Japan’s imperial family on Friday announced that the emperor’s niece will marry her fiance, an outsider, this month and give up her royal status.

The Imperial Household Agency said Princess Mako will wed Kei Komuro on Oct. 26, Kyodo News reported.
The agency also revealed that Mako has been “diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder caused by what is claimed to be mental abuse,” the report said, referring to the excessive media coverage around the princess and Komuro’s family in the past few years.
Mako is the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito, younger brother of Emperor Naruhito.
The couple, both 29, first met in 2012 at the International Christian University in Tokyo. They were unofficially engaged in 2017 but the marriage was postponed due to a financial dispute involving Komuro’s mother.
The wedding is expected to be held without the related ritual ceremonies, making Mako the first female member of the royal family to skip the traditions after World War II.
By marrying an outsider, Mako will lose her royal status but is entitled to a lump sum payment of about $1.3 million from the imperial family.
However, the princess has indicated she will not take the money, making her the first Japanese royal to forego such an offer.
The couple will register their marriage in Tokyo before moving to the US, where Komuro works for a law firm.
As Japan’s imperial family members do not have passports, Mako will have to register herself as a member of the Komuro family to apply for a passport after the marriage, the report said.​​​​​​​

Emperor Naruhito's niece has 'complex post-traumatic stress disorder' due to excessive media scrutiny, says imperial family

Japan's Princess Mako to marry fiance on Oct. 26

US Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh on Thursday evening tested positive for COVID-19, according to a Supreme Court statement.

Per the court's regular testing protocols, Kavanaugh had a routine test ahead of Justice Amy Coney Barrett's investiture on Friday, said the statement.
He has no symptoms and has been fully vaccinated since January.
Kavanaugh, 56, has his last negative test that came Monday before the justices' in-person conference.
Kavanaugh's wife and daughters are also fully vaccinated, and they tested negative on Thursday.
As a precaution, the Kavanaugh couple will not attend Justice Barrett's investiture on Friday morning, the statement added.

Brett Kavanaugh has no symptoms, fully vaccinated since January

Per the court's regular testing protocols, Kavanaugh had a routine test ahead of Justice Amy Coney Barrett's investiture on Friday, said the statement

US Supreme Court Justice tests positive for COVID-19

China's latest regulations on cryptocurrencies aim to eliminate competition with Beijing's new digital currency, the digital yuan, an expert told Anadolu Agency on Friday.

- Making cryptocurrency transactions in China illegal is a much anticipated move to eliminate any potential competition to the government's new incoming sovereign digital currency - David Lesperance, managing director of international tax and immigration advisory firm Lesperance &amp; Associates, said via email.
- The digital yuan is part of an all-encompassing series of actions by the Chinese government to have complete control over the lives of its citizens - he said.
China's central bank, the People's Bank of China, announced last week that it will tighten regulations on cryptocurrency activities, including trading and mining, as the government intensifies its crackdown on digital coins.
Its regulations on the crypto market include prohibiting trading, token issuance and crypto derivatives, considering overseas crypto exchanges, which offer services to domestic residents in China, an illegal activity, and banning financial institutions, non-bank payment companies and internet firms from facilitating crypto trading.
Lesperance argued that China wants to have complete control over its population, and the digital yuan, combined with currency control in China, will give Beijing total vision over the population and all their financial transactions.

After Beijing tightening regulations, cryptocurrency holders in China have some options – they can either get their crypto assets outside of the country or wait for the government to offer a swap for their crypto assets in exchange for digital yuan.

- China's crypto ban will effectively divide that country's crypto currencies holders - Lesperance said.
He argued that a group of crypto investors in China will act to get their crypto assets and themselves an escape plan to avoid the complete control of the government, while another group will be under the scrutiny of the government unless they act.

Another hot topic in the crypto market lately is whether central banks around the world will issue their own digital currencies like the People's Bank of China.

