Category: World

About 3,000 civil servants have been laid off in Uzbekistan as part of the reform of the state apparatus. The government has eliminated some state structures and is creating new institutions to improve management efficiency.

Over the past year, about three thousand officials in Uzbekistan have been dismissed as part of a large-scale reform of the state apparatus aimed at simplifying and optimizing the work of government agencies. This is reported by the ORDA information and analytical portal, UNN reports.

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In the course of the reform, some state structures were liquidated, while the number of positions in others was significantly reduced. Instead of the abolished bodies, new institutions are being created "aimed at solving specific tasks," which, according to the government, will increase the efficiency of public administration.

The government believes that the reduction of the bureaucracy will allow it to use the saved budget funds to implement socially important programs and develop the country's economy.

Uzbekistan elects new parliament: what happens in elections without oppositionOctober 27 2024, 05:07 AM • 18711 views

Prisoner Mikheil Saakashvili has called on Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili to consider pardoning him. The appeal is related to the latest events in Georgia and another batch of threats from Russia.

Prisoner Mikheil Saakashvili has called on Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili to consider pardoning him in light of recent events in the country, UNN reports with reference to Novosti Georgia.

"I am in full solidarity with President Salome Zurabishvili and I liked the fact that she did not go along with the provocation and did not agree to the demands of the Russian prosecutor's office. I saw that Ms. Salome also did not miss the threat from Medvedev.

I have been imprisoned for more than three years on such instructions from Moscow, on charges that have been sucked out of my finger, and I do not want President Zurabishvili, who can actually eliminate this injustice, to bear historical responsibility for this illegal conclusion. What do you think, people?" – Saakashvili wrote on his Facebook page.

Georgian President calls pardoning Saakashvili her own "moral decision"

On October 30, the Georgian Prosecutor General's Office announced that it had launched an investigation into possible parliamentary election fraud at the request of the CEC. The commission called for verification of numerous allegations of fraud, including those made by Zurabishvili.

The President refused to be questioned. At the same time, the President called what is happening "clearly a political process," recalling a recent statement by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who called for Zurabishvili's removal from office and arrest.

EU warns Georgia: accession talks at risk due to current courseOctober 30 2024, 01:18 PM • 12348 views

In Russia's Bashkortostan, three UAVs attacked industrial facilities, one of them damaging glass at an enterprise. The attack evacuated employees of Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim and temporarily suspended the operation of Ufa airport.

In Russia's Bashkortostan, three drones attacked factories, with no casualties or damage, UNN reports, citing Russian media.

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According to the head of the Russian region, Radiy Khabirov, one UAV fell on the territory of an enterprise and caused minimal damage in the form of broken glass, while the other two fell in the industrial zone. There were no casualties or damage.

According to the Baza Telegram channel, employees of Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim were evacuated in Chernikovka due to the attack, and Ufa airport temporarily did not receive or send flights.

Ufa Airport Suspends Operations Due to Threat of Drone AttackOctober 31 2024, 04:44 PM • 8085 views

American officials are concerned about Elon Musk's communication with putin because of Musk's access to classified information. Musk has a high level of security access due to SpaceX's contracts with the US government.

American officials continue to express concerns about the fact of communication between billionaire Elon Musk and russian dictator putin. UNN writes about this with reference to the Voice of America.

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Citing former and current U.S. officials, the publication notes that Musk, who owns electric car manufacturer Tesla, social media platform X, and space company SpaceX, has high-level security access. This is necessary to ensure the operation of SpaceX, which has numerous contracts with the US government and performs work for the Department of Defense and NASA. Some of this work is so sensitive that Musk has received high-level security clearance from the government. This is what has some officials worried that Musk's conversations with putin could put top-secret information and U.S. capabilities at risk.

At the same time, some of the former officials point out that even if Musk is involved in conversations with putin, the fact that he is having such conversations is not necessarily illegal.

There may also be no legal issues if Max voluntarily does not want to disclose details about his conversations with foreign leaders. However, concealing such conversations when officially requested could have criminal consequences.

Recall

According to The Wall Street Journal's sources, Musk's contacts with putin have been regular since 2022. During one conversation, putin allegedly asked Musk not to activate SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service in Taiwan as a favor to China, and he complied.

Musk has denied having frequent conversations with Putin. In 2022, Musk said he had spoken to the russian leader only once, but the WSJ claims that the conversations have been repeated since then.

