Author: Trainee Reporter

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…

Australia: Labour’s major expansion of the home guarantee scheme will help more Australians buy their first home, but experts warn it risks pushing property prices even higher. The scheme, first introduced in 2020, allows eligible first-time buyers to enter the market with a deposit as low as 5 percent without paying costly lender’s mortgage insurance. The government covers up to 15 percent of the loan as a taxpayer-backed guarantee, a move aimed at cutting years off the time required to save a deposit. Housing minister Clare O’Neil announced that from October, the programme will no longer be capped at 50,000…

United States: Elon Musk’s SpaceX has called off a planned test flight of its Starship megarocket, citing an issue with ground systems at the company’s Texas launch site. The launch was halted approximately 30 minutes before liftoff, with SpaceX confirming that the delay would allow for troubleshooting. The company said it plans to make another attempt. This marks the latest setback in a series of troubled test campaigns. Starship’s upper-stage flights in January, March and May ended in mid-air explosions, while a June static fire test saw the vehicle detonate on the launchpad. Standing down from today’s tenth flight of…

Austin: The Texas Senate has given final approval to a new Republican-leaning congressional map, sending it to Governor Greg Abbott for his signature. The chamber passed the measure 18–11 along party lines shortly, following more than eight hours of heated debate. The new map, strongly backed by President Donald Trump, adds five districts expected to favour Republicans and is designed to help the GOP maintain its slim majority in the 2026 midterm elections. Abbott, a Republican, is expected to sign the map swiftly, though Democrats have vowed to challenge it in court. The effort prompted state Democrats to stage a…