Author: Trainee Reporter

United States: US President Donald Trump has issued what he described as a “last warning” to Hamas, demanding the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza. In a strongly worded statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump vowed to equip Israel with “everything it needs to finish the job” and warned that “not a single Hamas member will be safe” if his demands were not met. The statement comes just hours after the White House confirmed it has engaged in direct negotiations with Hamas—marking a significant departure from previous US policy, which has long prohibited direct contact with groups designated…

Washington, D.C.: The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) has charged 12 Chinese nationals for their alleged involvement in a state-sponsored hacking operation that targeted American dissidents and government agencies, including the Treasury Department. According to the DOJ, the hackers also penetrated an American religious organisation and a Hong Kong-based newspaper. Federal prosecutors allege that the hackers worked under the direction of Chinese ministries while also operating independently for profit. The indictment claims that the individuals—some linked to China’s Ministry of Public Security—instructed cyber intrusions on behalf of Chinese agencies, charging between $10,000 and $75,000 per exploited email inbox. Sue J Bai,…

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has ruled that Christian James Michel, a British arms consultant detained in India for six years without trial, must be freed on bail. Michel is accused of bribing Indian officials to secure a multimillion-dollar helicopter contract for British-Italian defence firm AgustaWestland. He denies the charges. Extradited from the UAE in 2018, Michel has been in custody ever since. The court described his prolonged detention as “exceptional” and noted that his time in pre-trial custody was “alarmingly close” to the maximum sentence of seven years for money laundering, one of the charges he faces. The…

Washington, D.C.: US President Donald Trump has addressed a divided Congress, taking a victory lap over what he called an unprecedentedly successful start to his presidency. Speaking before a Republican-controlled Capitol, he praised his administration’s early accomplishments and laid out ambitious plans for the months ahead. Trump stated that, “We have accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplished in four or eight years, and we are just getting started.” He cited a shift in national sentiment toward “pride” and “confidence” and compared himself to George Washington, while also boasting about his 2024 electoral victory. Trump described a sweeping…

Sudan: Armed groups in Sudan’s civil war are committing mass sexual violence against children, with victims as young as one-year-old, according to a new report by the UN children’s agency, UNICEF. The report provides a harrowing account of the abuse suffered by children in the nearly two-year-long conflict, revealing the scale of atrocities taking place in the war-torn nation. Since the start of 2024, at least 221 cases of rape against children have been officially reported, though UNICEF warns the real number is likely much higher. A third of the victims were boys, who often encounter additional barriers in reporting…

Washington: A new study published in The Lancet has revealed that if current trends continue, more than half of all adults and a third of young people worldwide will be overweight or obese by 2050. The research, led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, examined data from over 200 countries and underscores an alarming acceleration in obesity rates, particularly in lower-income nations. By 2021, nearly half of the global adult population—1 billion men and 1.11 billion women aged 25 or older—were overweight or obese. Compared to 1990, the proportion of men and…

Uttarakhand, India: 46 construction workers were pulled out alive after being trapped for nearly 60 hours under snow and debris following a massive avalanche in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. The disaster, which struck near Mana village, claimed the lives of eight workers while dozens remained buried under snow. According to officials, the workers were housed in metal containers at the construction camp for a highway expansion project. These containers delivered crucial oxygen supply, enabling many to survive until rescuers reached them. A large-scale rescue operation, involving the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local…

Los Angeles: The low-budget comedy Anora dominated the 2025 Academy Awards, securing five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Mikey Madison. Adrien Brody claimed Best Actor for his role in The Brutalist. Sean Baker, the creator of Anora, made a record as the first individual to win four Oscars for a single film in one night, taking home awards for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing. In his speech, he delivered tribute to the sex worker community, realising their influence on his work. Baker stated that, “I share this with you,” expressing gratitude to those who…

Washington, D.C.: A high-profile meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump has erupted into a heated exchange, emphasising deep divisions over the future of Ukraine and its war with Russia. The talks, initially planned to finalise a rare earth minerals agreement and discuss U.S. security assurances, quickly dropped into confrontation. Zelenskyy arrived at the White House, greeted with a handshake and a pointed statement from Trump about his military-style outfit. Initial discussions concentrated on a proposed deal granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. However, the atmosphere soured as Zelenskyy pressed for security guarantees,…

South Africa: The US government’s harsh decision to cut HIV funding programmes has been described as a “wake-up call” for South Africa, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi conveyed. The move has sent shockwaves across the country, lifting fears of a major health crisis. The cuts could lead to deaths, Dr Motsoaledi warned but confirmed that state-funded clinics would strive to ensure no patient is left without life-saving antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). The sudden termination of funding has pitched HIV organisations into chaos, with many scrambling to find alternative support for nearly 900,000 affected patients. Kate Rees from the Anova Health Institute,…