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Joshua Riibe, the last person known to have seen missing Indian-American student Sudiksha Konanki, is urging Dominican authorities to release him from custody, where he has been held for several days without formal charges. Riibe's lawyer, Beatriz Santana, argues that his detention is unjust as he has not been named a suspect. Despite this, his passport has been confiscated, restricting his movements to the confines of a hotel under police supervision. Konanki, a 22-year-old University of Pittsburgh student, disappeared on March 6 while vacationing in Punta Cana with friends. Surveillance footage shows her at a beach with Riibe after a night of partying, but she has not been seen since. Authorities are scrutinizing Riibe's inconsistent statements regarding the events leading up to her disappearance, with his accounts ranging from seeing her in the water to claiming he rescued her from rough seas. 
Published: Mar 18 2025, 9 ameznews.inIn a significant expression of rising anti-American sentiment, French entrepreneur Romain Roy has opted to boycott Tesla electric vehicles, incurring an additional cost of $164,000 to support European manufacturers. This decision comes amid growing frustration with Tesla CEO Elon Musk and U.S. environmental policies. Roy, whose company specializes in photovoltaic panels, previously integrated Tesla vehicles into its fleet but has since canceled a substantial order, citing the need to take a stand against what he perceives as reckless behavior harming the environment. He criticized both Musk and former President Donald Trump for prioritizing profit over ecological concerns and for fostering a trade war with Europe. This sentiment is echoed across Europe, with a movement in Denmark advocating for a boycott of U.S. goods, and reports of vandalism at Tesla dealerships in Germany and France, highlighting a broader backlash against American products.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 1 pmeznews.inRussia's defence ministry reported on Tuesday that its air defence units intercepted and destroyed 46 Ukrainian drones overnight, with the majority downed over the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine. According to the ministry's statement on Telegram, 41 of the drones were shot down in Belgorod, while others were targeted in the Bryansk, Kursk, and Oryol regions. The governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, confirmed one injury and damage to several homes resulting from the drone attack. Meanwhile, Alexander Bogomaz, the governor of Bryansk, reported no immediate injuries or damages in his region. Ukraine has not commented on the incident, although it has previously stated that its drone strikes aim to disrupt Russian military infrastructure in retaliation for ongoing attacks on Ukrainian territory since the conflict began three years ago.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 1 pmeznews.inUkrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha asserted on Tuesday that Kyiv is not a barrier to achieving a peace agreement with Russia, expressing confidence in the possibility of a just and lasting resolution under US President Donald Trump. Speaking at a conference in New Delhi, Sybiha emphasized that Ukraine is awaiting clarity on the peace process, particularly following a scheduled conversation between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin later that day. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has persisted for three years, and Sybiha's remarks highlight Ukraine's readiness to engage in dialogue aimed at ending hostilities. The foreign minister's comments reflect a hopeful stance towards diplomatic efforts, amid a backdrop of complex geopolitical dynamics.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 1 pmeznews.inAn earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale struck western Nepal on Tuesday morning, with its epicentre located in Batulasain, Achham district, approximately 450 km west of Kathmandu. The tremor occurred at 6:33 am, but authorities from the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre reported no immediate damage or casualties resulting from the quake. This incident follows a previous earthquake of magnitude 4.1 recorded in Baglung district on March 8. Despite the tremors, residents and officials remain vigilant, as Nepal is situated in a seismically active region.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 1 pmeznews.inHarvard University has announced an expansion of its financial aid program, offering free tuition to students from families earning $200,000 or less annually, effective from the 2025 academic year. This initiative is part of Harvard's ongoing commitment to enhance educational accessibility for middle-income families. Harvard President Alan M. Garber emphasized that this move broadens the diversity of student backgrounds and experiences, enriching their academic environment. Currently, the university already provides full coverage of tuition, housing, and food for students from families earning $85,000 or less. Under the new plan, students from families earning up to $100,000 will have all expenses fully covered, while those earning between $100,000 and $200,000 will receive free tuition with additional aid available. Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Hopi Hoekstra, highlighted that this investment ensures all admitted students can pursue their academic goals, regardless of financial circumstances.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 2 pmeznews.inNASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have experienced an extraordinary nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), originally planned for eight days, due to delays with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Their time in space has been marked by significant contributions to ISS maintenance, including critical repairs and participation in over 150 scientific experiments, such as studies on space agriculture. Notably, Williams conducted two spacewalks alongside Wilmore, tackling essential maintenance tasks. The duo also celebrated holidays in microgravity, casting their votes in the US presidential election and engaging in festive activities like a floating Christmas celebration. They maintained rigorous exercise routines to counteract muscle loss in zero gravity. As they prepare for their return to Earth, Williams has sent messages of encouragement to students and athletes, highlighting the importance of science and exploration. Their journey underscores the blend of critical research and personal experiences in space.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 11 ameznews.inUS President Donald Trump on Monday asserted that his predecessor, Joe Biden, used an autopen to issue presidential pardons, declaring them "void, vacant, and of no further force or effect." Trump claimed that these pardons, including those granted to members of the "Unselect Committee of political thugs," were not personally signed by Biden and suggested that aides may have acted without his knowledge, potentially committing a crime. While Trump provided no evidence for his assertions, an NBC report confirmed that Biden did use an autopen during his presidency. An autopen is a device that mimics an individual's signature, and according to a 2005 Justice Department ruling, autopen signatures are legally binding. Although Trump has criticized Biden's use of the device, he himself used an autopen to sign executive orders during his presidency, as noted by a Fox News analysis.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 12 pmeznews.inThe family of Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old Indian student who went missing in the Dominican Republic, has requested police to declare her dead following an extensive search that has yielded no results. Ms. Konanki was last seen on March 6 at the Riu Republic Resort in Punta Cana, where she was reportedly with a group of friends. US federal law enforcement is collaborating with Dominican authorities on the investigation. The last person known to be with her, Joshua Steven Riibe, has had his passport confiscated but is not considered a suspect. Riibe, who has cooperated with investigators, described an incident in which he attempted to save Ms. Konanki after she became fatigued while swimming. The Konanki family has expressed trust in the investigation and acknowledged the absence of foul play in their request for a declaration of death.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 12 pmeznews.inIn a bid to combat its declining birth rate, Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia, has introduced a series of childcare subsidies, including a daily cup of free milk for new mothers. This initiative is part of a broader strategy by over 20 provincial administrations across China to encourage young couples to marry and have children, as the nation faces its third consecutive year of population decline. Marriages have dropped by 20%, the steepest decline on record, attributed to the legacy of the one-child policy, rapid urbanization, and the high cost of raising children. Premier Li Qiang announced additional support measures during the recent parliamentary session, including free preschool education. Hohhot's financial incentives include a one-off payment of 10,000 yuan for first children and annual subsidies for subsequent children, reflecting a significant investment in family support aimed at reversing demographic trends.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 12 pmeznews.inStarting March 28, 2025, Amazon Echo users will no longer have the choice to process their Alexa voice recordings locally, as the feature "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" will be discontinued. This change means that voice recordings will be sent to Amazon's cloud for processing, although the company assures users that these recordings will be deleted after processing. Users who do not take action will see their settings automatically updated to "Don't save recordings," which may limit personalized features like voice ID and calendar access. The decision coincides with the launch of a new version of Alexa, called Alexa+, which integrates generative AI capabilities requiring cloud processing. Amazon noted that the opt-in feature was rarely used, with less than 0.03 percent of customers opting in. The announcement has sparked privacy concerns among users, many of whom are reconsidering their use of Alexa devices.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 12 pm
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