Author: News Desk

United Kingdom: A new study has suggested that taking short naps during the day may be beneficial for brain health, as it appears to be associated with larger brain volume. While previous studies have linked long naps to early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, recent research indicated that brief naps can enhance learning abilities. The new findings noted that napping may also help protect against brain shrinkage, which is accelerated in individuals with cognitive problems and neurodegenerative diseases. The study, conducted by researchers from University College London (UCL) and the University of the Republic in Uruguay, utilised data from the UK…

London, UK: A large-scale search and rescue operation is currently underway in the mid-Atlantic after a tourist submarine disappeared during a dive into the wreck of the Titanic on 19th June 2023. The US Coast Guard reported that contact with the small sub was lost approximately one hour and 45 minutes into the dive. OceanGate, the tour firm operating the submarine, stated that all possible options were being explored to rescue the five individuals on board. Tickets for the eight-day trip, which includes dives to the Titanic wreck at a depth of 3,800 meters (12,500 feet), cost $250,000 (£195,000). Government…

China: China and the United States have reached an agreement to work towards stabilising their relations and avoiding potential conflicts following US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s two-day visit to Beijing. A roughly 30-minute meeting with Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping was Mr. Blinken’s final engagement on the closely watched trip, which included talks with China’s top diplomat Mr. Wang Yi and Foreign Minister Mr. Qin Gang. There are hopes that the two days of discussions could pave the way for a meeting between US President Mr. Joe Biden and Chinese counterpart later this year. The two leaders last met…

Nepal: Glaciers in Asia’s Hindu Kush Himalayas are rapidly melting and could diminish by up to 75 percent by the end of the century, according to a report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). This poses a severe threat of flooding and water scarcity for the approximately 2 billion people residing downstream of the region’s twelve rivers. The report emphasizes that flash floods and avalanches will become more frequent in the coming years, impacting the availability of freshwater for the 240 million individuals living in the area and an additional 1.65 billion people downstream. The study highlights…

United States: The United Nations (UN) has adopted the first-ever international treaty to govern the high seas and protect remote ecosystems vital to humanity after more than 15 years of discussions. UN Secretary-General Mr. Antonio Guterres hailed as a “historic achievement” the pact that will establish a legal framework to extend environmental protections to international waters, known as the high seas, which cover more than 60 percent of the earth’s surface. “Climate change is disrupting weather patterns and ocean currents, raising sea temperatures, and altering marine ecosystems and the species living there,” Mr. Guterres stated, adding that marine biodiversity “is…

Kenya: Kenya and the European Union have signed a trade deal in a coup for Brussels as it seeks deeper economic ties with Africa in the face of competition from China. Kenyan President Mr. William Ruto presided over a ceremony in Nairobi to mark the formal conclusion of negotiations for the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement. Once ratified and entered into force, Kenya will be granted tariff-free and quota-free access to the European Union, its largest market, to which it currently exports approximately 20 percent of its total exports. Imports from the EU to Kenya, such as chemicals and machinery, will…

New Zealand: New Zealand Prime Minister Mr. Chris Hipkins is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping, Premier Mr. Li Qiang, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Mr. Zhao Leji during his upcoming trip to China. The confirmation came from Mr. Hipkins’ office, just a week after he announced the trip. Accompanied by a 29-member business delegation and Te Whānau-a-Apanui, champions of Te Matatini, Mr. Hipkins will visit Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai. The itinerary includes various events such as a sustainability forum, gala dinner, a keynote address at Peking University, and attendance at…

United States: Beneficial changes in the immune system that occur naturally during pregnancy have been discovered by researchers, shedding light on potential treatment strategies for conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The study, published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation, highlights the unique immunological condition of pregnancy, where the mother’s immune system adapts to become more tolerant. Despite the foetus containing genetic material from the father, the mother’s immune system does not reject it, showcasing the success of this balancing act. The study specifically focused on T cells, which play a crucial role in the immune system and are important in…

Thailand: Thailand has announced plans to host talks with Myanmar’s military leaders, a move that has drawn criticism for undermining regional unity in addressing Myanmar’s ongoing crisis. The outgoing Thai military-backed government issued a statement stating that the purpose of the informal dialogue is to discuss various topics complementary to the efforts made by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to resolve the situation in Myanmar. According to the statement, the meeting will be attended by representatives from Laos, Cambodia, India, China, Brunei, and Vietnam, as well as Myanmar, a highly contentious issue because ASEAN leaders agreed to exclude…

North Korea: North Korean officials have vowed to make a second attempt at launching a military spy satellite following the failure of their initial launch last month. According to state media, the ruling Worker’s Party of Korea held an enlarged plenary meeting, during which they criticized those responsible for the failed operation and ordered workers and researchers to analyze the launch. The first attempt, which occurred on May 31st 2023, resulted in the projectile and its payload crashing into the sea due to a rocket failure, dealing a setback to North Korean leader Mr. Kim Jong Un’s ambitions of establishing…