Author: Trainee Reporter

Saudi Arabia: Internet services in parts of the Middle East and South Asia were disrupted, following multiple undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea, according to a statement from Microsoft. The tech giant, which has faced criticism over its ties to Israel during the war on Gaza, confirmed that its Azure cloud computing platform, the world’s second largest after Amazon Web Services was affected by the incident. Microsoft noted that disruptions began at 05:45 GMT on September 6. Microsoft stated that, “Network traffic traversing through the Middle East may experience increased latency due to undersea fiber cuts in the Red…

New York: World number one Aryna Sabalenka has defended her US Open title after outlasting American hope Amanda Anisimova in a high-intensity final at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Belarusian claimed a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) victory to secure her fourth Grand Slam singles trophy and her first of the season, overcoming the heartbreak of two previous final defeats in 2025. Sabalenka, 27, dropped to her knees in tears after sealing the win on her third championship point, a moment of redemption following setbacks at both the Australian Open and French Open earlier this year. The match, billed as a showdown between…

Peru: Peru’s political landscape was once again shaken as a court sentenced former President Alejandro Toledo to 13 years and four months in prison for money laundering, marking his second conviction linked to the country’s sprawling corruption scandals. Toledo, 79, who governed Peru from 2001 to 2006, was found guilty of using illicit funds from the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht now renamed Novonor, to acquire high-value real estate in Lima. According to prosecutors, Toledo and his wife funnelled $5.1 million through an offshore company in Costa Rica to buy a luxury house, an office, and to pay off mortgages on…

Lisbon: Portugal is reeling after 15 people were killed and 18 others injured in Lisbon’s iconic Gloria funicular derailment, one of the capital’s most popular tourist attractions. The accident occurred when the 140-year-old cable-hauled railway lost control and slammed into a building near Avenida da Liberdade. Emergency services confirmed that five of the injured remain in serious condition, with several foreign nationals among the dead. Lisbon’s mayor, Carlos Moedas, visited victims at the hospital, calling it a ‘tragic moment for the city.’ The Portuguese government has declared a national day of mourning, while President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed ‘sympathy…

Merseyside: Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed that a cyber-attack has severely disrupted vehicle production at its two main UK plants, forcing operations to a halt at a crucial time for sales. The British carmaker, owned by India’s Tata Motors, said it took immediate action to contain the breach and shut down IT systems in an attempt to minimise damage. The incident has also hit JLR’s retail business, but the company stressed there is currently no evidence that customer data has been compromised. The attack began, coinciding with the release of new registration plates on September 1. The disruption was…

United States: A US federal judge has ruled that Google will not have to sell its Chrome web browser but must share information with competitors and avoid exclusive deals, marking a significant step in the years-long battle over its dominance in online search. District Judge Amit Mehta’s decision follows a trial that exposed Google’s extensive contracts with smartphone makers and browser companies to secure its search engine as the default option. While the US Department of Justice had pushed for a divestiture of Chrome, Judge Mehta concluded that a forced sell-off would be ‘a poor fit for this case.’ Instead,…

United States: Gold prices have reached unprecedented levels as global investors flock to the precious metal with mounting economic uncertainty and political tensions. Gold hit a record $3,508.50 per ounce, marking a remarkable rally that has seen prices surge by nearly one-third since the beginning of the year. Analysts say the surge reflects deep-rooted concerns across financial markets, where investors are increasingly seeking safe-haven assets. Gold, traditionally considered a store of value in turbulent times, has once again become the asset of choice as geopolitical risks and monetary policy debates intensify. The latest spike comes in the wake of sweeping…

London: Tens of thousands of foreign students in the UK are being contacted directly by the government and warned they face removal if they overstay their visas. The Home Office has launched a new campaign after recording what it described as an ‘alarming’ increase in international students entering on legal study visas and later claiming asylum once their visas expire. For the first time, officials are reaching out to students through direct text messages and emails. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told that some students are making asylum claims even when things haven’t changed in their home country. According to Home…

Canberra: Australia’s federal government is pressing ahead with its plan to ban children under 16 from using social media, with a new report revealing that the technologies available to enforce the law all carry risks and shortcomings. The ban, due to take effect on December 10, will require major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube to take reasonable steps to stop under-16s from creating accounts and deactivate existing ones. Companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to $32.5 million (A$50 million). The government commissioned the UK-based Age Check Certification Scheme to assess how the ban could…

Washington DC: US President Donald Trump has announced plans to issue an executive order requiring voter identification for all federal and state elections, a move legal experts say is almost certain to face constitutional challenges. Trump stated that, “Voter ID must be part of every single vote. No exceptions! I will be issuing an executive order to that end.” Trump also pledged to ban voting by mail except for military personnel and individuals with serious illnesses. Under the US Constitution, states hold primary authority to control elections, while Congress can pass election laws. The presidency, however, has no direct authority…