the news, especially with my kids, because I want them to think that the world that they’re going to be inheriting isn’t so bad.”

Skop said at a recent virtual PTA meeting that she worried that the Audre Lorde quote “was not student-generated,” and several parents also were dubious.

“Who actually did the work?” Angela Sheldon, the head of the Parents Association at New Voices, asked. “There is a political agenda here.” The quote, she added, could be hurtful to Hispanic families in the school, some of whom lack legal protections and fear deportation. “They actually need our silence for their protection,” she argued.

Lexy Ho-Tai, a Groundswell employee who guided the students twice a week for months on the project, said she introduced the Audre Lorde quote herself and was taken aback by the furor it ignited. “I was under the impression that what I was sharing was also aligned with their school values.”

Since the controversy erupted after first being reported in The New York Daily News, the Department of Education has emphasized that the entire public school system is trying to take more steps to give students a more diverse educational experience. Under what it is calling “the Universal Mosaic Curriculum,” the department has a goal “to ensure that the materials used better reflect the myriad identities contained in each school and classroom,” Styer said in a statement.

In Park Slope, Skop and Pagano have tried to find some middle ground and have apologized for removing the artwork and hurting students’ feelings.

Skop told parents she would “bring very strong people to talk with Mr. Giordano about these things.” She told them that “this isn’t going to be glossed over,” adding that the head of a “districtwide diversity initiative” would talk to them “in a way that I, as an old white lady, can’t. I am honest enough to say that I cannot speak that way because of the color of my skin.”

She also agreed to a proposal: Maybe PS 295 could be renamed the Audre Lorde School.

The mural, showing a rising sun and two children of color wearing crowns, was intended to promote racial equity at a school building in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Fifth graders from PS 295 spent months designing the artwork, which was spread across the cafeteria wall that their school shares with MS 443, a middle school, with the help of Groundswell, a longtime community arts organization.

