Top 10 Stories from Across the World
1. US President Signs Bill Potentially Banning TikTok
US President Joe Biden signed a bill into law potentially banning Chinese social media app TikTok. This move has sparked outrage within the TikTok community, with creators rallying against the law and staging protests in opposition. The law requires TikTok to disassociate from its Chinese parent ByteDance or face a complete ban. While the ban may take years to come into effect, many TikTok creators with millions of followers have spoken out against the law, accusing the government of jeopardizing their livelihood.
2. Hamas Leader Ready to Cease Armed Conflict
A Hamas leader has declared the group’s readiness to cease armed conflict for five years or longer if an independent Palestinian state is formed along the pre-1967 borders.
3. Tragic Fire Incident Near Patna Railway Station
At least six people were killed after a massive fire broke out in several hotel buildings near Patna railway station in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. Authorities reported that at least 30 people were injured, and the casualty count could rise. The fire started from Pal hotel and quickly spread to nearby hotels, resulting in the destruction of several bikes and cars. Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze after more than two hours, with the help of seven to eight fire engines.
4. China Launches Manned Spaceship
China launched a manned spaceship into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The Long March-2F carrier rocket carried the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft with three Chinese astronauts on board.
5. Iranian Rapper Sentenced to Death
Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi has been sentenced to death by an Iranian revolutionary court for his role in the Mahsa Amini protests that occurred in 2022 in Iran.
6. Polish Director to Unveil AI-Based Biopic of Putin
A Polish director known for his gangster-themed films is set to unveil a biopic of Russian President Vladimir Putin with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) twist.
7. Deadly Flooding in Tanzania
At least 155 people have died in Tanzania due to torrential rains linked to El Nino, which triggered flooding and landslides, according to Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa.
8. US Department of Transportation Mandates Cash Refunds for Airline Passengers
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a rule requiring airlines to promptly issue automatic cash refunds to passengers when owed, aiming to enhance consumer rights in air travel.
9. Harvey Weinstein’s Conviction Overturned
The 2020 conviction of disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein on charges of sexual assault and rape has been overturned by a New York appeals court.
10. Virat Kohli Makes IPL History
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Virat Kohli made history by becoming the first batter to score 400 or more runs in an Indian Premier League (IPL) season for the 10th time. Kohli achieved this milestone against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on April 25, scoring 51 off 43 balls and accumulating 430 runs in the ongoing IPL season so far.
