Author: Trainee Reporter

Australia: Australia’s two largest supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths, have been facing legal action by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for allegedly misleading consumers with false claims of permanently lowered prices. The ACCC has charged the grocery giants of raising prices temporarily, only to reduce them to a level that was either equivalent to or higher than the original price. Both supermarkets, which captured two-thirds of the Australian grocery market, have denied wrongdoing. Coles has affirmed to defend itself against the claims, while Woolworths has said it will review the statements. The controversy is rooted in the companies’…

New York: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met with top US tech companies, motivating them to consider India as an important destination for manufacturing and innovation. The meeting followed Modi’s attendance at the Quad summit with leaders from the US, Australia, and Japan. Modi seeks out opportunities for co-development, co-design, and co-production in India as a substitute to China for global firms diversifying their supply chains. The meeting incorporates CEOs from major corporations such as Google, Adobe, IBM, and NVIDIA, showcasing India’s potential in technology and innovation. The roundtable discussion empowers the transformative power of technology on the global…

United States: Former President Donald Trump has declared that he will not expect to run in the 2028 election again if he marks the failure. Trump responded to the media question whether he could foresee another presidential attempt should he lose to Democratic Vice-President Kamala Harris in November. Trump responded that, “No, I don’t. I think… that will be it.” However, he added optimistically, “Hopefully, we’re going to be very successful.” Trump’s remarks mark a rare acceptance of the possibility of losing, as he has previously focused on inspiring his supporters with pledges of victory. This is the second time…

Alabama: A tragic mass shooting unfolded late last night in the bustling Five Points South district, taking the lives of four people and leaving dozens injured. Birmingham police officer Truman Fitzgerald found out that “multiple shooters fired multiple shots at a group of people” in the popular nightlife area. Police arrived at the sight of Magnolia Avenue, where they discovered the bodies of two men and one woman. A fourth victim later surrendered to their injuries at a local hospital. Authorities are looking into whether the shooters approached the crowd on foot or from a vehicle. As of now, no…

Israel: Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has reported that more than 100 rockets were launched across the border overnight. Northern Israel woke up with Siren with 85 rockets fired later in the morning and unverified footage has shown a fire in a residential area near Haifa, intensifying concerns. In response to the attack, Israel’s air force has been conducting airstrikes in southern Lebanon. The IDF has verified the destruction of about 180 places and thousands of rocket launcher barrels targeting Hezbollah positions. This proceeding follows reports of Hezbollah preparing to fire toward Israeli territory. IDF spokesman Rear Adm Daniel Hagari emphasised…

Sri Lanka: Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leftist leader of the National People’s Power (NPP), has moved forward in Sri Lanka’s presidential election, following a significant vote. This debut presidential race is surrounded by the country’s worst economic crisis in decades. The promise of good governance and the anti-corruption platform raised by the Dissanayake attracted the voters, who wished for strict moderation. The election occurred since mass protests ousted the former president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in 2022 in which a candidate must secure at least 51% to claim victory outright. The early results show Dissanayake leading with close to 50% of the…

United States: The United States Secret Service has admitted to significant failures in security during a July campaign rally where former President Donald Trump was shot at and injured. The shooting took place on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman opened fire from a rooftop, grazing Trump in the ear and injuring three others, one of whom died. The acting director, Ronald Rowe explained a five-page review identifying limitations in advanced security planning and coordination with local law enforcement. Rowe stated that, “While some members of the advance team were very careful, there was complacency on the part…

Lebanon: Palestinian-American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has condemned a cartoon presented by National Review, which describes a racist attack against Arab and Muslim communities. The cartoon depicted Tlaib holding an igniting pager, with resemblance to recent explosions of communication devices in Lebanon. The attacks, which happened earlier in the week, have been attributed to Israel and resulted in the passing away of at least 37 people, with nearly 3,000 others injured. Tlaib expressed her disgrace in a statement, warning that such depictions incite further hatred and violence against already vulnerable Arab and Muslim populations. Tlaib expressed that, “Our community is already…

Sri Lanka: Sri Lankans have headed to the polls in their debut presidential election since the 2022 mass protests that dropped the government in the wake of the nation’s worst-ever economic crisis. The vote is being considered a poll on the economic reforms introduced to drive Sri Lanka towards recovery, but the cost of living, inflation, and poverty remain significant issues for the voter. Financial distress has intensified due to tax lifts and cuts to subsidies and welfare. There were reforms focused on stabilising the economy, but many Sri Lankans are still struggling to meet needs. Soumya Bhowmick, an associate…

Beijing: The National Bureau of Statistics has reported that China has made remarkable advancements in energy development over the past 75 years. The achievements significantly accelerated its transition towards green, low-carbon energy and improve efficient energy utilisation. The report declared by China Central Television (CCTV) has highlighted that China’s total primary energy output reached 4.83 billion tonnes of standard coal, marking a 202.6-fold increase since 1949. The country has seen an average annual growth rate of 7.4 per cent in energy output over this period. Power production capacity has seen notable improvements, with electricity generation skyrocketing from 4.3 billion kWh…