NewsBytes

Trio win Nobel chemistry prize for work on 'Hermione's handbag' materials

Scientists Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi won the 2025 Nobel chemistry prize for developing a new form of molecular architecture, yielding materials that can help tackle challenges such as climate change and lack of fresh water. The three laureates worked to create molecular constructions, known as metal-organic frameworks or MOFs, with large spaces through which gases and other chemicals can flow and that can be utilised to harvest water from desert air, capture carbon dioxide or store toxic gases. Describing the "unheard of properties" of these materials, the award committee said some had a remarkably large surface area - a porous material roughly the size of a small sugar cube could contain as much surface area as a large football pitch. "A small amount of such material can be almost like Hermione's handbag in Harry Potter. It can store huge amounts of gas in a tiny volume," Olof Ramstrom, member of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, said. The more than a century-old prize is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the winners share 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million), as well as the fame of winning arguably the world's most prestigious science award.

UK PM Starmer visits YRF Studios in Mumbai, bats for deepening film collaboration

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday visited the Yash Raj Films (YRF) Studios in suburban Andheri and announced that major Indian production houses including the YRF will make movies across locations in the UK. The British PM, on a two-day visit to India, was accompanied by a delegation of his country's film industry including representatives of the British Film Institute, British Film Commission, Pinewood Studios, Elstree Studios and Civic Studios. Three new Bollywood films will be made in the United Kingdom from the next year, a statement by the British High Commission quoted Starmer as saying. Flying in from London earlier in the day, Starmer drove to the YRF Studios amid heavy police security. YRF has confirmed plans to bring their major productions to locations across the United Kingdom from early 2026, creating over 3,000 jobs and boosting the economy by millions of pounds, according to the British High Commission.

Afghanistan's neighbours signal opposition to US retaking Bagram base

Afghanistan's regional neighbours, including American allies, appeared to unite against US President Donald Trump's stated aim of taking over the Bagram military base near Kabul, according to a statement released after they met in Moscow. The "Moscow Format" meeting on Afghanistan - the seventh such event hosted by Russia but attended for the first time by the Taliban administration's foreign minister - included US partners India and Pakistan. The 10 nations also included Russia, China and Iran, as well as Central Asian countries. In a joint statement released by Russia's foreign ministry late on Tuesday, the 10 countries did not name the United States or Bagram itself, but seemed to take aim at Trump's plan for the base, endorsing the Taliban's position on the issue. "They (the countries meeting) called unacceptable the attempts by countries to deploy their military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighbouring states, since this does not serve the interests of regional peace and stability," the joint statement read.

Iraq signs deal with Exxon to help develop large oilfield

Exxon Mobil signed an agreement with Iraq on Wednesday to help it develop its giant Majnoon oilfield and expand oil exports, government officials and sources said, marking the US major's return to the country two years after leaving. The non-binding agreement with Exxon, a US major, follows a string of deals with other oil companies, including Chevron , BP and TotalEnergies, as Iraq seeks to accelerate oil and gas production by offering more generous terms. Iraq holds some of the world's largest oil and gas reserves and once aspired to rival Saudi Arabia with output of up to 12 million barrels per day. It currently produces around 4 million bpd and aims to exceed 6 million bpd by 2029, although progress has been hampered by red tape, corruption, infrastructure bottlenecks, years of conflict and sectarian tensions. Majnoon, located 60 km from Basra in southern Iraq, is one of the biggest oilfields in the world with an estimated 38 billion barrels in place. The agreement reflects Iraqi officials' push to modernise the country's energy sector and improve relations with Washington, said Muwafaq Abbas, an oil analyst and a former crude operations manager at state-run Basra Oil Company.