Author: Trainee Reporter

London: Standard Chartered has planned to cut more than 15 percent of its back-office workforce by 2030 as the banking giant accelerates its use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technologies. The UK-headquartered lender is expected to eliminate around 7,800 roles globally over the next several years. However, the bank indicated that some employees impacted by the restructuring may be reassigned to other positions within the company. The move marks the latest example of major corporations reshaping their workforce strategies in response to AI adoption, with businesses increasingly relying on automation tools to perform tasks traditionally handled by human employees.…

Karachi: Pakistan captain Fatima Sana has set a new world record for the fastest half-century in women’s T20 (T20I) international cricket, reaching the milestone in just 15 balls during a dominant performance against Zimbabwe in Karachi. Playing at the National Stadium, the all-rounder led from the front with a blistering 62 off 19 deliveries, helping Pakistan seal a comprehensive 133-run victory and complete a 3-0 series sweep. Sana’s explosive knock broke the previous record of an 18-ball fifty, jointly held by Sophie Devine of New Zealand, Phoebe Litchfield of Australia and India’s Richa Ghosh. Walking in with intent from the…

Beijing: US President Donald Trump has cautioned Taiwan against formally declaring independence from China, reaffirming Washington’s longstanding ‘One China’ policy during high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. At the conclusion of his two-day summit with Xi, Trump stated that the United States was not seeking conflict over Taiwan and urged both sides to de-escalate the rising regional tensions. The remarks come as relations between Washington and Beijing remain strained over trade, military activity, and Taiwan’s political future. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly warned against any move toward formal independence, while Taiwan maintains…

London: New Zealand’s Māori Queen, Te Arikinui Kuini Nga Wai hono i te po, has met King Charles III at Buckingham Palace in London, marking her first official audience with the monarch since ascending to the throne in 2024 following the death of her father, Kiingi Tuheitia. The meeting highlights the long-standing relationship between the British Crown and the indigenous Māori people, a connection shaped over nearly two centuries and formalised through the Treaty of Waitangi, one of New Zealand’s foundational constitutional documents. According to a spokesperson for the Kīngitanga, the discussion was described as ‘heartfelt,’ with both leaders reflecting…

Washington: The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that the abortion pill Mifepristone can continue to be distributed by mail while an ongoing legal battle over access to the drug moves through the courts. In an emergency order issued, the court temporarily blocked lower court restrictions that would have required patients to obtain the medication in person. The decision keeps current access rules in place as litigation continues, with a final ruling potentially expected next year. The case centres on mifepristone, the first drug in a two-pill regimen approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for terminating…

Alberta: An Alberta court has halted a citizen-led push for the province to separate from Canada, ruling that the government failed to consult Indigenous First Nations groups whose treaty rights could be affected by secession. The decision was delivered in Edmonton by Justice Shaina Leonard, who issued a 37-page ruling that pauses the verification of signatures collected by separatist group Stay Free Alberta. The group claims it gathered more than 300,000 signatures in support of a referendum on Alberta independence, enough to trigger a province-wide vote under provincial rules potentially. However, the court sided with several First Nations communities, including…

Washington: The Trump administration has announced that football fans travelling to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be exempt from a controversial $15,000 (£11,000) visa deposit requirement, provided they hold valid match tickets for the tournament. The decision offers relief to supporters from 50 countries that were previously subject to the visa bond policy, introduced last year as part of a broader immigration enforcement initiative aimed at reducing visa overstays. Five of the countries benefiting from the exemption, Algeria, Cabo Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia, have already qualified for the tournament, which will be jointly…

Beijing: US President Donald Trump is travelling to China, accompanied by a large delegation of leading American business and technology executives, in what is being viewed as a critical moment for US–China economic relations. Among those joining the official visit to Beijing are Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Apple chief executive Tim Cook, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, BlackRock’s Larry Fink, alongside senior leaders from Meta, Visa, JPMorgan, Boeing, Cargill, Goldman Sachs and other major corporations. More than a dozen executives are part of the delegation, according to a White House official. The visit comes ahead of Trump’s planned meeting…

Lima: Peru’s public prosecutor’s office has accused leftist presidential candidate Roberto Sanchez of financial crimes, seeking a prison sentence of five years and four months, just as he appears set to advance to the country’s presidential run-off election. The charges came only hours after electoral authorities confirmed that Sanchez was on track to secure a place in the June 7 presidential run-off. According to local newspaper reports, prosecutors allege that Sanchez, representing the Juntos por el Peru party, submitted false financial disclosures to Peru’s National Office of Electoral Processes regarding campaign contributions received between 2018 and 2020. Investigators claim Sanchez…

Washington: United States President Donald Trump has announced plans to temporarily suspend the 18-cent federal petrol tax in an effort to offset rising fuel prices that have surged in recent weeks. Trump said the tax cut would remain in place for a period of time and would be reintroduced once prices stabilise. Trump remarked that, “Yup, we’re going to take off the gas tax for a period of time, and when gas goes down, we’ll let it phase back in.” The federal petrol tax currently generates around $2.5 billion, funding US road infrastructure projects. Congressional approval required Despite Trump’s announcement,…