Author: News Desk

Australia: The recently published 2023 Global Slavery Index has stated that North Korea, Eritrea, and Mauritania rank as the countries with the highest prevalence of modern slavery in the world. The report indicated that an estimated 50 million individuals were living in situations of modern slavery in 2021, marking an alarming increase of 10 million since the last measurement in 2016. Of this figure, approximately 28 million people were subjected to forced labor, while 22 million individuals lived in forced marriages. The report attributes the deteriorating situation to a range of factors, including escalating armed conflicts, widespread environmental degradation, and…

United States: Industry leader Adobe has unveiled its plan to incorporate generative AI technology into its renowned Photoshop software. While addressing concerns about potential job displacement and the proliferation of manipulated content, Adobe aims to harness the power of AI to enhance and augment the capabilities of its popular program. Adobe is set to integrate the cutting-edge generative AI product, Adobe Firefly, into its suite of tools. The recently launched beta version of Firefly will serve as a collaborative tool, working in tandem with graphic designers as a valuable “co-pilot” rather than a complete replacement for human creativity. Introducing an…

Hungary: Hungary’s Prime Minister Mr. Viktor Orban, known for his differing views from Western allies on Ukraine, has stated that Kyiv’s troops are unlikely to win the war against Russia. Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, the Prime Minister noted that the conflict, which started 15 months ago, can only be resolved by diplomacy. “Looking at the reality, the figures, the surroundings, and the fact that NATO is not ready to send troops, it is obvious that there is no victory for the poor Ukrainians on the battlefield. That’s my position. The war can be stopped only if…

New Delhi, India: India has announced a crucial measure to ensure the safety of its exported products in response to the alarming incidents of child fatalities in The Gambia and Uzbekistan linked to Indian-made cough syrups According to a recent government notice, mandatory testing will be implemented for cough syrups before they are exported. Starting from 1st June 2023, the Indian government has mandated that all exported cough syrups must possess a government laboratory-issued certificate of analysis, as per a notice shared by the health ministry. The reputation of India’s colossal $41 billion pharmaceutical industry faced a significant setback when…

United States: Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, have made a groundbreaking discovery by decoding brain signals that indicate the level of pain experienced by individuals living with chronic pain. This breakthrough offers hope for the development of innovative treatments for those who have exhausted other options. The researchers’ findings suggest that brain stimulation therapies, currently used for conditions like Parkinson’s disease and major depression, may also be effective in alleviating chronic pain. Led by neurologist Mr. Prasad Shirvalkar, the study marks the first time that the brain activity underlying chronic pain has been deciphered in patients. According to…

London, UK: The government has unveiled plans to prohibit the sale of ivory derived from the tusks and teeth of five additional species. This new measure aims to further combat the illegal ivory trade, protecting vulnerable species and preserving their populations. Following the UK’s ban on the import, export, and trade of elephant ivory last year, the government is now considering extending the list of protected species. Killer whales, hippos, walruses, narwhals, and sperm whales are among the animals under scrutiny to potentially join this list. The proposed move reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to combatting the illegal wildlife trade…

Thailand: Thailand’s progressive Move Forward Party has signed an agreement with seven other parties to draft a new constitution, end monopolies, and allow same-sex marriage if they are allowed to form a government, but made no mention of a controversial proposal to revise royal insult laws. The 23-point agreement states the coalition’s policy plans and priorities as it seeks support among legislators to form a government after nine years of conservative, military-backed rule. Move Forward, along with Pheu Thai, a populist party linked to former Prime Minister Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, dominated the recent election. “This is another historic moment that…

United States: WhatsApp has introduced a remarkable editing feature that grants its users the ability to modify sent messages within a generous 15-minute timeframe. According to a recent blogpost by Meta-owned messaging service, WhatsApp, the highly anticipated editing function has commenced its global rollout and is expected to reach all users in the upcoming weeks. This much-awaited feature will empower WhatsApp’s user base with the ability to revise their messages post-delivery, offering a greater degree of control over their conversations. As part of WhatsApp’s new editing feature, users will now notice an “edited” notification accompanying messages that have been modified.…

United States: Seven states have reached a “historic consensus” on conserving water from the Colorado River in the western United States, a breakthrough in a region where persistent drought has made water allocation a point of debate. As per a statement from the US Department of the Interior (DOI), the three states comprising the Colorado River Basin, including Arizona, California, and Nevada, have voluntarily committed to implementing measures aimed at conserving 3 million acre-feet of water, equivalent to 3.7 billion cubic metres, until 2026. This entails a reduction in water usage of approximately 13 percent over a span of three…

London, UK: Meta, the parent company of Facebook, faces a hefty fine of $1.3 billion for its mishandling of user data during transfers between Europe and the United States. The substantial penalty highlights the consequences of privacy breaches and underscores the ongoing scrutiny faced by tech giants regarding data protection and international data transfers. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission imposes record-breaking fine on Meta for data mishandling, marking the largest penalty under EU’s privacy law. GDPR mandates companies to obtain individuals’ consent prior to utilizing their personal data. Meta vows to challenge the unjustified and unnecessary ruling, announcing its intention to…