Author: Web Desk

Sydney: New Zealand has outlined plans to implement laws in November to simplify and accelerate the approval process for new supermarkets. Finance Minister Nicola Willis stated that the centre-right government’s proposed rules will create an express lane for approvals, allowing companies to open or expand supermarkets more efficiently and increase competition in the grocery sector. The move comes as the country’s supermarket industry remains dominated by Foodstuffs NZ and Australia’s Woolworths (WOW.AX). Willis said tough regulations and a slow approval process have prevented new competitors from entering the market, which has limited options and kept prices high for consumers. While…

New Delhi: The United States has implemented a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods, weeks after President Donald Trump issued an executive order adding a 25 percent penalty over India’s purchases of Russian oil and weapons. This development, driven by the new 50 percent tariff, makes India one of the countries facing the highest US tariffs globally, potentially dealing a substantial blow to exports and growth in the world’s fifth-largest economy. The 50 percent tariff implementation has prompted the Indian government to adopt urgent measures to mitigate the impact. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has responded by advocating for self-reliance and…

Beijing: China has confirmed that President Xi Jinping will host the largest Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit since its founding in 2001, bringing together over 20 leaders from Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are among the attendees, marking Modi’s first visit to China in over seven years. This visit follows efforts to ease tensions after deadly border clashes in 2020. The summit, scheduled in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, has underscored China’s strategy to present a post-American-led international order while supporting sanctions-hit Russia…

Washington: US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on countries that enforce digital services taxes. Trump has warned of substantial additional tariffs on exports to the US if such discriminatory legislation is not removed. In a social media post, Trump stated that, all countries with digital taxes, legislation, rules, or regulations are on notice. Trump claimed that these taxes are designed to harm American technology companies and give a pass to firms from China, a key US tech rival. The issue of digital service taxes has been a longstanding trade irritant for multiple US administrations, particularly targeting…

New Delhi: India has raised fears over the construction of a new China mega dam in Tibet, warning that the project could cut water flows on a key river by up to 85 percent during the dry season. The Chinese project, located near the border just before the Yarlung Zangbo enters India, has been announced as the world’s largest hydropower dam. The river originates in Tibet’s Angsi Glacier and becomes the Siang and Brahmaputra in India, serving as a lifeline for more than 100 million people in China, India and Bangladesh. Delhi has long considered building its own large dam…

Vietnam: Vietnam has ordered the evacuation of more than 586,000 residents as Typhoon Kajiki approaches with increasing force. The typhoon has already carried winds of 166km/h (103mph) and is forecast to strengthen further before making landfall early Monday, according to weather officials. Authorities have confirmed that people in the central provinces of Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri, Hue and Da Nang have been instructed to leave their homes. Vietnam Airlines has cancelled at least 22 flights to and from central cities, while vessels have been directed to remain in port. The storm is currently passing near Hainan, China, where forecasters have…

London: A potential ChatGPT Plus UK deal has been discussed between OpenAI’s chief executive Sam Altman and UK technology secretary Peter Kyle during meetings in San Francisco. The discussions have included the possibility of giving all UK residents premium access to ChatGPT Plus, although no proposal has been pursued further. According to two people familiar with the matter, the talks have taken place as part of wider discussions on collaboration between the company and the UK government. The idea of nationwide access has been considered too expensive, with costs estimated at up to $2.54 billion. OpenAI currently offers both free…

Colombo: The former Sri Lankan president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has been admitted to hospital following his arrest on charges of misusing public funds, intensifying the government’s ongoing crackdown on corruption. Ranil Wickremesinghe has been treated for acute dehydration at Colombo National Hospital, where doctors said that his condition is stable. Wickremesinghe was remanded in custody on August 22 after being accused of using taxpayer money to cover expenses for a two-day trip to the United Kingdom in September 2023. The visit included a ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton, where Wickremesinghe’s  wife received an honorary professorship. Wickremesinghe has denied the charges,…

Menlo Park: Meta has entered into a partnership with generative AI startup Midjourney, aiming to strengthen its artificial intelligence capabilities and expand creative tools across its platforms. The Meta Midjourney partnership has been designed to license the startup’s ‘aesthetic technology’ while bringing the companies’ research teams together, according to Alexandr Wang, the social media giant’s chief AI officer. The move has marked a significant step in Meta’s efforts to differentiate its AI products based on visual quality. With competition intensifying against rivals such as OpenAI and Google, the collaboration is expected to support Meta’s push to revitalise its AI roadmap…

United Nations: The Gaza famine has been confirmed by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which has reported that 514,000 Palestinians – almost one quarter of Gaza’s population – have been facing famine conditions. The figure is projected to increase to 641,000 by the end of September. According to the IPC, about 280,000 people in Gaza governorate, covering Gaza City, are already in famine following nearly two years of war between Israel and Hamas. The organisation has warned that famine conditions will likely spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis governorates next month. The IPC has stated that lack…