- All of the world's monies and assets will be digitalized. Old paper-based solutions are not fit for a digital world, and central bank fiat currencies are no exception to this. Every central bank will be creating its own digital version of its fiat currency over the coming years - Matthew Le Merle, managing partner of San Francisco-based venture capital firm Blockchain Coinvestors, which invests in blockchain companies, told Anadolu Agency by email.
Noting that central banks around the world were in denial of cryptocurrencies three years ago when digital coins were introduced as alternative payment systems and stores of value in digital wallets, he said: "Today, there is no serious central banker in the world who doubts that the world will be going digital."
- It is notable that most of the world's banks do not have digital wallets... In the US, banks are far behind where they need to be. US lawmakers should help by providing constructive and future leaning laws to accelerate these innovations - he said.
Although US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has been critical of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said last Wednesday that the Fed is evaluating whether to implement its own digital currency and will be releasing a paper on the issue shortly.
- It all begins with a reliable, secure, compliant digital wallet and the US Treasury moving quickly to create a digital dollar - Le Merle said.
Lesperance said the move from physical to digital currency is accelerating.
- Some countries such as the US will use a central bank digital currency (CBDC) as a means of protecting its reserve currency status. Other countries such as China will be using it as a means of controlling their citizens - he said.
- Those individuals who are looking for an alternative to the former or are worried about the assault on their freedom of the latter should look seriously at cryptocurrencies- he added.

Digital yuan and currency control to give Beijing total vision over population's financial transactions, says David Lesperance

China's central bank, the People's Bank of China, announced last week that it will tighten regulations on cryptocurrency activities, including trading and mining, as the government intensifies its crackdown on digital coins

China's crypto ban aims to eliminate competition with digital yuan

The second phase trial of an mRNA-based cancer vaccine developed by BioNTech has started, the German biopharmaceutical company announced on Friday.

The first colorectal cancer patient was dosed with the individualized mRNA cancer vaccine BNT122 in a Phase 2 clinical trial, the company said in a statement.
Ozlem Tureci, co-founder and chief medical officer of BioNTech, said the trial is an important milestone in the company’s years long efforts to develop individualized immunotherapies for cancer patients.
- Many cancers progress in such a way that the patient initially appears tumor-free after surgery, but after some time tumor foci that were initially invisible grow and form metastases - she said.
- In this clinical trial in patients with colorectal cancer, we aim to identify high-risk patients with a blood test and investigate whether an individualized mRNA vaccine can prevent such relapses - she added.
The trial will enroll approximately 200 patients with high-risk colorectal cancer, and it will be performed in the US, Germany, Spain, and Belgium. The colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer worldwide.
BioNTech’s mRNA-based vaccine against COVID-19 was the first to win authorization in the US and the EU, and it has been highly effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths from the disease.

First colorectal cancer patient treated with individualized mRNA cancer vaccine, German biopharmaceutical company says

The trial will enroll approximately 200 patients with high-risk colorectal cancer, and it will be performed in the US, Germany, Spain, and Belgium

BioNTech begins Phase 2 trial of mRNA-based vaccine against cancer

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has decried a recent settler attack against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank as “terror”.

Dozens of masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians in the rural area of Mesafer Yatta in Hebron city on Wednesday. Twelve people, including a child, were injured.
Attackers, who even stabbed some of the goats of the Palestinian farmers in the area, also threw stones at Palestinian houses and vehicles.
- This violent incident is horrific and it is terror. This isn’t the Israeli way and it isn’t the Jewish way - Lapid said on Twitter.
According to data from the Israeli Defense Ministry, a total of 370 incidents of violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers in the West Bank were reported in 2020, 42 of them against Israeli police and soldiers.
Israeli and Palestinian estimates indicate that there are about 650,000 settlers in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, living in 164 settlements and 116 outposts.
Under international law, all Israeli settlements in the occupied territories are considered illegal.

Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians, smashed their cars in Hebron city

Israeli foreign minister slams settler ‘terror’ against Palestinians

New Zealand's parliament passed new counter-terrorism legislation on Thursday, granting more powers to security agencies in their efforts to fight terrorism, the country's immigration minister said.

