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A UAE-based brokerage firm, Gulf First Commercial Brokers, has abruptly disappeared, leaving investors in turmoil after allegedly absconding with millions of dirhams. Previously operating from two offices in Dubai's Capital Golden Tower, the firm employed around 40 staff who aggressively marketed forex investments. Now, the offices lie abandoned, with dust-covered floors and ripped phone wires. Among the defrauded investors are Kerala expats Mohammad and Fayaz Poyyl, who lost $75,000. They and others were lured into investments through persistent phone calls, often pressured to deposit more funds under the guise of guaranteed returns. Police have initiated investigations against Gulf First and its linked entity, Sigma-One Capital, which operates without proper authorization. Previous scams in the UAE mirror this case, characterized by cold-calling tactics and the promise of secure trading, leaving victims with empty offices and financial losses. 
Published: May 21 2025, 3 pmeznews.inThe US Army is set to revise the records of transgender soldiers to reflect only their sex at birth, following internal guidance revealed by Reuters. This directive, part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration, aims to enforce a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, a move supported by a recent Supreme Court ruling. The 14-page memo outlines that personnel records and administrative systems will be updated accordingly, with commanders instructed to use pronouns that align with biological sex and designate access to intimate spaces based on this classification. Currently, there are approximately 4,240 active-duty and National Guard transgender troops, though advocates suggest the actual number may be higher. Critics, including LGBTQ rights groups, have condemned the directives as harmful to military readiness and vindictive. Public support for transgender service members has decreased, with a Gallup poll indicating that 58% of Americans now back their inclusion in the military.
Published: May 21 2025, 9 pmeznews.inIndia and the US are poised to announce an interim trade agreement ahead of the July 8 deadline, as New Delhi seeks a full exemption from a newly imposed 26% tariff on its goods. The US had suspended this tariff for 90 days starting April 2, although a baseline tariff of 10% remains. India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal recently engaged in talks in Washington, aiming to protect sensitive sectors like agriculture and dairy while negotiating concessions for labour-intensive industries such as textiles and leather. Both nations are working to enhance bilateral trade, targeting a doubling to $500 billion by 2030. While the US has raised concerns over non-tariff barriers in India, India remains open to importing non-genetically modified products. With the US as India's largest trading partner, the trade surplus has grown significantly, prompting discussions to address the widening trade deficit.
Published: May 21 2025, 9 pmeznews.inTeeth, it seems, evolved from sensory organs rather than for chewing, according to a study published in *Nature*. The research highlights that odontodes, the ancient precursors to teeth, first emerged on the armor of early fish around 500 million years ago. Lead author Yara Haridy, while investigating the oldest vertebrate fossils, discovered that these structures may have functioned as sensory organs, transmitting sensations to nerves. Her analysis revealed striking similarities between the sensory features in the Cambrian fossil *Anatolepis* and modern fish, confirming nerve sensitivity in external tooth tissues of species like catfish and sharks. This suggests that the original purpose of odontodes was to detect environmental cues, aiding survival in a predatory habitat. Over time, these sensory structures evolved into the teeth we recognize today, illustrating a fascinating journey from ancient sensory organs to modern dental features.
Published: May 21 2025, 9 pmeznews.inThai director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke aims to expand the scope of gay cinema with his film "A Useful Ghost," which premiered at Cannes. Featuring popular influencer Davika "Mai" Hoorne, the film combines comedy with political commentary, telling the story of a ghost who helps her husband confront their past amid Thailand's political turmoil. While LGBTQ narratives in Thailand often focus on love and coming-out stories, Ratchapoom advocates for more politically charged queer tales. The film incorporates elements of satire, including a plot where the ghost's in-laws initially disapprove of her return but later enlist her help to deal with dissident spirits linked to real-life protests that resulted in over 90 civilian deaths in 2010. Hoorne praised the film's bravery, highlighting the challenges of addressing such topics in Thailand, especially in light of the recent political landscape and the legalization of same-sex marriage.
Published: May 21 2025, 9 pmeznews.inIn Silicon Valley, a fierce competition for artificial intelligence talent has emerged, likened to a high-stakes chess game, particularly following the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022. Companies such as OpenAI and Google are aggressively recruiting top researchers, offering lucrative compensation packages that can exceed $20 million annually, alongside substantial bonuses to retain talent. Notably, some researchers are being offered retention bonuses of up to $2 million to remain at OpenAI, while others have received offers from rival firms like Eleven Labs. The talent pool is notably small, with estimates of elite contributors ranging from a few dozen to around a thousand, underscoring their critical role in developing advanced AI technologies. This scarcity has prompted innovative hiring strategies, with firms employing data analysis techniques from the sports industry to identify promising candidates. The recent departure of key figures, such as OpenAI's former CTO Mira Murati, has further intensified the race for top talent in AI.
