Author: Web Desk

London: British inflation has remained at 3.8 percent in August, official figures from the Office for National Statistics have shown, keeping the country’s rate above that of the United States and the euro zone. The data has reinforced expectations that the Bank of England will not move towards cutting interest rates until 2025. The inflation figure has been driven by rising food costs, which the Bank of England regards as a crucial influence on public inflation expectations. Food and non-alcoholic beverages have been 5.1 percent higher in August compared with a year earlier, following a 4.9 percent increase in July.…

London: US President Donald Trump has arrived in the United Kingdom for a historic second state visit, a distinction that no previous American leader has received. Landing at London Stansted Airport aboard Air Force One, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were flown by Marine One to Winfield House, the residence of the US ambassador near Regent’s Park. The visit has come at a time of renewed diplomatic focus, with both nations emphasising the strength of the transatlantic alliance. British officials have described it as an opportunity to reinforce what they call ‘the strongest partnership in the world.’ On September…

Lagos: Nigerian chef jollof rice record has been confirmed after Hilda Baci prepared the world’s largest pot of the popular West African dish in Lagos. Guinness World Records has verified that the dish weighed 8,780 kilograms. Baci spent nine hours cooking the record-breaking jollof rice, but the effort almost failed when the custom-made steel pot collapsed twice during the weighing process. A crane had been used to lift the giant vessel, but despite the mechanical failures, none of the rice was lost. The recipe required 4,000 kilograms of rice, 500 cartons of tomato paste, 600 kilograms of onions, and 168…

Sydney: Australia teen social media ban has entered its enforcement phase as the country prepares to block access for users under 16 starting in December. The eSafety Commissioner has directed platforms to employ ‘minimally invasive’ techniques, including artificial intelligence and behavioural data, to verify user ages. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has explained that companies already use precise targeting technology for advertising, which can be applied to age detection. Grant said that platforms should be able to filter out underage users without demanding widespread re-verification from adults, as that would be unreasonable. In July, Grant extended the scope of the…

Madrid: US China trade talks have continued in Spain on Monday as delegations from both countries attempt to resolve long-running disputes. The discussions, led by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, have taken place amid renewed concerns over tariffs, national security, and the future of TikTok in America. The two delegations last met in July, when they agreed to extend a tariffs truce by 90 days until November 10. That agreement temporarily reduced import taxes that had reached more than 100 percent on each other’s goods, while also creating more space to address what the…

London: The NHS maternity investigation has been expanded to 14 hospital trusts in England after concerns over patient safety and a culture of cover-up were raised. Charles Massey, chief executive of the General Medical Council, has said that something has gone badly wrong when trainee obstetrics and gynaecology doctors are too fearful to raise concerns. Massey has pointed to the ‘tribal’ nature of medicine, where doctors and staff are set against one another, as a barrier to open reporting when mistakes occur. Massey’s comments coincide with the government naming the trusts subject to the rapid review of maternity and neonatal…

Sao Paulo: Brazil has confirmed the Hermeto Pascoal death, with the celebrated musician passing away at the age of 89. Known as ‘The Sorcerer’, Pascoal had become a global icon for coaxing music from unconventional instruments ranging from kettles filled with water to a live piglet. A message shared by family members and fellow musicians confirmed that Pascoal passed surrounded by loved ones. Recognisable for long white hair and beard, Pascoal gained admiration among jazz fans worldwide for his virtuosity across the keyboard, guitar, and saxophones, as well as his distinctive compositions. Born on June 22, 1936, in Alagoas state…

Sydney: The United States has been assured access to defence facilities in Western Australia that are being developed to support nuclear-powered submarines under the trilateral AUKUS submarine deal, Defence Minister Richard Marles has said that. The Australian government has allocated AUD 12 billion (USD 8 billion) to upgrade the Henderson shipyard near Perth, a programme set to span two decades. The initiative aims to turn the facility into the central maintenance hub for Australia’s upcoming fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. The AUKUS partnership, established in 2021 between Australia, Britain, and the United States, has been designed to provide Canberra with attack…

Lahore: More than two million people have been evacuated in Punjab province as Pakistan floods evacuation efforts expand across the country’s eastern regions. Authorities have confirmed that another 150,000 have been relocated from Sindh province, with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warning that the figure may increase in the coming days. According to the International Medical Corps, monsoon rains have killed over 900 people nationwide since late June. Climate change has worsened the scale of flooding, with heavy rainfall causing rivers to overflow. Critics have said that inadequate investment in disaster management, including early warning systems and infrastructure, has…

Paris: A TikTok criminal inquiry has been requested by Arthur Delaporte, a Socialist MP, who has referred the matter to the Paris public prosecutor. Delaporte said that a six-month parliamentary inquiry into the app’s psychological effects on minors had shown that TikTok had endangered the lives of its young users. The committee, co-chaired by Delaporte, heard testimony from families, social media executives and influencers. Delaporte said that TikTok executives denied knowledge of harmful content, an answer he argued could constitute perjury. The prosecutor will now decide whether to open a formal investigation into the video platform. The inquiry followed a…