Author: News Desk

Ukraine: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, has urged increased access to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine. This request comes amidst allegations between Moscow and Kyiv, each accusing the other of plotting acts of sabotage at Europe’s largest nuclear power facility. The IAEA has expressed the need for increased access to the Zaporizhzhia plant in order to “confirm the absence of mines or explosives at the site.” “With military tension and activities increasing in the region where this major nuclear power plant is located, our experts must be able to verify the facts…

France: French President Mr. Emmanuel Macron has suggested that the government should consider regulating and potentially cutting off social media networks in the country when situations escalate out of control. The comments were made in response to the recent riots and violence following the shooting of a teenager during a police traffic stop in a Paris suburb, with ministers blaming young people who organised and encouraged the unrest through platforms like Snapchat and TikTok. Speaking at a meeting attended by over 200 mayors whose municipalities were affected by the violence, Mr. Macron stressed the need to reflect on how young…

United States: British singer Adele has joined a growing number of musicians speaking out against the disturbing trend of audience members throwing objects during live performances. During her Las Vegas residency, Weekends With Adele, at Caesars Palace, she addressed her audience, expressing her strong disapproval of such behaviour. Filmed holding a T-shirt gun, Adele made it clear that she would not tolerate objects being thrown at her and warned the audience, saying, “I would ‘kill you’ if you tried.” This comes in the wake of several recent incidents involving other artists. Pink, during a London performance, had to pause when…

United Kingdom: A recent study has shed light on the potential impact of climate change on divorce rates among migratory species. The study, conducted by a team of scientists at an undisclosed research institution, has caught the attention of experts worldwide, including Dr. Samantha Patrick, an esteemed marine biology expert from the University of Liverpool. Dr. Patrick, who was not directly involved in the research, expressed her enthusiasm for the study’s findings. She found the results regarding the connection between migration asynchrony and divorce rates particularly intriguing, given her current research focus. The study suggests that as the climate becomes…

United States: A US federal judge, Mr. Terry Doughty, has issued a ruling that restricts the Biden administration’s ability to communicate with social media companies regarding their content moderation practices. The judge’s 155-page ruling, announced on 4th July 2023, prohibits White House officials and certain government agencies from contacting firms about “content containing protected free speech.” This decision is seen as a victory for Republicans who have accused officials of engaging in censorship. The case has sparked a heated debate over the government’s role in moderating content that it deems false or harmful. Democrats argue that social media platforms have…

Sweden: Researchers at Sweden’s Chalmers University of Technology have developed a method capable of reducing mercury levels in sulphuric acid by more than 90 percent, even at low concentrations. Sulphuric acid is a vital chemical compound widely used across various industries, including paper manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, batteries, detergents, and fertilizers. Unfortunately, one of the most hazardous substances on Earth, mercury, often contaminates sulphuric acid. The new study gives hope to the global challenge. “Until now, there has been no viable method for purifying finished sulphuric acid at all. With such a radical reduction in the mercury content, we come well…

Guatemala: Guatemala’s Constitutional Court has temporarily suspended the certification of the results for the first round of the presidential election due to complaints from rival political parties. This unexpected move has sparked concerns about the potential overturning of the election outcome, which could pose a threat to the country’s already fragile democracy. The court’s decision was announced late on July 1, following a surprising victory by the progressive Seed Movement. Mr. Bernardo Arevalo, the underdog candidate, emerged as the winner in the crowded field, securing one of the two seats in the final round with 11.8 percent of the vote.…

Turkey: Turkey and Egypt have appointed ambassadors to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries at the highest diplomatic level. In a joint statement released by the Turkish foreign ministry on Tuesday, Cairo and Ankara declared that Turkey nominated Mr. Salih Mutlu Sen as its ambassador to Cairo, and Egypt in turn nominated Amr Elhamamy as its ambassador to Ankara. “The elevation of the level of diplomatic relations between the two countries was implemented in accordance with the decision taken by the presidents of the two countries,” the statement said. “This step aims at the renormalization of relations between the…

France: NATO members have decided to extend the term of Secretary General Mr. Jens Stoltenberg for an additional year, as they struggled to find a suitable replacement amidst the backdrop of Russia’s conflict in Ukraine. The announcement comes just one week before a NATO summit in Lithuania, where discussions will primarily revolve around the alliance’s response to the ongoing conflict and Ukraine’s aspirations for membership. The decision to extend Mr. Stoltenberg’s tenure was made by the 31 member countries of NATO after failing to reach a consensus on an alternative candidate. Several potential contenders, including Danish Prime Minister Mr. Mette…

Thailand: Thailand’s parliament has officially appointed Mr. Wan Muhamad Noor Matha from the Prachachart Party as the speaker of the newly elected House of Representatives. Mr. Wan Noor’s appointment is viewed as a compromise between the two major parties, Move Forward and Pheu Thai, who are coalition partners but had conflicting interests regarding the speaker position. Wan Noor was the sole candidate proposed for the role, eliminating the need for a voting process to endorse the 79-year-old politician. This compromise on the house speaker role aims to ease tensions between the progressive Move Forward and the populist Pheu Thai parties,…