Author: News Desk

China: A Chinese spacecraft that had been returning samples from the Moon’s far side to Earth concluded a 53-day mission that was hailed as the world’s first. The Chang’e-6 spacecraft’s landing module landed at a planned location in Inner Mongolia at 2:07 PM (0607 GMT), according to the China National Space Administration, which hailed the mission as a “complete success”. It is carrying soil and rocks from the Moon’s far side, which faces away from Earth. This is a little-studied area with a lot of research potential, according to experts, because the craggy features there haven’t been as smoothed down…

United States: Attorneys for Hunter Biden has requested a new trial in court papers filed on Monday, arguing that his “convictions should be vacated” because the trial began before a circuit court formally issued a mandate denying his appeal. This is a technical argument disputing not the merits of the case, but a procedural claim. President Joe Biden is waging a long-shot bid to fight that outcome. Attorneys for Biden wrote, “No mandate was issued here during the trial or even now. Consequently, the conviction must be vacated.” Earlier this month, the younger Biden was found guilty on two counts…

United Kingdom: The European Union (EU) has accused the tech giant Apple of breaking the historic Digital Markets Act (DMA). Apple is the first corporation to be sued under this legislation. If found guilty, Apple will face a hefty fine. The European Commission, the EU’s competition and technology watchdog, revealed the preliminary results of an investigation it opened against Apple in March. The investigation found that the company’s App Store violates the DMA because it denies app developers the ability to “freely steer” users to offerings outside the App Store. According to the commission, it has also started a second…

Australia: Australia is planning to levy significant fines on supermarket chains that misuse their bargaining power with suppliers. Supermarket chains with yearly sales of more than $5 billion Australian dollars ($3.3 billion) will have to abide by a voluntary industry code of conduct, per government regulations unveiled on Monday. The adjustments will affect Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, and Metcash, who collectively account for over 80 percent of the market. If their revenues increase, they may also affect stores like Costco. Retailers who violate the code may face fines of up to 10 percent of their yearly sales, potentially amounting to billions…

Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, has stated that he is amenable to a “partial” agreement that would enable the return of some, but not all, of the prisoners who are currently being held in Gaza. He did, however, restate his refusal to budge on any agreement that called for an end to Israel’s war on Gaza, despite earlier assertions by the US that an Israeli plan would pave the way for the offensive’s termination. “The goal is to return the kidnapped and uproot the Hamas regime in Gaza,” he said in an interview with Israeli media outlet…

Paris: Today, June 23rd, marks International Olympic Day, a global celebration of sport and physical activity. International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach emphasized the significance of this year’s celebration, falling just weeks before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Bach highlighted the Games’ potential to inspire global physical activity and encouraged everyone to join the IOC’s “Let’s Move” campaign, a partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) promoting daily movement. Unique Celebration Bach highlighted the unique nature of this year’s Olympic Day, taking place just weeks before the Paris Games. He emphasized the Games’ inclusivity, urban setting, and sustainability, marking…

China: China has launched an astronomical satellite, developed over nearly 20 years by Chinese and French scientists, to capture gamma-ray bursts from the farthest parts of the universe. According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), a Long March-2C rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan Province launched the satellite, the Space-based Multi-band Variable Object Monitor (SVOM), at 3:00 p.m. (Beijing Time). The satellite was launched into an orbit more than 600 kilometres above Earth with a five-year design life, but experts anticipate that it may remain in use for up to 20 years. The SVOM,…

Spain: Barcelona, a popular vacation spot in Spain, has declared that it will prohibit tourists from renting apartments starting in 2028. This is a somewhat bold step meant to control skyrocketing housing costs and improve living conditions for locals. The left-leaning mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, declared on Friday that the 10,101 units that are currently permitted for short-term rentals would no longer have their licenses valid by November 2028. Some locals were unable to purchase an apartment due to the surge in short-term rentals in Barcelona, Spain’s most popular tourist destination, as prices for apartments increased by 68 percent…

South Korea: South Korea’s military fired warning shots after several North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the border, marking the third such incident this month. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the incident happened on Thursday at approximately 11:00 a.m. (02:00 GMT), when North Korean soldiers breached the Military Demarcation Line that passes through the center of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The JCS stated on Friday that “the North Korean soldiers retreated back northwards after our military’s warning broadcasts and warning shots.” There were similar instances on June 9 and Tuesday. Seoul claimed that on both instances, the North…

Canada: Donald Sutherland, the well-known Canadian actor who captivated and mesmerized audiences in movies like MASH, Klute, and The Hunger Games, passed away at the age of 88. According to his son, actor Kiefer Sutherland, the actor passed away on Thursday. The actor’s long career spanned the 1960s and the 2020s. Among his most well-known performances were those of Hawkeye Pierce in Robert Altman’s MASH, which takes place in a Korean War-era military field hospital, and of a hopeless father in Robert Redford’s Oscar-winning feature debut, Ordinary People. His portrayal as President Coriolanus Snow, the dictatorial ruler in The Hunger…