Pet owners at risk of being ripped off by private equity firms as vet ownership rules change
The Guardian

Pet owners at risk of being ripped off by private equity firms as vet ownership rules change

Critics say changes by CMA will allow multinationals to obscure their ownership of vet practicesPet owners have been warned that they could be unknowingly ripped off by private equity firms who have bought local vet clinics, after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) removed requirements for multinational companies to disclose which practices they own.The CMA recently ran an investigation i...

Nepal-Tibet floods: 750 dead, 20,000 deployed as rising rivers hamper rescue ops
Times of India

Nepal-Tibet floods: 750 dead, 20,000 deployed as rising rivers hamper rescue ops

Nepal and Tibet floods have claimed 750 lives and left over 3,000 missing. Rescuers continue operations amid warnings of fresh flooding and difficult conditions. Hundreds are believed trapped in hydropower tunnels, requiring specialized international assistance. India and China are providing crucial support including forensic experts and relief supplies. Infrastructure damage has cut off commu...

23,000 bronzes, 14 years, 60 volumes: how China is mapping lost heritage held abroad
SCMP

23,000 bronzes, 14 years, 60 volumes: how China is mapping lost heritage held abroad

In the quiet of a Peking University research room, shelves groan under the weight of 60 thick volumes. Stacked, they stand taller than an average human. Inside their pages lie details of more than 23,000 ancient Chinese bronze vessels, weapons, chariot fittings and ritual objects that left China’s shores long ago and now sit in museums, private collections and auction houses across nearly 30 count...

Not a token effort: beer meets artificial intelligence at bar in China’s capital

Not a token effort: beer meets artificial intelligence at bar in China’s capital

SCMP

Drinks, music, vibes … what else can a bar offer to attract customers? One in China’s capital, Beijing, is betting on unlimited access to artificial intelligence models. The AGI Bar in the Zhongguancun tech hub, known as China’s Silicon Valley, was packed with laptop-using customers on a recent night. One of the first things many did after ordering a drink was to connect to the in-house Wi-fi and ...

Iceland appears to have rejected EU accession talks in referendum, reports say

Iceland appears to have rejected EU accession talks in referendum, reports say

The Guardian

No camp looks to have prevailed, holding 52.5% of votes with only a few left to be counted, says public broadcasterIceland appears to have ⁠rejected ⁠the government’s proposal ​to hold ⁠accession talks with ⁠the ​European Union, ‌the public ‌broadcaster RUV has ‌reported, with only a small ‌number of votes ​left to count.The no camp had 52.5% of votes and the yes camp 47.5%, with only a few ballot...

Furore grows as Venezuela defends US oil deal with Trump

Furore grows as Venezuela defends US oil deal with Trump

SCMP

Venezuelan hardliners and opposition forces alike criticised acting president Delcy Rodriguez for agreeing to grant the US exclusive access to the country’s valuable oil resources. She may be betting that the deal with US President Donald Trump is her ticket to a tighter grip on power. One potential advantage for Rodriguez is if the deal to give the US majority control over 65 billion barrels of V...

Hong Kong police investigate viral video of dog trapped in running washing machine

Hong Kong police investigate viral video of dog trapped in running washing machine

SCMP

Hong Kong police are investigating social media videos that appear to show a dog trapped inside a running washing machine. Police confirmed on Sunday that they had received a report the previous night about a video circulating on a social media platform showing a suspect treating a dog inappropriately. Two Instagram stories that surfaced on Saturday night show a dog inside a front-loading washing ...

Hong Kong police investigate viral video of dog in washing machine

Hong Kong police investigate viral video of dog in washing machine

SCMP

Hong Kong police are investigating social media videos that appear to show a dog trapped inside an operating washing machine. Police confirmed on Sunday that they had received a report the previous night about a video circulating on a social media platform showing a suspect treating a dog inappropriately. Two Instagram stories that surfaced on Saturday night showed a dog inside a front-loading was...

PC Andrew Harper’s killers will stay in prison as Burnham changes early release scheme

PC Andrew Harper’s killers will stay in prison as Burnham changes early release scheme

The Guardian

PM says anyone convicted of unlawful killing, including all forms of manslaughter, will be excluded from the schemePC Andrew Harper’s killers will remain behind bars after Andy Burnham announced changes to the early release scheme aimed at easing prison overcrowding, saying he understood “how strongly people feel about this issue”.The prime minister said anyone convicted of unlawful killing, inclu...

PC Andrew Harper’s killers will stay in jail as Burnham changes early release scheme

PC Andrew Harper’s killers will stay in jail as Burnham changes early release scheme

The Guardian

PM says anyone convicted of unlawful killing, including all forms of manslaughter, will be excluded from the schemePC Andrew Harper’s killers will remain behind bars after Andy Burnham announced changes to the early release scheme aimed at easing prison overcrowding, saying he understood “how strongly people feel about this issue”.The prime minister said anyone convicted of unlawful killing, inclu...

American startup raises $180 million to drill rock over 5km deep to build world's first superhot geothermal plant at 500 °C

American startup raises $180 million to drill rock over 5km deep to build world's first superhot geothermal plant at 500 °C

Times of India

Quaise Energy has successfully raised $180 million for its groundbreaking superhot geothermal plant initiative. Utilizing cutting-edge microwave technology, the project vaporizes rock instead of using conventional drill bits. Collaboration with Nabors Industries will provide essential drilling expertise and equipment. The Obsidian Project, located in Oregon, is set to generate 50 MW by 2030, pavin...

Pacific Islands Forum meeting in turmoil after several leaders pull out of Palau summit

Pacific Islands Forum meeting in turmoil after several leaders pull out of Palau summit

The Guardian

Solomon Islands prime minister cancels his appearance, along with leaders from Fiji, Vanuatu and SamoaSeveral leaders have pulled out of a the Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ meeting in Palau at the eleventh hour.Solomon Islands prime minister, Matthew Wale, has cancelled his appearance after a no-confidence motion was lodged against him at home by the Solomon Islands home affairs minister, Manasse...

USS Abraham Lincoln sails past Singapore on way home after gruelling Middle East deployment

USS Abraham Lincoln sails past Singapore on way home after gruelling Middle East deployment

Times of India

The USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier, is heading back home after more than 250 days of supporting operations in the Middle East, recently passing by Singapore. Despite reports of declining crew morale and supply difficulties, US Navy representatives have rejected the idea of a widespread mental health crisis. The ship is expected to stop in Thailand before concluding its journey back to th...