Author: Elizabeth Jenrola Oso

President Donald Trump was presented with a golden crown by his South Korean counterpart, Lee Jae Myung, on Wednesday, in a ceremony that coincided with the announcement of a long‑awaited $350bn trade agreement between Washington and Seoul. The crown, a replica of one from the ancient Silla kingdom whose capital was Gyeongju, was offered as a symbol of friendship during Trump’s visit to South Korea for the Asia‑Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meetings. The American leader was also awarded the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, the country’s highest decoration, named after the national flower. The gesture came just a fortnight after millions…

Fears are mounting for hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in the Sudanese city of El Fasher after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced it had seized control of the city following a year-long siege. The RSF said on Sunday that it had taken the army’s main base in the city, located in the Darfur region, and declared it had “extended control over the city of El Fasher from the grip of mercenaries and militias”. The claim, if confirmed, would mark a significant shift in Sudan’s civil war, which has raged since April 2023. The Popular Resistance, a local…

The United States and China have agreed a framework for a trade deal just days before President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are due to meet in South Korea, easing fears of a renewed escalation in global trade tensions. The agreement was forged on the sidelines of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia on Sunday, where US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that the deal would remove the immediate threat of 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese imports due to take effect on 1 November. It will also include provisions for a final settlement…

Sami HamdiA British journalist and political commentator, Sami Hamdi, has been detained by United States immigration authorities at San Francisco International Airport, prompting accusations that the move represents retaliation for his outspoken criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The journalist, who has been touring the United States to speak at events organised by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair), was taken into custody on Sunday morning. Cair described the detention as “a blatant affront to free speech” and alleged that Hamdi’s only offence was to criticise a foreign government. The organisation has called for his immediate release, stating that…

In his statement, Trump accused the advert of being a “fraud” and claimed its “sole purpose” was to encourage the United States Supreme Court to intervene on Canada’s behalf in ongoing tariff disputes.

A Japanese tourist has died after falling from the outer wall of the Pantheon in Rome, one of the city’s most visited landmarks. The man, named by Italian media as 69-year-old Morimasa Hibino, was sitting on the perimeter wall on Friday evening when he lost his balance and plunged around seven metres into the moat surrounding the ancient structure. Emergency services were called to the scene shortly before 10pm local time. Firefighters were forced to break open a gate on Via della Palombella in order to reach the man, who was found lying in the ditch below. Despite their efforts,…

Two members of Australia’s Women’s World Cup squad were subjected to inappropriate behaviour by a member of the public in Indore, Cricket Australia has confirmed. The incident occurred on Thursday, a rest day for the team following their six-wicket victory over England at the Holkar Stadium. In a statement, Cricket Australia said: “We can confirm two members of the Australian women’s team were approached and touched inappropriately by a motorcyclist while walking to a café in Indore. The matter was reported by team security to police who are handling the matter.” According to reports from India, the players were walking…

The East Wing of the White House has been demolished to clear space for a proposed $300m gilded ballroom, only days after the administration confirmed the project would proceed. The move has provoked widespread criticism from historians, preservationists and former officials, who accuse the government of disregarding legal and cultural safeguards. Satellite images taken on Friday revealed the eastern section of the historic building reduced to rubble. The demolition represents a sharp reversal of President Donald Trump’s earlier pledge, made in July, that no part of the White House’s existing structure would be removed during the ballroom’s construction. Despite the…

The Delhi regional government has begun trialling a cloud‑seeding experiment in an attempt to induce artificial rain and reduce the city’s severe air pollution. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which took charge of the regional administration earlier this year, has long promoted cloud seeding as a potential measure to tackle the capital’s toxic air. The technique involves dispersing particles such as silver iodide into clouds using aircraft or drones. These particles act as nuclei around which water droplets can form, increasing the likelihood of rainfall. Unpredictable weather conditions had delayed the scheme for several months. However, following a sharp deterioration…

Trump responded angrily on his Truth Social platform, accusing Canada of “fraudulently” using the material and calling the advert “FAKE”.