Author: News Desk

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.…

United States: Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi is set to visit the United States for a meeting with President Mr. Joe Biden and an address to Congress, with a focus on enhancing military and technological cooperation. The trip aims to forge a regional alliance against China, as both countries seek to counterbalance its growing influence. Taking to Twitter before his departure, Mr. Modi expressed the desire to deepen India-USA ties in crucial sectors such as trade, commerce, innovation, and technology. This state visit, his first since assuming power in 2014, holds great significance as it includes a state dinner…

United Kingdom: A new study has suggested that taking short naps during the day may be beneficial for brain health, as it appears to be associated with larger brain volume. While previous studies have linked long naps to early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, recent research indicated that brief naps can enhance learning abilities. The new findings noted that napping may also help protect against brain shrinkage, which is accelerated in individuals with cognitive problems and neurodegenerative diseases. The study, conducted by researchers from University College London (UCL) and the University of the Republic in Uruguay, utilised data from the UK…

London, UK: A large-scale search and rescue operation is currently underway in the mid-Atlantic after a tourist submarine disappeared during a dive into the wreck of the Titanic on 19th June 2023. The US Coast Guard reported that contact with the small sub was lost approximately one hour and 45 minutes into the dive. OceanGate, the tour firm operating the submarine, stated that all possible options were being explored to rescue the five individuals on board. Tickets for the eight-day trip, which includes dives to the Titanic wreck at a depth of 3,800 meters (12,500 feet), cost $250,000 (£195,000). Government…

China: China and the United States have reached an agreement to work towards stabilising their relations and avoiding potential conflicts following US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s two-day visit to Beijing. A roughly 30-minute meeting with Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping was Mr. Blinken’s final engagement on the closely watched trip, which included talks with China’s top diplomat Mr. Wang Yi and Foreign Minister Mr. Qin Gang. There are hopes that the two days of discussions could pave the way for a meeting between US President Mr. Joe Biden and Chinese counterpart later this year. The two leaders last met…