- Centerstage Events

News of pig lung transplant to human took centerstage on Monday, 25 August 2025 among all major events across the globe, and remains the highlight of this week's list of center stage events.
Picture Courtesy: Profit loss

Centerstage events of week 4

In a first, Pig Lung transplanted to a human....

Scientists in China have transplanted a genetically modified pig lung into a human for the first time, marking a breakthrough in xenotransplantation. The procedure, carried out at Guangzhou Medical University on a brain-dead 39-year-old patient, showed the lung remained functional for nine days without immediate rejection. Signs of damage appeared within 24 hours and rejection indicators followed by days three and six. Published in Nature Medicine, the study offers proof of concept that cross-species lung transplants could one day address the global organ shortage, with over 173,000 transplants performed worldwide in 2024.

Monday, 25 August, 2025

Mercedes-Benz sells entire stake in Nissan...

Nissan shares dropped over 6% in Tokyo after Mercedes-Benz’s pension fund, its second-largest shareholder, sold its entire 3.8% stake. The exit comes as Nissan struggles with deep losses—¥670.9bn (€3.91bn) for the last fiscal year and ¥115.8bn (€674mn) in the April–June quarter. The company has suspended financial guidance and launched a restructuring plan that includes cutting 20,000 jobs and shutting factories. Renault, Nissan’s long-time partner, remains its largest shareholder with around 43% ownership.

Tuesday, 26 August, 2025

Denmark and Greenland apologize for forced contraception...

Denmark and Greenland have formally apologised for the forced contraception of thousands of Greenlandic Inuit women and girls in the 1960s and 1970s. Up to 4,500 women—around half of Greenland’s fertile female population at the time—were fitted with IUDs, many without consent, in what leaders now call an effort to curb population growth. Danish PM Mette Frederiksen admitted it caused lasting physical and psychological harm, calling it a “dark chapter.” Greenland’s PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen pledged compensation, acknowledging the deep impact on families and communities.

Wednesday, 27 August, 2025

Tropical deforestation is driving severe health risks...

A new Nature Climate Change study warns that tropical deforestation is driving severe health risks, with around 28,000 heat-related deaths annually—about half a million over 20 years. Researchers say local warming occurs within days of trees being cleared, as forests lose their natural “sweating” process that cools the climate. More than 300 million people now face higher heat exposure, particularly in Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Brazil. The World Resources Institute and Google DeepMind report that 177 million hectares of forest lost since 2001 are unlikely to regenerate naturally.

Thursday, 28 August, 2025

Palestinian Authorities blocked to UN General Assembly...

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked visas for several Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organisation officials ahead of the UN General Assembly, while also ordering new applications to be denied. The State Department said representatives to the UN mission will receive waivers to continue operations under host country obligations. On the same day Israel declared Gaza City a combat zone, Washington also suspended a program allowing injured Palestinian children from Gaza to receive medical treatment in the US, citing political pressure. Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour said he is reviewing the decision’s impact.

Friday, 29 August, 2025

Thailand’s Court dismisses Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra...

Thailand’s Constitutional Court has dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, ruling 6–3 that her June 15 phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen breached ethical standards and compromised national interests. At 39, Paetongtarn was the country’s youngest premier and the latest member of the powerful Shinawatra dynasty to be ousted. Critics accused her of aligning with Cambodia, while she insisted her informal tone was a negotiating tactic to ease tensions. The ruling delivers another major setback to a family that has dominated Thai politics for over two decades.

Saturday, 30 August, 2025

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit opens in China...

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit opened in China against the backdrop of U.S. tariffs, bringing together leaders representing 23% of global GDP and 43% of the world’s population. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attending after a seven-year gap, joining counterparts including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian, Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif, and China’s Xi Jinping. Other attendees include Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing, and Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn are also present, highlighting the summit’s global significance.

Sunday, 31 August, 2025