Author: News Desk

San Francisco, USA: Scientists say a major step toward developing a universal antivenom has emerged from the blood of Tim Friede, a US man who deliberately injected himself with snake venom over 18 years. Friede’s blood contains powerful antibodies that, in lab tests, protected animals from lethal doses of venom from a wide range of deadly snake species. His unique immune response offers a new avenue for creating broad-spectrum antivenoms, addressing a major global health problem that causes up to 140,000 deaths and leaves over 400,000 people annually with amputations or lifelong disabilities. Current antivenoms must match the specific species…

Menlo Park: Meta has issued a warning that European users may encounter a significantly diminished user experience following a critical decision by the European Commission, which fined the company €200 million ($215 million) for non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The fine stems from Meta’s implementation of a ‘consent or pay’ model, which requires users to either pay for a monthly subscription or permit Meta to collect and combine data from Facebook and Instagram for targeted advertising. According to the European Commission, this model violates EU rules by failing to allow users to provide ‘freely given’ consent regarding how…

Washington DC: The US has signed a deal with Ukraine on the joint exploitation of its energy and mineral resources, including the creation of a reconstruction investment fund to drive Ukraine’s economic recovery from the ongoing war with Russia. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the agreement, emphasizing that it reflects a shared commitment to peace, prosperity, and long-term growth in Ukraine. Bessent stated that the deal would help ‘unlock Ukraine’s growth assets.’ The fund also acknowledges the significant financial and material support provided by the US since the Russian invasion began in February 2022. https://twitter.com/SecScottBessent/status/1917697018551754802 What does agreement say?…

Seattle: Starbucks is shifting its strategy by expanding its barista workforce and pulling back on automation, as part of broader efforts by CEO Brian Niccol to revive the coffee chain’s performance and reconnect with customers. The move comes while intensifying industry reliance on technology to cut costs, but Starbucks is choosing a different path following declining sales and customer dissatisfaction. Niccol, who took over leadership of the company in September 2024, revealed during a recent investor call, that the previous approach of reducing labor in stores and relying on automated systems had fallen short. “Over the last couple of years,…

Detroit, Michigan: US President Donald Trump commemorated the 100th day of his second term with a fiery rally in a Detroit suburb, delivering a campaign-style address to a crowd of supporters. In his speech, Trump declared a ‘revolution of common sense’ and pledged to bring about ‘profound change,’ using the occasion to spotlight his administration’s early accomplishments while also lambasting political opponents and institutions. Trump renewed attacks on Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, mocking his mental acuity and even his appearance in a swimsuit. The President again reiterated the unfounded claim that he was the rightful winner of the 2020 election…

San Francisco: ChatGPT has expanded its capabilities by adding shopping features, entering a space traditionally dominated by tech giants like Amazon and Google. The new update allows users to easily view prices, reviews, and personalized product recommendations, along with direct purchase links. OpenAI, ChatGPT’s parent company, emphasized that these selections are independent and not advertisements. Launched last year, ChatGPT’s search tool has quickly become one of its most popular features, with over a billion web searches in just the past week. While Google remains the dominant player in search, capturing about 89 percent of global traffic, its market share has…

Kourou, French Guiana: A groundbreaking satellite, Biomass, designed to transform understanding of Earth’s forests is scheduled for launch, offering scientists an unprecedented ability to measure the carbon stored in trees, a crucial element in combating climate change. Developed by the European Space Agency (ESA), the Biomass satellite can penetrate cloud cover and dense tree canopies to ‘weigh’ the world’s forests, providing insights into the amount of carbon locked in vegetation, which helps to remove harmful carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Until now, accurately calculating the amount of carbon contained in the world’s approximately 1.5 trillion rainforest trees has been beyond…

London, UK: Consuming large amounts of ultra-processed foods (UPF) like bread, cakes, and ready meals increases the risk of premature death, according to an international study. The research, involving countries such as the US, England, and Brazil, reveals that each 10 percent increase in UPF intake raises the risk of dying before 75 by 3 percent. The study highlights that UPF consumption is responsible for one in seven premature deaths in some countries, with 124,107 early deaths annually in the US and 17,781 in England. The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, identifies the harmful effects of…

Liverpool, England: Liverpool fought back from an early setback to demolish Tottenham Hotspur 5-1, clinching their 20th Premier League title dominantly at a sun-drenched Anfield. The Reds only needed a point to secure the English title with four games to spare, but their title celebrations were temporarily halted when Dominic Solanke headed Tottenham in front in the 12th minute. However, Liverpool quickly responded. Luis Diaz scored a tap-in after a low cross from Dominik Szoboszlai, which was initially ruled offside but overturned after a VAR check. Then came Alexis Mac Allister’s stunning left-footed thunderbolt from distance and a cool finish…

Rome, Italy: US President Donald Trump has questioned Vladimir Putin’s willingness to end the war in Ukraine following his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Pope Francis’s funeral. Posting on social media after leaving Rome, Trump expressed concerns that Putin may not want peace, especially after Moscow’s recent missile strikes on Kyiv. Trump suggested that Putin could be ‘tapping him along,’ adding that there was no reason for attacks on civilian areas. This was the first face-to-face meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy since their February clash at the White House, where Trump had told Zelenskyy he ‘didn’t have the…