Author: Trainee Reporter

Ghana: The Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his country’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Canadian authorities denied his visa application while he awaits trial on multiple rape charges in the United Kingdom. FIFA confirmed that the 32-year-old midfielder will be unable to travel from Ghana’s training base in Smithfield, Rhode Island, to Toronto for the team’s Group Stage clash against Panama. In a statement, FIFA stated that, “The Canadian government has refused his visa application.” The world football governing body added that it has no role in the immigration decisions of host nations, noting that…

Canada: The highly anticipated opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a major infrastructure project linking Canada and the United States, has been postponed, according to Canadian officials overseeing the project. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the bridge, named after legendary Canadian hockey player Gordie Howe, had been scheduled. However, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) announced that both countries had agreed to delay the opening to address outstanding issues. Chuck Andary, Chair of the WDBA, said Canada and the United States would take the necessary time to resolve remaining concerns before setting a new opening date. The authority did not specify…

United States: SpaceX has raised $75 billion ahead of its highly anticipated public market debut, positioning itself for what is expected to become the largest stock market listing in history. According to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the aerospace and artificial intelligence company sold shares at $135 each, matching the price range it indicated to investors last week. The offering places SpaceX’s estimated market valuation at nearly $1.8 trillion before trading begins. The milestone further strengthens the position of SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, who is already recognised as the world’s richest person. Analysts…

Tehran: Iran’s military command has announced that it will target any vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz, claiming the strategic waterway has been closed to all maritime traffic following renewed US military strikes and rising tensions in the region. According to Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, any ship attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a legitimate target. The command stated that the strait is now completely closed to all types of vessels, warning ships in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman not to leave their anchorages. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy said two vessels…

Ottawa: Canada has unveiled plans to ban children and teenagers under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, following a path similar to Australia’s landmark legislation aimed at protecting minors online. The proposed law, however, offers technology companies a potential exemption if they can prove they have effective measures in place to minimise harm to young users. The proposed legislation, known as the Safe Social Media Act, was introduced in the House of Commons by Culture Minister Marc Miller and includes broad provisions to regulate artificial intelligence chatbots, tackle harmful online content, and establish a new regulatory body…

Johannesburg: At least 12 people were killed and nine others injured in a mass shooting at an informal settlement in Cleveland, Johannesburg, according to South African police. Authorities said a group of more than 10 armed suspects arrived in a white Toyota Quantum near a petrol station before entering the settlement through different access points. The attackers allegedly moved through the area, opening fire on residents and community members at multiple locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle. Police officers responded to reports of an active shooting at approximately 23:10 local time. Emergency medical teams were also dispatched…

San Francisco: Anthropic has released Claude Fable 5, a public-facing version of its highly advanced artificial intelligence model Claude Mythos, despite earlier concerns that the technology was too powerful for widespread deployment. The announcement marks a significant milestone in the rapidly evolving AI industry. Claude Mythos, first introduced to a limited group of organisations in April for testing and evaluation, generated considerable attention among technology leaders, financial institutions, and government agencies due to its unprecedented capabilities. At the time of its preview release, Anthropic warned that Mythos possessed advanced reasoning and autonomous operation abilities that could potentially be misused to…

Gulf of Oman: All 24 Indian crew members aboard the tanker MT Marivex were safely rescued after a fire broke out on the vessel in the Gulf of Oman following a strike by US forces, Indian authorities confirmed. The incident occurred at around 1:30 pm local time, prompting distress calls from the crew, who reported that the tanker was on fire and taking on water. The vessel, which was reportedly unladen at the time, was carrying 24 Indian sailors. Opesh Kumar Sharma, an official from India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said preliminary reports indicated that all crew members…

Mogadishu: Somalian referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was set to make history as the first Somali official to referee at a FIFA World Cup finals tournament, has been removed from the list of match officials after being denied entry into the United States. Artan, who was named the 2025 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Men’s Referee of the Year, was reportedly stopped at Miami International Airport and subsequently repatriated. Artan is currently in Turkey. US immigration authorities have not publicly disclosed the reason for the decision. The development comes with travel restrictions affecting nationals from several countries, including Somalia, under…

Mindanao: A powerful magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck the southern Philippines, killing at least 15 people, damaging buildings, and triggering widespread panic across Mindanao as rescue teams rushed to search for survivors trapped under debris. According to the Philippines’ national disaster agency, 15 fatalities have been confirmed so far, including 12 deaths in the Soccsksargen region of Mindanao and three in Davao Occidental province. Authorities warned that the toll could rise as emergency responders continue rescue operations in affected areas. Robert Dagon, an official with the General Santos City Police, said numerous structures suffered damage, although authorities remain focused on rescue efforts.…