China doubles down on AI and tech innovation as Trump ratchets up trade pressure

An American was elected popeRobert Prevost, a 69-year-old from Chicago, was elected as the new pope, taking the name Leo XIV, in a historic break from tradition as the first American to lead the Catholic Church. He is expected to navigate the church's future direction, balancing Pope Francis' agenda of inclusion with potential new policies. Leo has extensive experience, having served as a missionary and bishop in Peru and will celebrate Mass in the Sistine...

Axial Seamount, an underwater volcano about 300 miles off the Oregon coast, is showing signs of potential eruption, with recent increases in seismic activity and swelling of the structure. Scientists, including volcanologist Bill Chadwick from Oregon State University, predict it could erupt anytime between now and year-end; however, due to its depth and distance from land, it poses no threat to humans. This volcano, which has erupted three times in the past 30 years, serves...

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Donald Trump have announced a historic trade deal between the UK and US, marking the first since Trump's tariffs on trading partners. The agreement will reduce US tariffs on British automobile imports from 27.5% to 10% and eliminate tariffs on steel and aluminum, saving thousands of jobs in the UK. Additionally, British farmers will benefit from tariff-free access for 13,000 metric tonnes of beef, while the deal is expected...

Shyamal Shah, a 26-year-old engineer at Auckland Council's Watercare, siphoned $1.039 million using fake invoices and has pleaded guilty to obtaining by deception, facing a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. This incident marks one of New Zealand's largest public sector frauds as the country experiences a decline in its global corruption ranking, with warnings from a transparency agency about a lack of effective responses to increasing corruption. Watercare is pursuing full reparations and...

The Biennial 2025 Gauteng State of Ethics Report The recently released Biennial 2025 Gauteng State of Ethics Report highlights that numerous senior government managers in the province have not been vetted by their respective departments, with many failing to submit required vetting forms. Additionally, the report reveals that hundreds of officials are engaged in business transactions with the state, which is against established regulations. This situation raises concerns about adherence to ethical standards within the...

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court directed the West Bengal government to decide on granting prosecution sanction for co-accused in the cash-for-jobs case involving former minister Partha Chatterjee within two weeks. Chatterjee's lawyer argued that the absence of sanction for co-accused was delaying the trial, while the CBI opposed bail, emphasizing the state's responsibility. The court expressed concern over lengthy high court bail orders and noted the ongoing investigation into allegations stemming from the teachers eligibility...