A few days ago, an Iraqi citizen living in Sweden, Salwan Momika, stomped on Islamic holy book & set several pages alight. Momika's Quran burning coincided with start of Eid Al-Adha & end of annual hajj pilgrimage. The incident has triggered widespread backlash across Muslim world; even as Sweden awaits Turkey's go-ahead on NATO membership. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE & morocco have summoned Swedish ambassadors in protest. Iran said it was holding off on sending its new ambassador to Sweden because of the incident. At an extraordinary meeting, Saudi-based organisation of Oslamic cooperation called for collective measures to avoid future Quran burnings. Swedish police had granted Salwan Momika a permit in line with free speech protections. Authorities later said they had opened a probe over agitation against an ethnic group, noting Momika had burnt pages from holy book very close to the mosque. Sweden's government condemned Momika's actions on Sunday, calling them Islamophobic.

Quran burning: Countries summon Swedish ambassadors | Turkey yet to ratify NATO membership bid

Casualties continue to mount amid the grinding battle of attrition. A Ukrainian writer and war crimes investigator wounded in a Russian missile strike on a restaurant last week has died. 37-year-old Victoria Amelina was wounded when a Russian missile destroyed the ria pizza restaurant in the eastern city of Kramatorsk on Tuesday. According to the freedom of expression group pen, her novel 'Dom's dream kingdom' was shortlisted for UNESCO city of literature prize and the EU prize for literature. Her poems, prose and essays have been translated into English, German, Polish and other languages. Since 2022, she had been working to document Russian war crimes since the invasion and advocate for accountability.

Russian war crimes investigator dies; Casualties continue to mount amid grinding battle of attrition

At least three Palestinian men have been killed in a fresh attack. Carried out by the Israeli army in west bank's Jenin. It was only few days ago when, three Palestinians from Jenin lost their lives to a similar raid carried out by the Israeli military.

Israeli military hits Jenin's 'terrorist infrastructure'

Here, we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe: Bernardo Arevalo, a candidate for president of Guatemala, has pleaded for the provisional injunction by the nation's highest court, Alfred, to be lifted. This comes amid calls for new elections by Guatemalans, who are protesting outside the Supreme Electoral Tribunal over an alleged electoral fraud. The OAS has urged respect for the will of the people in order to maintain the fullest confidence.

Guatemala citizens demand new election

Violence between members of Manipur's Kuki ethnic group, who mostly live in the hills, and Meiteis, the dominant community in the lowlands, erupted on may 3. Over 100 people have died. Both communities continue to accuse each other of atrocities. The internet has been snapped in the state since the first week of may. The Meitei community accounts for 53% of Manipur's population, but is confined to about 10% of the state's territory. They claim they are facing problems because of large-scale illegal immigration by Myanmarese and Bangladeshis. The hill districts that account for much of the Indian state’s land mass are inhabited mostly by tribals. The Nagas, Kukis and other tribes are protected from encroachment by various laws. The Meitei community says it is seeking the same protections to safeguard lands.

India's Manipur state on the boil, Internet has been snapped since first week of May | Details

In a groundbreaking development, Nokia and Apple have just signed a game-changing patent deal. The deal encompasses various areas, including the crucial 5g technology, where Nokia has declared over 5,500 patents as essential. By leveraging Nokia's robust patent portfolio, Apple aims to push the boundaries of innovation and enhance its offerings in the rapidly expanding world of technology.

Nokia renews patent license agreement with Apple

Weeks after UBS took over its swiss rival Credit Suisse, the Swiss banking giant has opposed an initial public offering for Credit Suisse's domestic unit. A swiss media report cited UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti as saying that such a move may strengthen UBS' international competitors.

UBS opposes listing Credit Suisse's Swiss operations

Will the world see a detente between the US and China? That will be the question in everyone's mind when US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visits Beijing later this week. Yellen will be the second top US Official after Antony Blinken to visit china. This comes at a time when the two countries are locked in a number of bilateral tensions and highlights the Biden administration's bid to cool ties with the Asian giant.

