- Centerstage Events

President Joe Biden announcing the cancellation of $7.7 billion in student loan debt for 160,000 individuals takes the centerstage among all global events which has happened over this week.
Picture Courtesy: Profit loss

Centerstage events of week 3

Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim were inaugurated as the 16th-term...

Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim were inaugurated as the 16th-term President and Vice President of Taiwan on May 20 in Taipei City. President Lai pledged to create a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous future for Taiwan's 23 million people. His administration's development plan focuses on semiconductors, artificial intelligence, national defense, security, surveillance, and next-generation telecommunications. Lai emphasized unity, responsible governance, and strengthening democratic resilience while cooperating with the free world to ensure regional peace. He also called for dialogue with China, rejecting subordination and urging an end to coercion. Vice President Hsiao brings a rich academic background, with degrees from Oberlin College and Columbia University.

Sunday, 19 May, 2024

Jenny Erpenbeck has won the International Booker Prize for her...

Jenny Erpenbeck has won the International Booker Prize for her novel "Kairos," translated from German by Michael Hofmann. "Kairos" explores a tumultuous love affair between a young woman and an older man in 1980s Germany, set against the backdrop of significant political changes. Erpenbeck and Hofmann will share the £50,000 prize. The novel delves into themes of passion, violence, and disillusionment, reflecting the societal shifts in Germany at the time.

Monday, 20 May, 2024

The European Parliament has advanced AI regulation by passing the...

The European Parliament has advanced AI regulation by passing the Artificial Intelligence Act. This comprehensive legislation sets rules for developing and using AI systems within the EU, ensuring safety and alignment with fundamental rights. To be applied in 2026, the act imposes strict transparency obligations on AI systems, restricts governments from using untargeted scraping of facial images, real-time biometric surveillance in public spaces, and bans social scoring.

Tuesday, 21 May, 2024

President Joe Biden has announced the cancellation of $7.7 billion...

President Joe Biden has announced the cancellation of $7.7 billion in student loan debt for 160,000 individuals. This move is part of his re-election campaign strategy, focusing on reducing college debt through existing programs despite Republican opposition. Many borrowers, qualifying through public service loan forgiveness, the SAVE plan, or income-driven repayment plans, have received approval notifications. To date, the Biden administration has canceled approximately $167 billion in loans for 4.75 million borrowers. The president aims to expand debt forgiveness to nearly 30 million borrowers by this fall, though legal challenges may arise.

Wednesday, 22 May, 2024

The Council of the European Union approved a plan to...

The Council of the European Union approved a plan to use profits from frozen Russian state assets to support Ukraine. EU central securities depositories holding Russian assets over €1 million will transfer net profits earned since 15 February 2024 to Kyiv. This initiative aims to provide €2.5–3 billion annually, with the first payment expected in June. Most funds will go to the European Peace Facility for military support, while 10% will address Ukraine’s budget and reconstruction needs.

Thursday, 23 May, 2024

Scientists are using computer games to help children with profound...

Scientists are using computer games to help children with profound deafness improve sound localization and speech understanding. The Bears (Both Ears) project focuses on children with twin cochlear implants. Lorenzo Picinali from Imperial College London explained that these children require significant hearing restoration interventions. One VR game challenges players to manage a food stall with increasing noise and complex orders, enhancing their abilities. Involving children in game design ensures effectiveness, as cochlear implants convert air vibrations into electrical signals, aiding sound and speech comprehension.

Friday, 24 May, 2024

Comoros President Azali Assoumani was sworn in for his fourth...

Comoros President Azali Assoumani was sworn in for his fourth term after a disputed election. Despite opposition claims of voter fraud, Assoumani won with 63% of the vote. The tense January election led to violent protests, resulting in one death and 25 injuries. Assoumani pledged to foster peace and boost the economy by 5% annually. He called on civil society, the opposition, and political actors to unite for peace and democracy. Comoros, a group of islands with 800,000 people, has a history of political instability and coups.

Saturday, 25 May, 2024