Published: May 21 2025, 8 pmeznews.inColumbia University, heavily reliant on its 40% international student population for revenue, is facing financial challenges exacerbated by Trump-era immigration policies. These policies not only threaten the enrollment of foreign students, who pay over $70,000 in tuition but also jeopardize the university's substantial federal research funding, which was frozen at $903.1 million. As international students seek alternatives, such as Canada, concerns grow about the impact on U.S. educational competitiveness. Former deputy education undersecretary Jordan Matsudaira highlighted the financial strain, noting that while Columbia has a large endowment, spending restrictions limit its immediate relief options. Meanwhile, European initiatives, like the “Choose Europe for Science” plan, aim to attract foreign talent away from the U.S. Critics warn that these policies could deter future international students, with implications for both academic diversity and the economy, as echoed by Rep. Jerry Nadler.
Published: May 21 2025, 6 pmeznews.inA new analysis by the Lancet Commission warns that the health of adolescents is at a critical juncture, with projections indicating that over 464 million adolescents globally will be obese by 2030, a rise of 143 million since 2015. This alarming trend highlights the inadequacies in addressing adolescent obesity, particularly in high-income regions of Latin America and the Middle East, where one-third of adolescents are expected to be overweight. Furthermore, over 1 billion adolescents will continue to face preventable health issues such as HIV/AIDS and mental health disorders, with an estimated loss of 42 million healthy life years due to mental health issues and suicide. The report also identifies emerging threats, including climate change and digitalization, which pose additional risks to adolescent health. Professor Sarah Baird emphasizes the urgent need for investment in adolescent health to secure a healthier future for this demographic.
Published: May 21 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia's Operation Sindoor has raised significant concerns for both Pakistan and China, with Pakistan facing military losses and diplomatic embarrassment due to its support for cross-border terrorism. Following the Pahalgam terror attacks, China called for restraint from India while reaffirming its backing for Pakistan at the UN. However, Chinese military equipment sold to Pakistan has underperformed, leading to questions about its reliability. Notably, the J-10C and JF-17 fighter jets failed to demonstrate their capabilities in combat, while air defense systems like the HQ-9P were ineffective against Indian strikes. This failure has tarnished China's reputation as a responsible military supplier and has impacted its arms market, with a notable decline in stock performance for Chinese defense companies. Conversely, India's stock market surged following a ceasefire agreement, highlighting a shift in confidence and demand for Indian military exports. Overall, China's involvement in the conflict has proven costly on multiple fronts.
Published: May 21 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently engaged in a historic dialogue with the Taliban's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, marking India's first ministerial outreach to the Taliban since their takeover in 2021. Following this, China facilitated a meeting between the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan, where both nations agreed in principle to send ambassadors to each other, signaling a potential thaw in their historically strained relations. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the importance of enhancing diplomatic ties and collaboration on security and development. Meanwhile, Pakistan's foreign office expressed optimism about improving bilateral relations, while the Taliban underscored the significance of political and economic connections with both countries. Despite ongoing tensions stemming from past conflicts, including accusations of terrorism and refugee issues, diplomatic efforts continue as India seeks to provide humanitarian aid and maintain engagement with Afghanistan.
Published: May 21 2025, 7 pmeznews.inBloomberg experienced a significant outage of its terminal service on Wednesday, affecting financial professionals across Europe and disrupting multiple government bond sales, according to various debt management offices and market sources. Traders reported that live pricing and market data were unavailable, leaving screens blank and hindering the ability to load new information or update spreadsheets. Peter Schaffrik, RBC's chief European macro strategist, noted that some auctions were delayed due to these issues. By mid-morning, some terminals began to regain functionality, although Bloomberg had not provided an immediate comment on the situation. The UK Debt Management Office confirmed that the bidding window for a government auction was extended due to the outage, while similar delays were reported in Portugal and Sweden. The European Union also postponed its bond sale deadline by one hour. Users described the outage as a "nightmare," with only the chat function remaining operational on some terminals.
Published: May 21 2025, 7 pm
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