Britain and France are organizing a meeting of defense ministers. The meeting aims to discuss deploying troops to Ukraine. The troops would monitor a future peace agreement with Russia. The United States will not participate in the meeting. The coalition's success depends on US military assistance. A fresh Russian offensive in Ukraine is expected soon. Representatives from 50 nations will gather to support Ukraine.
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The high court upheld the death penalty for 20 students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology for murdering Abrar Fahad in 2019. Fahad was beaten for six hours with a cricket bat over a Facebook post criticizing the government. A Dhaka court sentenced them to death in December 2021. The defense plans to appeal the verdict.
The 2024 election results have prompted a period of reckoning within the Democratic Party. Questions abound about the party’s messaging, leadership, and ability to connect with voters. Central to this discussion is Harris’s future role. Once seen as a rising star, Harris now faces critical decisions about how to rebuild her political career and contribute to the party’s recovery.
Social media users observed Joe Biden’s presidential tenure missing from Google’s search results, with only Donald Trump’s terms visible. Screenshots shared online spurred accusations of intentional erasure. Google later restored the Biden's name and attributed the omission to a brief data error in their knowledge graph and quickly corrected the issue.
Gayle King and Katy Perry joined an all-female crew on Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket, marking the first such flight since 1963. The 10-minute journey, watched by celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Kris Jenner, reached above the Karman line. While celebrated by some, the space tourism venture faced criticism for its exclusivity and perceived lack of meaningful purpose.
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya visits Beijing for talks amid acknowledged 'challenges and concerns' in bilateral ties, including disputed territories and military spending. Tensions have also arisen over Japan's decision to release Fukushima cooling water into the Pacific. Both countries emphasize the importance of maintaining a stable relationship for regional and international peace and stability.
US President Trump indicated that the high tariffs on Chinese imports, currently at 145%, will be reduced substantially, emphasising that the previous zero-tariff situation was detrimental to the US. Treasury Secretary Bessent acknowledged the unsustainability of the current trade standoff, while the White House claims many countries are interested in new trade arrangements.
President Trump has halted US aid to South Africa, citing concerns over the new Expropriation Act that allegedly discriminates against the white minority. The US criticizes the land reform law, while South Africa argues it seeks to rectify historical inequalities without arbitrary land seizures.
A Brazilian court ordered the removal of Adele's "Million Years Ago" from global platforms due to alleged plagiarism of Brazilian composer Toninho Geraes's song. Geraes claims the 2015 hit resembles his samba classic "Mulheres." Record labels Sony and Universal face fines for non-compliance. Geraes seeks royalties, damages, and songwriting credit.
Sage Regenerative Kitchen & Brewery in California, known for its vegan cuisine, announced its closure after 14 years due to financial issues exacerbated by backlash from loyal vegan customers. The controversy stemmed from adding meat and dairy to the menu, resulting in negative reviews and criticism.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) stated that Wikipedia's arbitration committee is set to ban several editors for spreading misinformation and hate in Israel-Palestine discussions. Two pro-Israel editors may also face topic bans. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt emphasized the need for Wikipedia to address this systemic issue.