Author: Trainee Reporter

Antarctica: An American teen has hit a major roadblock in Antarctica to become the first person to fly solo across all seven continents in a small plane. Ethan Guo, 19, was detained by Chilean authorities after allegedly submitting a false flight plan before flying his single-engine aircraft to King George Island, a remote Antarctic outpost. According to Chile’s General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics, Guo’s deviation from the approved route activated alert protocols, prompting his detention upon landing at Teniente R. Marsh Airport. The airport is situated on King George Island, home to several international research stations, where temperatures in July…

Washington D.C.: The US Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to deport eight men, most of whom have no ties to South Sudan to the war-torn country after detaining them for weeks at a US military base in Djibouti. The court’s order follows a previous ruling by its conservative majority, allowing immigration officials to expedite deportations to third countries without requiring proof that the deportees would face danger. The men, originally from countries including Vietnam, South Korea, Mexico, Laos, Cuba, and Myanmar, were informed by the US government that they would be sent to South Sudan, despite only one…

Bali: At least five people have died and dozens remain missing after a ferry carrying 65 people sank off the coast of Indonesia’s popular tourist island of Bali late at night, according to the country’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas). The ferry, en route from Banyuwangi on the eastern tip of Java island to Gilimanuk in western Bali, sank at approximately 23:20 local time (15:35 GMT). On board were 53 passengers and 12 crew members. Rescuers have ensured that 31 survivors have been pulled from the water so far, while the search for the remaining individuals is ongoing. Multiple…

Washington: Microsoft has confirmed that it will cut as many as 9,000 jobs globally, marking the tech giant’s fourth wave of layoffs in 2025. The move, affecting around 4 percent of its 228,000-strong workforce, comes with a sweeping organisational shift as the company ramps up investments in artificial intelligence (AI). While the company did not identify which divisions would be impacted, reports suggest that the Xbox gaming division will bear part of the brunt. Official filings indicate more than 800 positions are being eliminated in Microsoft’s home state of Washington, particularly in Redmond and Bellevue. A Microsoft spokesperson stated that,…

Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has signed a law formally suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), marking a dramatic escalation in Iran’s standoff with the UN nuclear watchdog following unprecedented strikes by the United States and Israel on key Iranian nuclear facilities. The announcement comes days after Iran’s parliament overwhelmingly passed legislation citing ‘hostile acts’ by Israel and the US, including the June 13 Israeli attack and subsequent American airstrikes during a 12-day conflict that has left the region on edge. Under the new law, IAEA inspectors will no longer be granted access to Iran’s nuclear sites…

Washington: The United States has paused certain weapons deliveries to Ukraine, the White House confirmed, following a Department of Defence review of US global military assistance. The move comes as Russia ramps up its offensive, launching one of the largest aerial attacks on Ukraine since the war began. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the decision was made to put America’s interests first as Washington reassesses its defence commitments and resource allocations. While specific details were not disclosed, air defence missiles and precision-guided munitions are reportedly among the shipments now on hold. The US has provided Ukraine with tens of…

Singapore: Singapore has enacted a new law that empowers police to seize control of a person’s bank account and block financial transactions if they suspect the individual is being scammed, even if the potential victim disagrees. The Protection from Scams Act, which came into effect, enables authorities to order banks to halt transfers, restrict ATM and credit access, and control the use of funds, all to protect individuals believed to be at risk. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) clarified that affected individuals will still be able to access money for legitimate daily expenses, but only under police discretion. These…

Ottawa: Canada has scrapped its proposed Digital Services Tax (DST) following direct pressure from US President Donald Trump, prompting the resumption of trade negotiations between the two North American allies. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had called President Trump to say he would abandon the tax, which would have targeted large American tech companies including Amazon, Google, Meta and Apple. Leavitt stated that, “President Trump knows how to negotiate. He is governing the best country and the best economy in this world. Every country on the planet needs to have a good…

Spain: Large parts of Europe have remained in the grip of an unrelenting heatwave, with health authorities across the continent issuing urgent warnings as temperatures soar well above seasonal norms. Southern Spain has emerged as the epicentre of the extreme heat, with the town of El Granado recording a blistering 46 degrees Celsius, a new national record for June, according to Spain’s national weather service. Seville and surrounding areas have consistently seen temperatures in the mid-40s, and forecasters warn this could be the hottest June on record. Red warnings are currently in force in parts of Portugal, Italy, and Croatia,…

Washington, D.C.: US President Donald Trump has revealed that a group of very wealthy people are ready to purchase TikTok, the Chinese-owned video-sharing platform that was banned in the US over national security concerns. Trump said he would disclose more details about the potential buyers in about two weeks. He also expressed positivity that Chinese President Xi Jinping would approve the deal, which still requires clearance from Beijing. The announcement comes as the US government pushes ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to finalise a sale by September 17, the deadline set by a law passed last year mandating the divestment. Trump,…