Category: World News

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Social Media World News

Facebook allocates £1mn to ‘birthplace of computer’

Facebook. (File Photo: IANS)

The wartime code-breaking centre in Milton Keynes ,considered as the “birthplace of the computer’ has been hit hard by a drop in visitors and revenue this year due to Covid-induced challenges…Reports Asian Lite News

Facebook has announced a donation of 1 million pounds ($1.3 million) to Bletchley Park, a heritage attraction and museum that served as the British code-breaking hub during World War Two.

Now considered the “birthplace of the computer,” the wartime code-breaking centre in Milton Keynes has been hit hard by a drop in visitors and revenue this year due to Covid-induced challenges, pushing it toward difficult decisions about its future.

The donation by Facebook is aimed towards keeping the centre open to the world.

“By figuring out how to crack the Nazis’ secret communications, the almost 10,000 people who worked at Bletchley Park during World War II – 75 per cent of them women — changed the course of the war and saved millions of lives,” Mike Schroepfer, Facebook’s Chief Technology Officer, wrote in a blog post on Monday.

“They did it by building the world’s first programmable digital computer and laying the foundations of modern computer science,” Schroepfer wrote.

Ideas developed at Bletchley Park remain at the heart of cutting-edge research in fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI), online security and cryptography today, more than 80 years after the first codebreakers set up shop there.

Facebook said that it simply would not exist today if not for Bletchley Park.

“The work of its most brilliant scientist, Alan Turing, still inspires our tens of thousands of engineers and research scientists today, and is foundational to the entire field of computing, which has and will continue to shape the lives of billions of people,” Schroepfer said.

Also read:ICC videos most viewed on Facebook

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Arab News World News

UN mourns loss of late Amir of Kuwait

United Nations General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir praised the late Amir as a pioneer of preventive diplomacy, due to his commitment to peace and conflict resolution through dialogue…Reports Asian Lite Newsdesk

Nations mourned the passing of the late Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, during a United Nations General Assembly special session on Tuesday.

Global delegates stood for a minute of silence to mourn the loss of the virtuous ruler, once granted a ‘Humanitarian Leader’ award by former UN chief Ban Ki-moon, in memory of his legacy in humanitarianism, diplomacy, peace-making and conflict resolution.

United Nations General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir praised the late Amir as a pioneer of preventive diplomacy, due to his commitment to peace and conflict resolution through dialogue.

For his part, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the late Amir as a distinguished statesman, a distinguished human being, a builder of bridges and a messenger of peace, saying he prioritised cooperation and pluralism.

Throughout his reign, His Highness gained everyone’s appreciation and respect for his outstanding leadership and commitment to keeping peace. He has always been ready to build bridges between religions, cultures and countries in the neighborhood and beyond, and thanks to insight, political wisdom and perseverance, His Highness formed the preventive diplomatic line of Kuwait in the region and at the international level, Guterres added.

Guterres indicated that Sheikh Sabah played a vital role in mediating, facilitating dialogue and spreading messages of peace, tolerance and coexistence, describing him as a close friend of the UN.

Also read:China loses support in UN Human Rights Council

Also read:Staggering rise in climate disasters: UN report

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World News

Staggering rise in climate disasters: UN report

Faridpur, July 20, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Photo shows flood-affected houses in Faridpur, Bangladesh, July 19, 2020. Floods triggered by heavy seasonal rains and onrush of water from hills have worsened again in parts of Bangladesh, including central Faridpur district, some 101 kilometers away from the capital Dhaka. (Xinhua/IANS)

Over the last 20 years, major recorded disaster events claimed 1.23 million lives, impacting 4.2 billion people, many on more than one occasion, resulting in approximately almost $3 trillion in global economic losses…Reports Asian Lite News

A new UN report has revealed that the first 20 years of this century have seen a staggering rise in climate disasters, .

The report, titled ‘Human Cost of Disasters 2000-2019’, published by the UN Office on Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) on Monday, showed that there has been a dramatic rise in disasters over the last 20 years, due to a rise in climate-related disasters, including extreme weather events, reports Xinhua news agency.