Janet Yellen to visit China between July 6 and 9

You no longer have to worry about network connectivity, thus you can no longer use the lack of a network as an excuse for not returning calls or texts. iPhones after implementing the emergency SOS satellite capability in the iPhone 14 series, may soon have satellite connectivity.

Apple to bring satellite voice calls and internet feature :Reports

New Zealand has set a groundbreaking precedent by becoming the first country in the world to extend its ban on plastic bags in supermarkets to include thin bags typically used for holding fruits and vegetables. This move, which came into effect on Saturday, marks a significant stride in the government's broader campaign against single-use plastics.

<h2>New Zealand and plastic ban</h2>

In 2019, the nation put in place its initial ban on take-home plastic bags. Since then, most shoppers in New Zealand have already adapted to bringing their own bags when visiting stores.&nbsp;

Rachel Brooking the Associate Environment Minister said that: "New Zealand produces too much waste, too much plastic waste."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-orkney-islands-want-to-join-norway-over-financial-neglect-611446">UK's Orkney Islands want to join Norway over financial neglect</a>

She further revealed that the ban on thicker bags introduced in 2019 has already saved over one billion plastic bags from circulation.

This cultural shift, as per the BBC, has contributed to the remarkable progress the country has made in reducing plastic waste. The expansion of the ban is projected to prevent the use of approximately 150 million plastic bags per year.&nbsp;

<h2>Expert concerns</h2>

Some critics have expressed concerns that consumers might resort to disposable paper bags, which are still available in supermarkets.&nbsp;

However, acknowledging these concerns, Minister Brooking emphasised the overarching goal of reducing single-use packaging of any kind.&nbsp;

"It's still worth doing this, but we really want to reduce single-use anything packaging."

"So we want people to be bringing their own bags, and supermarkets are selling reusable produce bags," she added.

The government encourages individuals to bring their own bags, while supermarkets have responded by offering reusable produce bags as an alternative.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/anticipation-and-dread-heres-what-we-know-about-the-final-moments-of-passengers-aboard-titan-submersible-611439">Anticipation and dread: Here's what we know about the final moments of passengers aboard Titan submersible</a>

Countdown, a prominent supermarket chain operating over 185 stores nationwide, has taken proactive steps by introducing reusable polyester mesh bags for shoppers to use specifically for fruits and vegetables.&nbsp;

The company hopes that by providing these bags, it will inspire customers to make the switch to reusable options.&nbsp;

Catherine Langabeer, the head of sustainability at Countdown, acknowledged the challenges associated with change, and said, "We know change is hard and (it) will take them a little while."&nbsp;

"We get some grumpy customers," she added.

<h2>New Zealand government's commitment to addressing climate change</h2>

The New Zealand government has shown its commitment to addressing climate change through various initiatives. In October, it proposed a pioneering scheme to tax greenhouse gas emissions from farm animals such as sheep and cattle. This progressive approach aims to hold farmers accountable for their agricultural emissions in some form by 2025 — the country's farming industry is responsible for about half of its emissions.

(With inputs from agencies)

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New Zealand has set a groundbreaking precedent by becoming the first country in the world to extend its ban on plastic bags in supermarkets to include thin bags typically used for holding fruits and vegetables.

