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A Hong Kong-based company, CK Infrastructure, has made a preliminary bid of £7 billion ($8.8 billion) for a majority stake in Thames Water, a UK water supplier grappling with significant debt. The non-binding offer was submitted earlier this month, with expectations that bondholders will need to accept substantial writedowns. This development follows a UK court's approval of a £3 billion emergency loan to Thames Water, which is burdened by £16 billion in debt, providing a temporary reprieve as the company seeks funding to avoid a costly state bailout. Thames Water, which serves 16 million customers, has attracted interest from various private buyers, including Covalis Capital, which has proposed a £1 billion buyout, and KKR, which has made a £4 billion offer. The company, partially owned by Canadian and British pension funds, has not commented on the bid. 
Published: Feb 22 2025, 1 pmeznews.inAlef Aeronautics has successfully conducted the first flight of its innovative flying car, the Alef Model A, which is designed to alleviate traffic congestion. Priced at Rs 2.5 crore ($300,000), the vehicle operates like a regular car but features propellers that enable it to take off vertically. In a video released by the US-based company, the car is seen transitioning from driving to flying, reminiscent of a scene from a sci-fi film. CEO Jim Dukhovny likened this milestone to the Wright Brothers' historic flight, emphasizing its significance in real-world urban settings. The Model A boasts an impressive range of 354 km on the road and 177 km in the air on a single charge. With 3,300 pre-orders already placed, Alef aims for commercial production by early 2026, and plans to introduce a larger four-seater model, the Alef Model Z, by 2035.
Published: Feb 22 2025, 9 pmeznews.inUS President Donald Trump has signed a memo aimed at imposing restrictions on Chinese investments in critical sectors such as technology and infrastructure, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Beijing, which labeled it "discriminatory." The memo, which enhances the role of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), is part of ongoing efforts to safeguard US national security against perceived threats from foreign adversaries, particularly China. The White House claims that China has been exploiting US capital to bolster its military and intelligence capabilities. In response, a spokesperson for China's commerce ministry argued that the US is overly broadening its definition of national security, potentially undermining confidence among Chinese investors. This development follows Trump's recent imposition of additional tariffs on Chinese imports, although he has also indicated that a trade deal with China might still be achievable.
Published: Feb 22 2025, 10 pmeznews.inUS President Donald Trump has appeared to backtrack on his controversial proposal to take control of Gaza and relocate its over two million residents to neighboring countries, clarifying that he was merely recommending the idea. Initially, Trump had suggested that the US would oversee the territory's rebuilding while urging Egypt and Jordan to accept displaced Palestinians, a plan that faced immediate rejection from both nations. In an interview on Fox News Radio, Trump expressed surprise at their opposition, describing the forced displacement as unjust, despite the significant financial aid the US provides to these countries. "I'm just gonna sit back and recommend it," he stated, emphasizing that he wasn't imposing his plan. Meanwhile, Arab leaders convened in Riyadh to develop a counter-proposal for Gaza's reconstruction, highlighting the growing tensions surrounding Trump's approach.
Published: Feb 22 2025, 10 pmeznews.inA knife attack during a demonstration in Mulhouse, eastern France, left one person dead and two police officers seriously injured on Saturday, according to local prosecutor Nicolas Heitz. The assailant, a 37-year-old man on a terror prevention watchlist, also injured three other officers lightly. The suspect, who was born in Algeria, had been under judicial supervision, house arrest, and an expulsion order from France. The attack occurred shortly before 4:00 PM local time during a rally in support of Congo. One of the seriously injured officers suffered a carotid artery injury, while the other was wounded in the thorax. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau is expected to visit the scene, and the incident is being treated as a potential terror attack by France's national anti-terror prosecutors unit. Mulhouse's mayor, Michele Lutz, expressed her shock, stating, "Horror has seized our city."
Published: Feb 22 2025, 10 pmeznews.inUS-based Indian-origin urologist Dr. Ash Tewari recently praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his forward-thinking approach to healthcare, emphasizing his global vision. Speaking on NDTV's 'NDTV Dialogues', Dr. Tewari highlighted Modi's commitment to integrating technological innovations in healthcare to enhance accessibility across India, suggesting that with the right strategies, healthcare could potentially reach a billion people. He also noted the fruitful discussions between Modi and his son-in-law, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, during Modi's recent US visit. Dr. Tewari expressed pride in his family's accomplishments, including his daughter Apurva, an ENT surgeon, and his desire to leverage his expertise to make a broader impact on global health, particularly in cancer treatment. He underscored the importance of unity in tackling health challenges, stating that cancer is becoming increasingly significant in public health.
