- Centerstage Events

Ukraine and Russia announcing their first prisoner exchange in nearly four months, with 150 people freed after negotiations mediated by the UAE takes the centerstage among all global events which has happened over this week.
Picture Courtesy: Profit loss

Centerstage events of week 4

Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez signs a bilateral security...

Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez signs a bilateral security pact with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and pledges €1 billion (US$1.1 billion) of military aid to Ukraine.

Sunday, 26 May, 2024

A Polish soldier named Mateusz died on June 6 after...

A Polish soldier named Mateusz died on June 6 after being stabbed by a migrant at the Belarus border, according to the country's army command. He was attacked through a 5-meter-high metal fence while patrolling. Last week, two other soldiers were also assaulted at the border: one was stabbed with a knife affixed to a stick, and another suffered facial injuries from a broken bottle. Poland accuses Russia of using Belarus to orchestrate a migrant influx.

Monday, 27 May, 2024

Executions surged to their highest level since 2015 in 2023,...

Executions surged to their highest level since 2015 in 2023, with a significant rise across the Middle East, according to Amnesty International’s annual death penalty report. A total of 1,153 executions were recorded, excluding thousands believed to have occurred in China. This marks a 30% increase from 2022. Iran led this spike, with many executions for drug-related offenses. Despite this rise, the number of countries carrying out executions was the lowest on record. The top five executing countries were China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and the USA. Globally, death sentences increased by 20% to 2,428.

Tuesday, 28 May, 2024

Donald Trump became the first former U.S. president to be...

Donald Trump became the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of all 34 charges related to a scheme to influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor. Trump sat stone-faced as the verdict was read, with cheers from the street audible in the courthouse. Sentencing is set for July 11, just before the Republican National Convention. Trump, claiming the trial was rigged, remains eligible to vote if he stays out of prison in New York. The impact on his 2024 candidacy remains uncertain.

Wednesday, 29 May, 2024

Ukraine and Russia announced their first prisoner exchange in nearly...

Ukraine and Russia announced their first prisoner exchange in nearly four months, with 150 people freed after negotiations mediated by the UAE. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that 75 Ukrainian prisoners, including four civilians and military personnel, were returned from Russia. Russia's Defence Ministry stated that Ukraine handed over 75 people. Ukraine's Coordinating Committee released images of servicemen draped in national flags and reported the return of 19 Snake Island defenders. Additionally, Russia handed over the bodies of 212 Ukrainian defenders.

Thursday, 30 May, 2024

Icelandic entrepreneur and investor Halla Tomasdottir was elected president, defeating...

Icelandic entrepreneur and investor Halla Tomasdottir was elected president, defeating former premier Katrin Jakobsdottir. Tomasdottir secured 34.3% of the vote compared to Jakobsdottir's 25.2%, according to state broadcaster RUV. Following the final results, Jakobsdottir congratulated Tomasdottir, expressing confidence that she would be a good president.

Friday, 31 May, 2024

The Maldives government will ban Israelis from the Indian Ocean...

The Maldives government will ban Israelis from the Indian Ocean archipelago, known for its white sand beaches and luxury resorts, in response to rising public anger over the Gaza war. President Mohamed Muizzu announced the ban on Israeli passports and launched a national fundraising campaign, "Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine." Nearly 11,000 Israelis visited the Maldives last year, but numbers have dropped by 88% this year. Opposition and government allies pressured Muizzu to take this step as a protest against the conflict, which has resulted in over 36,000 Palestinian deaths and 82,000 injuries since October 7.

Saturday, 1 June, 2024