News in Brief-(2023-10-26)

FE Team | Published: October 25, 2023 23:26:01

Russian parliament's upper house rescinds
ratification of global nuclear test ban
MOSCOW, Oct 25: The upper house of the Russian parliament on Wednesday revoked the ratification of a global nuclear test ban in what Moscow has describes as a move to establish parity with the United States. The Federation Council voted to endorse a bill rescinding the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, also known as the CTBT. The bill will now be sent to President Vladimir Putin for final approval. The lower house approved the bill last week. — AP
Israel strikes kill 8 Syria troops
DAMASCUS, Oct 25: Israeli strikes killed eight soldiers in southern Syria on Wednesday, later returning to bomb Aleppo airport for the fourth time in a fortnight, the defence ministry in Damascus said. Israel said the first strike was in response to earlier rocket fire. Hours later, Israeli forces struck Aleppo airport in the north, the Syrian defence ministry said as regional tensions simmer over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The fighting erupted on October 7 after Hamas militants stormed across the Gaza border and went on a rampage, kidnapping some 220 hostages and killing more 1,400 people, mostly civilians, Israeli officials say. — AFP
Johnson picked as Speaker nominee
NEW YORK, Oct 25: Republicans have picked Congressman Mike Johnson as their latest nominee for the Speaker of the House of Representatives. He is the fourth nominee put forward after three others failed to win enough support from colleagues, and the second nominee of the day. Mr Johnson was selected after three rounds of voting late on Tuesday. The House has been without a Speaker and has been unable to pass bills since Kevin McCarthy was ousted on 3 October. The selection of Louisiana's Mr Johnson, 51, was announced by House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik.—BBC
UK plans space mission after deal with US firm
LONDON, Oct 25: The UK Space Agency and a US spaceflight services company have signed an initial agreement as they bid to send British astronauts into orbit for two weeks, the agency said Wednesday. The memorandum of understanding with Houston-based Axiom Space sets out plans for a flight that would see British astronauts conduct a two-week mission in space. — AFP