Author: News Desk

Washington DC: The Trump administration has unveiled a sweeping AI Action Plan, outlining a national roadmap to accelerate artificial intelligence, pledging to enhance US innovation while eliminating what it calls ‘bureaucratic red tape’ and ‘ideological bias.’ The 28-page AI Action Plan outlines over 90 policy actions that administration officials say can be executed within the next year, marking a major policy push toward rapidly advancing AI capabilities across sectors. David Sacks, dubbed the administration’s crypto czar, told reporters that, “We believe we’re in an AI race, and we want the United States to win that race.” https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1948193784346390792 Trump signs executive…

London: The UK government is actively considering the introduction of new screen time limits for children to reduce ‘compulsive’ social media use and protect young people’s mental health. The proposal includes restricting the use of apps by time of day and duration, such as limiting access to two hours per app per day and restricting usage during school hours or late at night. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle confirmed these potential restrictions during a visit to Darlington, noting that the government will launch a consultation this autumn to determine the most effective way to implement these controls. The rules are being…

London: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a landmark two-day state visit to London to finalise a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United Kingdom, a deal regarded as a strategic economic and political milestone for both nations during global trade turbulence, partly driven by US President Donald Trump’s protectionist measures. The pact is highly significant for the UK, which is looking to secure a major post-Brexit trade victory. It represents Britain’s most economically substantial agreement since leaving the European Union. For India, it is the country’s first large-scale free trade accord beyond Asia. This move underscores a shift…

New Delhi, India: The unexpected resignation of India’s Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar has sparked widespread speculation over the underlying reasons behind the move. Dhankhar, who also served as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, announced his resignation citing medical reasons. Dhankhar stepped down on the very first day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session, leaving both ruling and opposition leaders surprised. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which nominated him to the post in 2022, has not responded to the VP’s resignation decision. In his resignation letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar wrote that, “It has been a privilege and satisfaction to witness…

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: V.S. Achuthanandan, a veteran communist leader, freedom fighter, and former Chief Minister of Kerala, passed away on July 21, 2025, at the age of 101. V.S. died at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, where he had been under treatment since last month following a cardiac arrest. Despite efforts by doctors, his condition had remained critical. Achuthanandan served as the 11th Chief Minister of Kerala from 2006 to 2011 and later as the Leader of the Opposition. He had withdrawn from public life in 2019 after suffering a minor stroke and had been living with his son, V.A. Arun…

Seattle: Alaska Airlines has grounded all its flights due to a major IT outage, the airline confirmed. The disruption began around 8 pm Pacific Time on July 20 (4 am July 21 UK time), affecting operations across its network. The airline did not provide specific details about the cause of the outage but confirmed the suspension of flights. “We requested a temporary, system-wide ground stop for Alaska and Horizon Air flights until the issue is resolved,” said the Seattle-based airline in an official statement. Horizon Air, Alaska Airlines’ regional subsidiary, was also impacted by the outage, as it operates a…

London: The UK government has announced the creation of a new water ombudsman to address consumer complaints involving water companies, such as leaky pipes, incorrect billing, and other service failures, as part of a wider plan to reform the industry. The announcement follows widespread public backlash over soaring bills and a sharp increase in sewage discharges into rivers and waterways across the country. The government said that the new consumer watchdog will act as a single point of contact for customers, bringing the water sector in line with other regulated utilities. It will be given legal powers to protect consumers…

Hong Kong: Hong Kong raised its highest storm warning as Typhoon Wipha lashed the city with fierce winds exceeding 167 kilometres (103 miles) per hour, bringing torrential rain and dangerous gusts that disrupted air, sea, and land transport across the territory. At 9:20 am local time (0120 GMT), the Hong Kong Observatory hoisted the No. 10 typhoon signal, the most severe in the city’s warning system, stating it would remain in place ‘for some time.’ The observatory forecast that Typhoon Wipha would pass roughly 50 kilometres to the south of its headquarters, with hurricane-force winds already impacting southern parts of…

Washington DC: US President Donald Trump has directed the Department of Justice to pursue the release of additional documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a post, Trump stated that, “Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval.” However, it remains unclear whether Trump is calling for these records to be made public, as such a release would typically require court authorization. https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi/status/1946014427670851643 This announcement followed Trump’s declaration that he intends to sue The Wall…

Porto Sant’Elpidio, Italy: Austrian extreme sports icon Felix Baumgartner, renowned for his record-setting 2012 skydive from the edge of space, has died at age 56 following a paragliding accident in central Italy, according to local police. Baumgartner reportedly lost control of his motorised paraglider while flying over Porto Sant’Elpidio in Italy’s central Marche region on July 17, crashing near a hotel’s swimming pool. The exact cause of the accident is still unclear. Porto Sant’Elpidio’s mayor, Massimiliano Ciarpella, stated that early reports suggest Baumgartner may have experienced ‘a sudden medical issue midair,’ and offered condolences on behalf of the town for…