Author: Grace Johnson

South Korea becomes a regional hub for artificial intelligence Nvidia will deliver over 260,000 of its most advanced AI chips to South Korea’s government and major companies, including Samsung, LG, and Hyundai. The chips will power factories producing semiconductors, robots, and autonomous vehicles. Chief executive Jensen Huang said the deal allows South Korea to “export intelligence as a new product.” He did not reveal the total value of the contracts. The announcement comes after a historic week for Nvidia. On Wednesday, it became the first company ever to reach a $5 trillion valuation. A day later, optimism grew that easing…

US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met for the first time in six years, reviving hopes that the world’s two largest economies might ease their strained relationship. Trump described the talks in South Korea as “amazing,” while Beijing said both sides had reached a consensus to address “major trade issues.” Relations have been tense since Trump began imposing tariffs on Chinese imports, prompting Beijing’s swift retaliation. Although a temporary truce was agreed in May, friction between the two powers remained strong. The meeting ended without a formal trade deal but suggested fresh movement toward compromise. Behind the…

A major Microsoft outage on Wednesday sent shockwaves through the digital world, knocking offline some of the most used websites and services. Platforms including Heathrow Airport, NatWest, and Minecraft went dark for several hours before technicians restored them later that evening. Millions of users were left unable to work, bank, or play online. Thousands report breakdowns worldwide Outage tracker Downdetector recorded a surge of reports as websites froze and apps failed to load. Users struggled to send emails, log into accounts, or complete online transactions. Microsoft confirmed that its Microsoft 365 users experienced serious delays with Outlook and other services.…

More than 300 stakeholders are backing a “clean” Continuing Resolution (CR) to reopen the U.S. federal government. A clean CR is a short-term funding bill without policy riders, designed to maintain government operations while avoiding partisan disputes. The coalition includes advocacy groups, business leaders, and policy experts. Their support demonstrates broad non-partisan agreement on the importance of stable government funding. Lawmakers hope the measure will reduce the risk of a shutdown and improve confidence in federal operations. Continuing Resolutions are essential when annual appropriations bills are delayed. Without a CR, agencies may face closures, staff furloughs, and interruptions in essential…

OpenAI has completed its transformation into a for-profit company. The move is expected to attract billions in investment and could pave the way for a future stock market debut. Microsoft reshapes its partnership with OpenAI As part of the restructuring, Microsoft and OpenAI have redefined their partnership. Microsoft now holds a 27% stake in the ChatGPT developer. This marks a major evolution in a collaboration that began in 2019, when OpenAI still operated as a non-profit research lab. Under the new deal, Microsoft can now pursue artificial general intelligence (AGI) independently or with other partners. AGI is often defined as…

Amazon is preparing to cut tens of thousands of office jobs as part of a sweeping global restructuring, several media outlets report. The layoffs could begin as early as this week. According to The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, the company plans to eliminate up to 30,000 positions. The move is part of a broad cost-cutting strategy led by chief executive Andy Jassy, who aims to refocus Amazon after a period of rapid growth. Amazon declined to respond to requests for comment from international news organizations. Largest round of layoffs since 2022 If confirmed, the planned job cuts would be…

Real Madrid displayed power and precision at the Bernabéu, beating Barcelona 2-1 to move five points clear at the top of La Liga. Xabi Alonso’s side controlled the game from start to finish in his first Clasico as manager. Jude Bellingham returned to form with his first league goal and assist since his shoulder surgery. Kylian Mbappé continued his fine scoring streak and led the attack with sharpness and flair. Yet the night’s triumph was overshadowed by Vinicius Jr’s explosive reaction to being substituted. The Brazilian winger lost his temper after being replaced in the 72nd minute. He ignored Alonso…

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis has announced plans to acquire Avidity Biosciences in a $12 billion deal. The acquisition is expected to enhance Novartis’s position in the biotechnology sector and expand its research and development capabilities. Novartis officials said the acquisition aligns with the company’s strategy to invest in cutting-edge therapies and innovative platforms. “This move strengthens our pipeline and positions Novartis at the forefront of biotech innovation,” a company spokesperson said. Avidity Biosciences specializes in targeted therapies that address rare and complex diseases. By bringing these capabilities under Novartis’s umbrella, the pharmaceutical leader aims to accelerate research and bring new…

US President Donald Trump has announced an increase in tariffs on Canadian goods after Ontario aired an anti-tariff advertisement featuring former President Ronald Reagan. Trump blasted the ad as a “fraud” and accused Canadian officials of refusing to remove it before the World Series baseball championship. “Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now,” he posted on social media on Saturday. Trade standoff intensifies between US and Canada Trump’s announcement followed his withdrawal from trade talks with Canada on Thursday,…

Beef prices in the United States have surged to record highs, turning a kitchen-table issue into a political showdown. Donald Trump, who once declared inflation “dead,” now faces mounting criticism as costly beef threatens his promise to bring grocery prices down. This week, he urged ranchers on social media to lower cattle prices. But his demand — and his administration’s proposals — have enraged ranchers who say the plans will hurt small producers while doing little to help consumers. A long decline in America’s cattle country The number of cattle ranchers in the US has fallen steadily for more than…