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Elon Musk's close ties with Donald Trump have gained attention following Trump's recent electoral victory, positioning Musk as a potential key figure in the incoming administration. While the specifics of Musk's role remain uncertain, a significant moment occurred when Trump invited Musk to join a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago. During the 30-minute conversation, Zelensky expressed reassurance following discussions about U.S. support for Ukraine, with Musk affirming that his Starlink satellite service would continue aiding Ukraine’s military communications. This interaction underscores Musk's growing influence in Trump’s administration, particularly regarding foreign policy and support for Ukraine amidst ongoing conflict with Russia. The call follows a previous meeting between Trump and Zelensky in September, where they explored diplomatic solutions to the war. Zelensky later congratulated Trump on his victory, indicating a positive rapport between the two leaders. 
Published: Nov 09 2024, 3 ameznews.inThe Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, which enables international students, particularly from India, to gain work experience in the US post-graduation, is under increasing scrutiny amid concerns over foreign worker programmes. Critics argue that OPT, originally intended for temporary skill development, is being misused as a long-term immigration route, allowing foreign graduates to compete unfairly with American workers for jobs. The US Tech Workers group has described it as a "guest worker scheme" masquerading as an internship, claiming universities are prioritizing work permits over education. Legal challenges have emerged, with the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers asserting that OPT harms American workers, though a court ruling upheld the programme. As policymakers debate its future, supporters highlight its role in attracting global talent and its significant economic contributions, while opponents call for its elimination, warning that such a move could deter international students from US universities.
Published: Jan 02 2025, 8 pmeznews.inFolk icon Neil Young has withdrawn from this year's Glastonbury Festival, citing concerns over the event's "corporate control" by its partner, the BBC. The 79-year-old musician, who was eager to perform at the iconic festival, expressed disappointment in a statement on his website, claiming that the BBC's demands conflicted with his artistic vision. Young, who last performed at Glastonbury in 2009, did not specify the nature of these demands but noted a previous controversy where fans felt the BBC inadequately broadcast his set. This year’s festival, set for late June at Worthy Farm in Somerset, has already sold out, with tickets priced at £373.50. Rod Stewart is also set to perform in the legends slot. Glastonbury, which began in 1970, has become a cultural landmark, showcasing a diverse array of artists over the decades, from David Bowie to Elton John.
Published: Jan 02 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has made a notable return to Instagram after a five-year hiatus, launching her new account @meghan on January 1, 2025. In her first post, she shared a video of herself running barefoot on a beach near her Montecito, California home, with the date "2025" written in the sand. The video, filmed by Prince Harry, quickly garnered nearly 781,000 followers within 20 hours. Meghan previously had a popular Instagram account and a lifestyle blog, The Tig, before stepping back from social media upon her marriage in 2018. Reflecting on this transition, she noted the challenges of adjusting to royal life. Despite the excitement surrounding her return, the post attracted negative comments across various platforms, prompting Meghan to disable comments on her video. The couple shares two children, Archie and Lilibet, and continues to navigate their public and private lives post-royalty.
Published: Jan 02 2025, 8 pmeznews.inChina is currently grappling with a surge of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections, alongside other respiratory illnesses such as Influenza A and Covid-19, leading to reports of overwhelmed hospitals and crematoriums. Social media posts and videos depict crowded medical facilities, particularly children's hospitals, struggling with rising pneumonia cases. While some claims suggest a state of emergency has been declared, this remains unverified. In response to the escalating situation, China's National Disease Control and Prevention Administration is piloting a monitoring system for pneumonia of unknown origin to better manage respiratory diseases during the winter months. Officials noted an upward trend in acute respiratory infections, especially among children under 14, and emphasized the importance of not misusing antiviral medications for HMPV, which currently lacks a vaccine. The overall number of cases this year is expected to be lower than in 2022, according to health authorities.
