Author: Trainee Reporter

Washington: United States has unveiled plans to impose new tariffs ranging from 10 percent to 12.5 percent on imports from 60 trading partners, citing concerns that these countries have failed to adequately address the importation of goods produced with forced labour. The move marks the second major tariff initiative by President Donald Trump’s administration since the US Supreme Court struck down many of his previous import duties earlier this year. According to the US Trade Department, the proposed measures are intended to protect American workers from what Washington describes as unfair global competition linked to forced labour practices. US Trade…

Jakarta: Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has dismissed the head of the agency overseeing the country’s flagship free meals programme after the initiative was hit by widespread food poisoning incidents and allegations of financial irregularities. The programme, a key promise of Prabowo’s 2024 presidential campaign, was designed to provide free nutritious meals to up to 80 million schoolchildren nationwide. However, since its launch in January 2025, the scheme has faced mounting criticism following reports that tens of thousands of children became ill after consuming meals distributed through the programme. The dismissal of agency chief Dadan Hindayana comes just days after Indonesia’s…

Washington: The Trump administration has abandoned plans to establish a controversial $1.8 billion (£1.3 billion) compensation fund intended for individuals who claimed they were unfairly targeted or investigated by the federal government. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers during a congressional hearing that the Justice Department would no longer pursue the initiative. Blanche remarked that, “We’re not moving forward with the fund, period.” The proposed ‘anti-weaponisation’ fund was initially unveiled as part of a settlement stemming from President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over the disclosure of his tax returns. Legal challenge halted fund The…

California: Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has planned to raise $80 billion through a major share sale to support the rapid expansion of its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, as demand for AI-powered services continues to soar. The technology giant said the fundraising initiative is aimed at financing the large-scale infrastructure investments required to meet what it described as ‘unprecedented customer demand’ for AI solutions across both enterprise and consumer markets. As part of the capital-raising effort, Alphabet revealed an agreement to sell $10 billion worth of shares to Berkshire Hathaway, the investment conglomerate led by renowned investor Warren Buffett.…

New York: Three experimental vaccines are being fast-tracked to combat the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, as a rapidly escalating outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) threatens to become one of the most severe in history. The outbreak has already claimed nearly 250 lives, with more than 1,000 suspected cases reported in the DRC and nine confirmed infections detected in neighbouring Uganda. Health experts fear the epidemic could rival or even surpass the devastating 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, which infected nearly 29,000 people and killed more than 11,000. The vaccine candidates are being developed by the International…

Myanmar: At least 46 people have been killed and dozens more injured after a devastating explosion ripped through a village in Myanmar’s insurgent-controlled Shan State near the Chinese border, according to local rescue teams. The blast occurred around midday in Kaung Tat village, located in Namkham Township, an area controlled by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), one of the country’s most powerful ethnic armed groups fighting against Myanmar’s military junta. Rescue workers said six children, including a one-year-old toddler, were among those killed. Three Chinese nationals were also reported among the victims. The bodies of all 46 confirmed dead…

Taipei: Chipmaking giant Nvidia has announced a new artificial intelligence-focused processor for personal computers (PCs), marking a major push into the rapidly expanding consumer artificial intelligence (AI) market. The company unveiled its new RTX Spark chip during a keynote address delivered by chief executive Jensen Huang ahead of the opening of the Computex technology show in Taipei. Describing the development as a transformative moment for computing, Huang said the shift towards AI-powered personal computers could be as significant as the evolution of mobile phones into smartphones. Huang remarked that, “This reinvention of the computer is as big a deal as…

Laos: The first of five men found alive after spending more than a week trapped inside a flooded cave in Laos has been successfully rescued, as emergency teams continue efforts to bring the remaining survivors to safety. The group had entered the cave in central Laos’ Xaysomboun Province on May 20, while searching for gold when flash floods suddenly inundated the cavern, cutting off their escape route. Rescue divers discovered five men alive, huddled together about 300 metres from the cave entrance. Two other members of the group remain missing. A Thai rescue team confirmed that the first survivor had…

Washington: A US federal judge has ordered that President Donald Trump’s name be removed from the title of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Centre for the Performing Arts, ruling that the venue cannot be renamed without approval from Congress. In a decision issued, District Judge Christopher Cooper also blocked plans to temporarily close the renowned arts institution for proposed renovations. The ruling requires Trump’s name to be removed from the centre’s official title, façade, digital platforms and all official materials within 14 days. The decision marks a major setback for Trump’s efforts to reshape the cultural institution, which has been…

Mexico: Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has confirmed that Lionel Messi will captain the national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending weeks of speculation over the forward’s availability following a recent injury concern. The announcement confirms Messi’s participation in what will be a record-extending sixth World Cup appearance for the 38-year-old, who previously featured in Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, where he led Argentina to the title. Messi had raised doubts after suffering muscle fatigue in his left hamstring during Inter Miami’s final Major League Soccer match before the international break.…