Author: Trainee Reporter

China: China’s military has conducted a live-fire exercise in the Taiwan Strait, simulating strikes on key ports and energy facilities. The drill, codenamed “Strait Thunder,” marks an escalation of Beijing’s military activities around Taiwan, which it claims as its territory. Taiwan’s presidential office issued a strong condemnation, calling the exercises “military provocations.” The drills come with heightened tensions, with China ramping up its rhetoric against Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing has labelled a “parasite” and “separatist.” The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) stated that the exercises serve as a “serious warning and powerful containment” against what it calls “Taiwan independence”…

United States: Wisconsin voters have delivered a major win for Democrats. Liberal judge Susan Crawford secured a seat on the state’s supreme court, beating conservative candidate Brad Schimel in the most expensive judicial contest in U.S. history. Crawford, a judge from Dane County, won by nearly 10 percentage points with over 84 percent of votes counted. Her victory confirms that liberals maintain a 4-3 majority on the court, which is expected to hear critical cases on abortion, collective bargaining, and congressional redistricting. Crawford stated that, “Wisconsin stood up and said loudly that justice does not have a price. Our courts…

Japan: OpenAI has raised $40 billion in a funding round led by Japanese investment giant SoftBank, marking the largest capital infusion ever for a startup. The deal values the ChatGPT creator at $300 billion, reinforcing its role as a leader in artificial intelligence research and development. The investment comes as part of a strategic partnership, with SoftBank initially contributing $10 billion and pledging an additional $30 billion by the end of 2025, contingent on meeting specific conditions. OpenAI stated that the funding would enable it to push the boundaries of AI research and accelerate progress toward artificial general intelligence (AGI),…

India: India is set to experience an intense heatwave this summer, with above-normal temperatures expected across most regions, the country’s weather department has warned. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, chief of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), said multiple states could witness more heatwave days than usual this year. Some regions have already recorded weekly average minimum temperatures exceeding normal levels by 1-3°C in February. Extreme heat poses a severe risk to public health and key sectors such as agriculture, where water shortages can have devastating effects. In 2024, India recorded its hottest day on May 28, with temperatures soaring to 50.5°C in Churu,…

United States: Billionaire Elon Musk has distributed $1 million (£770,000) cheques to voters in Wisconsin after the state’s Supreme Court refused to block his giveaway. The move comes just days before a pivotal judicial election that could shift control of the court. Musk announced the prize earlier this week, framing it as part of a broader effort to oppose “activist judges.” Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, had filed a lawsuit to halt the payments, arguing they violated state laws prohibiting gifts in exchange for votes. However, after two lower courts ruled in Musk’s favour, the state Supreme Court…

United States: US President Donald Trump has confirmed that new tariffs set to be announced this week will apply to all countries, not just those with the largest trade imbalances with the United States. The latest measures, which Trump has referred to as America’s “Liberation Day,” will add to existing tariffs on aluminium, steel, and vehicles, as well as increased levies on all Chinese imports. The president’s move has sparked concerns among investors, with Asian markets sliding in early trading. Trump stated that, “You’d start with all countries. Essentially all of the countries that we’re talking about.” However, he suggested…

United States: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that 483 cases of measles have been reported across 20 US jurisdictions so far this year, with Texas experiencing the largest outbreak. Nationwide, 70 individuals have required hospitalisation due to the highly contagious virus. This marks a significant increase compared to the 285 cases recorded for the entire year of 2024. The CDC stated that 97 percent of those infected this year were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status, with 75 percent of cases affecting individuals under the age of 19. Texas remains the hardest-hit state,…

Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that a new US proposal regarding access to Ukraine’s critical minerals greatly differs from an earlier draft presented by Washington. At a press briefing, Zelenskyy stated that the revised proposal, formally submitted to his office, will be carefully reviewed and compared with prior versions discussed between Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and US officials. Zelenskyy stated that, “The framework has been changed. Let us study this framework, and then we can talk.” The Ukrainian leader also clarified that Kyiv does not recognise previously approved US military aid as loans that require repayment. He…

India: Indian conglomerate Adani has resumed full power supply to Bangladesh, four months after halving the feed due to unpaid dues. The restoration follows assurances from Bangladesh that outstanding payments would be addressed. Adani Power supplies 1,600 MW of electricity from its coal-powered plant in Jharkhand under a 25-year agreement signed in 2017. The company had reduced supply on October 31 after Bangladesh, struggling with an economic crisis, failed to clear overdue payments. Rezaul Karim, chairman of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), confirmed that payments to Adani are now being made regularly. Reports indicate that outstanding dues, which had…

London: King Charles III was briefly hospitalised after experiencing temporary side effects from his ongoing cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. The 76-year-old monarch was discharged the same day and returned to Clarence House, where he continued working on state affairs. However, on medical advice, he has cancelled his planned engagements in Birmingham. The King had been scheduled for a busy day in the city, attending four events. A palace spokesperson expressed his disappointment over the cancellation, stating that he hopes to reschedule the visit soon and has extended his apologies to those involved in the planning. While the palace…