New Zealand has set a groundbreaking precedent by becoming the first country in the world to extend its ban on plastic bags in supermarkets to include thin bags typically used for holding fruits and vegetables. This move, which came into effect on Saturday, marks a significant stride in the government's broader campaign against single-use plastics. New Zealand and plastic ban In 2019, the nation put in place its initial ban on take-home plastic bags. Since then, most shoppers in New Zealand have already adapted to bringing their own bags when visiting stores. Rachel Brooking the Associate Environment Minister said that: "New Zealand produces too much waste, too much plastic waste." Also read | UK's Orkney Islands want to join Norway over financial neglect She further revealed that the ban on thicker bags introduced in 2019 has already saved over one billion plastic bags from circulation. This cultural shift, as per the BBC, has contributed to the remarkable progress the country has made in reducing plastic waste. The expansion of the ban is projected to prevent the use of approximately 150 million plastic bags per year. Expert concerns Some critics have expressed concerns that consumers might resort to disposable paper bags, which are still available in supermarkets. However, acknowledging these concerns, Minister Brooking emphasised the overarching goal of reducing single-use packaging of any kind. "It's still worth doing this, but we really want to reduce single-use anything packaging." "So we want people to be bringing their own bags, and supermarkets are selling reusable produce bags," she added. The government encourages individuals to bring their own bags, while supermarkets have responded by offering reusable produce bags as an alternative. Also read | Anticipation and dread: Here's what we know about the final moments of passengers aboard Titan submersible Countdown, a prominent supermarket chain operating over 185 stores nationwide, has taken proactive steps by introducing reusable polyester mesh bags for shoppers to use specifically for fruits and vegetables. The company hopes that by providing these bags, it will inspire customers to make the switch to reusable options. Catherine Langabeer, the head of sustainability at Countdown, acknowledged the challenges associated with change, and said, "We know change is hard and (it) will take them a little while." "We get some grumpy customers," she added. New Zealand government's commitment to addressing climate change The New Zealand government has shown its commitment to addressing climate change through various initiatives. In October, it proposed a pioneering scheme to tax greenhouse gas emissions from farm animals such as sheep and cattle. This progressive approach aims to hold farmers accountable for their agricultural emissions in some form by 2025 — the country's farming industry is responsible for about half of its emissions. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

New Zealand takes lead in plastic bag ban, expands restrictions to thin bags

Few of the world's largest IT companies competing against one another in the great AI race have found themselves in serious problems along the way, causing the inventor of the widely used chatbot chart to come to their attention. ChatGPT is now dealing with a class action lawsuit in the US. GPT is undoubtedly mired in controversy on claims of data theft and privacy violations.

OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT sued for 'stealing' people's data

It has been more than a week since the tragic deaths of the five passengers onboard the submersible Titan. Now, the wife of one of the ill-fated passengers has opened up about how their last moments must have looked like.

Speaking to the New York Times, Christine Dawood, who is related to two passengers; Shahzada Dawood and Suleman Dawood revealed, that in their last moments,&nbsp;they must've been sharing music as the insides of the pod moved deeper into the ocean.

<h2>Titan's journey underwater</h2>

As per the report, the submersible's journey underwater was roughly supposed to take two and a half hours. The Titan typically descended at about 25 metres per minute or roughly one mile per hour and the speed was slow enough that there was no sense of motion.

Among the passengers were Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, a father-son duo driven by their fascination with the Titanic.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/days-after-titan-tragedy-oceangate-announces-future-expeditions-610926">Days after Titan tragedy, OceanGate announces future expeditions</a>

Also onboard was Paul-Henri Nargeolet, a renowned French scientist and Titanic expert, who intended to make his 38th dive to the wreckage.&nbsp;

Hamish Harding, a British airline executive, thrilled to be partaking in his first expedition of this kind, made the fourth passenger.&nbsp;

Lastly, Stockton Rush, the founder and CEO of OceanGate, piloted the submersible, aiming to leave a lasting legacy as an innovator.

<h2>Hours leading to the tragic descent</h2>

Christine Dawood recalls that in the hours leading to the tragic event, the passengers prepared for a unique journey to explore the wreckage of the Titanic; a journey that would've added their names to the list of people who have seen the famous shipwreck in person, but instead ended in a tragedy.

