US and China to launch formal trade talks

Germany's new government plans to implement a €46bn corporate tax break package to stimulate the economy, with Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil set to present the measures aimed at enhancing competitiveness and encouraging investment by summer. Key incentives include allowing companies to deduct 30% of new machinery costs from taxes and gradually reducing the corporate tax rate from 15% to 10% by 2028. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to modernize infrastructure and support...

SummaryWildfires in Canada have released smoke that is impacting air quality across several U.S. states, particularly Minnesota, while also drifting eastward across the Atlantic Ocean. Over 3.4 million acres (1.4 million hectares) have been burned due to unusually hot and dry conditions, with significant flames in Manitoba prompting mass evacuations. Satellite imagery illustrates the extensive reach of the smoke, highlighting the ongoing environmental crisis linked to these wildfires. Full Article

SummaryResearchers from the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and the University of Tokyo have created a seawater-dissolvable plastic that breaks down within hours, providing a potential solution to ocean pollution. This innovative material is as strong as traditional plastics but disintegrates into harmless components that can be processed by bacteria, avoiding microplastics. Although commercialization plans are not yet detailed, interest from the packaging sector is growing as global plastic waste is projected to triple...

The hajj pilgrimage began on Wednesday, with over 1.4 million worshippers facing extreme heat in Mecca, where temperatures could exceed 40°C (104°F). Authorities have implemented enhanced anti-heat measures, including increased shaded areas and a larger medical presence, to prevent a recurrence of last year's heat-related deaths, which totaled 1,301. Pilgrims, dressed in ihram, will perform rituals such as tawaf around the Kaaba and proceed to Mina, while authorities intensify efforts against unregistered pilgrims using drones...

Khan Younis, Gaza – On Sunday, during an aid distribution by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), 13-year-old Yazan Musleh was shot in the stomach while waiting with his father, Ihab, and brother, Yazid, at a crowded point in Rafah. Despite the chaos and heavy gunfire from Israeli forces, Ihab fought through the crowd to reach Yazan, who underwent surgery for severe injuries. As families like the Muslehs seek food amid desperation, the GHF faces criticism...

Read a summary of this article on FAST.SINGAPORE: Hair salons under the HairFun brand engaged in unfair trade practices, particularly targeting elderly consumers, leading to investigations by the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS). Complaints indicated that HairFun misled customers into purchasing unnecessary treatment packages and charged exorbitant fees without consent, resulting in refunds totaling approximately S$12,500. The HairFun companies admitted to these practices and have committed to cease such conduct while promising to...