WORLD
New Coronavirus mutant found in South Africa, what we know so far
South Africa had detected the mutation earlier. It reported last week that scientists have found a new genetic mutation which might be responsible for the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in South Africa.
Parliament dissolved, Israel heads for 4th elections within 2 years
The government, formed just seven months ago, was plagued by consistent infighting. As the deadline for the approval of an annual budget passed on midnight, Israel's parliament, the Knesset, automatically dissolved. Elections are set for late March 2021, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday.
Probe launched by Chinese regulators into Alibaba Group for monopolistic practices
Alibaba has been practising a controversial method called “choosing one from two” under which merchants are required to sign exclusive cooperation pacts preventing them from offering products on rival platforms. The regulators have been warning the e-Commerce giant over this practice.
UN criticises Trump's pardons for Blackwater guards
Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard opened fire in Baghdad's Nisoor Square in 2007 while guarding an American diplomatic convoy. The UN Human Rights Office warned that the pardons would serve to embolden others to commit similar crimes, the BBC reported on Wednesday.
Russian FM vows retaliation for new US sanctions
The response from Moscow will not only be symmetrical, but will also take steps considering every aspect of Russian-US relations, Lavrov said on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported. The United States aimed to constrain its competitors on international markets with unfair practices, which grossly violated the norms of the World Trade Organization, Lavrov said.
South Korea deploys 5G tech for coronavirus check at airport
The Ministry of Science and ICT said the system will check for passengers without masks or with COVID-19 symptoms, such as high temperature, at the arrival and departure halls of the country's main gateway, located west of Seoul, using digital kiosks and video surveillance. The system can also send out autonomous robots for disinfection.
US President Donald Trump vetoes annual defence bill despite approval in Congress
The presidential action followed through on Trump's threat to block the US $741 billion annual national security legislation, which now depends on both the House and the Senate overriding the veto for the bill to be enacted, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday.
UK reports 'more transmissible’ Covid-19 variant linked to South Africa
Announcing the development at a press briefing where he outlined further restrictions in south and east England, Hancock said there are two cases of the new variant in the UK, both contacts of cases who have travelled from South Africa.
Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai gets bail
Lai, 73, was remanded in custody earlier this month but will now be placed under house arrest. He was ordered to pay a $1.3 million bond, the BBC reported on Wednesday. The founder of Apple Daily newspaper is a fierce critic of China's authorities. He is accused of fraud and conspiring with foreign forces, and could spend years in jail if convicted.
COVID-19 grasps Antarctica, 58 people on military bases found positive
Chilean army confirmed the 58 cases in two separate announcements. On Monday, the army said that 36 people at the Gen Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme Antarctic base tested positive and on Tuesday, the health minister for the Biobio region in Chile said there are 21 infections involving people aboard the Chilean navy’s Sergeant Aldea supply vessel.
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