Author: Trainee Reporter

Sydney: The Sydney Marathon has made its debut as a World Majors Series event, with Dutch distance star Sifan Hassan and Ethiopia’s Hailemaryam Kiros setting race records in front of 35,000 participants. Hassan stormed to victory in the women’s race with a winning time of 2:18:22, smashing the previous course record by more than three minutes. Hassan finished 34 seconds ahead of Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei, while Ethiopia’s Workenesh Edesa took third in 2:22:05. Hassan remarked that, “The last five kilometres, I was dead. It’s the first major marathon in Australia, and I’m the first one to win. That’s big history…

Jakarta: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has cancelled a planned China trip, citing the need to monitor the worsening antigovernment protests sweeping across the country directly. The announcement came, after authorities confirmed at least three deaths in an arson attack on a parliament building in Makassar, South Sulawesi. The unrest, initially sparked by outrage over lawmakers’ hefty monthly housing allowances, has now escalated into violent nationwide demonstrations. Presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi said Prabowo ‘wants to continue monitoring the situation directly and seek the best solutions,’ adding that the president has apologised to Beijing for skipping the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit and…

Ottawa: India and Canada have appointed new high commissioners to each other’s capitals, signalling the first major step toward restoring normal diplomatic ties after a year of tensions. Ottawa has named Christopher Cooter as Canada’s new envoy to New Delhi, while India has appointed Dinesh K Patnaik, currently ambassador to Spain, as its representative in Ottawa. Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand described the move as part of a ‘step-by-step approach to deepening diplomatic engagement’ with India. India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that Patnaik is expected to assume his assignment soon. Relations between the two countries hit an unprecedented low…

Washington: The United States has suspended tariff exemptions for small delivery packages valued at $800 or less, a move that is set to end a decades-old loophole allowing more than one billion parcels to enter the country duty-free last year. The change takes effect, followed by a six-month transition period to a new tariff regime. The suspension of the so-called de minimis exemption has already triggered widespread disruptions in global logistics. More than 30 countries, including Australia, Germany, Japan, and Mexico, have halted or partially suspended package shipments to the US in anticipation of higher costs. Postal unions worldwide are…

Aichi: A central Japanese town is making headlines after proposing a two-hour daily smartphone limit for its 69,000 residents, sparking heated debate across the country. The initiative, submitted earlier by Toyoake municipal government in Aichi Prefecture, is believed to be the first of its kind in Japan. If approved, the guideline will take effect in October, though officials stress it will not be legally enforced. Mayor Masafumi Koki emphasised that the plan aims to encourage healthier digital habits rather than restrict rights. Koki remarked that, “This does not mean the city will limit its residents’ rights or impose duties. Rather,…

Singapore: Singapore authorities have announced a sweeping crackdown on vaping with tougher penalties, as the city-state battles a surge in drug-laced vapes, particularly those containing the anaesthetic drug etomidate. Starting from September 1, new rules will impose stiffer fines, longer jail terms, caning, and even deportation for foreigners caught vaping. Singapore, one of the first countries to ban e-cigarettes in 2018, has seen a worrying rise in the popularity of Kpods, vapes laced with etomidate, which has similar effects to ketamine. A random test of 100 seized vapes in July revealed that one-third contained the drug. Viral videos of young…

Paris: France has returned three human skulls to Madagascar, more than a century after they were taken during the colonial period, including one believed to be that of a Madagascan king executed by French forces. The remains, presumed to include the skull of King Toera, who was decapitated in 1897, along with two others from the Sakalava ethnic group were formally handed over at a ceremony at the French Ministry of Culture in Paris. A joint scientific committee confirmed that all three skulls originated from the Sakalava people but said it could only presume one belonged to King Toera. The…

London: People who begin smoking cannabis to ease pain, anxiety or depression have a greater risk of developing paranoia compared with those who use the drug recreationally, new research has revealed. The study, published in the British Medical Journal and led by academics at King’s College London, analysed responses from 3,389 current and former cannabis users over the age of 18 with no history of psychosis. Results showed that individuals who started using cannabis as a form of self-medication and were already experiencing minor psychotic symptoms recorded significantly higher paranoia scores. By contrast, the lowest scores were reported among those…

Hanoi: Vietnam is reeling from the impact of Typhoon Kajiki, which killed at least three people and injured 10 others as it swept through the country’s north central coast. The storm damaged nearly 7,000 houses, submerged 28,800 hectares of rice fields, and uprooted 18,000 trees, according to a government statement. It also toppled 331 electricity poles, triggering widespread blackouts across Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho provinces. In the capital Hanoi, torrential rains brought streets to a standstill as traffic was paralysed by flooding. Cars were seen submerged to their roofs, while floodwaters surrounded residential…

Washington: Australia and Japan have joined a widening list of countries halting some parcel shipments to the United States after the Trump administration scrapped a long-standing exemption that allowed low-value packages to enter duty-free. The exemption, known as the ‘de minimis’ rule, permitted parcels valued under $800 to enter the US without customs duties. With the rule set to end, postal operators worldwide are scrambling to adjust. Australia Post announced that it was implementing a ‘temporary partial suspension’ of shipments to the US and Puerto Rico. The postal service said parcels lodged would not be accepted until further notice, though…