The mural, showing a rising sun and two children of color wearing crowns, was intended to promote racial equity at a school building in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Fifth graders from PS 295 spent months designing the artwork, which was spread across the cafeteria wall that their school shares with MS 443, a middle school, with the help of Groundswell, a longtime community arts organization. As the project came together in July, the elementary school principal, Lisa Pagano, became uncomfortable with the slogans that had been added — “Black Lives Matter” and “Black Trans Lives Matter” — as well as a quote by Black gay feminist writer Audre Lorde, which read, “Your Silence Will Not Protect You.” Pagano asked Groundswell in an email to substitute a broader message, such as “Hate has no home here,” to reflect the schools’ recognition of many different marginalized groups who make up the student body. “This will assist us in building more inclusivity for all viewers in our school and the middle school we are co-located with,” Pagano wrote. Groundswell pushed back, and the mural went up unchanged in July. But days later, a custodian was ordered to take the thin mural — attached with an adhesive — off the wall. It’s not clear who ordered the removal, which staff and parents say destroyed the mural. The events, from the mural’s installation to its removal, have created a rift among teachers, parents and school administrators that has rattled the school community. Parents who are upset that the mural was put up in the first place have squared off against parents who supported it. Pro-mural parents and students have protested by writing the mural’s messages in chalk on the sidewalk. At least one elementary school staff member, upset about the removal, left the school. The Department of Education is now investigating, and both principals could face disciplinary action, a spokesperson said. “Our schools must be safe and inclusive environments, and this should not have happened, and we’re very sorry this happened to our students,” said Nathaniel Styer, the deputy press secretary for the department. “We are assisting the school communities to come to a resolution, convening mediations and will take disciplinary action as appropriate following the outcome of the investigation.” The discord reflects a wider debate roiling schools across the country over race and how it manifests itself in curriculum and school life. Interviews with dozens of parents at both schools, as well as former and current teachers, paint a picture of two schools grappling with the complexities of race, ethnicity, inequality and diversity. PS 295, also known as the Studio School of Arts and Culture, and MS 443, known as New Voices, are on the southern edge of Park Slope, a largely white neighborhood, not far from the heavily Latino and Asian neighborhood of Sunset Park, and share common spaces, including the cafeteria. Pagano, formerly the assistant principal, was promoted to principal of the elementary school a year ago, while Frank Giordano has been the principal of the middle school for nearly two decades. In the two schools, the largest contingent of students is Hispanic, with a sizable number of white students; Asian students make up 9% of the elementary school and 13% of the middle school; Black students account for less than 10% of the student body. Overall, half of all students receive free or reduced-price lunches. Although the group of muralists included children of Latino, Asian and Black heritage, some school leaders and parents said the mural did not capture the racial, religious and ethnic dynamics of the school. Some parents did not believe their children were represented by the children depicted in the mural. “What happened to the Hispanics, to the Asians?” Karen Rafael, who is Latina and the mother of an eighth grader, asked. She questioned why images of front-line workers during the pandemic, many of whom are Hispanic, were not featured on the mural. The transgender slogan may also not resonate as widely with Hispanic and Arab families, she added, many of whom come from religiously conservative backgrounds. Her daughter, she said, told her recently: “Hispanics are the middle child of the races — usually forgotten.” Some students involved in creating the mural are upset and confused by its removal. “I was really, really sad and angry to hear that the mural was taken down and destroyed,” one of the muralists, Kai Gelber-Higgins, 11, said. “I still don’t fully understand why it was taken down and destroyed.” Hollis Albaeck, 11, another muralist, said: “I feel like people of color need more respect because they are just as important as white folks, but our country is not showing that, so now we need to bring back their trust in us as being kind people.” The schools are within District 15, which spearheaded a diversity and equity initiative that involved making admissions lottery-based and is seen as a template for the rest of the city. Some parents and teachers questioned whether Pagano and Giordano, who are both white, are culturally equipped to manage the evolving culture of a majority nonwhite school. Some staff members have lauded the two school leaders as being devoted to achieving academic excellence. Under Giordano’s leadership, New Voices has developed a reputation as one of the best schools in Brooklyn. Parents and staff described him as an affable leader who endears himself to students with practical jokes, but can be brusque. Some parents and staff find his jokes off-putting. Pagano, Giordano and Anita Skop, superintendent of District 15, did not respond to requests for comment. But in several meetings with parents and teachers, the three administrators explained how the events unfolded. Before the mural, there were rumblings about racial and cultural insensitivity: Several parents at the elementary school said they spent more than $1,000 of their own money to buy books by authors of color for the school library. During a “Colonial Day,” students at the elementary school were made to play roles on settler ships, something that made students of color and their parents uncomfortable. “By the time our second child was in that school, I said, ‘No, I’m not going to put my kid in a Pilgrim dress and take on the persona of white settler colonizer,’” said Victor Quiñonez, who is of Mexican descent and whose daughter was one of the muralists. Doug Hecklinger, a fifth grade teacher at PS 295 who came out as queer to his students a few years ago, blamed the school administrators for creating an environment that has failed to nurture cultural understanding. “It was not uniform,” Hecklinger said. “Some teachers didn’t feel comfortable using a diversity of books without more training.” He recalled a colleague complaining, “Why can’t we read normal children’s books?” And then came the mural. Carlos Menchaca, a Democratic council member who represents Sunset Park, Red Hook and Greenwood Heights, allocated a $20,000 grant to Groundswell for the mural, which he had done for more than a dozen other schools in the past. Groundswell, which has completed more than 200 pieces of public art at 128 schools around the city in its 25-year history, recruited students from the elementary school to brainstorm on the content and design. The Park Slope mural diverged from artwork at other schools. A number of Groundswell works in the district used slogans like “Resilience” and “You Are Welcome Here,” none of which referred explicitly to current events. But the mural that would be spread across the cafeteria wall during the summer tapped into a reckoning of 2020, when the murder of George Floyd by a white police officer set off worldwide protests. Those demonstrations included a march in Brooklyn that drew an estimated 15,000 supporters of Black transgender people, who are disproportionately the victims of police violence. Though Pagano had urged Groundswell to broaden the mural’s message, Sarah Katz, a Groundswell official, told her in an email that the mural was inclusive in its specificity. “We believe that naming and supporting communities most impacted by oppressive systems is essential to cultivating authentic inclusion,” Katz said in the email. Using the phrase “Black Trans Lives Matter,” as opposed to a more generalized message, “acknowledges a truth that certain communities have been historically undervalued, and seeks to center those communities to move closer to justice. It is for these reasons that our hope would be for this statement to remain unchanged.” When Giordano saw the mural for the first time, days later, he reached out to Skop. The mural was removed. This fall, Giordano later told parents and staff that the mural had violated Department of Education rules around shared space. It was not approved by a building committee or by the legal department. (The Department of Education is looking into the rules as part of its investigation.) Giordano’s main concern, however, was the lack of inclusivity and what he believed was an infusion of political beliefs. “We needed to create a mural that encompasses all of our communities, and was not political in any sense,” Giordano said in a call to parents in September. “We’ve gotten to this point in society,” he added, where “I don’t even want to watch the news, especially with my kids, because I want them to think that the world that they’re going to be inheriting isn’t so bad.” Skop said at a recent virtual PTA meeting that she worried that the Audre Lorde quote “was not student-generated,” and several parents also were dubious. “Who actually did the work?” Angela Sheldon, the head of the Parents Association at New Voices, asked. “There is a political agenda here.” The quote, she added, could be hurtful to Hispanic families in the school, some of whom lack legal protections and fear deportation. “They actually need our silence for their protection,” she argued. Lexy Ho-Tai, a Groundswell employee who guided the students twice a week for months on the project, said she introduced the Audre Lorde quote herself and was taken aback by the furor it ignited. “I was under the impression that what I was sharing was also aligned with their school values.” Since the controversy erupted after first being reported in The New York Daily News, the Department of Education has emphasized that the entire public school system is trying to take more steps to give students a more diverse educational experience. Under what it is calling “the Universal Mosaic Curriculum,” the department has a goal “to ensure that the materials used better reflect the myriad identities contained in each school and classroom,” Styer said in a statement. In Park Slope, Skop and Pagano have tried to find some middle ground and have apologized for removing the artwork and hurting students’ feelings. Skop told parents she would “bring very strong people to talk with Mr. Giordano about these things.” She told them that “this isn’t going to be glossed over,” adding that the head of a “districtwide diversity initiative” would talk to them “in a way that I, as an old white lady, can’t. I am honest enough to say that I cannot speak that way because of the color of my skin.” She also agreed to a proposal: Maybe PS 295 could be renamed the Audre Lorde School.

