Author: Trainee Reporter

India: Gautam Adani, one of India’s wealthiest businessmen, has been faced US charges with directing a $250 million bribery scheme and concealing the misconduct to guarantee international investments. The charges, filed in New York, accuse the 62-year-old tycoon and senior executives at the Adani Group of bribing Indian officials to win lucrative contracts for the company’s renewable energy business, launched to generate over $2 billion in profits over two decades. Prosecutors allege that Adani and his associates misled investors while raising $3 billion in loans and bonds, enclosing from US firms. They reportedly made false claims about the company’s anti-bribery…

Gaza: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared during a visit to Gaza, that Hamas will no longer govern the Palestinian enclave after the ongoing conflict concludes, claiming that Israel has significantly crippled the militant group’s military capabilities. Netanyahu’s statement came as Israeli forces continued their military operations in Gaza, aiming to disassemble Hamas leadership and infrastructure. In a recorded video message, Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to recovering the remaining 101 hostages believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza, announcing a $5 million reward for the safe rescue of each individual. The prime minister issued a stark warning to…

Washington, D.C.: Former President Donald Trump has appointed Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and co-chair of his transition team, as the next Commerce Secretary. Lutnick will lead the administration’s efforts on tariffs and trade, key elements of Trump’s economic agenda. In his announcement, Trump lauded Lutnick as a “dynamic force on Wall Street for more than 30 years” and emphasised his contributions to assembling the new administration. Lutnick will also direct the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, extending his influence in shaping U.S. trade policy. Known for his strong support of competitive economic strategies, Lutnick has been a…

Turkey: Air strikes carried out by Turkey in drought-stricken northeast Syria have left more than a million people without access to water and electricity, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis, experts warn. Since October 2019, Turkey has undertaken over 100 attacks on critical infrastructure, including oil fields, gas facilities, and power stations in the Kurdish-held Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). These attacks have been linked to a broader conflict involving Turkey and Kurdish-led forces in the region, while also contributing to the suffering caused by severe drought and climate change. The region’s primary water source, the Alouk…

United Kingdom: British Airways (BA) passengers has faced widespread delays on the 18th of November evening due to a technical issue that disrupted the airline’s computer systems. The problems commenced around 17:00 and left many travellers stranded on tarmacs and in terminals across the UK and internationally. Passengers took to social media to voice their frustration, with reports of delays at airports including Hamburg, Naples, Lyon, and Dusseldorf. One passenger explained waiting in the cold on the tarmac in Verona for an already delayed flight. Others reported being unable to check in or book flights due to system failures. Downdetector,…

India: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to make a historic three-day visit to Guyana, marking the first by an Indian leader since Indira Gandhi in 1968. The visit is expected to deepen ties between the two rapidly growing economies, with agreements expected in energy, defence, agriculture, and technology. Modi’s itinerary includes bilateral talks with Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and addressing a special session of Guyana’s 65-seat parliament. He will also co-chair a Caricom-India Summit alongside Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, focusing on boosting cooperation in energy, infrastructure, health, and food security with the Caribbean Community. Guyana, experiencing…

Ukraine: The US has permitted Ukraine to use its long-range missiles, Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) for strikes on Russian territory. The move marks a significant reversal in US policy, as Washington had previously restricted Kyiv’s use of such weapons to avoid escalating the war. The decision comes just two months before President Joe Biden hands over power to Donald Trump. It reportedly seeks to counter the recent deployment of North Korean troops to the Russian border region of Kursk, where Ukrainian forces currently hold over 1,000 square kilometers of territory. The ATACMS, produced by Lockheed Martin, are among the…

Peru: Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged for stable and cooperative US-China Relations as he concluded his last meeting with outgoing US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru. While addressing reporters, Xi highlighted the necessity of “mutual respect” in navigating the complex ties between the world’s two largest economies. Without naming Donald Trump directly, Xi acknowledged the recent US election results, where Trump secured a second term in office. Xi stated that, “The United States has recently ended its elections. China’s goal of a stable, healthy, and sustainable China-US relationship…

UK: Heart With Smart (HWS), Pizza Hut UK Operator’s 140 dine-in restaurants across the UK, is looking to raise over $12.6 million (£10 million) to cope with overflowing costs following tax expansions announced in the latest Budget. The funding, which could affect a partial sale or investment from current shareholders, will sustain cost-cutting measures and new technology, including touch-screen ordering booths and contactless table ordering. The planned upgrades aim to decline staffing requirements without activating a major redundancy programme. However, the company anticipates a substantial rise in labour costs, with employers’ national insurance contributions increasing from 13.8 per cent to…

Colombo, Sri Lanka: Abdul Rahuman Seyyadu Sulaiman, a 56-year-old resident of Colombo, has sought to draw attention to the grievances of his community as Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake exited the Abeysingharama Temple polling station in Maradana. Sulaiman urged Dissanayake to stop and listen, emphasising the need for justice for Sri Lanka’s Muslim population, which he says was denied during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the cremation of a baby. The police intervened, asking Sulaiman to leave the venue. Sulaiman’s call for justice echoes the sentiments of many in Sri Lanka, where Dissanayake’s National People’s Power (NPP) won a…