Author: News Desk

London: A new round of trade talks aimed at resolving the ongoing trade war between the United States and China is scheduled to take place in London. US President Donald Trump announced that a senior delegation from the US would meet with Chinese representatives, a plan Beijing confirmed over the weekend by revealing that Vice Premier He Lifeng will attend the talks. These announcements follow a recent phone conversation between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which Trump described as a ‘very good talk’ resulting in a ‘very positive conclusion for both countries.’ Last month, the two largest economies in…

Manila / Jakarta: Staying cool this summer is coming at a higher cost, as coconut oil prices, crucial for manufacturing ice cream, have skyrocketed in 2025. At the end of May, Philippine coconut oil delivered in Rotterdam hit $2,800 per tonne, double the price from the previous year, with further increases expected as demand outpaces supply. Coconut oil’s unique properties, like a high melting point without compromising flavor or texture, make it ideal for industrial ice cream production. As a result, rising oil prices have led to a spike in dessert costs. In the UK, ice lollies and cones jumped…

Beijing: China is rapidly advancing its autonomous truck sector, with self-driving lorries now operating between major hubs like Beijing and Tianjin ports. Though regulations still require safety drivers, the vehicles are fully capable of navigating highways without human input, signaling a dramatic shift in the country’s logistics industry. One such driver, 32-year-old Huo Kangtian, plays the role of a ‘safety driver,’ observing as the truck drives itself. After taking control for the initial part of the journey, he switches to autonomous mode with a few buttons, letting the vehicle navigate itself at high speed. It handles ramps, toll gates, and…

Tokyo: Japanese private space company ispace has declared the failure of its second lunar landing mission after losing contact with its uncrewed moon lander, Resilience. The announcement was made after hours of silence from the lander, which was attempting to touch down on the Moon’s surface. The Tokyo-based firm confirmed that communication was lost during the final descent, and preliminary analysis suggests that a faulty laser-based altitude measurement system caused Resilience to descend too rapidly, likely resulting in a ‘hard landing.’ This marks ispace’s second failed landing attempt, following the crash of its first lander in 2023. At a press…

Washington DC: The administration of President Donald Trump has followed through on its threat to impose sanctions on officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The move targets four judges accused of ‘illegitimate and baseless actions’ against the United States and its allies. The sanctions were announced in a strongly worded statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio condemned the ICC as a ‘politicized’ institution that wrongly claims unrestricted authority to investigate, charge, and prosecute nationals of the US and its allies, including Israel. He said this “dangerous assertion” infringes on the sovereignty and national security of the…

Melbourne, Australia: A groundbreaking discovery by researchers at Melbourne’s Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity has brought the possibility of an HIV cure closer. Using advanced mRNA technology, similar to that in Covid-19 vaccines the team has found a way to force the virus out of hiding in human immune cells, potentially allowing it to be cleared from the body. One of the greatest challenges in curing HIV has been the virus’s ability to remain dormant inside specific white blood cells, forming a ‘reservoir’ that the immune system and current drugs cannot detect or destroy. The new study, published…

Bengaluru, India: Eleven people have died and dozens more were injured in a tragic crush outside Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium during a victory parade celebrating the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL win, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed. Thousands of fans lined the streets to welcome the RCB team, who had defeated the Punjab Kings in the IPL final. However, the authorities were unprepared for the massive turnout, with over 200,000 people attending, double the anticipated crowd, a police official noted. The tragedy unfolded when large crowds tried to push through a small gate at the stadium that had not yet been…

Mecca, Saudi Arabia: Zamzam, the sacred wellspring at the heart of Islam’s holiest site, continues to sustain millions as the annual Hajj pilgrimage begins. This year, about 1.8 million Muslims from around the world are expected to converge in Mecca, with the pilgrimage set to conclude on June 8. Central to the pilgrimage is Zamzam water, a wellspring believed to have flowed continuously for over 4,000 years. The Zamzam well is located inside the Grand Mosque of Mecca (Masjid al-Haram), about 21 meters east of the Kaaba, beneath the Mataf area, the white marble space where pilgrims perform Tawaf, walking…

London: Physician associates (PAs) in the NHS will undergo a title change after a government-commissioned review concluded that their current designation causes significant confusion among patients, potentially endangering safety. The independent review, led by Professor Gillian Leng, found that many patients mistakenly believe PAs are fully qualified doctors, even though they are not. PAs perform tasks like taking medical histories, examining patients, and diagnosing conditions, but they do not hold medical degrees and complete only two years of postgraduate training. Sources close to the review indicate that Leng will recommend renaming the role, with alternatives such as ‘physician assistants’ or…

New Delhi: Elon Musk’s Tesla has officially opted out of manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs) in India, according to Indian Minister for Heavy Industries, H.D. Kumaraswamy. The confirmation came as the Indian government released detailed guidelines for a new EV manufacturing scheme aimed at attracting global investment. Speaking at a press event, Kumaraswamy said that, “Mercedes-Benz, Skoda-Volkswagen, Hyundai, and Kia have shown interest [in manufacturing electric cars in India]. Tesla – we are not expecting from them.” The minister did confirm that Tesla plans to open two showrooms in India, establishing only a retail presence. https://twitter.com/hd_kumaraswamy/status/1929797802650956116 Tesla’s absence in Stakeholder talks…