Talking to NYT, she recalls watching her husband, Shahzada, and son, Suleman, as they boarded the Titan submersible from the support ship.&nbsp;

Excitement filled the air as they embarked on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Suleman brought a Rubik's Cube, while Shahzada carried his Nikon camera, eager to capture the mesmerising sights through the porthole.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tributes-pour-in-for-men-killed-in-catastrophic-implosion-of-titan-submersible-607753" target="_blank">Tributes pour in for men killed in ‘catastrophic implosion’ of Titan submersible</a>

The two men had a strong fascination with the Titanic and had planned to experience the dive together. OceanGate, the company behind the expedition, marketed itself as a unique opportunity to explore the world's most famous shipwreck.&nbsp;

As the passengers prepared for the final dive, Hamish Harding posted updates on social media, sharing photos and expressing excitement. Little did he know that these posts would be his last.&nbsp;

<h2>A sunny day takes a dark turn</h2>

As the Titan descended into the depths of the ocean, Christine remained on the support ship, watching the submersible disappear beneath the waves. The sun was shining, and everything seemed calm and promising.&nbsp;

Shahzada's enthusiasm was palpable, exclaiming, "I'm diving tomorrow! I'm diving tomorrow!" His anticipation was infectious, and Christine recalled how he resembled a joyful child.

Just hours later, Christine overheard murmurs about a loss of communication with the Titan. The United States Coast Guard confirmed the disconnection after one hour and forty-five minutes into the dive.

Anxiety washed over Christine as she rushed to the bridge, where the team monitored the submersible's descent. She was reassured that sporadic communication was not uncommon.&nbsp;

She hoped for a swift reconnection. However, as the afternoon wore on, the realisation sank in that something was gravely wrong—Titan and its crew were missing.&nbsp;

Four days later, the Coast Guard announced the discovery of debris from the Titan, indicating its implosion and the instantaneous loss of all onboard.

(With inputs from agencies)

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It has been more than a week since the tragic deaths of the five passengers onboard the submersible Titan. Now, the wife of one of the ill-fated passengers has opened up about how their last moments must have looked like.

It has been more than a week since the tragic deaths of the five passengers onboard the submersible Titan. Now, the wife of one of the ill-fated passengers has opened up about how their last moments must have looked like. Speaking to the New York Times, Christine Dawood, who is related to two passengers; Shahzada Dawood and Suleman Dawood revealed, that in their last moments, they must've been sharing music as the insides of the pod moved deeper into the ocean. Titan's journey underwater As per the report, the submersible's journey underwater was roughly supposed to take two and a half hours. The Titan typically descended at about 25 metres per minute or roughly one mile per hour and the speed was slow enough that there was no sense of motion. Among the passengers were Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, a father-son duo driven by their fascination with the Titanic. Also read | Days after Titan tragedy, OceanGate announces future expeditions Also onboard was Paul-Henri Nargeolet, a renowned French scientist and Titanic expert, who intended to make his 38th dive to the wreckage. Hamish Harding, a British airline executive, thrilled to be partaking in his first expedition of this kind, made the fourth passenger. Lastly, Stockton Rush, the founder and CEO of OceanGate, piloted the submersible, aiming to leave a lasting legacy as an innovator. Hours leading to the tragic descent Christine Dawood recalls that in the hours leading to the tragic event, the passengers prepared for a unique journey to explore the wreckage of the Titanic; a journey that would've added their names to the list of people who have seen the famous shipwreck in person, but instead ended in a tragedy. Talking to NYT, she recalls watching her husband, Shahzada, and son, Suleman, as they boarded the Titan submersible from the support ship. Excitement filled the air as they embarked on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Suleman brought a Rubik's Cube, while Shahzada carried his Nikon camera, eager to capture the mesmerising sights through the porthole. Also read | Tributes pour in for men killed in ‘catastrophic implosion’ of Titan submersible The two men had a strong fascination with the Titanic and had planned to experience the dive together. OceanGate, the company behind the expedition, marketed itself as a unique opportunity to explore the world's most famous shipwreck. As the passengers prepared for the final dive, Hamish Harding posted updates on social media, sharing photos and expressing excitement. Little did he know that these posts would be his last. A sunny day takes a dark turn As the Titan descended into the depths of the ocean, Christine remained on the support ship, watching the submersible disappear beneath the waves. The sun was shining, and everything seemed calm and promising. Shahzada's enthusiasm was palpable, exclaiming, "I'm diving tomorrow! I'm diving tomorrow!" His anticipation was infectious, and Christine recalled how he resembled a joyful child. Just hours later, Christine overheard murmurs about a loss of communication with the Titan. The United States Coast Guard confirmed the disconnection after one hour and forty-five minutes into the dive. Anxiety washed over Christine as she rushed to the bridge, where the team monitored the submersible's descent. She was reassured that sporadic communication was not uncommon. She hoped for a swift reconnection. However, as the afternoon wore on, the realisation sank in that something was gravely wrong—Titan and its crew were missing. Four days later, the Coast Guard announced the discovery of debris from the Titan, indicating its implosion and the instantaneous loss of all onboard. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Final moments of Titan passengers: A day of anticipation and dread

