Author: News Desk

According to recent studies, by the middle of the century, climate change may be the primary cause of the reduction in biodiversity. An international team of experts examined how changes in land-use patterns affected biodiversity and discovered that there may have been a 2–11 percent global reduction in biodiversity. “By including all world regions in our model, we were able to fill many blind spots and address criticism of other approaches working with fragmented and potentially biased data,” said Henrique Pereira, research group head at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), and the first author of the study…

United States: The US prosecutors have given back 30 stolen antiquities to Cambodia and Indonesia. These artefacts were illegally obtained and sold by American antiquities dealers and traffickers. Alvin Bragg, the district attorney for Manhattan, stated in a statement that the artifacts were worth $3 million in all. Bragg said he had returned 27 pieces to Phnom Penh and three to Jakarta in two recent repatriation ceremonies, including a bronze statue of the Hindu deity Shiva, which was looted from Cambodia, and a stone bas-relief sculpture of two royal figures from the Majapahit empire, which reigned between the 13th and…

There are serious worries about how microplastics may affect both human and animal health because it is common in our surroundings. According to a recent study eating these microscopic plastic particles is causing them to enter human bodies and accumulate in the brains of people. The study’s authors claim that swallowed microplastics travel to the brain, liver, and kidneys from the gut. Skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion (by trophic transfer or contaminated food) could be the entry point. “Our findings recommend that microplastic exposure can lead to metabolic changes in these tissues, indicating potential systemic effects. The implications of our…

North Korea: North Korea has tested a “super-large warhead” intended for a strategic cruise missile and launched a novel kind of anti-aircraft missile according to official media. “The DPRK Missile Administration has conducted a power test of a super-large warhead designed for ‘Hwasal-1 Ra-3’ strategic cruise missile”, KCNA news agency reported on Saturday, referring to North Korea by an abbreviation for its official name – Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. North Korea also conducted a test launch of a “Pyoljji-1-2,” a “new-type anti-aircraft missile,” according to official media. Without going into further information, KCNA continued, saying that “a certain goal…

United States: A recent United Nations report has revealed that cocaine seizures in the West African Sahel region have skyrocketed, suggesting that the region plagued by conflict is increasingly being used as a major gateway for drug trafficking. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released a study stating that in 2022, 1,466kg (3,232 pounds) of cocaine were intercepted in Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso, and Niger, as opposed to an average of 13kg (28.7 pounds) between 2013 and 2020. As per the data, cocaine is the most confiscated substance in the Sahel region, following cannabis resin. The Sahel is…

Dubai: The inaugural Global AI Show and Global Blockchain Show wrapped up on April 16 and 17, 2024, at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai, having persevered despite the heavy rainfall that led to the cancellation of other events in the city. Organized by VAP Group, the events attracted thousands of attendees and featured the launch of two digital media subsidiaries, Times of AI and Times of Blockchain, to foster advancements in their respective fields. The Global AI Show highlighted transformative AI technologies with sessions from experts like Jamie Metzl on AI, genetics, and biotechnology, and Dr. Divya Chander on brain-machine…

Haiti: Haiti has legally instituted a transitional council to fill a leadership void left by the departure of the current prime minister and to bring peace to the Caribbean nation beset by gang violence. Ariel Henry, the prime minister, tendered his resignation last month amid a spate of armed gang attacks in Port-au-Prince. The Presidential Transitional Council was established, as per a proclamation published in the official gazette. Henry did not respond to the decree’s release right away, and there are still concerns about the nine-member council’s sustainability in the absence of information regarding when it will be seated and…

Ecuador: The defense team of ex-Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas celebrates a ruling that deems his arrest within Mexico’s embassy in Quito unlawful. Nevertheless, attorney Sonia Vera Garcia promised on Friday to file an appeal against the decision, which maintained her client’s incarceration. The decision was made in response to a writ of habeas corpus filed earlier this week on behalf of the former vice president by Francisco Hidalgo, a member of Glas’s left-wing political party, Citizen Revolution, who claimed he had been wrongfully jailed. There have been continuous international tensions surrounding Glas’s arrest. On April 5, a top diplomat…

United Kingdom: Several nations, including France, India, Russia, Poland, and the United Kingdom, have advised their citizens not to travel to Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories, and, in certain cases, the wider region amid fears of an Iranian attack following a strike on its consulate in Damascus this month. Fearing an uptick in bloodshed in the Middle East, Iran has promised retaliation against Israel for the April 1 bombing in the Syrian capital that claimed the lives of seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including two generals. Travellers visiting Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and the Palestinian territories are warned…

Dubai: The VAP Group is gearing up to present the Global AI Show, an event anticipated to be the largest artificial intelligence exhibition to date, on April 16-17, 2024, at the Grand Hyatt, Dubai. This event promises to stretch across 12,000 sqm of exhibition space and will feature over 300 speakers, including the renowned humanoid robot, Sophia, developed by Hanson Robotics, serving as the official AI brand ambassador. The show aims to be a hub for knowledge exchange, showcasing the latest AI advancements through discussions, project exhibitions, and interactive sessions. It offers a unique platform for attendees to engage with…