Published: Feb 22 2025, 10 pmeznews.inScientists have made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting an ultra-high-energy neutrino, a so-called 'ghost particle', which is poised to transform our understanding of astrophysics. Utilizing the Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope (KM3NeT) situated in the Mediterranean Sea, researchers from Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi identified a neutrino with an energy level 30 times greater than any previously recorded. This significant finding, detailed in the journal *Nature*, marks only the third time such a particle has been detected. Dr. Satyendra Thoudam, a physicist involved in the project, emphasized that this neutrino has energy equivalent to 100 million billion times that of visible light. Neutrinos, produced in extreme cosmic events like supernovae, are notoriously elusive, rarely interacting with matter. This discovery not only enhances our ability to study distant cosmic phenomena but also opens a new avenue for exploring the propagation of ultra-high-energy rays in the universe.
Published: Feb 22 2025, 8 pmeznews.inGermany is poised for a pivotal election this Sunday, with over 59 million eligible voters, including 2.3 million first-timers, set to cast their ballots. Incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz, representing the Social Democratic Party (SPD), faces stiff competition from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) led by Friedrich Merz, the Greens, and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) headed by Alice Weidel. Recent polls indicate the CDU/CSU alliance leads with 29% support, followed by the AfD at 21%, while the SPD lags at 16%. Key issues influencing voter sentiment include immigration, exacerbated by recent violent incidents involving migrants, and the economic fallout from Russia's war in Ukraine. Germany’s electoral system combines direct and proportional representation, requiring the leading party to secure an absolute majority in the Bundestag for their chancellor candidate to assume office, potentially leading to complex coalition negotiations post-election.
Published: Feb 22 2025, 9 pmeznews.inIn a groundbreaking medical achievement, doctors have successfully treated a baby in utero for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a severe genetic disorder that affects motor neurons and muscle function. This case, detailed in _The New England Journal of Medicine_, marks the first prenatal intervention for SMA, which affects one in 10,000 live births. The infant, whose parents previously lost a child to SMA type 1, was diagnosed with the same condition through genetic testing. At 32 weeks gestation, the mother was administered risdiplam, a drug FDA-approved for postnatal SMA treatment, allowing it to be given during pregnancy. The mother took the medication daily for six weeks, and the baby received it orally shortly after birth. Remarkably, the infant has since shown elevated SMN protein levels and no signs of muscle impairment, with ongoing monitoring expected as she grows, potentially requiring lifelong treatment.
Published: Feb 22 2025, 7 pmeznews.inA 19-year-old Syrian man has been arrested in Berlin following a stabbing attack at the Holocaust memorial that left a Spanish man with life-threatening injuries. Police and prosecutors revealed the suspect harboured a "plan to kill Jews" and was found with blood-stained hands, a copy of the Koran, and a prayer rug. The attack occurred on Friday evening when the assailant approached the 30-year-old victim from behind and stabbed him in the neck. While the victim was placed in an artificial coma, he is no longer in critical condition. The suspect, who arrived in Germany as an unaccompanied minor in 2023 and was granted asylum, had no prior police record. This incident, occurring just days before a general election amid heightened concerns over immigration and rising anti-Jewish sentiment following the recent conflict in Gaza, has further alarmed German authorities. Witnesses received counselling at the scene.
Published: Feb 22 2025, 7 pmeznews.inHamas has released the final Israeli hostage as part of a ceasefire agreement, with the Red Cross confirming the handover of Hisham al-Sayed, who was originally captured in Gaza a decade ago. This transfer occurred on Saturday, following the earlier release of five other hostages by Palestinian militants. Israel’s military and domestic security agency announced that the Red Cross had communicated the transfer, stating that al-Sayed is en route to Israeli Defense Forces and security agency personnel in the Gaza Strip. This development marks a significant moment in the ongoing conflict, highlighting the complexities of hostage negotiations amid broader tensions in the region.
Published: Feb 22 2025, 7 pm
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