WORLD

One of the richest people in the world has again come to the center of a controversy over his alleged secret affair with a Russian bridge player, and how he was blackmailed by Jeffrey Epstein for his clandestine relationship.

The disgraced financial Jeffrey Epstein used to blackmail Microsoft founder Bill Gates for his affair with a then twenty-year-old Russian bridge player, Mila Antonova, reported the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The report revealed how Jeffrey Epstein lowered his level to extort money from Bill Gates.

According to the WSJ report, Bill Gates met with a woman around 2010, when she was in her twenties. Three years later, Epstein met the lady and also paid the fees of her coding course in 2013. After four years in 2017, when everything between Gates and the lady was over completely, Epstein emailed Bill Gates and threatened him to reveal his relationship. He also asked Gates to reimburse the fee amount paid by Epstein in 2013.

During a meeting of Quad leaders in Tokyo yesterday, US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese came up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a peculiar challenge. Both leaders have claimed that they are facing a torrent of requests from prominent citizens to attend events where PM Modi would be speaking.

PM Modi will interact with Australian CEOs, business leaders and interact with Indian expats at a community event in Sydney on Tuesday. In June, the PM will go to the US on a state visit following an invitation from President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The US leaders will host PM Modi for a state dinner at the White House. 

India will strive to amplify the voices and concerns of the Global South nations at the G7 summit in Japan's Hiroshima, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said shortly before departing for Japan.

In an interview with Nikkei Asia, the PM said he was looking forward to discussing global changes and challenges in areas such as energy, digital technology and supply chains and emphasise India's role as a "reliable partner" in addressing these challenges.

India is not a G7 member but PM Modi was invited by host and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who has repeatedly expressed his desire to actively engage the so-called Global South, or developing world.

Last year skyrocketing prices for medicines and food as well as a power and fuel shortage saw Sri Lanka descend into utter chaos forcing the President to flee. This year Pakistan is seeing political turmoil while people fight for basics like flour in the streets, while its forex reserves are running out.

The one thing both of these countries have in common, is that they have taken billions in loans from China, and are among dozens of countries trapped by Chinese debt.

An analysis conducted by news agency The Associated Press, revealed that apart from Pakistan, Kenya, Zambia, Laos and Mongolia among others are at the brink of collapse due to the money they own to China.

Amid the ongoing political crisis in Pakistan, US Ambassador Eric Garcetti on Wednesday said that both India and the United States want stability in Pakistan, adding that both countries will “pray that the rule of law and peace prevail over the border,” reported news agency PTI.

While addressing the media, Garcetti also said India is emerging as a leading power in the world and that he is impressed with the progress the country has made in the last three decades.

“I think the US, India and the world share the same concern. We want stability in Pakistan. We hope that there won’t be unrest in Pakistan,” he said, ANI reported.