Civil rights activist Orlow declared a "foreign agent":

NEWS

1. UN court largely accepts Ukrainian complaint:

   Russia justified its war of aggression against Ukraine with the accusation of "genocide" against the ethnic Russian population. Ukraine filed a complaint against this with the International Court of Justice, which has now accepted it. In it, Kiev accuses Moscow of wrongly justifying its invasion of Ukraine with a "genocide" of the ethnic Russian population in regions of eastern Ukraine. According to Ukraine, Russia used the accusation as a pretext, thereby violating the UN Convention on Genocide from 1948.

2. Kosovo abolishes the Serbian dinar:

   In Kosovo, people pay with the euro - actually. This is because the Serbian dinar is still used at the border with Serbia. The government of Kosovo now wants to change this, much to the indignation of its large neighbor. Banjska is inhabited almost exclusively by Serbs, and the border with its large neighbor Serbia is close by. The usual currency here is the Serbian dinar. That's why there are no euros or cents as change, only dinars. This is now set to change, because things have been different since 2008. Kosovo has been a separate state since then. But now the Kosovo Central Bank has gone one better: Paying in Kosovo is only legal if you pay in euros, the official currency.

3. Civil rights activist Orlow declared a "foreign agent":

   The well-known Russian civil rights and human rights activist Oleg Orlov has been declared a "foreign agent" by the authorities. The Ministry of Justice in Moscow justified its decision by stating that Orlov had "opposed the special military operation in Ukraine" and had "spread false information about decisions made by public bodies of the Russian Federation". The 70-year-old had also been "involved in the creation of messages and materials for foreign agents". The Russian leadership uses the term "foreign agent" to brand opposition members and critics. Anyone listed as a "foreign agent" in Russia must reckon with numerous disadvantages. The organizations, media and individuals on the register are subject to increased supervision of their finances. The classification is intended to fuel mistrust of them and make their work in Russia more difficult.

4. Israel wants to extend offensive to Rafah:

   Israel plans to extend offensive to Rafah Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that the army's successes in the fight against the militant Islamist Palestinian group in the southern city of Chan Yunis meant that troops could also advance to Rafah on the Egyptian border. "We are fulfilling our tasks in Chan Yunis, and we will also reach Rafah and eliminate terrorist elements that threaten us," Gallant said.

5. CEOs of Meta, X, Discord, TikTok and Snap testify:

   The CEOs of five major digital companies, including Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, were questioned by the Senate Judiciary Committee over possible risks that their products may pose to teenagers. In the hearing chamber, Zuckerberg stood and expressed his regret to the families, stating, "I'm sorry for everything you have all gone through." Nobody should have to go through what your families have gone through, which is why we invest so much and will keep working with the industry as a whole to ensure that nobody has to experience what your families have.

   What safety advocates are saying: With growing claims that social media can hurt young users, including worries that it risks leading them to depression or even suicide, some online safety activists at the hearing thought the apologies from tech executives fell far short.

FACTS

1. The Most Remote Inhabited Island:

   Tristan da Cunha, a volcanic archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, is often considered the most remote inhabited island in the world. It's located over 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) from the nearest inhabited land, Saint Helena.

2. Japan is home to the world's oldest company still in operation:

   While the surface of the Sun can reach temperatures of about 5,500 degrees Celsius (9,932 degrees Fahrenheit), the Earth's core is even hotter. Estimates suggest that the inner core of the Earth can reach temperatures of up to 6,000 degrees Celsius (10,832 degrees Fahrenheit).

3. Humans Share 50% of Their DNA with Bananas:

   Despite the vast biological differences between humans and bananas, scientists have discovered that humans share approximately 50% of their DNA with bananas. This surprising fact underscores the relatedness of all living organisms on Earth through evolutionary history.

4. The Original Name of Bank of America Was Bank of Italy:

   Bank of America, one of the largest banks in the United States, was originally founded in San Francisco in 1904 as the Bank of Italy by Amadeo Giannini. It later merged with another bank and became Bank of America in 1930.

5. Hawaii is Moving Towards Japan:

   Due to plate tectonics, Hawaii is slowly drifting towards Japan at a rate of approximately 10 centimeters (4 inches) per year. This movement is caused by the Pacific Plate, on which Hawaii sits, shifting northwestward.

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