Around The WORLD

GT keeps the newswire ticking by bringing you news from around the globe

United Kingdom

More than one billion EUR for wind farms
According to a report recently released by WindEurope, UK has topped the list of 11 countries in Europe that have invested more than one billion EUR in new wind farms. Europe, overall, spent a cumulative total of around 41 billion EUR on the new wind energy projects in 2021, a number which was still 11% lesser than their investment in 2020. All of UK’s investments are aimed to support offshore wind.

Switzerland

More COVID-19 deaths: WHO
According to a new World Health Organization report, almost three times as many people have died in the world due to COVID-19 than what the official data showcases. Around 14.9 million excess deaths were associated with the virus by the end of 2021. As per WHO, these numbers also reflect people who died as an indirect result of the outbreak, including people who could not access healthcare due to financial constraints or when systems were too overwhelmed to provide the basic necessities to the public.

Afghanistan

No driving license for ladies
The Taliban regime has stopped issuing driving licenses to women in Kabul and various other provinces in the country. The ban comes as another blow to women after taking away the right of girl children to study as well as various other civil rights. The country is also struggling with a greater crisis as it now has the highest number of people in emergency food insecurity in the world with more than 23 million in need of assistance and 95% having insufficient food consumption.

South Korea

New BTS album announced
The biggest musical act in the world, BTS, has announced a new anthology album titled ‘Proof’ to be released on June 10. The official tracklist of the album will be released between May 9-11, and a teaser of the lead single ‘Yet to Come’ will go live on June 8. The album will aim to celebrate the nine years of the group’s journey as well as open up a new chapter for their 10th year. The two-time Grammy nominee will include old tracks, remixes, remasters, as well as three new songs in the album.

USA

Policy push on quantum tech
The Biden administration in the country has announced a new policy framework to maintain its ‘competitive advantage in quantum information sciences’ and to mitigate ‘the risks of quantum computers to the nation’s cyber, economic and national security’ by initiating the process of migrating vulnerable computer systems to quantum-resistant cryptography. The plan also talked of a new structure for the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee, placing it directly under the White House to advise the president on emergency technology.

Turkey

New Guinness world records
Rumeysa Gelgi, the holder of world’s tallest woman title and former world’s tallest living teenager by Guinness World Records, has now added three new Guinness records to her name – largest finger on a living female (11.2cm), largest hands on a living female (24.93cm), and longest back on a living female (59.90cm). Born in 1997, Gelgi is a lawyer, researcher, and a developer, and her world-record-holding height is a result of a rare genetic condition called Weaver syndrome.

INDIA

VPN to store user data
As per new orders by the Indian IT Ministry, VPN companies are now required to collect and store users’ data for a period of at least five years. Data centres and crypto exchanges are asked to collect and store data for the same duration so that the Computer Emergency Response Team can coordinate response activities and emergency measures related to cyber security. According to the same law, if these demands are not met, the repercussion would be imprisonment of up to a year.

China

Highest weather station built
The world’s highest meteorological station has been erected by a Chinese expedition team on Mount Everest at an altitude of 8,830 metres above the sea level. The set station is said to be powered by solar panels and has a satellite communication system which is used to transfer data. According to CGTN, it has an immense capability to endure two years of adverse weather conditions, and its radio station has been programmed to broadcast every 12 minutes to keep a close check .

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