Author: News Desk

United States: China’s Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, has called on the United States to cease meddling in its internal affairs and refrain from harming its security. The phone call with US Secretary of State Mr. Antony Blinken took place just days before Blinken’s anticipated visit to Beijing. In the call, Mr. Qin emphasized the importance of respecting China’s “core concerns,” such as the Taiwan issue, and urged the US to refrain from interfering in China’s internal matters or compromising its sovereignty, security, and development interests. The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement outlining Mr. Qin’s message on 14th June 2023.…

Ukraine: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has revealed that the global number of displaced individuals has reached a staggering record of 110 million. The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan have particularly contributed to this dire situation, forcing millions to flee their homes. According to the UNHCR’s annual Forced Displacement report, approximately 19 million people were displaced in the past year alone, marking the largest annual increase ever recorded and bringing the total number to 108.4 million by the end of last year. Since the report’s release, the figures have continued to rise, with Sudan’s eight-week-old conflict…

Fiji: New Zealand and Fiji have signed a defence agreement to strengthen military training and maritime security, which comes amid rising tensions over security in the region. The agreement, signed by New Zealand’s Defence Minister Mr. Andrew Little and Fiji’s Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Mr. Pio Tikoduadua in Suva, sets a legal framework for military cooperation between the two countries in each other’s territories. The agreement will also address disaster and humanitarian response coordination and the challenges of climate change. Mr. Little stated that the deal “reflects the value New Zealand places on our relationship with Fiji,” adding that…

United States: Entertainment giant Walt Disney Co. recently announced the release dates for the highly anticipated film series, Avatar. The release of Avatar 3 has been delayed by a year, extending its arrival from December 2024 to December 2025. Avatar 4 is now scheduled for December 2029, while Avatar 5 is slated for its cinematic debut in December 2031. The updates in release dates have sparked curiosity and anticipation among movie enthusiasts, who eagerly await the next captivating chapters of the Avatar saga. Director James Cameron, who initiated the Avatar series in 2009, has hinted that he may not direct…

China: A new report has stated that the number of marriages in China last year dropped to 6.83 million, the lowest since records began in 1986. Data released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs showed the number of couples tying the knot in 2022 fell by about 800,000 compared with 2021, beating that year’s record low. China’s marriage rate has declined rapidly over the past 10 years, since peaking in 2013 when nearly 13.5 million couples wed, nearly double 2022’s count. Policymakers in China are increasingly worried about the stubborn downward trend in marriage and birth rates. In 2022, China’s…

Germany: NATO has started the largest-ever air force deployment exercise in the Western military alliance’s history, a drill being presented as a display of unity among members and partners of the bloc as tensions with Russia have escalated following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. According to the German Air Force, the “Air Defender 23” exercises, led by the German Air Force, involve approximately 250 military aircraft from 25 NATO and partner countries, including Japan and NATO applicant Sweden. Up to 10,000 service members are participating in the drills, which run until June 23 and are designed to…

United Kingdom: A new study has stated that most women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer can expect to become long-term survivors, with some having a risk of death within five years as low as 0.2 percent. The research, funded by Cancer Research UK, brings reassuring news to women battling breast cancer. Led by academics at the University of Oxford, the study tracked survival rates among half a million women diagnosed with breast cancer in England from 1993 to 2015, focusing on cases where cancer had not spread beyond the breast. The researchers assessed the risk of death five years after…

London, UK: United Nations Secretary-General Mr. Antonio Guterres has expressed his concerns regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to propagate disinformation and hate speech. Mr. Guterres, while unveiling a new policy on disinformation, emphasized that although technological advancements have brought about positive changes, the potential risks associated with AI pose significant threats to democracy and human rights. In support of this sentiment, Mr. Guterres endorsed a proposal put forth by certain AI executives, suggesting the establishment of an international watchdog organization akin to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The rise of generative AI technology, demonstrated by the public…

United States: Regulators in the US have sought a court injunction to halt Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the publisher of popular video game franchise Call of Duty. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) expressed concerns that the deal, which would be the largest in the history of the gaming industry, could significantly reduce competition in the sector. While the European Commission approved the acquisition, the UK blocked it earlier due to competition concerns. A trial in the US is scheduled to begin in August, during which the FTC will evaluate whether the proposed acquisition violates antitrust laws.…

Thailand: Mr. Pita Limjaroenrat, Thailand’s leading prime ministerial candidate, is facing an investigation into his eligibility to run in the recent election, according to a senior official. Mr. Pita, the 42-year-old leader of the progressive Move Forward Party, surprised Thailand’s military-backed establishment with his election victory. Several complaints have been filed against him by rivals, but the election body dismissed three of them for being submitted late, while four others against the party were rejected. However, the Election Commission is now examining whether Pita was aware that he was ineligible to register as a parliamentary candidate due to his ownership…