WASHINGTON: The United States on Saturday (Dec 16) reiterated its warning to North Korea that any nuclear attack on the US would result “in the end of the Kim regime.” A joint statement by the US-South Korean Nuclear Consultative Group also reaffirmed that any nuclear attack by Pyongyang on South Korea “will be met withContinue Reading
“CONFRONTATION” Due to their disparate social systems, Xi asserted that China and Europe should not see one another as rivals or “engage in clash.” According to Xi, China is ready to collaborate on science and technology, including artificial intelligence, as well as produce the 27-nation EU a significant economic andContinue Reading
The union expresses its hope that the sessions will give people a chance to talk about shared interests. President Xi instructed his European guests to” simultaneously respond to global problems” in his open notes. More sensitive issues will be covered in the talks on Thursday, such as animal rights andContinue Reading
Relations between New Delhi and Washington have improved recently, with each area viewing the other as a key ally in the effort to counter China’s rising confidence throughout the Indo-Pacific.
When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his initial state visit to the US in June and was warmly welcomed by President Joe Biden, these relations were further strengthened.
According to experts, this connection could be put to the ultimate test in light of the execution claims, but it is unlikely to suffer significant harm.
Because of its national surveillance problems, especially the issue of China, India needs the United States, as well as US colleagues like Canada, Australia, the UK, and nbsp,” Prof. Hall said, adding that Delhi would need to proceed with caution.
However, the claim of India’s participation caused a sour political rift with Canada, with tit-for-tat minister expulsions and travel advisories warning citizens against American and anti-Indian sentiments.
This was attributed by observers to a” thin and relatively turbulent relationship” between the nations.
With 770, 000 of them making up about 2 % of the population, Canada has the largest Sikh people outside of India.  ,
According to Prof. Hall, there is a huge Sikh voting in Canada that has been harshly critical of India and on numerous other issues for many years.  ,
Regarding support for the Khalistan action in Canada, India has repeatedly accused Ottawa of tolerating “terrorists and extremes.”
Under a comprehensive security agreement that also covers defense and security, Papua New Guinea may hire American police officers for important positions in its national police force, according to the country’s minister of state. James Marape, the prime minister of Papua New Guinea, may visit Canberra on Thursday to markContinue Reading
Orban, who is available about his cordial relations with Putin, opposes the beginning of Union membership negotiations with Ukraine, which will be discussed at the upcoming summit of the bloc. Instead of a” proper partnership,” he called this week for the design with Kyiv. Zelenskiy and Orban have generally disagreedContinue Reading
Thailand says Palestinian Hamas gunmen from Gaza killed 39 Thais during an Oct 7 rampage into Israel where around 30,000 Thai labourers had been working in the agriculture sector, one of Israel’s largest migrant worker groups. The Thai foreign ministry said three Thais were being treated for wounds in hospital.Continue Reading
The report triggered memories of the pandemic, with social media users fearing “a new virus coming from China”, or a “new Covid”.
On Wednesday, the World Health Organization – which repeatedly criticised Beijing for a lack of transparency throughout the COVID-19 pandemic – requested more information from China about children suffering from “undiagnosed pneumonia”.
Beijing responded on Thursday, saying “there has been no detection of any unusual or novel pathogens”, according to a WHO statement.
The WHO has requested more information, noting that China closely monitors trends in viruses such as the flu, RSV and SARS-CoV-2.
China also started monitoring mycoplasma pneumonia for the first time in mid-October, the WHO added.
The WHO said that “there is limited detailed information available to fully characterise the overall risk of these reported cases of respiratory illness in children”.
However an increase in such illnesses was to be expected with the arrival of winter, it added.
Several experts pointed to winter’s arrival, the end of COVID-19 restrictions, and a lack of prior immunity in children as likely being behind the surging infections.
“Since China experienced a far longer and harsher lockdown than essentially any other country on Earth, it was anticipated that those ‘lockdown exit’ waves could be substantial in China,” said Francois Balloux of University College London.
Unless there is new evidence suggesting otherwise, “there is no reason to suspect the emergence of a novel pathogen,” he added.
Paul Hunter of the UK’s University of East Anglia emphasised that “at present there is too little information to make a definitive diagnosis”.
However “overall, this does not sound to me like an epidemic due to a novel virus”, he added.
“If it was, I would expect to see many more infections in adults. The few infections reported in adults suggest existing immunity from a prior exposure.”
Catherine Bennett of Australia’s Deakin University pointed out that “young children in school in China will have spent up to half their life without the usual exposure to common pathogens, and so do not have the same levels of immunity”.
The WHO recommended that people in the affected areas follow the normal rules to avoid respiratory illnesses.
These include getting vaccinated, isolating if symptoms emerge, and getting tested or wearing masks if necessary.
Based on the current information, the WHO advised against any travel restrictions involving China.
BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said 12 Thai hostages kidnapped by Palestinian militants during Hamas’ Oct 7 raids into Israel were released on Friday (Nov 24), hours after a truce in the Israel-Hamas war began. “It has been confirmed by the security side and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thatContinue Reading
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday (Nov 22) officially requested that China provide detailed information on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children.
Chinese authorities from the National Health Commission held a press conference on Nov 13 to report an increase in the incidence of respiratory diseases in the country, the WHO said in a statement.
The global health agency said Chinese authorities attributed the increase to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and the circulation of known pathogens such as influenza, mycoplasma pneumoniae (a common bacterial infection which typically affects younger children), respiratory syncytial virus, as well as the virus that causes COVID-19.
Chinese authorities stressed the need for enhanced disease surveillance in healthcare facilities and community settings, as well as strengthening the capacity of the health system to manage patients.
Both China and the WHO have faced questions about the transparency of reporting on the earliest COVID-19 cases which emerged in the city of Wuhan in late 2019 and early 2020.
On Wednesday, WHO said groups including the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases reported clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China. WHO said it is unclear if these are associated with the overall increase in respiratory infections previously reported by Chinese authorities, or separate events.
The health agency said it has requested additional epidemiologic and clinical information, as well as laboratory results from these reported outbreaks among children, through the International Health Regulations mechanism.
It has also asked China for further information about trends in the circulation of known pathogens and the current burden on healthcare systems. WHO said it is in contact with clinicians and scientists through its existing technical partnerships and networks in China.
Since mid-October, WHO said northern China has reported an increase in influenza-like illness compared with the same period in the previous three years.
It said the country has systems in place to capture information on trends in illness incidence and to report that data to platforms such as the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System.
WHO said that while it seeks additional information, it recommends that people in China follow measures to reduce the risk of respiratory illness, including vaccination; keeping their distance from people who are ill; staying home when ill; getting tested and medical care as needed; wearing masks as appropriate; ensuring good ventilation; and regular hand-washing.