Australia fears China’s latest Pacific deal could stoke tensions

Australia has expressed concerns over China’s policing pact with Solomon Islands, urging transparency and stating that it threatens to escalate tensions in the South Pacific. China’s increasing influence in the region has raised alarm among Western powers.

Canada watchdog probes Nike over Uyghur forced labor claims

Nike and Dynasty Gold are under investigation in Canada for allegedly using forced labor from China’s Uyghur minority, following complaints from civil society organizations.

UN rights council split after debate called over Koran burnings

The UN Human Rights Council faces a contentious vote on a resolution condemning religious hatred after recent Koran burnings, with Western nations concerned about encroachments on free speech.

Unlikely savior: Musk’s antics give Zuckerberg PR makeover

Mark Zuckerberg’s reputation improves amid Elon Musk’s erratic behavior, with their rivalry escalating on social media.

‘Meta loses more’: Zuckerberg takes Threads fight to EU

US tech titan Mark Zuckerberg is withholding his new Threads app from European users due to “regulatory uncertainty,” but experts believe his strategy will likely fail. The move is seen as a political push against the EU, and the outcome of this battle could impact the regulatory landscape for other big tech platforms in Europe. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) poses challenges for tech firms, prohibiting data transfer across platforms without user consent. Analysts predict that Meta will struggle to navigate compliance issues and may face unintended consequences.

Twitter rival Threads signs up 100 million users in five days

Instagram’s Threads app has gained over 100 million users in under five days, surpassing the growth rate of ChatGPT and other popular apps. However, its availability in Europe is uncertain due to data privacy concerns and conflicts with the EU’s regulations. Meanwhile, Twitter has faced technical issues and controversies since Elon Musk acquired the platform, and Threads’ connection to Instagram’s extensive user base has contributed to its rapid growth. The rivalry between Musk and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg has escalated, with Musk threatening to sue Meta and proposing a “penis-measuring contest.”

Heavy rains and flooding pummel US northeast, one dead

Heavy rain and flooding wreaked havoc across several northeastern US states, causing flash floods, washed-out highways, and claiming one life. Flood warnings were in effect, and states like New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut experienced “life-threatening” conditions.

US Fed official calls for increase to bank capital requirements

A senior Federal Reserve official proposed raising capital requirements for large US banks to strengthen oversight and mitigate financial instability. The proposals aim to subject more banks to risk-sensitive capital rules and introduce a long-term debt requirement for all large banks.

Tragic plane crash claims six lives in California

A Cessna Citation 550 jet crashed near French Valley airport in California, killing all six passengers. The plane had taken off from Las Vegas and was attempting a second landing approach amid poor visibility when it crashed, causing a small fire. This marks the second crash in the area within a week.

North Korea threatens to down US spy planes violating its airspace

North Korea warns of shooting down US spy planes and criticizes the deployment of a nuclear missile submarine near the Korean peninsula.