Author: News Desk

Japan: Japan has raised the age of consent from 13 to 16 years old, joining the ranks of countries with higher minimum ages for sexual activity. Lawmakers passed key reforms to sex crime legislation, including provisions to clarify rape prosecution requirements and criminalise voyeurism. The unanimous vote in the parliament’s upper house led to the adoption of a new bill that marks a crucial update to Japan’s outdated laws on sexual offences. Prior to this reform, Japan had maintained an age of consent of 13 since 1907, considering children aged 13 and above capable of giving consent. However, regional ordinances…

London, UK: Spotify has decided to end its partnership with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, for the production of podcasts. The couple’s company, Archewell Audio, and the streaming giant issued a joint statement stating that they have “mutually agreed to part ways.” As a result, Spotify will not be renewing Meghan’s podcast, Archetypes, for a second season. The deal between Spotify and the Sussexes, which was estimated to be worth $25 million when it was signed in late 2020, was one of the significant commercial agreements the couple secured after stepping down from their…

Ukraine: A United Nations expert has stated that reports of the widespread use of torture by Russian forces in Ukraine could indicate that the severe abuse of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians is “state-endorsed” by Moscow. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Ms. Alice Jill Edwards noted that she was alarmed by “reports and testimonies” that appeared to indicate that Russian forces in Ukraine are “consistently and intentionally inflicting severe physical and psychological pain and suffering” on both civilian and military prisoners. “The alleged practises include electric shocks, beatings, hooding, mock executions, and other threats of death,” Ms. Edwards…

Australia: The prestigious Wimbledon tennis tournament is set to offer a staggering $56.6 million in prize money this year, marking an 11.2 percent increase from the previous year, according to an announcement made by the All England Club. The champions of the men’s and women’s singles events will each receive a substantial sum of close to $3 million, while the runners-up will be awarded nearly $1.5 million. Notably, the prize money for reaching the singles finals has been restored to pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019, after being reduced during the global health crisis. Significant increases in prize money have also…

United Kingdom: The immigration watchdog, Mr. David Neal, has raised concerns about the living conditions of asylum seekers at the Manston processing facility in Kent, stating that there is a “real danger” that the facility could once again become inhumane and dangerous. Mr. Neal, the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration, criticised the Home Office for failing to provide a plan for accommodating the expected 55,000 arrivals by small boats this year. He warned that the facility could become overwhelmed, similar to the overcrowding and disease-ridden situation experienced last year. The report examined the initial processing of individuals arriving in…

New Zealand: New Zealand’s economy has officially entered into a recession as the country’s central bank aggressively raised interest rates to a 14-year high, according to official figures. The gross domestic product (GDP) recorded a contraction of 0.1 percent in the first quarter of the year, following a 0.7 percent decline in the previous quarter, meeting the technical definition of a recession. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has been progressively increasing borrowing costs since October 2021, making it one of the first countries to raise rates in response to the pandemic. It has outpaced the US Federal Reserve…

Canada: Canada has announced that it will suspend its relations with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), led by China, while it conducts an investigation into allegations made by a former senior staff member that the institution is under the control of the Chinese Communist Party. Finance Minister Ms. Chrystia Freeland made the announcement following the resignation of Mr. Bob Pickard, the AIIB’s global communications director, who publicly criticised the bank for being “dominated by the Communist Party.” Ms. Freeland expressed that the investigation could lead to various outcomes, indicating the possibility of Canada withdrawing from the AIIB, which it…

Poland: Thousands of people took to the streets of Poland in a wave of protests against the country’s restrictive abortion law following the tragic death of a woman who was five months pregnant. The woman, named Ms. Dorota Lalik, died of sepsis, becoming the latest victim since the law was tightened. The protesters, chanting “Stop killing us,” marched through Warsaw towards the health ministry headquarters, displaying placards demanding “We want doctors, not missionaries” and expressing outrage with slogans like “Hell for women.” Poland’s abortion laws are already known to be among the strictest in Europe, and they have been a…

United States: The United States has confirmed that top diplomat Mr. Antony Blinken will visit China, a long-anticipated trip that had been postponed in February amid rising tension between the two superpowers. Mr. Blinken will become the highest-ranking Biden administration official to visit China on a trip that spans June 16 to 21 and will also include a visit to London, the Department of State remarked in a statement. In Beijing, the US Secretary of State will meet senior Chinese officials to discuss the “importance of maintaining open lines of communication” between the US and China. According to the statement,…

Taiwan: Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Mr. Joseph Wu has visited the Czech capital, Prague, calling for European support in securing peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait shared with China. “In order for Taiwan to stay strong and resilient and to have the courage to continue the policy of maintaining the status quo, we do need support from European friends,” Mr. Wu stated in a speech at a conference in Prague. The Foreign Minister was in the European Union nation for a meeting with Mr. Milos Vystrcil, the President of the Czech Senate, who has been trying to foster the republic’s…