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Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung has reaffirmed the island's right to self-determination, firmly rejecting China's claims over Taiwan's sovereignty. Speaking at a press briefing, Lin emphasized that it is not up to China to decide Taiwan's status, as the island elects its own government. He expressed a willingness to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, suggesting that a handshake could signify a positive start to dialogue, despite acknowledging the low likelihood of such a meeting due to the lack of mutual recognition between the two governments. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has also reiterated calls for peaceful talks with China, which Beijing dismissed as a "two-faced tactic." Amid escalating military tensions, Taiwan remains vigilant, warning that China may increase military drills to coincide with significant anniversaries. The situation underscores the ongoing complexities of cross-strait relations as Taiwan seeks to assert its identity on the global stage. 
Published: May 21 2025, 4 pmeznews.inBhadreshkumar Patel, a 34-year-old man from Gujarat, has been placed on the FBI's ten most-wanted list for the alleged murder of his wife, Palak Patel, in Maryland in 2015. The couple was working at a donut shop when Patel reportedly attacked Palak, striking her multiple times with an object. Following the incident on April 12, a federal arrest warrant was issued just eight days later, but Patel has remained elusive, with authorities suspecting he may have fled to India. Investigators believe the motive was linked to Palak's desire to return to India, which Patel opposed. The FBI has increased the bounty for information leading to his capture from $100,000 to $250,000, urging the public to assist in locating him. Police Chief Amal E. Awad emphasized the ongoing threat Patel poses, stating that as long as he remains at large, no intimate partner is safe.
Published: May 21 2025, 10 pmeznews.inUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday that the State Department would intensify efforts to process visas ahead of the upcoming World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. He highlighted concerns over a significant backlog, particularly for Colombian applicants, warning that those who have not yet applied may miss the event. The Trump administration's stringent immigration policies have led to increased scrutiny of visa applications, impacting tourism, especially from Canada. To address this, Rubio revealed plans to potentially reassign diplomats to visa services and implement 24-hour operations at embassies. He also mentioned the possibility of using artificial intelligence for processing certain cases, such as visa renewals. Rubio emphasized the importance of ensuring the success of tourism for major sporting events, responding to concerns raised by Representative Dina Titus about declining visitor numbers to her Las Vegas district since the administration took office.
Published: May 21 2025, 10 pmeznews.inUS President Donald Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House over controversial remarks made by a South African official, which Trump linked to claims of "white genocide" targeting farmers in South Africa. During their meeting in the Oval Office, Trump presented an audio-visual clip related to the allegations, marking his second high-profile confrontation with a foreign leader, following a contentious exchange with Ukraine's President Zelensky. Ramaphosa appeared visibly uncomfortable with the sudden focus on the inflammatory claims, firmly denying the allegations against his country. The encounter underscores ongoing tensions surrounding race relations in South Africa and highlights Trump's willingness to address contentious international issues in a public forum.
Published: May 21 2025, 11 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 pm
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