Ilon Musk failed to appear in court in the case of handing out $1 million to voters: what he now facesOctober 31 2024, 03:00 PM • 2606 views

A Paris court sentenced 65-year-old Eugène Ruamusio to 27 years in prison for complicity in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. He was accused of organizing killings and inciting attacks on the Tutsi ethnic group.

A Paris court today found 65-year-old Eugène Ruamusio guilty of complicity in genocide and crimes against humanity.

Writes UNN with reference to RFI.

Eugène Ruamusio was found guilty of complicity in genocide and participation in a conspiracy to commit genocide, complicity in crimes against humanity and participation in a conspiracy to commit these crimes. The former practitioner and teacher, now 65 years old, was accused of participating in the executions of the wounded, as well as publicly inciting the population to attack the Tutsis during the 1994 genocide.

The French prosecutor's office demanded 30 years in prison for Rouamoussio.

Southern Africa is suffering from a severe drought: 21 million children suffer from malnutritionOctober 15 2024, 10:34 PM • 14796 views

In his closing statement, the defendant pleaded not guilty. The 65-year-old man's lawyer filed an appeal.

HelpHelp

Between April and July 1994, about 800,000 people were killed in Rwanda as a result of the genocide, most of whom were members of the Tutsi ethnic group, but there were also moderate Hutus.

“Erasing identity is equal to genocide": Zelensky on re-education of abducted children by RussiaOctober 29 2024, 11:23 AM • 13596 views

The new Great Seal of Australia no longer contains a mention of the monarch, breaking a 120-year tradition. The change in design drew criticism from the opposition for “hidden republicanism.

Australia's formal symbol of sovereignty, the Great Seal, has been redesigned without reference to the monarch, breaking more than 120 years of tradition and prompting criticism of "republicanism in secret," UNN writes citing The Guardian.

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The new version of the Great Seal of Australia – a ceremonial stamp approved by the monarch and used on key documents that exercise royal authority in Australia – was approved by royal warrants signed by Prime Minister Anthony Albenizi and King Charles III during his visit to Government House in Canberra earlier this month.

The design was prepared by the Royal Australian Mint and features the Australian coat of arms surrounded by a wickerwork, the national floral emblem.

The design was replaced by one in which the words "Elizabeth the Second Queen of Australia" surrounded the Australian coat of arms, first authorized for use by royal decree in 1973. This version was vetted by the Whitlam government, which insisted on removing historical references to Britain from the modernized design. The seal had previously been relatively unchanged since its introduction by Queen Victoria in 1900 and use by the federation the following year.

The prime minister and cabinet confirmed that the 2024 emblem was approved by the king on the recommendation of the prime minister.

The previous Great Seal of Australia, which was first authorized for use by royal decree in 1973. Photo: National Archives of Australia

Liberal National Party senator James McGrath, a shadow assistant minister to the opposition leader, criticized what he called the secrecy of the design change.

McGrath said: "Albenizi's Labor government likes to hide from the public. Albenizi's removal of any reference to the monarch is covert republicanism.

Philip Benwell, national chairman of the Australian Monarchist League, said the design change is in line with what he sees as the Albenizi government's steps toward republicanism.

Echoing McGrath's words, he also called the design change "covert republicanism." "This is what we expect from this government," Benwell said.

Australia's relatively mild republican sentiment was put in the spotlight during the King and Queen's visit to Canberra and Sydney this month, the newspaper notes.

“You are not our king!": Aboriginal senator challenges King Charles in AustraliaOctober 21 2024, 07:27 AM • 14212 views

A judge orders Elon Musk to appear in court in Philadelphia over the distribution of money to voters. The district attorney accuses the billionaire of trying to influence the presidential election.

Billionaire Elon Musk has been ordered by a judge to appear in court in Philadelphia on Thursday after the district attorney sued him for giving away $1 million to voters. CBS News reports, UNN reports.

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According to the court document, the hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in the city hall meeting room in the city center.

According to the Associated Press, Philadelphia County District Court Judge Angelo Foglietta wrote that “all parties must be present during the hearing.

Last week, District Attorney Larry Krasner sued Musk, claiming that the billionaire is trying to influence voters in next week's presidential election.

“The Philadelphia District Attorney is responsible for protecting the public from public nuisances and unfair trade practices, including illegal lotteries. The DA is also charged with protecting the public from interference with the integrity of elections,” Krasner said in a statement announcing the complaint last week.

Addendum Addendum

Musk has fully endorsed Trump in his run for a second term in the White House. Almost two weeks ago, he pledged to give away $1 million a day until Election Day on November 5 to voters who signed his Coalition Campaign Committee's petition in support of the First and Second Amendments to the Constitution.