The last 20 years have seen the number of major floods “more than double”.

The report also records major increases in storms, drought, wildfires and extreme temperature events.

Over the last 20 years, major recorded disaster events claimed 1.23 million lives, impacting 4.2 billion people, many on more than one occasion, resulting in approximately almost $3 trillion in global economic losses.

  • (181010) — POSO, Oct. 10, 2018 (Xinhua) — A stranded wooden boat is seen after an earthquake and tsunami at Pantoloan port in Poso, Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, on Oct. 10, 2018. The earthquakes and the tsunami have killed at least 2,010 people, left over 5,000 others missing and triggered massive damage and a huge evacuation, according to the national disaster management agency. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain) (dtf)

The report said that disaster management agencies “are fighting an uphill battle against” an ever-rising tide of extreme weather events.

More lives are being saved but more people are being impacted by the expanding climate emergency.

Although better recording and reporting of disasters may help explain some of the increase in the last two decades, researchers insisted that the significant rise in climate-related emergencies was the main reason for the spike, with floods accounting for more than 40 per cent of disasters – affecting 1.65 billion people – storms 28 per cent, earthquakes 8 per cent, and extreme temperatures 6 per cent.

“This is clear evidence that in a world where the global average temperature in 2019 was 1.1 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial period, the impacts are being felt in the increased frequency of extreme weather events including heatwaves, droughts, flooding, winter storms, hurricanes and wildfires,” according to the report.

Currently, “the world is on course for a temperature increase of 3.2 degrees Celsius or more”, unless industrialized nations can deliver reductions in greenhouse gas emissions of at least 7.2 per cent annually over the next 10 years in order to achieve the 1.5 degree target agreed in Paris.

Also read:UN plans aid for Syrian wildfire victims

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Politics World News

UNGA Hall hosts Human Rights Council elections

These are the first elections of the 75th session (of the UNGA), and the first to be held in this manner by the General Assembly.said Brenden Varma, spokesman for the UNGA President…Reports Asian Lite News

The elections for the UN Human Rights Council will be held in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Hall on Tuesday, according to a spokesman.

“These are the first elections of the 75th session (of the UNGA), and the first to be held in this manner by the General Assembly,” Xinhua news agency quoted Brenden Varma, spokesman for the UNGA President, as saying said on Monday at a briefing.

“The elections are done by regional group, and currently, for most of them, the number of candidates equal the number of open slots.

“In other words, there are clean slates. The only exception is the Asia Pacific Group where five member states are running for four seats.

“The five countries running are: China, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan,” the spokesman added.

The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the UN system made up of 47 states responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights.

It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year.

It meets at the UN Office at Geneva.

The term of each seat is three years, and no member may occupy a seat for more than two consecutive terms.

The seats are distributed among the UN’s regional groups as follows: 13 for Africa, 13 for Asia, six for Eastern Europe, eight for Latin America and the Caribbean, and seven for the Western European and Others Group.

Also read:Trump boycotts 75th UNGA session

Also read:How long will India be kept out: Modi at UNGA

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Asia News World News

Russian, Turkish FMs discuss Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

(161201) -- ALANYA, Dec. 1, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) shakes hands with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu during a joint news conference in Alanya, Turkey, on Dec. 1, 2016. Neither Syria nor Russia attacked Turkish soldiers in northern Syria on Nov. 24, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Mert Macit) (zy)

Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow’s readiness to continue active mediation efforts aimed at achieving a settlement in the disputed region, taking into account the provisions of the Moscow statement…Reports Asian Lite News

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu held a telephone conversation during which they discussed the situation in the the conflict-ridden Nagorno-Karabakh region.

“During the conversation, the sides exchanged views on the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone developing after the trilateral talks in Moscow on October 9-10,” Xinhua news agency quoted the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying in a statement on Sunday.

The need was noted for the strict implementation of all provisions of the joint statement of Russian, Azerbaijani, and Armenian foreign ministers on October 10, it said.

Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow’s readiness to continue active mediation efforts aimed at achieving a settlement in the disputed region, taking into account the provisions of the Moscow statement, the statement added.

