Author: Vanshika.Bharadwaj

On Thursday, Japan’s defense ministry requested a historic budget allocation of 7.7 trillion yen ($52.67 billion) for the fiscal year 2024. This request is part of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s strategy to increase military expenditure by 43 trillion yen over a five-year period. The request coincides with a significant deterioration in Japan’s relations with China. Just last week, Japan commenced the disposal of treated radioactive water from its damaged Fukushima nuclear facility into the ocean. This action was strongly criticized by China, which responded by imposing a ban on imports of Japanese seafood. Image Source: Bloomberg Japan’s tensions with China…

European Union nations have escalated their import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia in spite of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This surge comes as a contradiction to the EU’s stated objective of reducing reliance on Russian fossil fuels in the coming years.    From January to July 2024, European Union nations purchased 22 million cubic meters of LNG, which is a 40% increase compared to 15 million cubic meters during the same period in 2021. This means they bought more natural gas from Russia. The estimated cost of these purchases for 2024 is around €5.29 billion according to…

Rishi Sunak is currently facing a fresh conflict of interest controversy just ahead of the upcoming G20 summit in New Delhi. Allegations have emerged that his family could potentially gain financially from a post-Brexit trade agreement that he is negotiating with India. Throughout this year, both India and the UK have been engaged in discussions to establish a free-trade deal between the two nations. However, concerns have been voiced by trade experts and members of parliament regarding possible lack of transparency in relation to the significant shareholdings, amounting to nearly 500 million—held by Rishi Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murty, in Infosys.…

The ruling of the Supreme Court in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which effectively eliminated the constitutional guarantee to access abortion. Twenty-two states in U.S. ban abortion or restrict the procedure earlier in pregnancy than the standard set by Roe v. Wade. Roe v. Wade, a landmark ruling that shaped reproductive rights for almost fifty years, was overturned by the Supreme Court in the previous year. Abortion Bans vs Human Rights in U.S The right to access safe and legal abortion has long been a topic of intense discussion, reflecting differing societal values, religious beliefs, and…

Apple is cautioning users against sleeping with their iPhones while they’re being charged. This is due to the possibility of the devices, cables, and chargers becoming warm, which could lead to discomfort or potential injury if in prolonged contact with the skin. Company issues warning in their latest edition manual, “Use common sense to avoid situations where your skin is in contact with a device or power adapter while it is running or connected to a power outlet for a long time. For example, do not sleep on a device, power adapter or wireless charger, or place them under a…

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, is supposedly dead in a plane crash near Moscow in the Tver region on Wednesday, August 23. This occurrence follows roughly two months after his private military organization’s armed uprising against the Russian authorities. The Wagner Group’s head, Yevgeny Prigozhin, had declared his determination to take extreme measures in order to overthrow Moscow’s military leadership due to their management of the war. Prigozhin had also alleged that his own allies have subjected his forces to artillery attacks. ‘Unsurprised & Inevitable’ death of Yevgeny Prigozhin Reports of the demise of Russian mercenary leader…

On Wednesday 23 August, India achieved a historic milestone by having a gentle landing of its lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, in the challenging south pole region of the Moon becoming the first country to do so. This significant accomplishment establishes India as the pioneering nation to successfully land a mission in this intricate lunar zone. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) proudly proclaimed the achievement with the statement, “‘India, I reached my destination and you too!’: Chandrayaan-3.” The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for the launch of its ambitious projects Aditya-L1 mission in September, after the historic success…

Despite objections from its neighbouring countries, Japan is set to commence the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant, which was impacted by a tsunami, into the Pacific Ocean starting tomorrow. Since the plant’s devastation by the 2011 tsunami, approximately 1.34 million metric tonnes of water. Following filtration and dilution, the water is scheduled to be discharged gradually over a span of 30 years. Japan’s Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, declared on Tuesday, subsequent to a Cabinet session, that if the weather and sea conditions prove suitable, authorities will formally request the plant’s operator to be prepared for…