South Asia and Beyond

SNG Daily: Macron-Lula ‘Bromance’ Triggers A Meme Fest On Social Media; Sam Bankman-Fried Sentenced To 25 Years In Prison

Your one-stop destination for all the top international stories of the day.

Four US Presidents And Two Very Different Political Events In New York

Two contrasting visuals from New York that tell two very different stories. While Biden was accompanied by former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton to an event where the US President raised a record $25 million, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump chose to visit the home of NYPD officer Jonathan Diller who died in the line of duty. Incidentally, Trump has not managed to secure the backing of the only surviving former Republican President George W. Bush. In sharp contrast, Biden stood shoulder-to-shoulder with two former Democrat Presidents at a high-profile celebrity-filled fundraiser. This is how endorsements work.

5 Dead In Japan In A Week After Health Supplements Were Recalled By Pharma Company

Five people are dead and over 100 hospitalised within a week of a Japanese pharma company recalling some of its health supplements. Osaka-based Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. faced criticism for delays in public disclosure despite knowing about it since January. The announcement was made on March 22. The company reported that 114 people were hospitalised after consuming products like Benikoji Choleste Help, intended for cholesterol reduction, containing benikoji, a red mould species. Some patients experienced kidney issues, but investigations into the exact cause are still underway. Besides the recalled supplements, dozens of other products that contain benikoji, like miso paste, crackers and a vinegar dressing, have also been recalled.

Sam Bankman-Fried Sentenced To 25 Years In Jail For Fraud, Money Laundering

Nitin A Gokhale WhatsApp Channel

Sam Bankman-Fried, the once high-flying discredited former founder of FTX cryptocurrency exchange was handed a 25-year sentence for stealing $8 billion from customers. He faced a maximum of 110 years in jail after a jury found him guilty of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering in November 2023. Bankman-Fried, once among the youngest billionaires across the globe, was ordered to forfeit $11 billion in assets. During his sentencing the judge said, Bankman-Fried knew what he was doing was wrong and he knew it was criminal. Before him, Bernie Madoff who was responsible for the Ponzi scheme that came to light in 2008 was sentenced to 150 years in jail. Elizabeth Holmes, disgraced founder of Theranos, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in jail.

Top UN Court Orders Israel To Open More Land Crossings For Aid Into Gaza

The International Court of Justice at the Hague has ordered Israel to increase the number of entry points into Gaza so more aid can come in. The order from the UN court came in a case filed by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza following the October 7 attacks. Israel has said it has not restricted aid coming in, claiming that UN agencies have not been able to organise proper distribution of the same. The court has also ordered Israel’s military not to do anything that can harm the rights of Palestinians under the Genocide Convention. The orders from the UN court are legally binding on Israel.

Lula-Macron ‘Bromance’ Has Memes And A Comeback From The French President

French President Emmanuel Macron’s 3-day visit to Brazil lit up a meme fest after photos of the two Presidents’ ‘bromance’ in the Amazonian rainforest caught the attention of social media with some even calling it a pre-wedding photo shoot. Now Macron has responded to a meme on X saying for those who are equating this to a marriage – it is. ‘France loves Brazil and Brazil loves France’, wrote Macron listing out how the two nations are working together.

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