The Ukrainian forces are resisting a Russian onslaught in eastern areas of the front and they face difficulties in the northeast. However, the Ukrainian deputy defence minister cited progress near the shattered city of Bakhmut and in the south. Ukraine's military has been engaged in a counter-offensive to recapture areas of the east and south seized in Russia's 16-month-old invasion. The initial Ukrainian advances have focused on securing clusters of villages in the south. Zelensky and Ukraine's commander-in-chief have reported steady, if slow, advances in the campaign. The president acknowledges progress is limited, but says the drive is 'not a Hollywood movie' with instant success.

'Things are hot': Ukraine minister flags Russian advances near Avdiivka and Maryinka | Details

France's current political climate is tense. There was no reported violation of human rights. Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, reviewed the steps taken to prevent more bloodshed. This comes as the nation experienced conflicts for the sixth day in a row after a police officer killed a teenager in a suburb of Paris.

France Riots: French President holds special meeting to take stock of situation

Rising sea surface temperatures are yet another example of the effects of climate change on our planet, and it's impact is most noticeable on the earth's poles. The amount of sea ice around antarctica is now at the lowest levels ever recorded at the end of June. According to UK's MET office. The current Antarctic sea ice extent is more than 1.3 million square kilometres less than the next lowest amount for this time of year and this shortfall is more than five times the surface area of UK. Experts from the met office say Antarctic sea ice extent reaches a maximum around the end of September and a minimum around the end of February.

Antarctica's sea ice at record low as effects of climate change take shape

On his impending trip to Britain, US President Joe Biden is anticipated to meet with King Charles III of the United Kingdom. According to a statement from the White House, this will be Biden's first meeting with the British monarch since Charles was crowned in May. Biden will visit the UK from July 9 to July 13.

US President Joe Biden to meet King Charles and UK PM Rishi Sunak during his UK visit

The killing of a teenager by a police officer in France has led to clashes for five days in a row, though the scale of the violence has partially decreased and there are still many issues to resolve. French President Emmanuel Macron has evaluated the steps taken so far to prevent further escalation of the violence.

France Riots: Country remains tense, though number of incidents drop

Instead of introducing a policy that required victims to provide immediate proof of trafficking so that the UK government can identify them as a potential victim of slavery, UK Home Secretary Braverman withdrew a contentious portion from the illegal migration rules that made it harder for trafficking victims to have their pleas accepted earlier.

UK: Braverman withdraws rule that made asylum harder for victims

Trees are magical. They provide us with food. They produce oxygen and they're beautiful to look at. And guess what, you may soon be able to charge your electric vehicles by connecting it to a tree. Solar botanic trees, a UK based startup is designing sleek solar powered trees that work as EV-charging stations. There are two versions of the tree; 5.5 metres tall and 3.5 metres tall. The sun’s energy is collected via leaves and is stored in a battery within the tree’s trunk. The trees feature solar panels that act as the canopy. These panels absorb sunlight and transform it into electrical energy. An ai-driven energy storage and management system regulates and releases the charging power. The company recently completed a half-scale prototype of the device and is now looking to build and test a full-size version, before going into commercial production at the end of the year. Sadly, the tree has a power generation capacity of only five kilowatts, making it a rather slow charging option for EV drivers.

