Author: News Desk

United States: Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and US President Mr. Joe Biden were questioned directly about the alleged human rights violations that occurred under Mr. Modi’s leadership. In a short press conference at the White House, the two leaders emphasised the importance of a long-lasting partnership between their countries in the future. “The prime minister and I had a good discussion about democratic values. And it’s a common Democratic character of both our countries and our people: our diversity, our culture, our open, tolerant, robust debate,” Mr. Biden commented when asked to respond to criticism that the Biden…

United States: During Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s state visit to the United States, a series of defense and technology collaborations between the two countries are expected to be announced, according to US officials. The collaborations will encompass various areas, including deepening defense and military ties, technology cooperation, and supply chain diversification. In a briefing with reporters, senior administration officials highlighted the significance and unprecedented nature of the deliverables. India, now the world’s most populous country and on track to become the third-largest economy, holds strategic importance for the United States in the coming decades. The bilateral partnership between…

Kosovo: The European Union (EU) has called for emergency talks between Serbia and Kosovo in an effort to quell escalating violence near their shared border. Concerned about the potential for renewed conflict, EU foreign policy chief Mr. Josep Borrell summoned Kosovo Prime Minister Mr. Albin Kurti and Serbian President Mr. Aleksandar Vucic to urgent meetings in Brussels. “We need immediate de-escalation and new elections in the north with the participation of Kosovo Serbs. This is paramount for the region and [the] EU,” Mr. Borrell posted on Twitter before the talks. Despite years of EU-led negotiations, Serbia and Kosovo have been…

Canada: A submersible measuring 22ft is believed to be trapped deep underwater with its exact location unknown, raising concerns for the five crew members on board. The vessel, referred to as the Titanic submersible, is facing a critical shortage of oxygen, leaving only a slim window of approximately 10 hours to locate and rescue the crew before it’s too late. A multinational search team has entered its fifth day of scouring the sea and skies above the century-old wreck of the Titanic in an effort to locate a tourist submersible that went missing with five people on board. The minivan-sized…

United States: The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against Amazon, accusing the e-commerce giant of engaging in a long-term scheme to enrol consumers into its paid subscription program, Amazon Prime, without their consent and creating obstacles for them to cancel their subscriptions. The FTC, responsible for safeguarding consumer interests, filed the federal lawsuit in Seattle, where Amazon is headquartered. The lawsuit alleges that Amazon knowingly deceived millions of consumers by secretly initiating their enrollment in Amazon Prime through an internal project called “Iliad.” This legal action marks the first time the FTC has taken Amazon to…

United States: The United Nations’ envoy to Afghanistan and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Ms. Roza Otunbayeva, stated on 21st June 2023 that international recognition of the Taliban government would be “nearly impossible” as long as restrictions on women and girls persist in the country. Speaking before the UN Security Council, Ms. Otunbayeva emphasized that the Taliban’s actions contradicted the values upheld by the United Nations Charter, despite their request for recognition. In her discussions with the de facto authorities, Ms. Otunbayeva did not shy away from addressing the hurdles they have created for themselves through…

Australia: Australia’s internet safety watchdog has issued a 28-day ultimatum to Twitter, urging the company to address the prevalent “toxicity and hate” on its platform. Failure to comply could result in financial penalties for the social media giant. Since Mr. Elon Musk, a prominent figure and self-proclaimed advocate of “free speech absolutism,” assumed control of Twitter last year, it has become the platform with the highest number of complaints in Australia. Twitter reportedly lifted bans on approximately 62,000 accounts, some of which were associated with individuals propagating Nazi rhetoric. The country’s eSafety Commissioner Ms. Julie Inman Grant stated that the…

Russia: The Russian State Duma, the lower house of parliament, has passed a bill granting pardons to criminal convicts who volunteer to join the Russian forces fighting in Ukraine. The move is aimed at bolstering troop numbers during Ukraine’s ongoing counteroffensive. The legislation formalizes the practice initially adopted by the Wagner mercenary force, which recruited prisoners last year before the Russian Ministry of Defense took over prison recruitment earlier this year. The State Duma clarified that the amnesty for frontline combat in Ukraine would not apply to individuals convicted of acts of terror, sex offences, espionage, treason, or other serious…

United States: Search and rescue operations are underway near the Titanic wreck site to locate a tourist submersible that went missing. Rescuers have reported hearing “noises” in the area where the vessel disappeared, prompting further investigation. The US Coast Guard has confirmed that a Canadian P-3 aircraft detected the sounds, which are now being analyzed by US navy experts. However, the underwater search using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) has not yielded any positive results so far. An internal US government memo revealed that “banging” noises were heard at 30-minute intervals on 20th June 2023. Additional sonar was deployed several hours…

Iceland: Iceland’s government has made a significant announcement regarding the country’s whale hunting practices. Due to concerns over animal welfare, the government has decided to suspend this year’s whale hunt until August 31st 2023, with the possibility of bringing an end to this controversial practice. The decision was prompted by a monitoring report from the Food and Veterinary Authority, which highlighted that the killing of fin whales was taking too long and causing unnecessary suffering. The veterinary authority further emphasized these concerns by sharing distressing video footage depicting a whale enduring a five-hour hunt. In response to these findings, Ms.…