News in Brief (2024-02-09)
Friday, 9 February 2024
Putin and Xi reject US 'interference', praise
their own cooperation: Kremlin
MOSCOW, Feb 08: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone and both rejected what they called US interference in the affairs of other countries, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said on Thursday. The two leaders said they aimed to create "a multipolar, fairer world order," Ushakov said, adding that Putin and Xi would continue to have "close personal interaction" but that there were no plans for reciprocal visits right now. Putin and Xi also discussed the situation in Ukraine and conflict resolution in the Middle East and agreed to continue bilateral contacts, Ushakov said, without elaborating. — Reuters
UN probes 58 cyberattacks by N Korea
NEW YORK, Feb 08: United Nations sanctions monitors are investigating dozens of suspected cyberattacks by North Korea that raked in $3 billion to help it further develop its nuclear weapons program, according to excerpts of an unpublished UN report reviewed by Reuters. "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) continued to flout Security Council sanctions," a panel of independent sanctions monitors reported to a Security Council committee, using North Korea's formal name. — Reuters
US Supreme Court to hear Trump ballot case
WASHINGTON, Feb 08: The US Supreme Court reluctantly takes center stage in the 2024 White House race on Thursday as it decides whether Donald Trump should be barred from running again for president. The nation's highest court is to hear arguments in the most consequential election law case since it halted the Florida vote recount in 2000 with Republican George W. Bush narrowly leading Democrat Al Gore. — AFP
Over 5,000 summer deaths in France last yr
PARIS, Feb 08: More than 5,000 people died in France as a result of searing summer heat last year, health authorities said Thursday. "Everyone has been affected," Caroline Semaille, head of France's public health agency, told reporters as she presented a report on heat-related deaths last year. The summer of 2023, marked by four heatwaves including in August and September, was the fourth hottest on record in France. The year 2023 was also the hottest year on record globally. — AFP