News Headlines - 24 October 2020

▽Nagorno-Karabakh: Nearly 5,000 dead in conflict, Putin says - BBC News

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that almost 5,000 people have been killed in fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenian forces over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
This is far higher than the death toll given by the two sides.
Mr Putin said that he speaks to the two sides several times a day, and would not be taking sides in the conflict.

▽Switzerland: Referendum launched to give every citizen 7,500 francs - The Local

An initiative which would culminate in referendum to pay every Swiss citizen CHF7,500 has been launched in Switzerland.
Under the plan, Switzerland’s national bank would be required to pay out 7,500 francs to every Swiss citizen... Pursuant to Switzerland’s direct democracy rules, if the organisers receive 100,000 signatures, the matter will be put to a vote.
If successful, the scheme is estimated to cost CHF45 billion.

▽Poland rules abortion due to foetal defects unconstitutional | The Guardian

Poland’s constitutional tribunal has ruled that abortion due to foetal defects is unconstitutional, rejecting the most common of the few legal grounds for pregnancy termination in the predominantly Catholic country.
The chief justice, Julia Przyłębska, said in a ruling that existing legislation – one of Europe’s most restrictive – that allows for the abortion of malformed foetuses was “incompatible” with the constitution.
After the ruling goes into effect, abortion will only be permissible in Poland in the case of rape, incest or a threat to the mother’s health and life, which make up only about 2% of legal terminations conducted in recent years.

▽South Korea flu jab: Investigation into 13 deaths after vaccine - BBC News

South Korean authorities have sought to reassure people as the number who have died after being vaccinated against seasonal influenza rose to 13.
The doctor leading an inquiry into the deaths has said he does not believe the vaccine and fatalities are connected.
But trust in the vaccine programme has been dented, and the Korean Medical Association has called for it to be halted until its safety is assured.

▽Delay in plan to discharge water from nuclear plant into ocean : The Asahi Shimbun

The government decided to delay authorizing a controversial plan to release treated radioactive water into the ocean from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant in response to mounting outrage from fishermen and local leaders.
Officials said the government was expected to finalize a disposal method at a meeting of relevant ministries as early as on Oct. 27.
But industry minister Hiroshi Kajiyama told an Oct. 23 meeting of a government task force on the issue that the decision could be postponed beyond late this month.