World News
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Japan sees fastest wage growth in 30 years but weak household spending persists
In April, Japan experienced a rise in wages as major companies increased pay at the fastest rate in 30 years, responding to workers’ demands for higher salaries to cope with inflation. However, household spending remained weak, highlighting an uneven economic recovery. The wage data offers an early insight into the effects of the spring labour negotiations, known as “shunto,” and…
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Ageing population may slow global GDP but not per capita income
As the global population ages, concerns about the future of the economy are growing. By 2050, the number of people aged 65 and above is expected to double, reaching 1.6 billion. This shift in demographics has led to fears of a potential slowdown in economic growth. However, there is evidence to suggest that if advanced economies can maintain the health…
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Snap hires ex-Google VP to boost ad targeting and measurement
Snap Inc announced yesterday that it has appointed a new senior vice president of engineering from Google, marking the latest addition to its team in a bid to boost its advertising business. Eric Young, who previously served as vice president of engineering for Alphabet Inc’s Google Cloud, will be responsible for overseeing Snap’s core infrastructure, which includes the widely-used photo…
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US senator urges declassification of report on journalist Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing
US Senator Chris Van Hollen has urged the Biden administration to declassify and release a government report on the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. The Al Jazeera correspondent was killed on May 11, 2022, while covering an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin. Initially, Israeli officials falsely accused Palestinian gunmen of fatally shooting Abu…
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Ukraine forces advance amid counteroffensive speculation
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has commended his troops as Ukrainian forces advanced in several sections of the front line with Russia, leading to increasing speculation that Kyiv’s anticipated counteroffensive is underway. In a video address, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian soldiers, particularly those in the Donetsk region, for their efforts in defending the country and progressing forward. Zelenskyy’s praise…
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Mike Pence announces 2024 presidential bid against Trump
In a move that pits him against his former boss, ex-Vice President Mike Pence has officially declared his intention to run for the Republican nomination in the 2024 US presidential race. The 63-year-old’s campaign submitted a declaration of candidacy to the Federal Election Commission, with a formal launch expected in Iowa on Wednesday. Pence, a firm social conservative and evangelical…
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Chinese research ship exits Vietnam’s EEZ after US-China talks
A Chinese research vessel and its escort, which had been operating in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea for nearly a month, left the area on June 5. The departure coincided with high-level talks between the US and China. The Chinese vessel Xiang Yang Hong 10 had been sailing in Vietnam’s EEZ since May 7, often…
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Taliban crackdown causes 80% drop in Afghan opium cultivation
Armed with AK-47 assault rifles and large sticks, a Taliban anti-narcotics unit in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province is on a mission to eradicate poppy farming. In April 2022, Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada issued a decree prohibiting poppy cultivation, with violators facing crop destruction and penalties under Sharia law. The ban was imposed due to the harmful effects of opium…
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China plans AI regulation after Elon Musk’s productive discussions
Chinese authorities are planning to introduce regulations for artificial intelligence (AI) in the country, according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk. He shared this information during a Twitter Space conversation with Democratic presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr, following his recent visit to China. Musk mentioned that he had “very productive discussions” with senior Chinese leadership regarding the risks of AI…
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Floor tiles fright: Thai woman in Malaysian condo gets explosive surprise (video)
A Thai woman residing in a condominium in Malaysia was shocked when her floor tiles suddenly exploded, initially fearing the building was collapsing. Neighbours reassured her that this has occurred before and is common in the area due to extreme weather conditions. The woman, known as @cake.lansi on TikTok, posted a video capturing the terrifying moment when the tiles violently…
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Southern Thai tourism seeks eased regulations for Malaysian tour buses
The tourism association representing 14 southern provinces in Thailand has urged the Transport Ministry to relax regulations, allowing Malaysian tour buses to travel beyond the border province of Songkhla. This move could potentially stimulate the region’s economy through promotional campaigns, as discussed at a recent forum on tourism organised by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC). Jarun Kaewjeesub,…
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US diplomat’s China visit stirs controversy
The US State Department reported that senior US diplomat Daniel Kritenbrink had candid and productive discussions with Chinese officials during his visit to Beijing. Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, met with Chinese foreign ministry officials Ma Zhaoxu and Yang Tao, alongside US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns and National Security Council official Sarah Beran. The…
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Slow fraud recovery risks taxpayer money, MPs urge government action
MPs have criticised the government for its sluggish efforts in recovering taxpayer money lost to fraud and error during the pandemic. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), a cross-party group, has called for a “step change” in Whitehall’s approach to risk in order to avoid similar “panic responses” in the future. The committee’s report revealed numerous “repeated problems,” including an estimated…
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India’s deadliest train crash sparks criminal investigation
Families of victims of India’s deadliest train crash in recent memory gathered at a hospital in Bhubaneswar city on June 5, as railway officials called for the country’s premier criminal investigation agency to probe the accident that claimed 275 lives. Relatives of passengers who perished in the crash on Friday queued outside the eastern city’s All India Institute of Medical…
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Prince Harry’s US visa under scrutiny amid drug admissions
In an unusual legal twist, Prince Harry finds himself at the centre of a court case in the United States on the same day he is scheduled to appear in London’s High Court. Lawyers are set to appear in a federal courtroom in Washington DC, demanding the release of the Duke of Sussex’s US visa application form, which could potentially…
