Swede, American and Turkish-American jointly win Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Tomas Lindahl, Paul Modrich and Aziz Sancar were jointly awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry on Wednesday for their studies of how cells repair damaged DNA and safeguard genetic information. "Their work has provided fundamental knowledge of how a living cell functions and is, for instance, used for the development of new cancer treatments," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. The winners will share the 8 million Swedish kronor (about Rs 6.3 crore) prize money, along with the diploma and a gold medal at the annual awards ceremony in December.
Suu Kyi aims to play behind-the-scenes role in Myanmar
Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday said that she intends to lead the country from behind the scenes if her party, the National League for Democracy, wins in November's national elections. A clause in the 2008 constitution, drafted when the country was still under military rule, prevents Suu Kyi from taking the top job because her late husband and two children are British. While Myanmar began moving from half a century of military rule to a democracy in 2011, the constitution dictates that, irrespective of the polling outcomes, the military will hold 25% of the seats in parliament.
EU launches Operation Sophia to curb trafficking
The European Union on Wednesday announced a new mission in the South Mediterranean to stem the flow of illegal trafficking of refugees to the continent. Called “Operation Sophia", the initiative gives naval ships permission to board, search and seize vessels suspected of being involved in human trafficking. This year alone, more than 130,000 migrants and refugees from Syria, Iraq and other war-torn countries have crossed to Europe from the north African coast. More than 2,700 have drowned trying to do so.
MSF calls for independent commission
In the wake of the bombing of an Afghan hospital last week that killed 12 Medicins Sans Frontiers staff, the medical charity on Wednesday called for the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission to investigate the US air strike. The US military, NATO and Afghan officials are already conducting their own investigations. Doctors Without Borders chief Joanne Liu emphasised that it was unacceptable for the US to dismiss the bombing of the hospital and the killing of staff and patients as collateral damage or brush it aside as a mistake.
Russian jets continue bombing IS targets
Russian warplanes on Wednesday carried out intense strikes in the Syrian cities of Palmyra and the northern province of Aleppo, Syrian state television reported. The strikes are reported to have destroyed 20 vehicles and three weapons depots in Islamic State-held Palmyra. In Aleppo, they hit the towns of Al-Bab and Deir Hafer, about 20 km east of a military airport currently held by IS. Russia has carried out dozens of air strikes in Syria since launching its bombing campaign last Wednesday.
Tomas Lindahl, Paul Modrich and Aziz Sancar were jointly awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry on Wednesday for their studies of how cells repair damaged DNA and safeguard genetic information. "Their work has provided fundamental knowledge of how a living cell functions and is, for instance, used for the development of new cancer treatments," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. The winners will share the 8 million Swedish kronor (about Rs 6.3 crore) prize money, along with the diploma and a gold medal at the annual awards ceremony in December.
Suu Kyi aims to play behind-the-scenes role in Myanmar
Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday said that she intends to lead the country from behind the scenes if her party, the National League for Democracy, wins in November's national elections. A clause in the 2008 constitution, drafted when the country was still under military rule, prevents Suu Kyi from taking the top job because her late husband and two children are British. While Myanmar began moving from half a century of military rule to a democracy in 2011, the constitution dictates that, irrespective of the polling outcomes, the military will hold 25% of the seats in parliament.
EU launches Operation Sophia to curb trafficking
The European Union on Wednesday announced a new mission in the South Mediterranean to stem the flow of illegal trafficking of refugees to the continent. Called “Operation Sophia", the initiative gives naval ships permission to board, search and seize vessels suspected of being involved in human trafficking. This year alone, more than 130,000 migrants and refugees from Syria, Iraq and other war-torn countries have crossed to Europe from the north African coast. More than 2,700 have drowned trying to do so.
MSF calls for independent commission
In the wake of the bombing of an Afghan hospital last week that killed 12 Medicins Sans Frontiers staff, the medical charity on Wednesday called for the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission to investigate the US air strike. The US military, NATO and Afghan officials are already conducting their own investigations. Doctors Without Borders chief Joanne Liu emphasised that it was unacceptable for the US to dismiss the bombing of the hospital and the killing of staff and patients as collateral damage or brush it aside as a mistake.
Russian jets continue bombing IS targets
Russian warplanes on Wednesday carried out intense strikes in the Syrian cities of Palmyra and the northern province of Aleppo, Syrian state television reported. The strikes are reported to have destroyed 20 vehicles and three weapons depots in Islamic State-held Palmyra. In Aleppo, they hit the towns of Al-Bab and Deir Hafer, about 20 km east of a military airport currently held by IS. Russia has carried out dozens of air strikes in Syria since launching its bombing campaign last Wednesday.
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