Author: New York Mirror

A worldwide analysis of over one billion social media posts has shown that people’s moods drop when temperatures rise above 35°C. The decline in positivity was most dramatic in poorer countries, where negative expressions increased far more than in wealthier ones. Researchers from MIT and their collaborators compared the tone of posts on X and Weibo with detailed weather records from 157 nations, finding that communities with fewer resources felt the sharpest emotional impact. How Heat Alters Human Behaviour The study builds on earlier research linking hot conditions to irritability and aggression. Experiments revealed that drivers honk more in traffic…

Ottawa will ease certain retaliatory duties but keep protections on autos, steel, and aluminium. Canada is shifting its trade stance with the United States. Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday that the country will remove some of the tariffs it imposed on American imports, though key levies on vehicles, steel, and aluminium will stay in place. The policy will take effect on September 1. Trade move follows missed deal deadline The decision comes after Carney’s first call with President Donald Trump since both governments failed to meet their self-imposed deadline for a new trade deal. Canada had earlier retaliated against…

US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick announced on Friday that Washington will acquire a 10% stake in Intel. “This historic agreement strengthens American leadership in semiconductors. It will grow our economy and protect our technological edge,” Lutnick wrote on X. He shared the post with a photo of himself alongside Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan. President Donald Trump confirmed the deal earlier in the Oval Office. He described it as “a great deal for them.” Shares of the Santa Clara-based chipmaker rose more than 5% on Friday. Intel confirmed that the US government will invest $8.9bn (£6.6bn) in its common stock.…

White House Plans Move Into New Cities President Donald Trump said his administration will widen its law-and-order campaign to include Chicago and New York, calling Chicago “out of control” and promising New York would be next. The move continues a federal strategy focused on large Democratic-run cities led by Black mayors, a pattern that has drawn strong objections from local officials. Guard Units Authorized to Carry Weapons in Washington Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that National Guard troops deployed in Washington DC will now carry firearms, overturning earlier commitments that they would remain unarmed. Approximately 2,000 soldiers are currently stationed…

Asia leads the charge in developing crypto markets, and the United States has gained fresh momentum in recent years. Europe, however, continues to emphasize regulation over acceleration. Bitcoin’s rise from a tiny experiment in 2009 to a global asset approaching $120,000 reflects how central digital currencies have become in finance. The EU’s MiCA package sets out strict standards: client funds must remain separate, audits are compulsory, registrations carry fees, and all transfers must be traceable. Policymakers argue this ensures security and stability. Industry voices caution that the framework is overly burdensome, potentially cutting Europe off from faster-moving innovation elsewhere. Poland…

Elon Musk and his company X have reached a settlement with former employees. The staff had sued for $500 million in unpaid severance. The agreement was revealed in a court filing on Wednesday. Both parties asked the San Francisco appeals court to delay a hearing. They said more time was needed to finalize the paperwork. Lawsuit followed sweeping job cuts The dispute began after Musk dismissed around 6,000 employees in 2022. That accounted for more than half of the company’s workforce. Many of the affected staff challenged the severance packages in court. Representatives of X and the employees’ lawyers have…

Language-learning app Duolingo apologised after a German task described J.K. Rowling as mean. The company confirmed the lesson has been removed. The exercise asked learners if they liked Harry Potter books. The accepted response judged Rowling personally rather than focusing on grammar practice. Duolingo admitted the example was inappropriate, apologised for offence caused, and promised to review future content more carefully. Rowling remains highly controversial due to her views on transgender issues, which activists, readers, and celebrities have strongly condemned. Actor Daniel Radcliffe said he felt upset by Rowling’s remarks and emphasised his commitment to LGBTQ equality. Ongoing Disputes in…

Washington ties relief to EU action The United States will maintain steep tariffs on European cars until Brussels formally introduces legislation to lower its own trade barriers on American goods. Under a new framework deal, the US has agreed to reduce its 27.5% tariff on EU vehicles and parts to 15%—but only once the EU shows concrete legislative steps. Trade pact unveiled The agreement, announced last month by Donald Trump and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen at Trump’s golf resort in Scotland, followed months of tense negotiations. Both sides pledged to open markets further: the EU promised to…

Sony will increase the price of the PlayStation 5 in the United States by around $50 starting Thursday. The company faces higher manufacturing costs and weaker demand in the gaming market. Sony executive Isabelle Tomatis said in a blog post that the company is navigating a “challenging economic environment.” All three console models will cost more. The Pro edition will now retail for $749.99. Tariffs drive price increases The rise follows tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on several trade partners, including Japan. These measures have raised concerns about higher costs for American consumers. Tomatis explained: “We made the difficult…

Looming deadline for submissions Brazil has made a final appeal to world governments to submit updated climate commitments ahead of this year’s UN climate summit, Cop30. So far, only 28 countries have lodged their carbon-cutting proposals, with major emitters such as China and the EU still missing. Pressure builds before UN report The UN requires all national climate strategies, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs), by 25 September to prepare a “synthesis report”. This document will assess how far the world remains from the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping global heating below 1.5C. Brazil steps up diplomacy André Corrêa do…