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Fake police car chase on Malaysian expressway sparks investigation
Malaysian authorities initiated an investigation into an expressway car chase involving three men who allegedly posed as police officers. The incident occurred on the North-South Highway near the Sedenak exit in Kulai, Johor, and was widely shared on social media. The suspects are believed to have used blue beacon lights and hand gestures to signal the driver to stop his vehicle.…
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UK civil servants strike despite government’s improved pay offer
Strikes by civil servants across the United Kingdom are set to continue despite the government presenting an improved pay offer. Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union will participate in industrial action on Tuesday in Northern Ireland and Wednesday in Wales. The PCS has stated that the stoppages will persist as they evaluate the “significant concessions” related to…
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Nurse recruitment crisis: Ghana’s health system suffers as UK beckons
A growing number of nurses are leaving countries like Ghana to work in high-income nations, leading to concerns about a “brain-drain” and its impact on healthcare systems in poorer countries. In 2022, over 1,200 Ghanaian nurses joined the UK’s nursing register, as the National Health Service (NHS) increasingly depends on staff from non-EU countries to fill vacancies. Howard Catton, from…
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UK paediatricians demand ban on disposable vapes amid youth vaping surge
Paediatricians are urging a total ban on disposable e-cigarettes due to the potential harm they pose to young lungs and the environment. However, an anti-smoking advocacy group argues that such a ban would make quitting smoking more difficult for some adults and increase the illegal vape trade. UK governments are considering measures to reduce vaping among under-18s, including stricter regulations…
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CBI faces crucial vote on reform package amid misconduct scandal
Rain Newton-Smith, director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), is urging members to approve a series of reforms in a critical vote that could determine the future of the embattled business lobby group. The CBI, a 59-year-old organization that has traditionally represented big business, is facing a potentially existential referendum at an extraordinary general meeting in London. Members…
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Jim Hines, first to break 10-second barrier in 100m, dies aged 76
The world of athletics mourns the loss of Jim Hines, the first man to complete the 100m race in under 10 seconds, who has passed away at the age of 76. Hines set the groundbreaking record in 1968, achieving a hand-timed 9.9 seconds at the US Championships. He then surpassed his own record at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City,…
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Canada faces worst wildfire season on record, burning area size of Belgium
Canada is preparing for what could be its most severe wildfire season to date, with 2,214 fires already recorded this year, burning an area roughly equivalent to the size of Belgium. Forecasters predict the risk of wildfires will escalate in June and remain unusually high throughout the summer. Jonathan Wilkinson, the federal natural resources minister, described the season’s projections as…
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Pence battles Trump for 2024 GOP nomination and evangelical vote
The prospect of a 2024 presidential campaign led by Mike Pence, with his background in Congress and experience as a state governor, would have been highly promising in a conventional political landscape. As a former vice-president, Pence has had numerous high-profile roles within the administration and four years to establish connections with his party’s grassroots. Additionally, he is a methodical…
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Prince Harry’s US visa under scrutiny amid drug use revelations
A US judge is set to hear an appeal from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, demanding that Prince Harry’s visa application be made public due to his past drug use. The federal court hearing is scheduled for Tuesday in Washington DC and will be open to the media. In his memoir Spare, released in January, Prince Harry admitted…
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Green Party secures first Northern Ireland mayoral role amid budget cuts
The Green Party in Northern Ireland has achieved a historic milestone by securing its first-ever mayoral position, with Áine Groogan being appointed as the deputy lord mayor of Belfast. This development comes after the party lost three seats in the recent Northern Ireland council elections, including the seat held by party leader Mal O’Hara in Belfast. Today, seven of Northern…
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Mass hack hits BBC, British Airways, Boots, and Aer Lingus, exposing staff data
A series of organisations, including the BBC, British Airways, Boots, and Aer Lingus, have been impacted by a large-scale cyber attack. Employees have been alerted that personal information, such as national insurance numbers and, in some cases, bank details, may have been compromised. The hackers infiltrated a widely-used software program, enabling them to access multiple companies simultaneously. No ransom demands…
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Princess Eugenie welcomes baby boy Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank
Princess Eugenie has shared the joyful news of the arrival of her second child, a baby boy, on Instagram. Born on May 30, the young royal has been named Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank. Eugenie, 32, and her husband Jack Brooksbank welcomed the 7lb 1oz baby, whose names pay tribute to his great-great-great grandfather George, his grandpa George, and Eugenie’s grandpa…
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Riptide suspected in Bournemouth beach drowning of girl and teenage boy
A riptide is believed to have caused the tragic drowning of a 17-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl off Bournemouth beach, according to an inquest. Joe Abbess from Southampton and Sunnah Khan from Buckinghamshire both passed away in hospital following the incident. The inquest held at Dorset Coroner’s Court suggested that a riptide may have led to the pair’s drowning.…
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Last Wilson cabinet member Lord Morris of Aberavon dies at 91
Lord Morris of Aberavon, the final remaining member of Harold Wilson’s cabinet and the last Labour MP elected in the 1950s, has passed away at the age of 91. Previously known as John Morris, he held the position of Welsh secretary under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan, and served as attorney general during Tony Blair’s tenure. Lord Morris was one…
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COVID inquiry chair may resign if WhatsApp battle lost to government
The chair of the COVID inquiry, Baroness Hallett, has been cautioned that resigning may be the “only logical response” if she loses the battle with the government over access to unredacted WhatsApp messages. Solicitor Elkan Abrahamson, representing the COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice campaign group, expressed his concerns after the government decided to launch a judicial review into Baroness Hallett’s…
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