China’s State Administration for Market Regulation summoned five major e-commerce platforms including Alibaba and JD. com. The regulator cited deceptive promotional practices and destructive price cuts ahead of the 618 shopping festival. Alibaba’s Hong Kong shares fell 5.4% to HK$107.40. JD. com shares dropped 2.9% to HK$108.9. The summons signals Beijing’s continued oversight of the country’s digital economy. Shares in China’s biggest e-commerce companies fell on Thursday after Beijing’s market regulator summoned five of the country’s largest online shopping platforms over deceptive promotional practices ahead of the annual “618” (June 18) shopping festival.
India placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance last year. This decision shifts focus from diplomatic and legal consequences to the potential disappearance of transparency. The concern now centers on data sharing within one of the world’s major transboundary water agreements. When India placed the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance last year, attention naturally focused on the diplomatic and legal consequences of the decision.
A magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck the southern Philippines early Monday. At least 19 people died. Buildings collapsed. Residents are warned about aftershocks and advised not to enter damaged structures. Residents warned not to enter damaged homes or other buildings owing to threat of aftershocks after magnitude-7.8 quakeA magnitude-7.8 earthquake shook part of the southern Philippines early on Monday, collapsing buildings and killing at least 19 people.“Many buildings were affected, but I cannot enumerate them now because we are busy with ongoing rescues,” Robert Dagon, of the General Santos City.
President Trump stated he would not order further strikes on Iran following a two-night exchange of fire. Iran announced it closed the Strait of Hormuz to all traffic after Thursday's attack. Earlier in the day, Mr. Trump had written in another post that he would continue striking Iran after both sides exchanged fire for two consecutive nights. After Thursday’s attack, Iran also announced that it closed the Strait of Hormuz to all traffc.
Iran and Albania are in conflict over a planned billion-dollar resort. Albanian citizens protested the development in a protected wetlands area. Iran viewed the situation as an opportunity to confront the Albanian government. When thousands of Albanians began protesting plans for a billion-dollar resort in a once-protected wetlands area for pink flamingoes, few could have expected that Iran would see it as an opportunity for a brawl with the Albanian government.
A Russian woman faced sentencing in a Manhattan federal court. A Russian woman who pleaded guilty to lying about her contacts with Russia’s main intelligence agency -- and was later accused of sending drunken harassing messages to the FBI -- was set to be sentenced in a Manhattan federal court.
Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira, 38, was arrested in Santa Catarina Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira faces fraud charges after allegedly persuading family to take her into their homeA 38-year-old woman has been arrested in Brazil accused of pretending to be a 12-year-old girl to deceive a couple who took her into their home for more than a year. Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira was charged in the southern state of Santa Catarina with fraud and false identity offences.
Extreme rain and landslides in North Sumatra killed 58 of the 800 remaining Tapanuli orangutans. This represents 7% of the critically endangered species. The study links the event to the climate crisis. Critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan population falls after heavy rain and landslides, fuelled by climate crisis, in North SumatraExtreme rainfall and landslides fuelled by the climate crisis killed 7% of the remaining population of the world’s rarest great ape, a study has found, prompting fears for the species’ survival. The research suggests 58 out of the remaining 800 critically endangered.
The UN Security Council convened a high-level debate on political solutions in the Middle East Nearly four months after the latest Middle East crisis erupted and despite a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, tensions continue to reverberate across the region and beyond. The UN Security Council is holding a high-level debate on advancing political solutions in the Middle East, amid continuing conflicts, humanitarian emergencies and concerns over regional stability.
Global brands including Amazon, Ericsson, and Sony may have sourced coltan from the Democratic Republic of Congo. This mineral is allegedly controlled by M23 rebels. The rebels are accused of sexual violence, summary executions, and torture. Amazon and Sony among firms that may have sourced coltan, used in phones, from supply chains controlled by the M23 rebels, says Global WitnessLeading global brands including Amazon, Ericsson and Sony are “likely” to have sourced minerals linked to a militia accused of widespread sexual violence, summary executions and torture, a new investigation claims. The companies allegedlybut unknowingly, acqu.
The United Nations reported that Lebanon has sustained over $365 million in building damage in Beirut and Mount Lebanon since the recent escalation. Fresh strikes in Tyre killed eight people. This assessment highlights the ongoing destruction despite a ceasefire. The fighting continues to impact civilian areas. Lebanon has suffered more than $365 million in damage to buildings across Beirut and Mount Lebanon since the latest escalation, Tuesday, as fresh strikes in Tyre underscored the fragility of a ceasefire that has failed to stop the fighting.
Palestinian civilians face systematic abuse from both Israeli settlers and Hamas, investigators. The report details escalating settler violence in the occupied West Bank. It also highlights fear-based Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip. These conditions leave Palestinians trapped between two oppressive forces. Palestinian civilians are trapped between escalating settler violence in the occupied West Bank and fear-based Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip, investigators appointed by the UN Human Rights Council said on Tuesday in a new report.
Odesa is preparing its Black Sea beaches for summer visitors. Divers are clearing debris from downed Russian drones to ensure safety. The city offers a temporary respite for war-weary Ukrainians despite ongoing risks. Ukraine's city of Odesa is welcoming beachgoers for the summer season on its Black Sea coast. Despite the risk of Russian strikes, Odesa's beaches offer a temporary respite to war-weary Ukrainians.
Serbia has granted citizenship to four times more Russian nationals than all other foreign citizens combined this year. This includes individuals under international sanctions, despite warnings from the European Union. Despite warnings from the EU, Serbia’s government has granted citizenship to four times as many Russian nationals as to all other foreign citizens combined this year -- including individuals under international sanctions, an RFE/RL investigation has found.
Football prodigy Lamine Yamal was named a UN Goodwill Ambassador on the World Cup opening day. The tournament spans three countries and two continents, with the UN highlighting its potential for social justice. The biggest-ever football World Cup begins on Thursday, across three countries and two continents, with over 100 games. The UN is raising awareness of the game’s powerful capacity to serve as a platform for sustainable development and social justice.
Russian President Vladimir Putin renewed an offer to India for joint production and technology transfer of the Su As India’s stealth fighter gap widens, Russia is pitching the Su-57 as a solution. but production realities may tell a different story. This month, Defense News reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin renewed his offer of unrestricted joint production and technology transfer for Russia’s Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter during the St.
Russia proposed a state-run VPN service. This initiative is part of broader efforts to control internet access. Industry insiders reportedly view the proposal with skepticism. What’s the latest brick in Russia’s effort to build its Great Internet Firewall? A proposal to create a government-run Virtual Private Network, co-opting a tool that has been widely embraced by Russians trying to avoid government censorship.
The UN human rights office launched a Global Alliance for Human Rights. The coalition aims to prioritize human rights in decision-making amid record conflict levels, rising inequality, and climate change. The UN human rights office (OHCHR) has launched a Global Alliance for Human Rights, a broad coalition aimed at placing the issue at the heart of decision-making, when conflict levels have reached a record high amid deepening inequality and accelerating climate change.
The UN chief opened the 19th global meeting on disability rights. He stated that while progress has been made over two decades, more work is needed to fulfill promises. The conference addresses critical issues for persons with disabilities worldwide. Historical gains have been hard-won, but much more needs to be done to advance progress in realising promises made two decades ago, said the UN chief at the opening on Tuesday of the 19th global meeting on the rights of persons with disabilities at UN Headquarters.
