Author: Trainee Reporter

Germany: Germans have headed to the polls in a highly anticipated election that will determine the country’s next leader, following an intense campaign dominated by economic concerns and national security issues. Conservative leader Friedrich Merz, 69, is the frontrunner to succeed Olaf Scholz as chancellor, with his Christian Democrats (CDU) positioned to win the most votes. However, he will likely need to form a coalition, potentially with Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), whose government collapsed late last year. Polling stations opened at 08:00 (07:00 GMT) and will close at 18:00, with preliminary results expected in the evening. While millions have already…

United States: Health officials in Texas and New Mexico are tracking escalating measles outbreaks, with nearly 100 reported cases across both states. The Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed 90 cases in the past month, predominantly in the South Plains region. Of these, 77 infections were recorded among children and teenagers under 17. In neighbouring New Mexico, at least nine cases have been identified in Lea County, which borders Texas. Officials fear the actual number of infections could be higher, as some cases may go unreported. Measles, one of the most infectious infectious diseases, can lead to severe complications,…

United States: The United States has deported more than 177 Venezuelan migrants from the Guantanamo Bay military base, transferring them to Venezuela via Honduras, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed. Venezuelan authorities took custody of the deportees at Soto Cano, a joint US-Honduras military airbase, before flying them to Caracas on a Conviasa flight. Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello was present at the airport to welcome the arrivals. President Nicolas Maduro described the handover as a “direct request” from his government, calling the action a “rescue” of Venezuelan nationals. A spokesperson from the US Department of Homeland Security stated…

New Zealand: An ancient, gummy-textured worm-like creature with a bizarre hunting strategy has been crowned New Zealand’s Bug of the Year. Peripatoides novaezealandiae, a member of the velvet worm family, secured the title with 2,652 votes in the country’s annual competition, narrowly beating an apple-green praying mantis. Despite their soft, unassuming appearance, velvet worms are skilled predators. Using specialised oral papillae, they eject jets of sticky fluid to ensnare their prey, before liquefying it into a digestible soup. These invertebrates, known as Ngāokeoke in Māori, have remained virtually unchanged for 500 million years, earning them the status of “living fossils.”…

Sri Lanka: A passenger train has derailed after colliding with a herd of elephants near a wildlife reserve in central Sri Lanka. While no passengers were injured, six elephants lost their lives in the accident in Habarana, located east of Colombo. Police confirmed that two injured elephants are receiving treatment, calling it the worst wildlife train collision the country has witnessed. Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of human-elephant conflicts in the world, with train accidents frequently claiming the lives of animals. Last year, over 170 people and nearly 500 elephants were killed in such encounters. Deforestation and…

United States: The White House has announced that Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at cutting off federal benefits for undocumented immigrants. While details remain unclear, the order seeks to eliminate “all taxpayer-funded benefits” for those in the country illegally. Under current law, undocumented immigrants are mostly ineligible for public benefits, except for emergency medical care and K-12 education, which the Supreme Court guaranteed in 1982. The administration claims the new order will implement a 1996 welfare law that restricts benefits but has been “undermined” in recent years. The move also targets state and local governments using federal…

Philippine: Authorities in one of the Philippines’ most densely populated urban centres are offering a cash reward for captured mosquitoes in an unconventional bid to curb the spread of dengue fever. Carlito Cernal, village chief of Barangay Addition Hills in Metro Manila, declared a bounty of one peso (less than 2 US cents) for every five mosquitoes—whether alive, dead, or in larval form. The initiative follows the recent deaths of two students from the disease in the community. Cernal emphasised that the mosquito bounty is indicated to supplement existing control measures, including sanitation efforts and the elimination of stagnant water…

Brazil: Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been formally charged with attempting to stage a coup following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election. The charges, brought by Brazil’s chief prosecutor, accuse Bolsonaro of leading a criminal organisation that sought to prevent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office. Bolsonaro, 69, faces five charges, including allegations that he planned to poison President Lula and assassinate Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. He denies any wrongdoing, claiming he is a target of political persecution. The Supreme Court will now decide whether to accept the charges. If approved, Bolsonaro and…

Bolivia: More than 30 people have been killed in a tragic bus crash on a mountainous road in Bolivia, police confirmed. The vehicle plunged nearly 800 metres (2,625 feet) into a ravine in the southwestern district of Yocalla, leaving a scene of devastation. Authorities reported that 14 people were injured, including four children. Several of them remain in critical condition, according to an official from a local hospital. Rescue teams worked tirelessly to rescue bodies and transport the wounded to nearby medical facilities. The accident occurred on the highway connecting the cities of Potosí and Oruro, a route known for…

United States: Elon Musk’s task force for streamlining the U.S. government is reportedly seeking access to vast amounts of taxpayer data, sparking fears of privacy violations and potential political retribution. According to reports, Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are pushing to access the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) protected Integrated Data Retrieval System (IDRS). This system contains sensitive taxpayer information, including Social Security numbers, home addresses, property records, and salary details. DOGE had not yet gained access to the system, multiple outlets reported. However, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields defended the move, stating that a direct permit was…