Author: News Desk

United States: The United States has arrested two navy members for allegedly sharing military secrets with China, claiming a threat to national security. During a press conference, Assistant Attorney General for National Security Mr. Matt Olsen noted that his division would be “relentless” in pursuing accountability. “Through the alleged crimes committed by these defendants, sensitive military information ended up in the hands of the People’s Republic of China,” Mr. Olsen added. According to Mr. Olsen, China “stands apart” in the threat it poses to US security, and the country is “unrivalled in the audacity and range of its malign efforts…

United States: Google will launch new privacy tools to provide users with more control over unwanted personal images online as well as ensure explicit or graphic photos do not appear easily in search results. The new update to Google’s policies will help users remove non-consensual and explicit imagery of themselves that they no longer wish to be visible in searches. The policy applies to websites containing personal information. According to the update, if a person uploads explicit content to a website and no longer wishes for it to be available on search, they will be able to request the removal…

Sudan: A new report by Amnesty International has stated that Sudan has witnessed extensive war crimes during the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The report documented attacks by both the General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan-led Sudanese army and Mr. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo’s RSF. The conflict has resulted in the killing of thousands of people since the civil war broke out in April. The four-month conflict has also displaced at least 3.3 million others from their homes. “Civilians throughout Sudan are suffering unimaginable horror every single day as the RSF and Sudanese Army recklessly…

Peru: Researchers in Peru have discovered the heaviest animal in Earth’s history. The blue whale was said to be the largest, but on 3rd August 2023, scientists announced that they had identified a fossil of a creature that may weigh up to 200 tonnes. The research was published in Nature. The study took place in Lima (the capital of Peru). The fossils were discovered 13 years ago in southern Peru. But it took three years to get it there in the Capital. The creature’s fossilised bones were dug up in the desert, so it’s been called Perucetus colossus, meaning colossal…

Australia: The National Gallery of Australia (NGA) will return three 9th and 10th Century bronze sculptures to Cambodia after a decade-long investigation conducted by both countries to determine the origin of the works. Cambodia’s government called the landmark move “an important step towards rectifying past injustices.” The NGA’s return of the artefacts comes amid a global push to return looted cultural goods. The three artworks originally came from the Champa Kingdom, which once inhabited Vietnam and parts of Cambodia. The NGA stated that it purchased the sculptures in 2011 for $1.5 million from British artefact smuggler Mr. Douglas Latchford, who…

Brazil: Brazil’s President, Mr. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, will attend the ‘Amazon Summit’ next week in the world’s biggest rainforest, which is a key protector against climate change. Mr. Lula stated ahead of the Summit that private businesses will be asked to help with the reforestation of 30 million hectares of degraded land. The Summit is organised by the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO). The eight countries, including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela, of the ACTO will be in Belem, at the mouth of the Amazon River, from 7th to 8th August 2023. ACTO was…

United States: Former US President Mr. Donald Trump is expected to face court charges on 3rd August 2023 at 4 PM (US standard time) for conspiring to overturn the 2020 election. Mr. Trump and six individuals, who have not been identified, are facing accusations of plotting to disrupt the 2020 election. This marks the third criminal indictment against the former president since March 2023, and it is considered the most severe among the cases that could potentially impact his 2024 White House election. The arrest and arraignment will occur at a federal courthouse situated near the US Capitol. The former…

United States: The United States has ordered the evacuation of some staff and families from its embassy in Niger amid the repercussions of the July coup. The US State Department spokesperson Mr. Matthew Miller explained in a statement that the measure was taken “out of an abundance of caution” and that the embassy itself would remain open, though only for “limited emergency services.” “The United States remains committed to our relationship with the people of Niger and to Nigerien democracy. We remain diplomatically engaged at the highest levels,” Mr. Miller noted. The announcement follows similar moves by European countries to…

Tunisia: The Tunisian President Mr. Kais Saied has dismissed the Prime Minister Ms. Najla Bouden from the position, according to the Tunisian Presidency. The President appointed former central bank executive Mr. Ahmed al-Hachani as the new Prime Minister of the country. Ms. Bouden was the first woman to head a government in Tunisia. No official explanation was given for Ms. Bouden’s dismissal, but several Tunisian media outlets highlighted Mr. Saied’s displeasure over shortages, particularly of bread in state-subsidised bakeries. According to reports, Ms. Bouden’s government is seen as having been unable to fix the economic and social crisis that Tunisia…

France: The first trip of military planes carrying mostly European nationals evacuated from Niger safely arrived at Paris and Rome airports. Following last week’s coup, France and other countries are preparing to conduct further evacuation operations to bring their citizens out of the West African country. Niger’s President, Mr. Mohamed Bazoum, and his government were removed by members of his presidential guard on 26th July 2023. This was the seventh military takeover in less than three years in West and Central Africa. The countries, including France, Italy, and Spain, said they would evacuate citizens by air amid the escalating conflict.…