The development came two days day after a ceasefire was enforced in the region following trilateral negotiations between Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia that lasted for over two hours in Moscow.

But on Sunday, Azerbaijan, which is openly backed by Turkey, accused Armenia of violating the ceasefire by attacking its second largest city of Ganja and inflicting civilian casualties.

However, the Armenian Defence Ministry denied the allegation, saying that it was false information.

Also read:Turkey Calls For Urgent Reconciliation With EU

Categories
Politics World News

Election 2020: NZ PM reveals ‘vision 2030’

Wellington, Aug. 17, 2020 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern attends a press conference held in the parliament building Beehive in Wellington, New Zealand, on Aug. 17, 2020. Jacinda Ardern confirmed on Monday that the general election will be held on Oct. 17, four weeks after Sept. 19 when the poll was originally scheduled for. (Xinhua/Guo Lei/IANS)

Ardern’s announcment came while she was addressing a ruling Labour Party rally ahead of the October 17 general elections, which will determine the membership of the country’s 53rd Parliament…Reports Asian Lite News

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Sunday unveiled her 2030 vision ahead of the upcoming general elections. she wants the state housing waiting list to be empty and child poverty to have halved by that year.

Ardern’s announcment came while she was addressing a ruling Labour Party rally here ahead of the October 17 general elections, which will determine the membership of the country’s 53rd Parliament.

According to a report in The New Zealand Herald newspaper, the state house waiting list is currently about 20,000, up from about 6,000 when the Ardern government came to power in 2017.

It has so far built about 4,000 new state houses.

The report said that halving child poverty by 2030 is actually less ambitious than the government’s 10-year targets announced in January 2018.

  • WELLINGTON, Aug. 14, 2020 (Xinhua) — New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks during a press conference in Wellington, New Zealand, Aug. 14, 2020. New Zealand’s largest city Auckland will remain in COVID-19 Alert Level 3 for 12 more days, with the rest of the country staying in Alert Level 2, as there are currently 36 active cases, 17 of which are linked to the recent community transmission in Auckland. (Xinhua/Guo Lei/IANS)

Ardern’s 2030 vision also included a New Zealand with no health inequalities based on race, wealth or geographical location.

In her address, the Prime Minister also highlighted the country’s record on the Covid-19 pandemic.

“What started as a summertime conversation this year has led to more than 30 million cases and 1 million deaths, and it’s not over yet.

“Here at home we have lost 25 loved ones and managed 1,864 cases.

“As we’ve travelled around the country campaigning this election with only limited restrictions, it hasn’t been lost on me how lucky that makes us,” The New Zealand Herald quoted Ardern as saying.

The upcoming election was initially scheduled for September 19 but was postponed due to a second Covid-19 outbreak.

The previous parliament was elected on September 23, 2017 and was officially dissolved on September 6 this year.

Also read:Australia to reinitiate ‘trans-Tasman’ travel bubble plans

Categories
USA World News

US sanctions: Maduro writes to ‘peoples of the world’

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks in a TV address in Caracas, Venezuela, March 16, 2020. (Venezuela's Presidency/Handout via Xinhua/IANS)

The President also said Venezuela is preparing to hold legislative elections on December 6, and that over 90 per cent of local political organizations have fielded over 14,000 candidates for 277 seats…Reports Asian Lite News

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has addressed a letter “to the peoples of the world” on his government’s response to Washington’s unilateral measures against his country.

In the letter dated October 2 and postd on Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza’s Twitter account on Friday, the President discussed measures approved y the National Constituent Assembly, such as the Anti-Blockade Law for National Development and the Guarantee of Rights of the Venezuelan People, reports Xinhua news agency.

Maduro said the law “will allow for the creation of mechanisms to improve the nation’s income”, adding that incentives could be generated “to stimulate internal economic activity” and to promote foreign investment.

The President also said Venezuela is preparing to hold legislative elections on December 6, and that over 90 per cent of local political organizations have fielded over 14,000 candidates for 277 seats.

According to Maduri, the elections “will undoubtedly grant greater strength to our nation and our people, who have resisted foreign aggression with dignity and firmness”.

