WORLD
New Romanian govt takes oath of office
The official installment of the three-party coalition government put an end to a long political instability in the country after the minority cabinet led by Florin Citu collapsed in a parliamentary no-confidence vote on October 5, reports Xinhua news agency. "The political crisis is over, but the other crises aren't, nor have the problems disappeared," said President Klaus Iohannis after the members of the new government were sworn in at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.
Heavy rains lash Sri Lanka, 14 people dead
According to the latest figures from the DMC, over 100,000 families had been affected in the nine districts due to adverse weather conditions while 114 people had been relocated to safe locations, reports Xinhua news agency. The Centre also said that 22 people had been injured in rain-related incidents. Sri Lanka's Meteorology Department on Thursday said that a red alert had been issued for 19 districts as heavy showers of over 100 mm were expected in 19 districts.
Seoul monitoring N.Korea's nuke, missile activities
The announcement comes after reports revealed that the North appears to be continuing the operation of a nuclear reactor at its mainstay Yongbyon complex, reports Yonhap News Agency. 38 North, a US monitoring website, said on Wednesday steam was detected emanating from the 5-megawatt reactor in an indication at least one generator is in operation, citing recent satellite imagery. Asked to comment on the report, deputy Ministry spokesman Cha Duck-chul declined to confirm "intelligence matters" but said the government is keeping tabs on the North's nuclear facilities.
52 killed in Russian mine accident
It was the most deadly mine accident in five years in the country, Xinhua news agency reported. According to preliminary data, there were no survivors in the Listvyazhnaya mine, TASS reported, adding that most of the bodies remain underground and will be raised to surface when temperature and methane concentration allow. It was reported earlier that 11 miners were killed on Thursday due to the ignition of coal dust in the ventilation and the ensuing smoke at a depth of 250 meters.
European Commission proposes 9 months validity of Covid vaccination
Reynders on Thursday was presenting a proposal of the European Commission to update travel measures during the pandemic, Xinhua news agency reported. The proposal to give full vaccination schemes a validity period takes into account the latest risk assessment by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) released the day before, saying that vaccines against Covid-19 show a decrease in efficiency after six months.
WHO extends travel curbs to Pakistan as polio endemic country
The WHO deemed Pakistan and Afghanistan to be dangerous countries in a recent statement by the Thirtieth Polio IHR Emergency Committee, stating that the two countries have failed to eradicate polio fully and may be responsible for the virus's global spread, the report said. Pakistan, on the other hand, has made remarkable strides against polio, as the incidence of Wild Polio Virus (WPV1) cases has decreased to zero in the previous ten months.
Chinese threat groups collect encrypted data to decrypt later with quantum computers
By the end of the 2020s, Chinese threat groups will likely collect data that enables quantum simulators to discover new economically valuable materials, pharmaceuticals and chemicals. Quantum-assisted AI, meanwhile, is unlikely to emerge or influence adversary behavior in the foreseeable future. Quantum computing is evolving from the theoretical to the practical.
China's new cold resistant clothing and equipment for troops on India border
Upgrading clothing and equipment for a second consecutive year shows the focus of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on its border defence troops' quality of life and combat capability amid a border standoff with India, Global Times reported. Ten types of new clothing and equipment, developed by the Central Military Commission (CMC) Logistics Support Department, are being delivered to the border defence frontline, the PLA Daily reported on Thursday.
Pakistan broadcasters say govt advertising should not be used to influence editorial content
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the PBA asserted that the government advertising should never be used to influence editorial content or to control free speech. This development comes hours after PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz admitted that a viral audio clip in which she can be heard instructing someone to stop ads to certain TV channels, was authentic, the report said.
UNGA's historic resolution to graduate Bangladesh from LDC
The decision was taken at the 40th plenary meeting of the 76th UNGA on Wednesday. Graduating Bangladesh from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) category is a milestone development as the nation strides towards socio economic goals. Adopted on November 24, 2021, Resolution A/76/L.6/Rev.1 relates to the graduation of Bangladesh, Nepal and the Lao Democratic Republic from the least developed country category.
Don't Miss
Advertisement