20.09.2024, 20:14 65871

China launches new Tianqi constellation satellites

China launches new Tianqi constellation satellites
Images | Yang Xi/Xinhua
China on Friday launched four new satellites for the Tianqi constellation from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Xinhua reports.

The four satellites, named Tianqi 29-32, were launched at 5:43 p.m. (Beijing Time) by a Kuaizhou-1A (KZ-1A) carrier rocket and have entered the planned orbit.

This launch marks the 33rd flight mission involving a KZ-1A carrier rocket.
 

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03.07.2025, 12:56 9981

Pakistan flash floods, heavy rain kill 64

Flash floods and heavy rain in Pakistan have killed 64 people and injured 117 in a week, a government agency said Wednesday, WAM reports.

The highest toll was in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, with 23 dead including 10 children, the Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said.

The NDMA said low to moderate rainfall is likely to continue until July 5, after which an active southwest monsoon system, coupled with a westerly wave, is expected to enter the country and generate moderate to heavy rainfall and localised thunderstorms.
 

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26.06.2025, 20:04 51531

Almost 20 killed in stampede at high school in Central African Republic

Nearly 20 people were killed and several others injured in a stampede triggered by a power transformer explosion at Barthelemy Boganda High School in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), on Wednesday, the country's National Assembly said in a statement on Thursday, Xinhua reports.

The National Assembly said the explosion caused panic among exam candidates, resulting in a stampede as they attempted to flee. The victims were taken to various medical facilities in the capital.

We were in the middle of the exam when we heard a loud explosion. Everyone started running in all directions. Several classmates fell and couldn't get back up," said Rufin Pandama, a student who was present at the scene.


The two examination centers at the school were assigned a total of 5,311 candidates. So far, an official and comprehensive casualty report has yet to be released. Local media reported that the accident claimed the lives of at least 29 students.

According to a statement issued Wednesday by the Ministry of National Education, following a technical malfunction earlier in the day, a team from Energie Centrafricaine (ENERCA) was dispatched to carry out repair work. The explosion occurred when power was being restored.

In a video address, CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera declared a three-day national mourning period starting Thursday, in memory of the victims of the tragic explosion.

The president extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, teachers, and the broader educational community affected by the tragedy, and announced the launch of a judicial investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident and identify those responsible.
 

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26.06.2025, 12:21 51291

Six dead in southwest China flooding

As of 11 a.m. Thursday, six people have died due to severe flooding in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, according to local flood control authorities, Xinhua reports.

Since Tuesday, the county has been hit by a severe flood not seen in 50 years, with water levels in several rivers rising rapidly. The peak flow reached 11,360 cubic meters per second.

The flood has inundated many low-lying areas and caused significant damage to infrastructure in several townships, resulting in blocked roads, disrupted communications, and stranded residents.

Currently, the water level in the county seat has fallen below the warning level. Efforts are focused on dredging, draining water, preventing epidemics, disinfecting affected areas, initiating post-disaster recovery, and searching for trapped individuals.
 

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26.06.2025, 10:23 51066

Vietnam abolishes death penalty for crimes against state, bribery, drugs

Vietnam will end capital punishment for eight categories of serious crime - including embezzlement, attempts to overthrow the government and sabotaging state infrastructure, Al Jazeera reports citing local media.

The state-run Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday that the country’s National Assembly unanimously passed an amendment to the Criminal Code that abolished the death penalty for eight criminal offences.

Starting from next month, people will no longer face a death sentence for bribery, embezzlement, producing and trading counterfeit medicines, illegally transporting narcotics, espionage, "the crime of destroying peace and causing aggressive war", as well as sabotage and trying to topple the government.

The maximum sentence for these crimes will now be life imprisonment, the news agency said.

Those who were sentenced to death for capital offences before July 1, but have not yet been executed, will have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment, the report said.

The death penalty will remain for 10 other criminal offences under Vietnamese law, including murder, treason, terrorism and the sexual abuse of children, according to the report.

During a National Assembly debate on the proposed criminal code amendment last month, the issue of dropping the death sentence for drug trafficking was the most contentious.
 

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25.06.2025, 22:34 57261

China allocates 100 million yuan to support flood-hit Guizhou

China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said Wednesday that it has allocated 100 million yuan (about 13.95 million U.S. dollars) to assist disaster relief efforts in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Xinhua reports.

Guizhou has been affected by a severe flooding disaster, and the national commission for disaster prevention, reduction and relief launched a Level-IV emergency response on Tuesday.