Some experts have questioned the legality of Musk's actions in handing out $1 million to voters. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also questioned Musk's concession.

“I think there are real questions about how he's spending money on this race, how dark money is flowing not only into Pennsylvania, but obviously now into the pockets of Pennsylvanians. This is deeply troubling,” he said last week.

Musk has been very active in supporting Trump in Pennsylvania, one of the key states in the election. He was in Philadelphia on October 17 for a town hall meeting where he urged Pennsylvanians to register to vote.

At a meeting at Ridley High School in Delaware County, Musk called Pennsylvania a “pivotal state” in the 2024 elections.

Due to the threat of Russian cyberattacks, Sweden and Norway are reconsidering plans to switch to cashless payments. The governments are recommending that citizens have a supply of cash and use different payment methods.

Sweden and Norway are abandoning plans to develop a cashless society due to concerns about possible Russian cyberattacks. This is reported by The Guardian, according to UNN.

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It is noted that both countries have developed financial technologies, in particular the Swedish mobile payment system Swish and the Norwegian analog Vipps.

A former deputy governor of Sweden's central bank predicted in 2018 that Sweden would likely become cashless by 2025. The percentage of cash payments has fallen from almost 40% in 2012 to about 10% in recent years.

But Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 forced the Swedish government to completely revise its defense strategy and join NATO. Norway has also tightened controls on its border with Russia.

In a brochure titled “If Crisis or War Comes,” which will be mailed to every home in Sweden next month, the Ministry of Defense advises people to use cash regularly and to have at least a week's supply in different denominations, as well as to have access to other forms of payment, such as bank cards and digital payment services.

The government is considering legislation to protect the ability to pay in cash. After all, although cash is legal tender in Sweden, some stores may refuse to accept it.

Norway has a law requiring retailers to accept cash, but it has not been enforced due to the growth of cashless payments in recent years. The Ministry of Justice and Public Safety has stated that it “recommends that everyone carry cash due to the vulnerability of digital payment systems to cyberattacks.

Max Brimberg, a researcher at the Swedish central bank, noted that a decrease in the use of cash could be a risk, as cash remains important in a crisis when digital systems may not be available.

Hans Löweng, a professor of defense and security systems science at the Swedish Defense University, however, believes that there is a lack of evidence on whether cash is better than digital payments. Pointing to Ukraine, where digital systems are quite developed even in times of war, he said: “Ukraine is a very good example of moving to the future during a war, not to the past.

Sweden allocates a new aid package to Ukraine: what will 63 million euros go forOctober 28 2024, 07:49 PM • 15388 views

South Korea's defense minister announced a possible exchange of military aid to the DPRK for advanced nuclear technology from Russia.

North Korea is "very likely to ask" Moscow for advanced nuclear weapons-related technologies. In exchange for this, the DPRK could agree to send its military to Russia. This was stated by South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, according to CNN, UNN reports.

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Kim Yong-hyun emphasized that North Korea is likely to demand from Russia the transfer of technologies related to tactical nuclear weapons, the development of North Korean intercontinental ballistic missiles, reconnaissance satellites and nuclear submarines.

He also noted that he did not believe that North Korea's deployment of troops to help Russia would increase "the likelihood of war on the Korean Peninsula," but that it could lead to "escalation of security threats on the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea may send a group to Ukraine to monitor DPRK troopsOctober 30 2024, 07:59 AM • 16167 views

Argentine President Javier Milei dismissed Foreign Minister Diana Mondino over the vote to lift sanctions against Cuba. For the first time during Milei's presidency, Argentina did not support the US position.

Argentine President Javier Milei has dismissed Foreign Minister Diana Mondino after the country voted at the UN to lift the US economic embargo on Cuba. This was reported by the BBC, according to UNN.

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The publication notes that Argentina used to have quite friendly relations with Freedom Island, supporting the idea of lifting the trade blockade, for which Cuba recognized Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

However, President Javier Millais, who dismissed Mondino, emphasized that the country now “must reflect the values of Western democracies in every decision and is categorically against the Cuban dictatorial regime that violates human rights.

The vote at the UN was the first time during the Milei presidency that Argentina's position officially did not coincide with that of the United States. Apart from the United States, only Israel opposed the lifting of the embargo.

Argentina's new foreign minister will be Ambassador to the United States Gerardo Vertine.

Argentina rules out sending weapons to UkraineJune 20 2024, 06:23 AM • 96498 views