Timeframe: 21st May – 28th May 2021
Contributors:
Sabyasachi Karmaker, Musarrat Sarwar Chowdhury, Farhan Uddin Ahmed, and Mahin Abrar Rahman.
1. Economics & Business
US and China hold first ‘candid’ trade talks under Biden tenure
The top US and Chinese trade negotiators have held “candid” talks, their first under the Biden presidency, as Washington continues to raise concerns over Beijing’s trade practices. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He held a virtual meeting to discuss matters. Both sides said they discussed the importance of the trade relationship between the two countries.
Source: BBC
2. Politics
Covid: China hits back as the US revisits Wuhan lab leak theory
China has denounced US efforts to further investigate whether Covid-19 came from a Chinese lab. US President Joe Biden has called on intelligence officials to “redouble” their work to find out how the virus was first transmitted to humans. China’s foreign ministry accused the US of “political manipulation and blame-shifting”. It has rejected any link between Covid-19 and a virus research lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
Source: BBC
3. Significant Corona Update
Millions in Australia plunged into snap COVID-19 lockdown
Nearly seven million people in Australia’s second-most populous state of Victoria will start a snap lockdown on Thursday night, as officials blame a sluggish vaccine rollout and hotel quarantine failures for a fresh virus outbreak that doubled overnight to 26 cases.
Source: Aljazeera
4. Science & Technology
Rechargeable Cement-Based Batteries poised to meet challenge of sustainable building
Researchers from the Chalmers University of Technology of Sweden recently published an article outlining a new concept for rechargeable batteries — made of cement. The researchers see applications that could range from powering LEDs, providing 4G connections in remote areas, or cathodic protection against corrosion in concrete infrastructure.
Source: Sci Tech Daily
5. RMG/ Agriculture
UK’s fledgling edible insect sector in jeopardy after Brexit
Legal changes triggered by Brexit are putting the UK’s fledgling edible insect sector in jeopardy. Before Brexit, all edible insect companies operated under transitional measures set out in the EU’s “novel food” regulation. This allowed insects to be legally farmed and processed for human consumption. While the novel food regulation has been retained in UK law, transitional measures have not, leaving insect producers in legal limbo. Getting legal authorization to operate is likely to cost between £70,000 and £85,000, beyond the financial resources of most British edible insect companies, many of whom are SMEs, especially if their business becomes illegal in the interim.
Source: The Guardian
6. Social and Education
9th victim dies in deadly shooting rampage at San Jose, California
A gunman opened fire at a Northern California light rail yard Wednesday, killing at least nine people in the latest shooting rampage to rock the nation in recent weeks. The gunman, an employee at the sprawling Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) light rail hub, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and other employees were among the victims, police spokesman Russell Davis said Wednesday.
Source: USA Today
7. Environment
Cyclone Yaas: Severe storm lashes India and Bangladesh
Cyclone Yaas, which intensified into a “very severe cyclonic storm”, hit the states of West Bengal and Orissa – also known as Odisha – on Wednesday (May 26, 2021), as well as lashing southern Bangladesh. According to news sources, Yaas has inundated hundreds of villages in Bangladesh and swamped tens of thousands of mud houses and temporary shelters in West Bengal.
Source: Earth Observatory
8. Expert’s Opinion
In defense of the two-state solution: Zack Beauchamp
Some are declaring the two-state paradigm for Israel and Palestine totally doomed. But it’s not — Vox’s Zach Beauchamp believes it’s still worth fighting for. The two-state solution is still the best possible option available for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. That’s in large part because the alternatives are even less plausible.
Source: Vox
Disclaimer: The information provided here is obtained solely from the third parties mentioned above. Youth Policy Forum (YPF) is not responsible for any misinformation or misrepresentation.