Author: Trainee Reporter

United States: OpenAI has filed a countersuit against Elon Musk, accusing the Tesla and X (formerly Twitter) boss of a deliberate campaign to damage the company through legal threats, public attacks, and a ‘sham bid’ to take control of its assets. The legal filing, submitted in a California district court, asks a federal judge to halt what OpenAI describes as Musk’s ‘unlawful and unfair actions.’ The company claims Musk has used every tool at his disposal, including his extensive social media following and influence, to disrupt its operations and reputation. Musk co-founded OpenAI alongside CEO Sam Altman in 2015 but…

Argentina: A massive general strike has brought Argentina to a standstill, with major disruptions to transport and widespread closures across the country. The action, led by the country’s powerful unions, is a protest against sweeping public spending cuts introduced by President Javier Milei. All domestic flights have been cancelled, while train and metro services have been suspended in Buenos Aires and other cities. Although bus services continue to operate, many shops and businesses in the capital remained closed throughout the day. Airlines confirmed that international flights would move with only minor delays. This is the third general strike since Milei…

Australia: Australia has dismissed China’s offer to unite in opposition to Donald Trump’s escalating trade war, despite the U.S. imposing a 10 percent import tax on Australian goods. Meanwhile, China raised its tariffs on Australian imports to a staggering 125 percent. China’s Ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, argued that the only way to counter what he described as “hegemonic and bullying behaviour” from the U.S. was through joint resistance. He urged Canberra to cooperate with Beijing to defend the global trade environment from what he called “weaponised” trade tactics by the Trump administration. However, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded by…

South Korea: South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung has declared his candidacy for the presidency, vowing to address economic inequality and drive growth in the country. Lee emphasised his commitment to tackling economic polarisation, which he identified as a primary cause of social unrest and political instability. He argued that this divide had intensified recent political conflicts, particularly in the wake of former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial martial law declaration. The upcoming presidential election is set for June 3, following the constitutional court’s April 4 decision to uphold Yoon’s impeachment. Lee, currently leading in opinion polls, suggested significant government-level…

United States: Donald Trump has signed four executive orders aimed at reviving the coal industry, a heavily polluting fossil fuel that has long been in decline. Speaking at a White House event flanked by coal miners in hard hats, Trump framed the move as a reaction to the growing electricity demands of data centres, artificial intelligence, and electric vehicles. He declared coal “beautiful” and vowed to slash what he called unnecessary regulations, accelerate leasing for coal mining on federal lands, and use emergency authority to support older coal plants running. The executive orders demand all federal agencies to end what…

Australia: A faulty radio antenna and a series of operational changes have contributed to a fatal mid-air helicopter collision near Sea World on Australia’s Gold Coast, according to a newly released report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). The January 2023 accident claimed four lives — including British tourists Diane Hughes, 57, and her husband Ron Hughes, 65 — and left several others seriously injured. The two aircraft collided just 20 seconds after one took off and the other was readying to land after a short scenic flight. The ATSB report details how one pilot failed to hear a…

United States: United States Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration may continue deporting Venezuelan migrants under an 18th-century wartime law, while also demonstrating their right to due process. The court overturned a lower federal court’s temporary block on summary deportations carried out under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act — a law last invoked during World War II. The Trump administration has used the legislation to target alleged members of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, accusing them of “conducting irregular warfare” within the US. Since taking office in January, Trump officials have expelled hundreds of individuals under the statute.…

Seoul: South Korea will hold a snap presidential election on June 3 to replace Yoon Suk-yeol, who was ousted from office after his controversial declaration of martial law, the country’s acting president announced. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, currently serving as acting head of state, said the government coordinated with the National Election Commission and other agencies before selecting the date. Han Duck-soo stated that, “We considered the need to ensure smooth election operations and allow sufficient time for political parties to prepare.” The announcement follows a unanimous ruling by South Korea’s Constitutional Court, which upheld the legislature’s impeachment of Yoon.…

North Korea: North Korea has hosted the Pyongyang International Marathon, for the first time since 2019, drawing around 200 foreign runners to the capital in a rare glimpse of activity in the reclusive state. The annual race, launched in 1981 to mark the birth anniversary of founding leader Kim Il Sung, had been suspended since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The last edition before the hiatus saw around 950 foreign participants. This year’s marathon began and ended at the Kim Il Sung Stadium, where large crowds of spectators cheered from the stands, waving gold-colored paper flags. The route took…

Texas:  A second child has died from measles in western Texas, deepening concern as the region grapples with a growing outbreak of the highly contagious virus. The latest victim, an eight-year-old unvaccinated girl with no underlying health conditions, surrendered to complications in hospital, officials confirmed. Aaron Davis, Vice-president of UMC Health System stated that, “Measles is a highly contagious disease that can lead to serious complications, particularly for those who are unvaccinated.” The girl is the third person in the US to die from measles in recent weeks, following the death of a six-year-old in February and an unvaccinated man…