Solar-powered trees to charge your electric vehicles

A deluge is drenching China as torrential rains unleash chaos and destruction. People look helplessly as nature's watery fury sweeps away their houses. Meanwhile, more than 10,000 people were urgently moved to safety due to flooding in the central province of Hunan, the Xiang'Xi emergency management bureau on Sunday. Around 70 houses collapsed, 2,283 were damaged and farm fields were flooded. Losses so far have been estimated at least $79 million.

Torrential rains in china bring devastation, leave residents stranded amid floods

The world is getting hotter. Both land and sea temperatures are at a record-breaking high. And as per climate experts, the target of keeping long-term global warming within 1.5 degrees Celsius is moving out of reach. Parts of north America were 10 degree Celsius above the seasonal average this month. Wildfires in Canada and the US East coast have led to record-breaking carbon emissions- 160 million metric tons. Extreme heat has also been recorded in India, China, Spain, Iran and Vietnam punishing droughts have also been witnessed across the world this year sea surface temperatures are also rapidly increasing.

Global warming heating up land & sea as earth's temperature rises

Israel-Palestine Clash: A civilian house destroyed in night-time operation

Israel-Palestine Clash: Palestinian health ministry reports loss of lives

Despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu removing a crucial provision of the law, the impasse over Israel's contentious judicial reforms currently appears to have no conclusion in sight. The weekly demonstration is currently in its 26th week running.

Israel Protests: Thousands of Israelis protest against proposed judicial reform

Mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin led an armed rebellion against the Russian military and walked free. Russia’s main domestic security agency, the FSB, dropped criminal investigation into the Wagner revolt, with no charges against Prigozhin, or any of the other participants. About a dozen Russian troops were killed in clashes during the aborted mutiny, and Putin vowed to punish those behind the rebellion. Reports suggest Wagner is now battling a Russian clampdown.

Payback time for Wagner? 'Offices raided in Syria', strikes hit Libyan airbase used by mercenaries

The French police brutally killed a 17 year old teenager in a broad day light during a traffic stop and accused the youth of trying to run over an officer. The United Nations has said that France must address deep issues of racial discrimination in its police force.

France faces 5th night of rioting

The action film Kandahar recently premiered on an OTT platform after enjoying a limited theatrical release in the US. In the Hollywood actioner, which also stars Gerard Butler, Indian actor Ali Fazal plays the antagonist. Our entertainment editor Abira Dhar caught up with the actor as he spoke about how the world's perception of Indian cinema is changing and when Judi Dench took him shopping.

When Judi Dench took Ali Fazal shopping and how he honoured her for it

When Judi Dench took Ali Fazal shopping

The Sensex and Nifty indices have reached record highs, causing headlines around the world, as the Indian stock market continues its incredible uptrend. Let's dive into the specifics here to smash records and make headlines. The BSE Sensex has pushed beyond the incredible 65 000 Mark for the first time as it continues to achieve new milestones.

Sensex crosses 65,000 for the first time | India

Indian and Chinese armies engaged in combat in Galvan in 2020. Tanks confronting each other around the Pangong after the clash led to the formation of a League covering eastern Ladakh and western Tibet; current reports indicate frenzied activity there; numerous infrastructure projects have been launched on both sides since the standoff. India is now constructing a black-topped road on the North Bank.

New Delhi building black-topped road on North Bank :Reports

A mutiny that has shaken Putin's regime Days after Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, launched a rebellion against the Russian President, Kremlin is in damage control mode What lies ahead for Wagner group now in the war? Is Putin losing grip on his men? Watch WION WIDEANGLE- WAGNER'S ABORTED MUTINY WHAT'S NEXT?

Wagner's aborted mutiny, what's next?

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