Published: Jan 02 2025, 9 pmeznews.inAt least 27 migrants, including women and children, have tragically died after two boats capsized off the coast of central Tunisia, with 83 others rescued, according to a civil defence official. The victims, all from sub-Saharan Africa, were attempting to reach Europe when their boats sank near the Kerkennah Islands, a notorious departure point for irregular migrants aiming for Italy, just 150 kilometres away. Ongoing searches are being conducted by the Tunisian National Guard for any additional missing passengers. The Mediterranean crossing has become increasingly perilous, particularly amid worsening weather conditions, leading to a surge in recent shipwrecks. Earlier this month, similar incidents resulted in multiple fatalities, with human rights groups estimating that between 600 and 700 migrants have died or gone missing off Tunisia this year alone, contributing to a grim total of over 1,300 migrant deaths in 2023.
Published: Jan 02 2025, 6 pmeznews.inChina has ramped up its sanctions against the United States, targeting ten American defence firms in response to arms sales to Taiwan. This marks the second round of sanctions within a week, bringing the total number of sanctioned or penalized US entities to 45, comprising 17 firms and 28 others added to an export ban list. Notable companies affected include subsidiaries of Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and General Dynamics, which have been placed on China's "Unreliable entities list," prohibiting them from any import or export activities in China and barring their senior management from entering the country. This aggressive move follows China's assertion that such actions by US firms interfere with its internal affairs and undermine its sovereignty. The tensions are heightened by Taiwan's significance as a strategic ally for Washington, which recently approved $571 million in defence aid for the island, further straining US-China relations amid ongoing military drills by Beijing.
Published: Jan 02 2025, 7 pmeznews.inEbola, a highly fatal viral disease, remains a significant health threat, primarily transmitted through direct contact with infected animals or bodily fluids from infected individuals. Recent research from the University of Iowa, in collaboration with Texas Biomedical Research Institute and Boston University, has unveiled a previously unstudied pathway through which the Ebola virus (EBOV) can traverse the skin, suggesting it may play a role in person-to-person transmission. The study, published in *Science Advances*, identifies new cell types in the skin targeted by EBOV and demonstrates that human skin specimens can support the virus's infection. Lead researcher Dr. Wendy Maury emphasized the importance of understanding these interactions, noting that the skin, the largest organ in the body, has been largely overlooked in Ebola research. This insight could inform the development of effective antiviral strategies against the virus.
Published: Jan 02 2025, 7 pmeznews.inPrime Minister Narendra Modi has condemned the recent terrorist attack in New Orleans that left 15 people dead and over 30 injured, expressing his condolences to the victims' families. In a statement on X, Modi described the assault as a "cowardly" act and offered prayers for those affected, wishing them strength during this difficult time. The attack occurred in the French Quarter on New Year's Day when a driver plowed a pickup truck into a crowd, leading to chaos on Bourbon Street before being shot by police. The FBI is treating the incident as an act of terrorism and has indicated that the driver may not have acted alone, noting the discovery of an Islamic State group flag on the vehicle's trailer hitch. The investigation is ongoing as authorities seek to uncover further details surrounding this tragic event.
Published: Jan 02 2025, 7 pmeznews.inA groundbreaking study published in *Research in Social Stratification and Mobility* reveals that gender-egalitarian earnings patterns among married couples are more prevalent than previously thought, challenging traditional views on financial dynamics within marriages. Conducted by Allison Dunatchik, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of South Carolina, the research examines the long-term trajectories of spousal earnings using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979. The study found that approximately 60% of couples exhibit gender-egalitarian earnings patterns over time, which are influenced by socio-economic factors and can manifest in three distinct ways. By highlighting the fluctuating nature of economic contributions in response to life events and external circumstances, the research underscores the implications for gender inequality and broader economic disparities, suggesting that marital financial dynamics are complex and evolving rather than static.
Published: Jan 02 2025, 7 pmeznews.inChina experienced its hottest year on record in 2024, with an average national temperature of 10.92 degrees Celsius, according to the China Meteorological Administration. The past four years have been the warmest since records began in 1961, with extreme weather events impacting daily life, such as the absence of ice for traditional winter activities in Beijing. The country, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, aims for its carbon dioxide emissions to peak by 2030 and reach net zero by 2060. Global temperatures also soared, with India, Australia, Germany, and the Czech Republic reporting record highs. The impacts of climate change are increasingly evident, leading to severe flooding, droughts, and economic losses estimated at $310 billion in 2024. As nations strive to meet the Paris Agreement targets, the urgency for climate action remains critical amid escalating natural disasters worldwide.
Published: Jan 02 2025, 5 pm
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