Author: Trainee Reporter

Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Washington for a high-stakes meeting with US President Donald Trump, as tensions rise over trade, regional conflicts, and international legal challenges. The White House confirmed the upcoming meeting, citing discussions on a wide range of critical issues including newly imposed US tariffs on Israeli imports, ongoing measures to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, and what both leaders have described as the “Iranian threat.” In a statement from Netanyahu’s Jerusalem office, the agenda also includes talks on Israel-Turkey relations, the push to return Israeli hostages held in Gaza, and opposition to the…

United States: The United States has announced an immediate cancellation of visas for South Sudanese passport holders, citing the African nation’s refusal to accept its deported nationals. In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Washington will also block any South Sudanese citizens from entering the country at US ports of entry. Rubio criticized South Sudan’s transitional government for its failure to repatriate its citizens, calling the move a breach of international responsibilities. Rubio stated that, “It is time for the Transitional Government of South Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States. Every country must…

Hungary: Hungary has announced its decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), becoming the first European Union member to take such a step. The announcement came just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Budapest for a state visit. Netanyahu, who faces an ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Israel-Hamas war, was invited to Hungary by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in November, shortly after the warrant was issued. At the time, Orbán stated the ruling would have “no effect” in Hungary. Gergely Gulyás, Orbán’s chief of staff, told Hungarian…

Washington, D.C.: U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a broad set of tariffs, asserting that the new measures would increase the American economy and protect domestic industries. Implemented via executive order, the tariffs are expected to have significant global economic repercussions. A senior White House official disclosed that a “baseline” tariff of 10 percent will be applied to all imports into the U.S., effective April 5. The tax will be imposed on companies importing foreign goods, a move that could lead to increased costs for consumers. Several countries will be subject only to this base rate, including the United Kingdom,…

China: China’s military has conducted a live-fire exercise in the Taiwan Strait, simulating strikes on key ports and energy facilities. The drill, codenamed “Strait Thunder,” marks an escalation of Beijing’s military activities around Taiwan, which it claims as its territory. Taiwan’s presidential office issued a strong condemnation, calling the exercises “military provocations.” The drills come with heightened tensions, with China ramping up its rhetoric against Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing has labelled a “parasite” and “separatist.” The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) stated that the exercises serve as a “serious warning and powerful containment” against what it calls “Taiwan independence”…

United States: Wisconsin voters have delivered a major win for Democrats. Liberal judge Susan Crawford secured a seat on the state’s supreme court, beating conservative candidate Brad Schimel in the most expensive judicial contest in U.S. history. Crawford, a judge from Dane County, won by nearly 10 percentage points with over 84 percent of votes counted. Her victory confirms that liberals maintain a 4-3 majority on the court, which is expected to hear critical cases on abortion, collective bargaining, and congressional redistricting. Crawford stated that, “Wisconsin stood up and said loudly that justice does not have a price. Our courts…

Japan: OpenAI has raised $40 billion in a funding round led by Japanese investment giant SoftBank, marking the largest capital infusion ever for a startup. The deal values the ChatGPT creator at $300 billion, reinforcing its role as a leader in artificial intelligence research and development. The investment comes as part of a strategic partnership, with SoftBank initially contributing $10 billion and pledging an additional $30 billion by the end of 2025, contingent on meeting specific conditions. OpenAI stated that the funding would enable it to push the boundaries of AI research and accelerate progress toward artificial general intelligence (AGI),…

India: India is set to experience an intense heatwave this summer, with above-normal temperatures expected across most regions, the country’s weather department has warned. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, chief of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), said multiple states could witness more heatwave days than usual this year. Some regions have already recorded weekly average minimum temperatures exceeding normal levels by 1-3°C in February. Extreme heat poses a severe risk to public health and key sectors such as agriculture, where water shortages can have devastating effects. In 2024, India recorded its hottest day on May 28, with temperatures soaring to 50.5°C in Churu,…

United States: Billionaire Elon Musk has distributed $1 million (£770,000) cheques to voters in Wisconsin after the state’s Supreme Court refused to block his giveaway. The move comes just days before a pivotal judicial election that could shift control of the court. Musk announced the prize earlier this week, framing it as part of a broader effort to oppose “activist judges.” Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, had filed a lawsuit to halt the payments, arguing they violated state laws prohibiting gifts in exchange for votes. However, after two lower courts ruled in Musk’s favour, the state Supreme Court…

United States: US President Donald Trump has confirmed that new tariffs set to be announced this week will apply to all countries, not just those with the largest trade imbalances with the United States. The latest measures, which Trump has referred to as America’s “Liberation Day,” will add to existing tariffs on aluminium, steel, and vehicles, as well as increased levies on all Chinese imports. The president’s move has sparked concerns among investors, with Asian markets sliding in early trading. Trump stated that, “You’d start with all countries. Essentially all of the countries that we’re talking about.” However, he suggested…