IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Republic Of Korea

Govt approves key declaration

The Republic of Korea on Tuesday approved the Pyongyang Declaration, which was signed at the third summit in Pyongyang in September between President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It was discussed and approved during the cabinet meeting chaired by Moon, who signed and ratified the declaration. Under the agreement, the two sides vowed to end hostile relations, increase cooperation and exchanges and denuclearize the peninsula.

Yemen

8.4 million people need urgent aid

The UN humanitarian chief said the conflict in Yemen has left 8.4 million people dependent on emergency food assistance and 75 percent of its 22 million people requiring some form of aid. Mark Lowcock warned in an analysis that humanitarian officials "estimate that 3.5 million to 4 million more people could become severely food insecure in the months ahead". The analysis also said 3 million Yemenis are malnourished, including 1.1 million pregnant women "and more than 400,000 severely acutely malnourished children".

Japan

Quake strikes off Okinawa

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 struck off Yonagunijima in Okinawa, Japan's southernmost prefecture, the weather agency said on Tuesday. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the temblor occurred at 1:35 pm local time, at a depth of 30 kilometers. The quake measured 3 on Japan's seismic intensity scale, which peaks at 7, in the seas around the small island. The JMA said the earthquake posed no risk of triggering a tsunami. There have been no reports of injury or damage to people or vessels.

United States

Mega Millions jackpot hits $1.6b

If it seems like lottery jackpots are getting larger and larger, it's because they are getting larger and larger. Tuesday night's Mega Millions estimated grand prize has hit a staggering $1.6 billion, continuing a trend of giant jackpots. It will be the largest lottery prize in US history when someone finally hits it and will join five other top 10 drawings in the last three years. Lottery officials changed the odds in recent years to lessen the chance of winning a jackpot, which in turn increased the opportunity for top prizes to reach stratospheric levels.

United Kingdom

Hawking thesis, wheelchair for sale

Stephen Hawking was a cosmic visionary, a figure of inspiration and a global celebrity. His unique status is reflected in an upcoming auction of some of the late physicist's possessions: It includes complex scientific papers, one of the world's most iconic wheelchairs and a script from The Simpsons. The online sale features 22 items from Hawking, including his doctoral thesis on the origins of the universe, some of his many awards, and scientific papers such as Spectrum of Wormholes and Fundamental Breakdown of Physics in Gravitational Collapse.

Xinhua - Ap - Reuters

(China Daily 10/24/2018 page11)