World News: 13 October 2022

NATO countries to boost Ukraine's missile defence after massive Russian strikes
The gathering in Brussels is the first big NATO meeting since Russia annexed four occupied Ukrainian regions, began a partial mobilization and issued veiled nuclear threats — moves the Western alliance has classified as a clear escalation of the war that started with Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. Two days after Russian air missile strikes killed 19 people in Ukraine and knocked out power supplies across the country, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg urged allies to send more air defense systems to Ukraine. Stoltenberg said the “horrific, indiscriminate attacks” showed why this was so important.

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China detects 2 'more infectious' Omicron variants, imposes fresh lockdowns
This comes as the world's second-biggest economy detected two new Omicron sub-variants—BF.7 and BA.5.1.7—in several provinces which are said to be highly infectious with greater transmissibility. China’s national health commission on October 12 reported 1,760 new local infections for the previous day, including cases from cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Xian. BF.7 (also known as BA.2.75.2) is sub-lineage of Omicron variant BA.5.2.1. According to the reports, BF.7 has also been spreading in Belgium, Germany, France, Denmark and England.

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IMF praises India's direct cash transfer scheme, calls it 'Logistical Marvel'
Addressing a Fiscal Monitor press briefing, the IMF's Deputy Director of Fiscal Affairs Department Paolo Mauro said, "From India, there is a lot to learn. There is a lot to learn from some other examples around the world. We have examples from pretty much every continent and every level of income. If I look at the case of India, it is actually quite impressive."

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WHO prepares for ‘most dangerous’ phase as monkeypox cases top 70,000
As it emphasised that a worldwide decrease in new cases could be the "most dangerous" phase in the outbreak, the WHO reported that case numbers increased last week in some countries in the Americas. The WHO is concerned about reports of cases in Sudan, notably in refugee camps close to the Ethiopian border, the director said. Monkeypox continues to be a public health emergency of global significance, similar to COVID-19, and will continue to be handled as such by WHO, he added.

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US and Mexico make deal to ease Venezuela migration
Starting immediately, flights will be arranged for 24,000 migrants to arrive in the United States. More than six million people have left Venezuela in the past five years. The exodus is one of the largest migrations in the world, fuelled by violence, food, fuel and medicine shortages, and repression by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

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Alex Jones told to pay $965m damages to Sandy Hook victims' families
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has been ordered to pay $965m (£869m) in damages after falsely claiming the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting was a hoax. The families of eight victims, and an FBI agent who responded to the attack, had sought at least $550m in the defamation trial in Connecticut. They alleged the right-wing radio host's misinformation led to a decade of harassment and death threats. Twenty children and six adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

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