Author: Desk Reporter

New Delhi:  The world’s highest railway arch bridge, taller than the Eiffel Tower, over the Chenab River in India, has successfully undergone a trial run. Constructed between Sangaldan and Reasi in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir, the bridge is expected to commence rail traffic soon, according to railway officials. Photos and videos of the successful trial run, featuring a MEMU train, were shared on social media by India’s Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The Chenab bridge, part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, is an engineering marvel that directly connects the Kashmir Valley with India’s railway network. The…

Beijing: The China Development Bank (CDB) has significantly boosted its financial backing for green and low-carbon industries, committing over $28 billion (200 billion yuan) in green loans during the first five months of the year, Xinhua News Agency reported. This growth rate surpasses that of all other types of loans within the bank’s portfolio. The CDB’s cumulative issuance of carbon-reduction loans through its carbon-reduction credit facility has exceeded 110 billion yuan. The bank has continually enriched its green financial products and services, actively supporting key sectors such as energy conservation, pollution and carbon reduction, greening, and disaster prevention to drive…

London: In an interview with The Times, Housing Minister Michael Gove compared the latest election betting scandal involving Conservative Party candidates accused of betting on the election date to the infamous Partygate scandal that led to the downfall of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Gove expressed his concerns, stating, “It looks like one rule for them and one rule for us… That’s the most potentially damaging thing. That was damaging at the time of Partygate and is damaging here.” The Partygate scandal, which erupted over Covid-era parties in Downing Street during lockdown, forced Johnson to resign in 2022 amid public…

This story about YouTube’s first video and first viral sensation is a brief reminder of the platform’s remarkable history that began two decades ago. In the vast landscape of YouTube, with an estimated 400 million videos, one stands out as the most significant of all: the very first video ever uploaded. The platform, launched on February 14, 2005, by former PayPal employees Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim, had its humble beginnings at the San Diego Zoo. Key Points: YouTube Founders: Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim First Video: “Me at the Zoo” (April 23, 2005) First Viral…

Rome: In the first incident, rescuers from the German charity ResQship found 10 bodies on a wooden boat in the central Mediterranean on Monday. The ship, believed to have departed from Tunisia, was 40 miles south of the Italian island of Lampedusa. ResQship rescued 51 people from the vessel. In the second incident, a shipwreck in the Ionian Sea, about 100 miles off the Calabrian coast, left 66 people, including 26 children, missing on Monday afternoon. A cargo ship rescued 12 people and brought them to port, but one woman later died. This ship had reportedly departed from Turkey. Details…

A third company has initiated a recall due to potential E. coli (Escherichia coli bacteria) contamination, urging customers to avoid consuming a specific product. Vegan chicken and bacon wraps sold exclusively at WHSmith have been withdrawn from shelves, and customers who purchased them can return the product for a full refund. The recall, issued by the food manufacturer THIS, applies to all wraps bought up to and including Tuesday, 18 June. Although no E. coli has been detected in the wraps, the recall is a precautionary measure in response to concerns about contaminated ingredients. Health officials are working to identify…

Manchester: Three recent British opinion polls, released late on Saturday, depict a challenging scenario for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party. One pollster even warned that the party might face “electoral extinction” in the upcoming July 4 election. The polls were released midway through the election campaign, following a week where both the Conservatives and Labour unveiled their manifestos, and just before postal ballots start reaching voters. Sunak had surprised many within his party by calling an early election on May 22, contrary to expectations that he would wait until later in the year to allow for a recovery in…

A new study by researchers from Leipzig University, Bauhaus-University Weimar, and the Centre for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence reveals that Google’s search results are not as helpful as they used to be. The study highlights the need for Google to improve the relevance and quality of its search results to maintain user trust and satisfaction. The study analysed user interactions with search results and found that users were less likely to find the information they needed on Google, especially for queries related to news, health, and finance. The research suggests that Google’s algorithm is becoming more focused on…

Jeddah (Saudi Arabia): The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned the Israeli bombing of a United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) school in Gaza, which was sheltering displaced persons. The attack resulted in the deaths of over 40 Palestinians and injured numerous civilians, mostly women and children. In a statement issued today, the OIC described the bombing as an extension of the ongoing genocide in Gaza and a blatant violation of international humanitarian law, the Geneva Conventions, relevant United Nations resolutions, and orders from the International Court of Justice. The OIC welcomed the United Nations’…

Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has made a fervent appeal to world leaders, urging them to attend the Swiss peace summit next month. This plea follows a devastating Russian attack on a Kharkiv DIY hypermarket that killed at least 14 people and injured dozens. In a video message, Zelenskiy specifically called on U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to participate in the summit, scheduled to begin on June 15 in Switzerland. “Show your leadership in advancing real peace, not just a pause between strikes,” he said. Biden has not confirmed his attendance, and negotiations are ongoing regarding…