The President added in the letter that Venezuela has had one law, seven executive decrees, and around 300 administrative measures imposed on it by the US.

Also read:China warns of retaliation over US sanctions on Huawei

Categories
World News

Portugal, Spain agree on new cross-border strategy

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa told the media after the meeting that the strategy is presented as a set of measures and investments to “make life easier for people living on both sides of the border”…Reports Asian Lite News

The Prime Ministers of Portugal and Spain have agreed on a common strategy for transboundary development.

The development took place during the premiers; meeting in the northern Portuguese city of Guarda on Saturday, reports Xinhua news agency.

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa told the media after the meeting that the strategy is presented as a set of measures and investments to “make life easier for people living on both sides of the border”.

According to the TV channel RTP, the two sides would allow border residents to have free movement between the two countries.

They also ruled out the possibility of new border closure despite rising Covid-19 cases.

The two leaders agreed to enhance cooperation between the two countries’ health services, allowing the citizens of both countries to have equal medical care in each other’s health sector.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters that the strategy also included “a common governance system, with concrete measures” and “total alignment of economic recovery plans” with “objectives of ecological and digital transition, social cohesion and combating the pandemic”.

On the ongoing health crisis, Sanchez revealed that Spain “negotiates with the pharmaceutical companies to acquire the vaccine”, which it hopes to arrive as soon as possible.

Also read:Second nationwide lockdown likely in UK

Categories
-Top News COVID-19 World News

Trudeau announces more funding for food banks

Canada prime minister Justin Trudeau.

Trudeau also announced an additional 100 million Canadian dollars (about $76 million) in federal funding for food banks across Canada to help them meet the surge in demand…Reports Asian Lite News

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday urged Canadians to stem the spread of the Covid-19 as “the country is at a tipping point of the pandemic”.

“We’re at a tipping point in this pandemic. Not only is the second wave underway, yesterday we hit the highest daily recorded cases, well above what we saw this spring,” he said at a press conference, Xinhua news agency reported.

“I know this is discouraging, especially going into Thanksgiving weekend. But remember this when things were at their bleakest during the first wave, Canadians pulled together and flattened the curve.”

Trudeau also announced an additional 100 million Canadian dollars (about $76 million) in federal funding for food banks across Canada to help them meet the surge in demand for their services caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Canada prime minister Justin Trudeau.

According to a new Covid-19 modeling report issued by the Canadian government on Friday. The total of Canadian Covid-19 is on track to hit between 188,150 and 197,830 cases, and between 9,690 and 9,800 deaths as of October 17.

As of Friday noon, there were a total of 177,613 Covid-19 cases and 9,583 deaths, according to CTV.

The report said that a stronger response is needed now to check the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic as rates of infection are already accelerating rapidly in four populous provinces of Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

Ontario reported 939 new cases Friday morning, smashing the previous record of 797 cases set on Thursday, while Quebec confirmed 1,102 new infections.

Also read:Canada suspends arms exports to Turkey

Categories
Health World News

‘Humanity above the realm of politics’: Guterres hails WFP

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

Guterres said he is delighted by the decision of the Nobel Committee to award this year’s Prize for Peace to the WFP…Reports Asian Lite News

UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ has hailed the World Food Programme’s Nobel Peace Prize Award, calling its Humanitarian-Driven Work ‘Above the Realm of Politics’ In a statement on the awarding of the 2020 Nobel Prize for Peace to the World Food Programme, he said he is delighted by the decision of the Nobel Committee to award this year’s Prize for Peace to the WFP.

“The World Food Programme is the world’s first responder on the front lines of food insecurity. In a world of plenty, it is unconscionable that hundreds of millions go to bed each night hungry. Millions more are now on the precipice of famine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The women and men of the WFP brave danger and distance to deliver life-saving sustenance to those devastated by conflict, to people suffering because of disaster, and to children and families uncertain about their next meal.”

“I warmly congratulate David Beasley, WFP Executive Director, and the entire staff of the World Food Programme for advancing the values of the United Nations every day and serving the cause of “we the peoples” as the Organization marks its seventy-fifth anniversary year”.He added”

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