The bill was part of a government move to implement the recommendation of a royal commission probe into the terror attacks in March 2019 on two mosques in the town of Christchurch, Kris Faafoi said in a statement.
- The Bill strengthens our laws to fight the ever evolving nature of terrorism and closes longstanding gaps in our counter terrorism legislation to better protect New Zealanders - Faafoi said.
- The new counter terrorism law's major change is to add the criminal offence of planning or preparation for a terrorist act - he added.
Under the new law, security agencies will also have powers to enter, search, and monitor premises without a warrant.
Weapons or combat training for terrorist purposes has also been criminalized, as has travelling to, from, or via New Zealand with the intent to carry out a terror offense.
It also expanded offences concerning terror financing to include "wider forms of support" such as goods and services.
- These changes bring our definition of a terrorist act into line with counter terrorism laws in other countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom, and mean we have the tools we need so we can act early to prevent, respond to, and disrupt terrorist activity - said the official.
- The nature of terrorism has changed. Across the world there are more lone actors, rather than larger organised groups; as we saw with the March 15 attack on mosques in Christchurch two years ago, and the attack on shoppers in a West Auckland supermarket earlier this month.-Faafoi was referring to a knife attack in a supermarket on Sept. 3 that left six people wounded, three in critical condition. Police shot dead the "extremist" that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said was inspired by the Daesh terror group, also known as ISIS.
Brenton Tarrant, an Australian white supremacist who carried out the Christchurch attacks on March 15, 2019, had killed 51 people and injured 40 more at the Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre. He was sentenced to life in prison last year without the possibility of a parole.
The findings of a royal commission inquiry, which was formed to find out whether the attack could have been prevented, had been presented in parliament last year.
The 792-page report, which took about 18 months to compile, had identified deficiencies in the firearms licensing system, as well as "inappropriate concentration of resources" on the part of security agencies.
It had made a list of recommendations, including changes to how firearms are managed, establishing a new national intelligence and security agency and a proposal for the police to better identify and respond to hate crimes.

New law is first step in implementing royal commission report on Christchurch mosques terror attack in 2019, says official

The bill was part of a government move to implement the recommendation of a royal commission probe into the terror attacks in March 2019 on two mosques in the town of Christchurch

New Zealand parliament passes new counter-terrorism law

The Kilauea volcano has erupted at its summit, spewing thick plumes and creating fire fountains up to 100 feet (about 30 meters) tall and flooding the Halemaumau Crater floor, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said on Thursday.

The eruption began around 3:20 PM Wednesday (0120GMT Thursday), according to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist-in-charge Ken Hon, who told local news channel Hawaii News Now that lava is limited within the crater.
Hon said the eruption Wednesday had a “very rapid onset.”
He said there are no threats to any buildings or nearby communities as the eruption is within Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park.
The volcano's alert level was raised to "red" after the eruption, indicating "possible dangerous activity on the ground and in the air."
Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, has been erupting since 1983.

No threats to any buildings or nearby communities as eruption within Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park, says official

The volcano's alert level was raised to "red" after the eruption, indicating "possible dangerous activity on the ground and in the air"

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts at its summit

EU ambassadors approved on Wednesday €149.6 million ($174 million) extra funding for Syrian refugees in Turkey.

The financial support will extend the bloc’s multi-purpose cash assistance program that provides monthly transfers for the most vulnerable refugees in the country, the Council of the EU wrote in a press release.
The scheme, officially named Emergency Social Safety Net, is the biggest humanitarian program in the bloc’s history that has been helping 1.8 million refugees to cover essential needs of rent, bills, food, and medicine.
The additional €149.6 million will be financed from the remaining margin of the 2021 budget.
The budgetary amendment has yet to be approved by the European Parliament.
Turkey is the largest host country for Syrian refugees, providing protection to nearly 4 million people who fled the neighboring country.

Bloc extends cash assistance program for most vulnerable Syrian refugees

The additional €149.6 million will be financed from the remaining margin of the 2021 budget

EU to provide nearly €150M extra fund for Syrian refugees in Turkey

Jordan reopened the Jaber border crossing with Syria on Wednesday after a two-month closure due to military escalations in the southwestern Daraa province.

Dozens of vehicles crossed the terminal in both directions since early morning, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter.
The move came amid efforts by Amman and Damascus to normalize their relations.
In an earlier statement, the Jordanian Interior Ministry said the reopening of the border gate was part of efforts to revitalize the trade and tourism movements between the two neighbors.
Jordan and Syria have also held ministerial meetings aimed at discussing ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, transport, electricity, agriculture and water resources.
Earlier this month, the energy and oil ministers of Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon agreed on a road map to supply Beirut with Egyptian gas via Syria to resolve a chronic energy crisis gripping the country.

Dozens of vehicles cross terminal in both directions

Dozens of vehicles crossed the terminal in both directions since early morning

Jordan reopens border crossing with Syria

Japan’s former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida has been elected new leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Wednesday, local media reported.