The fund will be used to restore vital infrastructure and public services in Guizhou, such as roads, flood control systems, hospitals and schools, the NDRC said.

An additional 100 million yuan has been earmarked for the provinces of Guangdong and Hunan, located in south and central China, respectively, to restore normal production and living order as soon as possible, the NDRC added.

China has a four-tier emergency response system for flood control, with Level I being the most severe.
 

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24.06.2025, 22:29 64771

Chinese scientists achieve new efficiency record in solar-to-hydrogen conversion

Researchers at Tianjin University in China have made significant progress in solar-powered hydrogen production by developing a semi-transparent photoanode that achieves a record solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of 5.1 per cent, TV BRICS reports.

This advancement represents a key step towards scalable "artificial leaf" technology, which harnesses solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen in an environmentally friendly manner.

The team, led by Professor Wang Tuo from the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, tackled the limitations of unbiased solar water splitting systems that generate hydrogen without needing external voltage. Their novel photoanode, made from indium sulfide successfully balances the challenge of maintaining both conductivity and light transparency.

Wang explained that their semi-transparent design accelerates the water oxidation process while allowing more photons to reach the photocathode, reducing energy losses. The device surpassed the conventional 5 per cent efficiency benchmark, marking the highest performance for silicon photocathode systems paired with inorganic photoanodes.

Looking ahead, the researchers believe that with further refinement, this technology could lead to cost-effective and durable artificial leaves.
 

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23.06.2025, 15:55 72246

Oil prices surge as U.S. joins strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites

Oil prices surge as U.S. joins strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites
Images | Depositphotos
Oil prices rose sharply on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed American forces had struck Iran’s nuclear facilities over the weekend, joining Israeli attacks in a major escalation of tensions in the Middle East, reports a Kazinform News Agency correspondent.

Brent crude climbed to $78.53 a barrel, up nearly 2%, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate reached $75.35. Earlier in the session, both benchmarks hit five-month highs, driven by concerns over possible supply disruptions.

The current geopolitical escalation provides the fundamental catalyst for prices to traverse higher and potentially spiral towards $100, with $120 per barrel appearing increasingly plausible," said Sugandha Sachdeva, founder of SS WealthStreet.


Analysts warn that Iranian retaliation could include closing the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for about 20% of global oil supply. According to state-run Press TV, Iran’s parliament has approved a measure to close the strait.

The parliament has reached the conclusion that the Strait of Hormuz should be closed," said Major General Esmaeil Kowsari, a member of the parliament’s National Security Commission. "The final decision in this regard lies with the Supreme National Security Council," Kowsari added.


Sparta Commodities analyst June Goh noted that "the risks of damage to oil infrastructure... have multiplied," adding that shippers may begin avoiding the region.

Goldman Sachs warned Brent could briefly peak at $110 if oil flows through the strait are halved.
 

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23.06.2025, 14:02 72021

Uzbekistan plans to construct high-capacity nuclear power plant

On June 20 this year, as part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, a strategic agreement was signed between the Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation and the Uzatom Agency, UzA reports.

According to the Agency’s press service, the agreement outlines exploring possibilities for constructing a high-capacity nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan.

Under the terms of the document, the parties discussed the construction of two power units equipped with VVER-1000 reactors. In the future, the project may be expanded to four units. The project is based on safe and efficient technologies that have proven successful in Russia and internationally.

The signing ceremony was attended by Alexey Likhachev, Director General of the Rosatom State Corporation, and Azim Akhmedkhodjayev, Director of the Uzatom Agency.

The document represents a logical continuation of the agreements reached during the official visit of President of Russia Vladimir Putin on May 27, 2024, and the subsequent talks with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on April 28, 2025.

According to Mr. Likhachev, just like the construction of the small-scale nuclear power plant in Jizzakh region, the large-scale project with a VVER-1000 reactor will make it possible to establish a carbon-free energy cluster in the country. This infrastructure will meet electricity demand and serve as a foundation for Uzbekistan’s industrial and innovative development.

As noted by Azim Akhmedkhodjayev, a joint working group has been established to study the technical and economic foundations of the project’s implementation. At present, the manufacturing of the necessary reactor equipment for the first power unit has already begun.

Based on the conclusions of the working group, a final decision will be made regarding the construction of the large-scale nuclear power plant. This decision will be crucial for moving the project into its practical implementation phase.
 

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