Author: News Desk

Madrid: Doctors may have discovered a potential way to heal broken hearts in a world-first clinical trial. The study focuses on takotsubo cardiomyopathy, commonly known as broken heart syndrome, a condition affecting hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. It causes the heart muscle to change shape and suddenly weaken, usually triggered by severe emotional or physical stress, such as losing a loved one. Patients can experience symptoms similar to a heart attack and face double the risk of early death compared with the general population. Some develop heart failure, leading to fatigue, other debilitating symptoms, and a shorter life expectancy.…

New Delhi: Mohan Bhagwat, head of India’s powerful Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has urged Indian families to have three children each, citing long-term risks posed by the country’s declining birth rates. India, with a population of 1.46 billion, is the world’s most populous nation. However, the total fertility rate has dropped below two children per woman, according to the UN Population Fund’s 2025 report, even as economic growth accelerates. Speaking at a lecture commemorating the 100th anniversary of the RSS’s founding, Bhagwat emphasized that the population must remain “controlled, yet sufficient” and suggested that “in the national…

London: The British arm of German discount supermarket Aldi has increased pay for over 28,000 hourly workers for the second time in two months, overtaking a recent rise by rival Lidl GB. From September 1, Aldi will pay £13.02 ($17.59) an hour, along with paid breaks, to ‘maintain its position as sector leader.’ Earlier this month, Lidl announced its fifth pay increase in two years, raising its entry-level hourly rate nationally to £13, with rates rising to £13.95 depending on length of service. Aldi had previously announced a £13 rate, effective September 1. Employees in London at both discounters will…

London: Half of UK workers are worried about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on their jobs, according to a Trades Union Congress (TUC) survey of 2,600 people. The poll found that 51 percent of respondents fear job losses or changes to terms and conditions due to AI, with concerns strongest among younger workers aged 25–34, where nearly two-thirds (62 percent) reported being worried. The findings come as major employers, including BT, Amazon, and Microsoft, have warned that advances in AI may lead to workforce reductions. Although the UK’s unemployment rate has risen to a four-year high of 4.7 percent…

Los Angeles: The animated musical KPop Demon Hunters has climbed Netflix’s charts to become the platform’s most-viewed movie ever. Since its release in June, the film has been streamed over 236 million times, surpassing the action-comedy Red Notice to claim the top spot. The film has also achieved remarkable success in music, with songs from its soundtrack becoming some of the most-streamed globally on Spotify. The track Golden reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 earlier this month, marking one of several chart-topping accomplishments for the movie. Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, KPop Demon Hunters follows the fictional K-pop…

Gaborone: Botswana has declared a public health emergency as the country faces critical shortages of essential medicines and medical equipment. President Duma Boko announced the decision during a televised address, outlining a multimillion-pound plan to rectify the medical supply chain under military oversight. The President acknowledged the challenge of addressing the shortages, noting that it would be ‘highly price sensitive due to our limited coffers.’ The nation’s economy has been severely impacted by a downturn in the international diamond market, as Botswana is one of the world’s leading diamond producers. This economic strain, compounded by cuts to US aid, has…

Mumbai/Chennai: At McDonald’s outlets in South India, a 30-cent burger topping has been selling out quickly. Unlike extra cheese or fancy salsa, the item is a vegetarian protein slice co-developed with Indian government food scientists, marking McDonald’s first such offering globally. McDonald’s has joined forces with India’s largest dairy, Amul, several startups, and a company backed by Bollywood superstar Ranveer Singh to launch an aggressive marketing campaign. Celebrity chefs and cricketers are promoting protein as a daily nutritional necessity for people of all ages, not just a gym trend. Ordering kiosks at McDonald’s do not display calories but highlight high…

Maryland / Washington DC: The United States has confirmed its first case of a human infection with the flesh-eating screwworm parasite. The infected individual, from Maryland, had recently traveled from Guatemala and received prompt treatment, with preventive measures swiftly implemented, officials said. Beth Thompson, South Dakota’s state veterinarian, confirmed she was notified of the case within the past week, and a Maryland state government official also verified the report. Screwworms are parasitic flies whose larvae feed on the living flesh of warm-blooded animals. The female fly lays eggs in open wounds, and once hatched, hundreds of larvae burrow into the…

New York: Filipina tennis star Alexandra Eala made Grand Slam history at the US Open, advancing to the second round of a major tournament for the first time in her career. The 20-year-old world number 75 defeated Danish 14th seed Clara Tauson 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11) in a gripping first-round match on the Grandstand court at Flushing Meadows, marking her maiden singles main draw victory at a Grand Slam. Eala had never previously won a singles match at a major, falling in three-set battles at both the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this year. However, backed by a raucous crowd…

Stockholm: Spotify has confirmed that subscription price hikes will continue to be a regular strategy as the company pushes toward profitability and expands its offerings. Alex Norström, Spotify’s co-president and chief business officer, said price rises are now ‘part of our toolbox’ after years of keeping them flat. Norström stressed that these increases would come alongside added features and services, explaining, “essentially we want the consumer to win.” Spotify first raised prices only two years ago, a move that reassured investors focused on profitability after years of user growth. That strategy, combined with cost-cutting, led to its first annual profit…