Author: Web Desk

Shanghai: A wave of cold weather sweeping across southern China has brought rare snowfall to Shanghai, creating an unusual winter scene and delighting many residents. The snowfall marks a striking contrast to the unusually warm temperatures recorded only a week earlier, when Shanghai saw highs of around 20 degrees Celsius and reports of early blooming osmanthus trees. The sudden shift has underlined the scale of temperature fluctuations being felt across the region. The city, located on China’s eastern coast, last recorded heavy snowfall in January 2018, making the current event notable for both residents and authorities. Shanghai’s weather has remained…

Washington: Gold has moved sharply higher as investors have turned towards safe-haven assets following renewed trade tensions between the United States and several European nations. The price of gold has touched $ 4,689.39 (£3,499) per ounce, while silver has climbed to $ 94.08 per ounce, reflecting heightened concern across global financial markets. Precious metals have continued to attract strong demand as uncertainty surrounding tariffs and geopolitical disputes has unsettled investors. The latest surge has followed an announcement by US President Donald Trump that a 10 percent tariff would be imposed on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United…

Tokyo: Japan has entered a new phase of political activity after reports indicated that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is preparing to call a snap election for the House of Representatives. The move has come at a time when public support for Takaichi and the cabinet has remained high since taking office in October. Unnamed officials have indicated that an announcement of the election date is expected to be made at a press conference, after which voters will elect all 465 members of the lower and more powerful chamber of parliament. Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party currently holds 199 seats in…

Beijing: China has recorded economic growth of 5 percent in 2025, meeting its official target despite external trade pressure and domestic structural challenges. China has defied expectations that US tariffs and a struggling property sector would significantly weaken economic performance. China has reached its growth goal of 5 percent for 2025, matching the pace achieved in the previous year and meeting the government’s target of ‘around’ that level. Data released on January 19 has shown that China’s economy has remained resilient even as it faced challenges from global trade tensions, weak consumer demand, and a prolonged property market downturn. China…

Milan: JD Vance has been appointed to lead the United States presidential delegation at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics, scheduled to take place in Milan on February 6. The announcement has been confirmed by the White House, underscoring the significance of the event in strengthening international relations and showcasing American representation at one of the world’s most prestigious sporting gatherings. JD Vance will attend the ceremony alongside Second Lady Usha Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and United States Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta. The delegation will also include a distinguished group of former Olympic champions, highlighting…

London: Paracetamol has been widely used as the first-line pain relief medication during pregnancy, and new evidence has further strengthened confidence in its safety. A comprehensive review published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health has analysed 43 high-quality studies involving hundreds of thousands of pregnancies and has found no association between Paracetamol use and an increased risk of autism, ADHD, or other neurodevelopmental conditions in children. Paracetamol researchers have stated that this review has relied on some of the strongest available scientific methods, including sibling-comparison studies that help remove genetic and environmental bias. By comparing outcomes within families,…

Beijing: Nvidia has seen shipments of its H200 chips halted after Chinese customs authorities have instructed that the processors are not permitted to enter the country. Nvidia suppliers have paused production of components after being informed that shipments would not be cleared, according to a report that cited people familiar with the matter.  Nvidia has been expecting more than one million orders from Chinese clients for the H200, which is its second most powerful artificial intelligence processor. Suppliers have been operating around the clock in preparation for shipments that were expected to begin as early as March. The sudden pause…

Florida: NASA has readied its most powerful rocket for the Artemis II mission that will carry astronauts on a round-the-Moon journey and back to Earth. NASA has scheduled the launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida as early as February 6, for a 685,000-mile round trip lasting about 10 days. The mission has marked the second flight of the Space Launch System rocket and the first time it will carry a human crew. The astronauts will live and work inside the Orion capsule while testing life-support, navigation and communications systems in deep space. NASA has confirmed the crew will include…

Paris: Horses have demonstrated the ability to sense fear in humans by detecting chemical changes in body odour, according to researchers who have examined how emotions can transfer between species. The study has indicated that fear may be contagious between humans and horses, with volatile compounds in human sweat acting as warning signals of potential danger. Researchers from the University of Tours in France have carried out a series of experiments to understand how horses respond to different emotional scents. Volunteers were asked to watch either frightening scenes from the horror film Sinister or joyful clips from films such as…

California: Grok has become the focus of a formal investigation by California’s Attorney General after a surge of reports about sexually explicit AI-generated deepfakes circulating online. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has said the volume and nature of complaints related to Grok have been alarming, particularly material depicting women and children in explicit and non-consensual scenarios. Bonta said that, the spread of such content represents a serious threat to personal dignity and online safety, urging xAI to act immediately to prevent further misuse of Grok. The investigation has marked one of the strongest state-level responses so far to concerns over…