Author: News Desk

Detroit, USA: Toyota subsidiary Hino Motors has agreed to pay $1.6 billion and plead guilty to deceiving US regulators by falsifying emissions and fuel consumption data from its diesel engines. This resolution includes a five-year ban on exporting diesel engines to the United States. The charges, filed in a Detroit court, revealed that Hino sold 105,000 illegal engines in the US between 2010 and 2022. The settlement, which still requires court approval, also includes commitments to rectify environmental damage caused by the fraud. The US Justice Department described Hino’s actions as a “criminal conspiracy,” accusing the company of submitting “false…

Ottawa, Canada: After months of speculation, former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor Mark Carney has officially declared his bid for the leadership of Canada’s governing Liberal Party. Carney, 59, launched his campaign in his hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, at a hockey rink where he learned to skate as a child. In his announcement, Carney stated, “I’m doing this because Canada is the best country in the world, but it could still be even better.” If successful, Carney will replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced his intent to resign after nine years in office once a new…

Sriharikota, India: India’s space agency, ISRO, has successfully completed its first-ever space docking, joining two spacecraft in orbit as part of the SpaDeX mission. This marks a crucial step in India’s aspirations to build its own space station and send astronauts to the Moon. The mission, named Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), launched on December 30,2024 from the Sriharikota launch pad in southern India. The two small spacecraft, dubbed the Chaser and the Target, weighing approximately 220 kg each, separated after launch and traveled at different speeds to create a 10-20 km distance between them before docking. Prime Minister Narendra Modi,…

Jerusalem, Israel: Israel’s cabinet is set to meet, to approve a ceasefire and hostage release agreement with Hamas in Gaza, raising hopes for an end to the 15-month conflict. The agreement, which includes an initial six-week truce, is expected to begin on Sunday, 19th of January. However, fighting continues, with Gaza’s civil defense agency reporting at least 20 Palestinian deaths since the deal was announced on Wednesday evening. Israeli airstrikes last night killed more than 20 people, including 12 residents in a residential block in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood. There has been no immediate comment from the Israeli military.…

New York: RedNote, the Chinese social media app also known as Xiaohongshu, has experienced a significant surge in US users just days ahead of a proposed ban on TikTok. In a live chat session titled “TikTok Refugee”, more than 50,000 users from the US and China joined discussions, where American users exchanged ideas with Chinese counterparts about topics like food and unemployment. However, some conversations veered into more sensitive areas, such as the political differences between China and Hong Kong, prompting caution from Chinese users. The app’s surge in popularity has made it the second-most popular free app on Apple’s…

London: Global experts are urging a shift in how obesity is diagnosed and treated, calling for a more accurate and nuanced definition that goes beyond the traditional body mass index (BMI) measurement. The report, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology and supported by over 50 international medical professionals, emphasizes evaluating overall health rather than relying solely on BMI, which fails to differentiate between muscle and fat or account for harmful fat around the waist and organs. BMI: A flawed metric Key recommendations include categorizing individuals with weight-related chronic illnesses as having ‘clinical obesity,’ requiring drug treatments, while those without…

London: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled a far-reaching AI Action Plan aimed at modernizing UK public services, enhancing efficiency, and driving economic growth. Sir Keir emphasized the government’s responsibility to make AI “work for working people,” highlighting its potential to “transform the lives of working people” and drive “incredible change.” The AI Opportunities Action Plan, supported by leading tech firms committing £14 billion and creating 13,250 jobs, aims to position the UK as an AI “superpower” alongside the US and China. Key Proposals The action plan includes: Establishing “AI Growth Zones” to focus on development, creating jobs, and…

Seattle, USA:  Starbucks has revealed a reversal of its 2018 ‘Open Access Policy’, which allowed people to use its cafes and restrooms without making a purchase. The new rules, set to take effect on January 27, will require customers to buy something to access its facilities. The updated policy is part of the company’s “Back to Starbucks” strategy, introduced by CEO Brian Niccol, to address declining sales and enhance the customer experience. The world’s largest coffee chain is also implementing a new code of conduct, which includes measures to prevent harassment, ban smoking, and prohibit outside alcohol in its cafes.…

Cape Canaveral, Florida: Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is set to launch its New Glenn rocket early Monday, 13th January in a highly anticipated inaugural mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking a major milestone in its quest to rival Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the competitive satellite launch market. Standing at an impressive 30 stories tall, the partially reusable New Glenn rocket is scheduled for liftoff at 1:30 am ET (0630 GMT). Fuelled by methane and liquid oxygen, the rocket is poised to demonstrate Blue Origin’s capabilities after a decade-long, multi-billion-dollar development journey. The mission will also include an attempt…

Prayagraj, India: The Kumbh Mela, hailed as the world’s largest spiritual gathering, has begun in Prayagraj, India, attracting millions of devotees to the sacred confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers. The festival, held every 12 years, will run from January 13 to February 26, 2025, and is expected to draw an estimated 400 million pilgrims over 45 days, with 20 million visitors anticipated on peak days. Spiritual Significance Hindus believe bathing in the holy rivers purifies the soul, cleanses sins, and offers liberation from the cycle of birth and death. This year’s festival is considered particularly…