We are well into 2024 – the first week is over – and there’s been much that has happened across the world in these seven days.
While people got out of their holiday spirit and resumed work, the world saw a gang rape in the metaverse, the disclosure of the Jeffrey Epstein files and even a mass shooting in the US. Also, the Israel-Hamas war rages on, with the death toll only rising higher.
As we settle into the New Year, there might have been news you missed. But don’t fear this weekly roundup of ours will help catch you up with all the happenings from around the globe.
1) Are women safe anywhere? That was the question everyone was asking this week after news surfaced that the police in the United Kingdom was investigating a case of an alleged gang rape of a teenaged girl in the metaverse, an immersive digital world where you can interact and socialise through an online avatar using virtual reality headsets. In our report, we explain what a virtual rape is and how this is becoming a growing worry for women the world over.
2) Talking about rape, this week was also when secret court documents pertaining to the case of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein were made public. The documents pertaining to the former jet-setting financier, who killed himself in prison, mentioned many big names and their relation to Epstein himself.
The court documents mentioned a prince (UK’s Prince Andrew), a former president (Bill Clinton) and several other big celebrities. Read on to find out what was said about Clinton. Also, read on how the former financier lured young girls and women into his sex racket.
3) Away from the news of sex and scandal, came the horrific news of Japan’s earthquake on New Year’s Day. On 1 January, the East Asian country was jolted when a whopping 155 earthquakes struck the area in a matter of one day. Countless people died while others were missing. But have you wondered why Japan often witnesses destructive quakes? Read here to find out the answer.
But that wasn’t the only horrific news that came out of Japan this week. A day after the quake, Japan Airlines flight JAL-516 erupted in a fireball after colliding with a smaller Japanese Coast Guard aircraft on the runway at Toyko’s Haneda Airport. The visuals of the incident were horrific. Shockingly, the 379 passengers on board the Japan Airlines plane escaped unhurt. But how did this happen? Our essay delves into how the crew members’ quick thinking led to this miraculous escape.
4) Some things, sadly, never change. In the US, gun violence continues to claim lives. A 17-year-old went on a rampage in a high school in Perry, a city in Dallas County, Iowa, killing one sixth-grader and injuring five others. The gunman, then died from a self-inflicted gunshot.
The shooting has revealed a very disturbing trend – that of young assailants. In the last few years, the lethal mass shootings have been committed by those either in their teens or in their 20s. Our explainer delves deeper into this phenomenon.
5) On a lighter note, we are most likely approaching the time when our passports will be passé. The UK has revealed plans to equip airports with new, high-tech e-gates that feature advanced facial recognition technology. Officials said this would enable “frictionless travel” at Britain’s borders.
Many believe that moves such as UK’s will allow for seamless travel and that with more countries adopting such technology, the worry of forgetting your passport while travelling will be a thing of the past.
PS: If you are one of the many that’s committed to Dry January, here’s what happens to your body without alcohol for a month.
Watch this space for more of our explainers.
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Published on: January 07, 2024 10:29:57 IST
This news is republished from another source.
