UNITED NATIONS (Xinhua), December 28 ------ The UN General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, a landmark global treaty in bolstering international cooperation in the fight against such crimes. It has been the first international criminal justice treaty negotiated among UN member states in over 20 years. The legally binding convention acknowledges the significant risks posed by the misuse of information and communications technologies, which enable criminal activities on an unprecedented scale, speed, and scope.
It highlights the adverse impacts such crimes can have on states, enterprises, and the well-being of individuals and society, and focuses on protecting them from offenses such as terrorism, human trafficking, drug smuggling and online financial crimes. The document also recognizes the growing impact of cybercrime on victims and prioritizes justice, especially for vulnerable groups. It underscores the need for technical assistance, capacity-building and collaboration among states and other stakeholders. According to a UN press release, the convention will open for signature at a formal ceremony to be hosted in Hanoi, Vietnam, next year, and enter into force 90 days after being ratified by the 40th signatory.
S. Korea's impeached president defies 2nd summons
SEOUL (Xinhua) -- South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol on Wednesday defied the second summons by a joint investigation unit for questioning over the imposition of an emergency martial law, Yonhap news agency reported. The unit, composed of the police, the defense ministry's investigation headquarters and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), sent its second summons to Yoon last Friday, requesting him to appear for questioning by 10:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday as part of its investigation into his short-lived imposition of the martial law on Dec. 3. The embattled president did not comply with the CIO's first summons last week. The CIO was currently planning to wait for Yoon's possible appearance later in the day, Yonhap said. The corruption investigative body said it will make a decision as early as Thursday on whether to send summons for the third time if Yoon refuses to show up for questioning on Wednesday, Yonhap added. Yoon was named by investigative agencies as a suspect on a rebellion charge following the martial law imposition that was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.
Mongolia confirms outbreak of meningococcal disease
ULAN BATOR (Xinhua). Mongolia's National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) confirmed on Wednesday an outbreak of meningococcal disease, a potentially life-threatening infection. Meningococcal infections have been reported among young children in the country recently, the NCCD said, urging parents and guardians to take precautions to protect their children from the disease. Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis and can lead to severe infections in the brain's protective linings, the blood, or both. If untreated, the infection can have a high mortality rate, but it is vaccine-preventable. Common symptoms include sudden fever, vomiting, nausea, headache, stiff neck, backache, and increased sensitivity to light. In 2023, Mongolia reported six cases of meningococcal infection, one of which resulted in death, according to the NCCD.
Source: mb.com.ph
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