Queen Elizabeth pulls out of COP26 climate summit following medical advice to rest
CBSN
London — Queen Elizabeth II will not attend the upcoming COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland following medical advice to rest, Buckingham Palace said Tuesday. The queen spent a night in the hospital last week to undergo preliminary checks, according to the Palace — her first overnight stay in eight years.
"Her Majesty is disappointed not to attend the Reception but will deliver a message to the assembled delegates via a recorded video message," Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
The 95-year-old queen resumed official engagements on Tuesday, carrying out virtual events from Windsor Castle. She is limiting herself to light duties, however, canceling a recent planned trip to Northern Ireland. In recent weeks, she has been seen using a walking stick. Her hospital stay was only confirmed by the Palace after being reported by the tabloid press.
Two Japanese navy helicopters carrying eight crew members crashed in the Pacific Ocean south of Tokyo during a nighttime training flight after possibly colliding with each other, the country's defense minister said Sunday. One crew member who had been recovered from the waters was later pronounced dead, while rescuers searched for seven others who were still missing.
Tokyo — In North Korea, the release of Taylor Swift's new double album was completely eclipsed by the surprise drop of another brand-new song, complete with an elaborately produced music video. There were no tortured poets in sight for the release of "Friendly Father," an energetic pop-style piece of state propaganda praising North Korea's dictatorial leader Kim Jong Un.
Berlin — German authorities say they have arrested two people suspected of spying for Russia. The suspects, identified as German-Russian nationals, are accused of scouting targets for potential attacks, including U.S. military facilities in Germany, the Federal Public Prosecutor General for Karlsruhe said in a statement released Thursday.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates — Heavy rains lashed the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, flooding portions of major highways, leaving vehicles abandoned on roadways across Dubai and grinding traffic at the city-state's huge international airport briefly to a complete halt. Meanwhile, the death toll from separate heavy flooding in neighboring Oman rose to 18, with others still missing as the sultanate prepared for the storm.
Paris — Five years have passed since Notre Dame cathedral in Paris was engulfed in flames. The iconic spire and timber roof were destroyed in the blaze. People around the world were shocked at the scale of the fire and the damage it caused, but work to restore the iconic landmark to its former glory continues.