Congo to reassess withdrawal plan after protests

Kinshasa: Democratic Republic of Congo’s government will re-evaluate the withdrawal plan of the United Nations peacekeeping mission after deadly anti-UN protests last week, it said late, suggesting it may ask the force to leave quicker than expected. The government said 29 civilians and four MONUSCO peacekeepers were killed during demonstrations across east Congo. Protesters were demanding that peacekeepers leave the country for failing to protect civilians against militia groups that have wreaked havoc in the region for decades. Reuters

Japan bakes under scorching heat

Tokyo: The mercury across Japan skyrocketed on Tuesday with sweltering heat baking wide swathes of regions from the east to west, with temperatures hitting near-record highs of around 40 degrees Celsius. Due to the sudden rise in temperature, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a warning that people take preventative measures to avoid succumbing to heat-related illnesses. People were also urged to stay hydrated, refrain from making unnecessary trips or exercising outdoors and to use air conditioners to avoid heatstroke and heat exhaustion. IANS

Covid may accelerate brain ageing: Study

Houston: Covid-19 infections may predispose individuals to developing irreversible neurological conditions, according to a study. The finding, published in the journal Ageing Research Reviews, also shows that Covid-19 may increase the likelihood of strokes and the chance of developing persistent lesions that can lead to brain bleeding. The team, led by Joy Mitra and Muralidhar L Hegde, from the Houston Methodist Research Institute, US, noted that a great deal of research has shown that the impacts of Covid go far beyond the actual time of infection. Covid is known to invade and infect the brain, among other major organs, the researchers said. The coronavirus infection can cause long-term and irreversible neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in the elderly and other vulnerable populations, they said.