He will succeed outgoing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
Kishida defeated Vaccination Minister Taro Kono in a runoff, according to Kyodo news agency.
The former foreign minister got 257 votes, while Kono received only 170.
Under pressure for a weaker anti-coronavirus policy, Suga earlier this month announced he will step down as premier and will not run for party leadership.&nbsp;Kishida is set to be elected prime minister during a special parliament session to be held on Monday.
The LDP saw a four-way leadership contest which included two female candidates – including Sanae Takaichi, a former communications minister; and Seiko Noda, the LDP executive acting secretary general.
They lost in the first round and party leadership elections went for runoff between Kishida and Kono.

Fumio Kishida receives 257 votes, Vaccination Minister Taro Kono gets 170 in runoff for party’s leadership

Japan’s former foreign minister Kishida to become new premier

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met Tuesday with International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol at NATO headquarters. 

Stoltenberg and Birol exchanged views on climate change and security, energy security and clean energy transition as well as strengthening cooperation between NATO and the IEA, according to a statement released by NATO.&nbsp;- The IEA took the lead in guiding the way forward on energy policies, which can lead to net zero carbon emissions - it added.
It said the increasing cooperation between NATO and the IEA was welcomed Stoltenberg, adding “the global transition to clean energy makes closer ties even more important."

Jens Stoltenberg, Fatih Birol exchange views on issues including climate change, energy security, clean energy transition

NATO secretary general meets with IEA executive director

Crews have helped 35 miners stranded underground to the surface at a mine in Canada, but four remained to be extricated as of late Tuesday.

A team of 58 responders from mine owner Vale SA’s rescue team and Ontario Mine Rescue helped the 35 miners at the Totten Mine near Sudbury in northern Ontario travel about one kilometer on a series of ladders and ropes to reach the surface Tuesday morning.
The other four are still underground awaiting their turn to reach the surface.
Doctors are on the scene checking miners as they exit the mine, said Nick Larochelle, president of the Steelworkers Union Local 6500, to which 30 of the miners belong.
- No one has been physically injured in the incident or in the evacuation - the union said.
- The highly trained rescue team has been working since last night to evacuate the miners who have been trapped underground since mid-day on Sunday. Food, water, and other necessities are available and workers are being given rides home. -The miners became stuck underground Sunday around noon when a giant scoop struck and damaged the elevator shaft, CTV News reported.
- We are taking it slow so that we're not pushing anybody past their energy level - said Shawn Rideout of Ontario Mine Rescue, referring to the remaining trapped miners.
The mine is located near Sudbury, a city with a population of about 165,000 about four hours north of Toronto. The Totten mine produces copper, nickel, cobalt, platinum, gold and silver and has about 200 employees, according to Vale.
The company website states that Vale has been operating mines in Sudbury for more than 100 years. It has five mines, a mill, smelter, refinery and almost 4,000 employees, making it one of the largest integrated mining complexes in the world.

4 others on long trek out of mine from one kilometer underground

The other four are still underground awaiting their turn to reach the surface

35 trapped miners rescued in Canada

Palestinian Islamic Jihad group said Wednesday that its alliance with Iran aims to confront the Israeli occupation.

In a statement, the group said that the Palestinian resistance was founded to resist the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.
- All resistance forces, including Iran, stand in one front against the Zionist enemy (Israel) and its allies - the Palestinian group said.
An Iranian military official had earlier said that the Palestinian resistance groups were seeking to defend Iran.
Gholam Ali Rashid, a prominent commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, said former general Qasem Soleimani had founded six armies outside Iran's borders, including the Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups, which are ready to defend Iran.

Iranian military official said Palestinian resistance groups were seeking to defend Iran

Members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement march from the Khan Yunis Refugee Camp in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on September 27, 2021.

Palestinian group says alliance with Iran only to ‘resist Israel’

Britain and Pakistan, along with the international community, are on the same page for a “coordinated approach” to the ongoing situation in Afghanistan, a British government statement said Tuesday.

The British foreign secretary and Pakistani foreign minister discussed various issues during a meeting in London, a statement by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said.
Liz Truss and Shah Mahmood Qureshi “spoke about their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries, including deepening economic links.”
The two ministers “discussed the ongoing situation in Afghanistan, and the need for the international community to work together to ensure a coordinated approach.”
- They reaffirmed their commitment to preventing Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terror and providing vital humanitarian assistance for ordinary Afghans - the statement said.
They also “discussed the need for action to cut carbon emissions and protect biodiversity,” the main drive in the upcoming COP26 summit in Glasgow.
They agreed to work together to achieve ambitious climate change objectives at November’s summit.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi meet in London

They agreed to work together to achieve ambitious climate change objectives at November’s summit

UK, Pakistan agree on need for coordinated approach to Afghanistan

The 2021-2022 NBA season, the 75th season of the association, will get underway in three weeks, but some players still remain unvaccinated, causing controversy.

