World news in brief
Moon Jae-in threatens to give up dogs from the North
South Korea’s former president Moon Jae-in said yesterday that he plans to give up a pair of dogs sent by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as a gift following their 2018 summit, citing a lack of support from his successor.
Mr Moon has raised the white Pungsan dogs named Gomi and Songgang since their arrival in the South and took them to his personal residence after his term ended in May. The dogs are legally categorised as state property belonging to the presidential archives, but Mr Moon’s office said he was entrusted as their caretaker under consultations with the archives and the interior ministry, an unprecedented decision.
The agencies had sought a legislative amendment to facilitate the move including financial support. But that effort fell apart due to “unexplained opposition” from the administration of incumbent president Yoon Suk-yeol, Mr Moon’s office said.
Mr Yoon’s office denied foiling the move, saying the agencies are still discussing and it has not played any role. An official at the Ministry of Government Legislation said it has not opposed the idea and the discussions are ongoing. Reuters
North Korea says missile tests simulation of war
North Korea has said its recent barrage of missile tests were practice by its army to “mercilessly” strike US and South Korea’s key targets, including airbases and operation command systems. The recent tests included 26 launches in a day and some of the tests probably included a nuclear-capable weapon. North Korea carried out the military drills over four days, starting 2 November, in response to the joint “Vigilant Storm” air force drills by the US and South Korea.
North Korea called the joint drills by the US and South Korea an “open provocative act of intentionally aggravating tension in the region and in particular, a dangerous war drill with very strong aggressive nature aiming at our state directly”, according to the state-run Voice of Korea (VOK), reported Seoul-based NKNews. The South said North Korea fired at least 33 missiles of different types and 100 artillery shells in total last week from 10 locations around the country.
Three convicted gang-rapists walk free in India
Three men who were given the death penalty for raping and killing a 19-year-old woman in Delhi have been acquitted by the Supreme Court. The three – Ravi Kumar, Rahul and Vinod – were handed death sentences in 2014 by the Delhi High Court, with the judge calling them “predators” who roamed the streets “looking for prey” on the night they gang-raped, tortured and murdered a teenager in 2012.
Yesterday the chief justice of India UU Lalit and Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Bela M Trivedi cancelled the high court ruling after the convicts challenged their sentences, reported NDTV. In February 2012, a 19-year-old women’s body was found mutilated and burnt in a field in Haryana’s Rewari district. The woman was abducted by the men and her autopsy report showed severe wounds, suggesting she was hit with car tools and earthen pots before her death. The parents of the girl have expressed shock and dismay over the ruling, saying they were “broken” by the decision. They said they would continue their legal fight.
Argentina introduces better exchange rate for tourists
Argentina’s government has introduced a new regulation for exchange rates, meaning tourists using credit and debit cards will get more pesos for their money than previously. In the past, poor exchange rates for card users have meant it is better value to bring foreign currency and change it informally via unofficial traders. Tourists using this method have historically got up to twice as many pesos per pound or dollar than they would have by using their foreign debit or credit card, for which the exchange rate is based on the official one used by banks.
However, following the change to government regulations, the exchange rate for credit or debit card users is far better. Based on a cash conversion on Friday 4 November – the day the new rate took effect – one US dollar was officially worth 158 Argentine pesos, but a tourist could get up to 285 pesos by exchanging with a “Dolar Blue” trader. Following the change to government regulations, however, they could get a superior 292
Argentine pesos per dollar with the more favourable rate for non-Argentinian credit and debit card transactions.
China’s Covid cases reach six-month high despite lockdowns
China’s Covid infection tally spiked to its highest daily record in six months despite strict lockdowns implemented across the country and impeding its economy, officials said. More than 5,600 new Covid infections were recorded yesterday, with nearly half concentrated in the Guangdong province housing China’s manufacturing hub of major ports, reported AgenceFrance Presse. Authorities in Beijing yesterday dismissed the hope for an end to the strict zero-Covid policy and said the restrictions may not be relaxed anytime soon. This comes as almost 60 new infections were traced in Beijing, leading to closure of schools in Chaoyang district. Some offices have also asked their workers to work from home temporarily.
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