A school mural was supposed to celebrate Black Lives. Instead, it was destroyed.

In what can be called a rare sighting, some parts of northern United States are in for a treat this weekend as solar flare will make the northern lights visible to residents on Saturday night.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Normally seen in only Alaska, the lights will be visible as far south as Pennsylvania, Iowa&nbsp;and Oregon in the US this time. Scientists also expect the lights to become visible in the New England region, Montana and Washington. These lights could be seen on both Saturday and Sunday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/homo-bodoensis-its-official-we-have-a-new-ancestor-425007" hreflang="en">Homo bodoensis: It's official, we have a new ancestor</a>

A solar flare, which erupted on Thursday, is expected to reach the Earth on Saturday. It has caused a large group of solar-charged particles to come towards the Earth, which makes the lights more visible in the US, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

For the solar flare, the NOAA has issued a G3 geomagnetic storm watch this weekend.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/why-is-mysterious-dark-energy-leading-to-expansion-of-the-universe-425187" hreflang="en">Why is mysterious dark energy leading to expansion of the universe?</a>

The storm doesn’t seem to be harmful to&nbsp;humans, but the NOAA has listed possible interference with electronics, such as false alarms on protection devices,&nbsp;voltage irregularities&nbsp;and interruptions to navigation and radio signals as possible side-effects.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

However, the NOAA said in its storm watch that "impacts to our technology from G3 storms are usually nominal."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In what can be called a rare sighting, some parts of northern United States are in for a treat this weekend as solar flare will make the northern lights visible to residents on Saturday night.

In what can be called a rare sighting, some parts of northern United States are in for a treat this weekend as solar flare will make the northern lights visible to residents on Saturday night. Normally seen in only Alaska, the lights will be visible as far south as Pennsylvania, Iowa and Oregon in the US this time. Scientists also expect the lights to become visible in the New England region, Montana and Washington. These lights could be seen on both Saturday and Sunday. Also Read | Homo bodoensis: It's official, we have a new ancestor A solar flare, which erupted on Thursday, is expected to reach the Earth on Saturday. It has caused a large group of solar-charged particles to come towards the Earth, which makes the lights more visible in the US, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. For the solar flare, the NOAA has issued a G3 geomagnetic storm watch this weekend. Also Read | Why is mysterious dark energy leading to expansion of the universe? The storm doesn’t seem to be harmful to humans, but the NOAA has listed possible interference with electronics, such as false alarms on protection devices, voltage irregularities and interruptions to navigation and radio signals as possible side-effects. However, the NOAA said in its storm watch that "impacts to our technology from G3 storms are usually nominal." (With inputs from agencies)

During Halloween weekend, solar flare helps northern lights become visible to US

As part of the Group of 20 summit on Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. It was an outreach designed to ensure that the troubled relationship between the world's two large economies doesn’t evolve into an open conflict. &nbsp;

The conversation was described as candid, constructive and productive by the senior state department officials. &nbsp;

During the roughly hour-long meeting, Blinken conveyed US concerns to his counterpart. The officials, shared the information on the condition of anonymity. &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-ahead-of-cop26-summit-us-president-bidens-85-vehicle-motorcade-raises-emissions-concerns-425520">Watch: Ahead of COP26 summit, Biden's motorcade raises emissions' concerns</a>

At the meeting, Blinken said China has increased tensions with regard to Taiwan, and US wants to continue its 'one-China policy’, which recognises Beijing but allows informal relations and defence ties with Taipei. &nbsp;

The goal of the US was to maintain an open line of communication with China, and set a virtual meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping later this year. &nbsp;

Earlier, the United States Air Force General John Hyten has called China a ''pacing threat'' after confirmation of the country's hypersonic weapons test. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/en-route-to-italy-for-g20-summit-indian-pm-modis-flight-flew-over-pakistani-airspace-425578" hreflang="en">En route to Italy for G20 Summit, Indian PM Modi’s flight flew over Pakistani airspace</a>

Slamming the ''brutal'' bureaucracy in the US, Hyten said, ''China will surpass Russia and the United States if we don't do something to change it. It will happen. So, I think we have to do something." &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

As part of the Group of 20 summit on Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. It was an outreach designed to ensure that the troubled relationship between the world's two large economies doesn’t evolve into an open conflict.

