WORLD
Covid Delta variant detected in 96 countries: WHO
The Delta variant, also referred to as a "double mutant" because it carries two mutations, is 55 per cent more transmissible than the Alpha variant, initially detected in the UK, and will rapidly become the dominant strain of globally, Xinhua news agency quoted the WHO as saying in the update issued on Wednesday.
EU launches European Defense Fund
The EU is earmarking a total of 1.2 billion euros ($1.43 billion) of funding for the year 2021 in support of collaborative defence research and development projects, Xinhua news agency quoted an official statement as saying on Wednesday. European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton said that with the EU's first-ever dedicated defense program, European cooperation in defense will become the norm.
7 bodies found, 11 missing in Bali ship capsize
Alif Supartana, head of the Bali office's operation affairs unit, said that "the figure of missing persons may change. We will wait until there is no more report from the relatives or families. Then we can figure out the precise number of the missing persons".
Elon Musk's SpaceX launches 88 satellites to space
The company launched the satellites on Wednesday on a reused Falcon 9 rocket for the "Transporter-2" mission, including the first five for a new Pentagon agency and dozens more for various companies, countries, and schools, the Verge reported. On Wednesday, June 30 at 3:31 p.m. EDT, Falcon 9 launched the Transporter-2, SpaceX's second dedicated SmallSat Rideshare Programme mission.
Israel to upgrade Sri Lankan Air Force's Kfir aircraft
In a statement on Wednesday, the company said that the deal it signed with Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence involves replacing the IAI-made aircraft's basic avionics with the advanced 4+ generation fighter aircraft avionics in order to integrate advanced radar, sensors, communication systems, and new helmets, reports Xinhua news agency.
'Khaleda has to seek presidential pardon to go abroad legally'
The minister said in the Parliament on Wednesday that Zia's family members had applied for her release to take her abroad for treatment. "But in their application, they did not mention any provision of the law, they accepted it. They took Begum Zia home from jail," he added. The Anti-Corruption commission filed another related case on July 3, 2008 related to corruption in the Zia Orphanage.
2 Pakistani soldiers killed in border firing from Afghan side
Unidentified gunmen on Wednesday fired on a Pakistani military post from the Afghan side of the border in the North Waziristan tribal district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations, the army's media wing. The statement said that the Pakistani troops responded in a befitting manner and two soldiers were killed during an exchange of fire, reports Xinhua news agency.
Iranian Navy begins military drill in Caspian Sea
The drill, called Sustainable Security 1400, covers an area of about 77,000 square km in Iran's territorial waters of the Caspian Sea, Xinhua news agency reported. Supporting units from Iranian Air Force and Air Defense contribute to the war game by carrying out different offense and defense tactics for the protection of the country's maritime borders and safety of shipping routes, local media reported on Wednesday.
US govt still follows Donald Trump's legacy against Iran: Hassan Rouhani
Iran "has been facing an economic terrorism since three years ago. What Trump did against Iran was more a war than sanctions," Rouhani said in a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Rouhai also claimed that allegations against Tehran were baseless and added that the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the JCPOA, is a "document highlighting the fact that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons", state media IRNA reported.
Global Covid-19 caseload tops 182mn
In its latest update on Thursday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 182,136,238 and 3,945,551, respectively. The US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 33,664,909 and 604,71, respectively, according to the CSSE.
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