Syria-Turkey earthquake border reopened for family reunification
Today's headlines: 18 Afghan migrants found dead in a truck in Sofia; World Food Programme cuts food rations to Rohingya due to lack of funds; Japan to outlaw sex with children under 16; From Armenian PM Pašinyan a new text for peace agreements with Azerbaijan; University of Hong Kong bans use of ChatGPT.
SYRIA-TURKEY
Hundreds of Syrians living in Turkey have returned to the war-torn country after last week's devastating earthquake. The Turkish government has allowed Syrians with ID cards from Turkey's earthquake-hit provinces to leave the country for up to six months. Nearly 4 million Syrians have settled in Turkey since the outbreak of civil war in their country 12 years ago. Some earthquake survivors are making their way to the crossings in an attempt to reunite with family members in Syria whom they have not seen in years.
AFGHANISTAN-BULGARIA
Bulgarian police arrested four people after finding the bodies of 18 dead migrants from Afghanistan, including that of a child, in an abandoned truck near the capital Sofia. The truck was carrying timber and illegal migrants hidden in compartments. They had illegally crosse
BANGLADESH-MYANMAR
The World Food Program, the UN food agency, said it will be forced to cut food rations to Rohingya refugees starting next month due to lack of funds. The monthly ration will be reduced from to per person starting March 1. The organization warned that further cuts will be necessary without new funding by April. Bangladesh camps are home to 750,000 Rohingya who have fled Myanmar.
JAPAN
The Japanese government plans to criminalize sexual intercourse with minors under the age of 16 by raising the legal age of consent from 13, as part of reforms to the country's penal code that critics say are long overdue and urgently needed to protect vulnerable minors from sex crimes. The current age of consent in Japan, unchanged since its enactment in 1907, is one of the lowest among developed countries.
RUSSIA
In St. Petersburg, the deceased body of yet another "bigwig," Finance Ministry administrative director Marina Jankhina, noticed by a passerby on the ground in Samšina Street, was found, allegedly after committing suicide by falling from the 16th floor balcony of her home, where documents and personal belongings were found.
ARMENIA-AZERBAIGIAN
Armenian Prime Minister Pašinyan announced that he has transmitted to Azerbaijan the "final text" for the peace accords, with the final corrections discussed at the cabinet in closed session, and also presented to the co-chairing countries of the Minsk Security Group, Russia, France and the U.S.
HONG KONG.
The University of Hong Kong has banned the use of ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence-related tools in the university's lectures, assignments and assessments. If used, students must obtain written permission from the course instructor or risk charges of plagiarism.
.png)
21/08/2023 10:13
01/05/2020 08:00
19/04/2007
