Author: Emily Harper

Beijing Emerges Strategically Stronger After London Talks China has walked away from the latest US trade negotiations with renewed confidence in its geopolitical leverage, particularly around critical mineral exports. The agreement, described by Washington as a deal “done,” is in fact a return to the stalled truce previously reached in May. Yet the political and economic dynamics have shifted. China now views itself not as a passive negotiator but as a co-equal power with tools that can significantly shape outcomes. Though full details of the London agreement remain confidential, both sides have acknowledged that the framework is essentially a reinstatement…

A Galactic Portrait Like Never Before Astronomers have achieved a new milestone in the observation of galaxies by capturing the most detailed, full-color image of the Sculptor Galaxy, also known as NGC 253. This spiral galaxy, located approximately 11 million light-years away, has been mapped in an extraordinary array of a thousand colors. Each shade in the image reveals information about the different components of the galaxy: stars, gas, and cosmic dust. The image was produced using the Very Large Telescope (VLT) operated by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in the Atacama Desert of Chile. With the help of the…

Rate Cut Marks Sixth Straight Easing Move The Swiss National Bank (SNB) lowered its policy rate by 25 basis points to 0% on Thursday, delivering its sixth consecutive reduction since March 2024. Chairman Martin Schlegel told reporters the decision had been widely anticipated after May consumer prices slipped 0.1% year-on-year, the first negative reading in four years. The move places Switzerland at the bottom of the global interest-rate league table and comes only two years after the country emerged from a long period of negative rates. Schlegel stressed that while the bank “can never exclude measures,” pushing borrowing costs below…

Tensions Rise as Trump Weighs Military Action Against Iran President Donald Trump is facing a critical moment as he considers whether the United States should join Israel in military action against Iran. At the heart of the discussion is a possible strike on Iranian nuclear facilities using powerful bunker-busting bombs. However, Trump’s top priority remains avoiding a prolonged or full-scale war in the region. Despite increasing pressure from allies like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who views U.S. involvement as essential to halting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Trump is cautious. He remains unconvinced that intervention must escalate into a drawn-out military…

Escalating Violence Between Israel and Iran The conflict between Israel and Iran has reached a historic peak, with six consecutive days of military strikes exchanged between the two countries. In one of the most intense episodes so far, the Israeli military launched a massive aerial operation, deploying 50 fighter jets to target key locations in Tehran. Among the 20 sites hit was a facility tied to Iran’s nuclear centrifuge production, signaling a bold move in Israel’s efforts to disrupt nuclear development activities. Simultaneously, Israel successfully intercepted 10 drone attacks launched from Iranian territory, showing the effectiveness of its air defense…

Amazon is sending a clear signal that its driver-less ambitions are no longer an R&D side hustle. The company has opened a 220,000-square-foot factory in Hayward, California, to build Zoox robotaxis at scale, laying the groundwork for a nationwide ride-hailing network and a head-to-head fight with Alphabet’s Waymo. An Ambitious Bet On Purpose-Built Cabs Amazon bought Bay-Area startup Zoox for $1.2 billion in 2020, inheriting a radical, gondola-like shuttle with no steering wheel, pedals or driver’s seat. Five years later, that vision is taking shape on the assembly line: management says the plant will ramp from dozens of vehicles this…

Local Youth Vow to Block Canals as Opposition Gains Momentum Venice is facing a wave of unrest ahead of the highly anticipated wedding of billionaire Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sánchez, scheduled for June 28. What was meant to be a glamorous celebration in one of the world’s most iconic cities is now becoming a flashpoint for a broader protest movement. Hundreds of young Venetians, identifying as underemployed or “precarious,” gathered near the Rialto Bridge to voice their outrage, accusing the event of symbolizing inequality, gentrification, and the erosion of the city’s soul. At the heart of the protest is…

Hallucinations, Blisters and a Record-Breaking Journey in 35 Days British ultrarunner Will Goodge crossed Australia on foot in just 35 days, completing one of the most punishing endurance feats ever recorded. Beginning in Perth and ending at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on May 19, the influencer and former rugby player ran 2,387 miles—an average of 68.2 miles per day—through heat, pain and mental exhaustion. If confirmed, his effort would beat the previous trans-Australia record by four days, setting a new benchmark in extreme endurance sports. The early days were brutal. Goodge described the first nine days as a “revolving nightmare” filled…

North Korea will dispatch 1,000 military deminers and 5,000 construction troops to Russia’s war-damaged Kursk region, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu said during a visit to Pyongyang on Tuesday. He framed the deployment as “brotherly aid” aimed at clearing unexploded ordnance, restoring rail links and repairing housing battered by Ukrainian strikes. Sending workers abroad is not new for Pyongyang. Until U.N. bans took effect in 2020, tens of thousands of North Korean welders and carpenters earned foreign currency in Russia and the Gulf. Rights groups say up to 90 percent of wages went to the state, yet a guaranteed…

As the gangway lowers at the Port of Hong Kong, the crew swiftly secures the massive ONE Modern vessel. Dwarfed by the towering pink container ship, workers in orange jumpsuits begin the intricate process of unloading and reloading more than 700 containers in under 10 hours. This scene plays out daily as companies worldwide race to navigate the latest chapter in the ongoing US-China trade war. With the expiration of the US tariff pause looming, businesses are pushing to get goods out of China and into the United States. The heightened activity reflects growing anxiety across supply chains, where unpredictability…