A total of 90 percent of players have received at least one dose of the shot, but some players -- including New Jersey Nets' superstar guard Kyrie Irving -- are reportedly not vaccinated.
Players in the NBA are not currently mandated to receive the vaccine against coronavirus, but in some cities such as New York City and San Francisco, players must take the vaccine to be on the court at home.
Golden State Warriors player Andrew Wiggins previously applied for a religious exemption from receiving COVID-19 vaccination, but NBA denied his request.
- Wiggins will not be able to play in Warriors home games until he fulfills the city's vaccination requirements - NBA said.
Wiggins still defends his decision; "I'm confident in my beliefs and what I think is right, what I think is wrong. I'm just going to keep doing what I believe. Whether it's one thing or another, just going to keep doing it," he said.
Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar jumped into the fray and said that NBA should remove the staff or players who refused to take the vaccine.

Andrew Wiggins previously sought religious exemption from receiving COVID-19 vaccination but NBA denied his request

A total of 90 percent of players have received at least one dose of the shot

Some NBA players still unvaccinated against COVID-19 ahead of new season

The EU welcomed Saudi Arabia’s social and economic reforms, but expressed concern over certain human rights issues, said a statement issued on Tuesday following the first bilateral meeting on human rights.

The EU and Saudi delegations met in Brussels on Monday for the first Human Rights Dialogue, which “offered an opportunity to have detailed discussions on a wide range of topics,” the European External Action Service said.
The bloc welcomed kingdom’s socio-economic reforms, particularly those on women’​​​​​​​s rights.
- The EU encouraged Saudi authorities to work towards achieving women’s full enjoyment of all human rights - the statement noted.
The EU delegation also addressed current labor law reforms in Saudi Arabia, including changes to the "Kefala" system, a sponsorship arrangement that grants employers extensive rights over foreign workers.
They recommended Saudi Arabia to extend the scope of the legislation to domestic employees as well.
They also voiced concern over several human rights issues in Saudi Arabia, such as restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, an increase in executions, and conditions of detention centers.
The bloc also asked the kingdom to cooperate more with UN institutions on labor and human rights and adhere to relevant international treaties.

Bloc welcomes socio-economic reforms, but asks kingdom for further protection of labor, human rights

The EU and Saudi delegations met in Brussels on Monday

Japan's Princess Mako to marry fiance on Oct. 26

US Supreme Court Justice tests positive for COVID-19

China's crypto ban aims to eliminate competition with digital yuan

BioNTech begins Phase 2 trial of mRNA-based vaccine against cancer

Israeli foreign minister slams settler ‘terror’ against Palestinians

New Zealand parliament passes new counter-terrorism law

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts at its summit

EU to provide nearly €150M extra fund for Syrian refugees in Turkey

Jordan reopens border crossing with Syria

Japan’s former foreign minister Kishida to become new premier

NATO secretary general meets with IEA executive director

35 trapped miners rescued in Canada

Palestinian group says alliance with Iran only to ‘resist Israel’

UK, Pakistan agree on need for coordinated approach to Afghanistan

Some NBA players still unvaccinated against COVID-19 ahead of new season

EU holds 1st ever human rights meeting with Saudi Arabia

World

Japan's Princess Mako to marry fiance on Oct. 26

US Supreme Court Justice tests positive for COVID-19

China's crypto ban aims to eliminate competition with digital yuan

BioNTech begins Phase 2 trial of mRNA-based vaccine against cancer

Israeli foreign minister slams settler ‘terror’ against Palestinians

New Zealand parliament passes new counter-terrorism law

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts at its summit

EU to provide nearly €150M extra fund for Syrian refugees in Turkey

Jordan reopens border crossing with Syria

Japan’s former foreign minister Kishida to become new premier

NATO secretary general meets with IEA executive director

35 trapped miners rescued in Canada

Palestinian group says alliance with Iran only to ‘resist Israel’

UK, Pakistan agree on need for coordinated approach to Afghanistan

Some NBA players still unvaccinated against COVID-19 ahead of new season

EU holds 1st ever human rights meeting with Saudi Arabia