As part of the Group of 20 summit on Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. It was an outreach designed to ensure that the troubled relationship between the world's two large economies doesn’t evolve into an open conflict. The conversation was described as candid, constructive and productive by the senior state department officials. During the roughly hour-long meeting, Blinken conveyed US concerns to his counterpart. The officials, shared the information on the condition of anonymity. Also Read | Watch: Ahead of COP26 summit, Biden's motorcade raises emissions' concerns At the meeting, Blinken said China has increased tensions with regard to Taiwan, and US wants to continue its 'one-China policy’, which recognises Beijing but allows informal relations and defence ties with Taipei. The goal of the US was to maintain an open line of communication with China, and set a virtual meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping later this year. Earlier, the United States Air Force General John Hyten has called China a ''pacing threat'' after confirmation of the country's hypersonic weapons test. Also Read: En route to Italy for G20 Summit, Indian PM Modi’s flight flew over Pakistani airspace Slamming the ''brutal'' bureaucracy in the US, Hyten said, ''China will surpass Russia and the United States if we don't do something to change it. It will happen. So, I think we have to do something." (With inputs from agencies)

US secretary of state meets Chinese foreign minister, raises Taiwan concern

En route to Italy for the G20 Summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special VVIP flight flew over Pakistani airspace on Friday. &nbsp;

On its return journey, the aircraft will use it again after getting formal permission from Islamabad, a media report said on Sunday. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-capable-of-meeting-any-challenge-says-pm-modi-on-vallabhai-patels-birth-anniversary-425481" hreflang="en">India capable of meeting any challenge, says PM Modi on Vallabhai Patel’s birth anniversary</a>

Entering the Pakistani airspace from Bahawalpur, Prime Minister Modi's plane Boeing 777, 300ER, K7066 passed through Turbat and Panjgur. It reached Italy via Iran and Turkey, reported The Express Tribune. &nbsp;

According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) sources, Indian authorities requested Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for permission to use the airspace for the special flight of the prime minister. Pakistan accepted the request and allowed Modi to fly through its airspace. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-gifts-silver-candle-stand-book-on-indias-commitment-on-environment-to-pope-francis-425422" hreflang="en">PM Modi gifts silver candle stand, book on India's commitment on environment to Pope Francis</a>

On Friday, Modi arrived in Italy to participate in the G20 Summit, where the heads of world's 20 biggest economies have gathered in Rome. The leaders are focusing on Covid, economy and climate issues. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

The report quoted the CAA spokesperson as saying that the prime minister's plane will use airspace of Pakistan again on its way back to India after the climate summit in Glasgow. &nbsp;

Earlier, a commercial aircraft of India had also used Pakistani airspace after obtaining permission, the newspaper said. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

En route to Italy for the G20 Summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special VVIP flight flew over Pakistani airspace on Friday. On its return journey, the aircraft will use it again after getting formal permission from Islamabad, a media report said on Sunday.

En route to Italy for the G20 Summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special VVIP flight flew over Pakistani airspace on Friday. On its return journey, the aircraft will use it again after getting formal permission from Islamabad, a media report said on Sunday. Also Read: India capable of meeting any challenge, says PM Modi on Vallabhai Patel’s birth anniversary Entering the Pakistani airspace from Bahawalpur, Prime Minister Modi's plane Boeing 777, 300ER, K7066 passed through Turbat and Panjgur. It reached Italy via Iran and Turkey, reported The Express Tribune. According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) sources, Indian authorities requested Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for permission to use the airspace for the special flight of the prime minister. Pakistan accepted the request and allowed Modi to fly through its airspace. Also Read: PM Modi gifts silver candle stand, book on India's commitment on environment to Pope Francis On Friday, Modi arrived in Italy to participate in the G20 Summit, where the heads of world's 20 biggest economies have gathered in Rome. The leaders are focusing on Covid, economy and climate issues. The report quoted the CAA spokesperson as saying that the prime minister's plane will use airspace of Pakistan again on its way back to India after the climate summit in Glasgow. Earlier, a commercial aircraft of India had also used Pakistani airspace after obtaining permission, the newspaper said. (With inputs from agencies)

En route to Italy for G20 Summit, Indian PM Modi’s flight flew over Pakistani airspace

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