Author: Trainee Reporter

Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared that India’s continued imports of Russian oil remain a point of irritation in its relations with Washington, even as he reiterated that the two countries remain strategic partners. Rubio’s remarks came just a day after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on Indian goods, along with an unspecified penalty for New Delhi’s ongoing trade in Russian oil and weapons. Rubio said India was an ally with shared interests, but expressed concern that the country’s growing reliance on discounted Russian crude was hampering ties with the US. Rubio…

London: Heathrow Airport has announced a $64.7 billion (£49 billion) plan to expand and modernise the UK’s largest airport, including the creation of a third runway and major infrastructure upgrades. The proposed expansion, funded entirely by private finance, is intended to increase passenger capacity from 84 million to 150 million annually, with up to 756,000 flights per year. Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye described the plan as urgent, arguing that the airport is operating at full capacity, which is detrimental to trade and connectivity. The government has expressed support for the expansion, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves stating it would help make…

Kyiv: At least six people were killed and more than 50 others injured in a devastating overnight attack as Russian missiles and drones struck multiple districts in the Ukrainian capital. Among the dead was a six-year-old boy. Rescue teams continue to comb through debris in more than two dozen locations across the city, raising fears the death toll could rise. Three people were killed when an apartment block was brought down. I received a report from the Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko. All emergency services are involved in saving as many people as possible after the Russian strike on…

United States: Meta platforms has reported a sharp increase in profits and revenue, underscoring the strength of its core business even as it invests billions of dollars in artificial intelligence (AI) development. The company behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp posted a 22 percent rise in revenue for the April–June quarter, reaching $47.5 billion. Profits soared by 36 percent to $18.3 billion compared to the same period last year. However, expenses also climbed 12 percent to $27 billion as Meta accelerated investments in AI infrastructure and talent. These rising costs are expected to continue, driven largely by spending on servers, data…

Washington: India could face tariffs as high as 25 percent on its exports if it fails to strike a trade agreement with the United States by August 1. US President Donald Trump has warned, raising the stakes in ongoing trade talks between the two countries. Trump stated that, “Yeah, I think so. India has charged basically more tariffs than almost any other country. But now I’m in charge, and you just can’t do that.” The US administration has imposed a deadline for India and several other trading partners to finalise agreements or face increased tariffs. While discussions have been ongoing…

Canberra: Australia has confirmed that YouTube will now be included in its world-first ban on social media use for those under 16, after scrapping an earlier exemption for the platform. The sweeping legislation, set to come into effect from December, will prohibit children under the age of 16 from creating accounts on social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat and now YouTube. While young users will still be able to view content on YouTube, account-based features such as uploading videos, liking, commenting, and subscribing will be restricted. The inclusion comes despite strong opposition from YouTube’s parent…

Gaza: US President Donald Trump has challenged that there is real starvation in Gaza, contradicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that such reports are ‘a bold-faced lie.’ Speaking in Scotland alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump commented on images of malnourished children in Gaza, stating that, “I don’t know, those children look very hungry, that’s real starvation stuff.” Trump added that, “Nobody’s done anything great over there. The whole place is a mess. I told Israel maybe they have to do it a different way.” Trump’s remarks follow a warning from UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher, who stressed…

Beijing: China has launched its first nationwide child subsidy programme to combat its declining birth rate and growing demographic challenges. Under the new scheme, parents will receive $500 (3,600 yuan; £375) annually for each child under the age of three, helping offset the high costs of childrearing. The initiative, announced, will be retroactively applicable from the start of 2025 and could benefit around 20 million families across the country. Families with children born between 2022 and 2024 will also be eligible for partial payouts. The subsidy is part of a broader government effort to tackle the country’s population decline, which…

Beijing: A deadly landslide triggered by torrential rainfall has claimed the lives of four people and left eight others missing in northern China’s Hebei province. The incident occurred in a village near Chengde city, where heavy rainfall over the past days has led to severe ground instability and flash floods. In neighbouring Beijing, authorities relocated more than 4,400 residents from the suburban Miyun district as relentless downpours battered the region. State media reported widespread flooding and landslides affecting multiple villages. Power outages have impacted over 10,000 residents in the district, further compounding the crisis. The Central Meteorological Observatory forecast continued…

Moscow: Russia’s Nordwind Airlines has launched direct monthly Moscow-Pyongyang flights, marking a significant step in the deepening ties between the two nations. The inaugural Moscow-to-Pyongyang flight, operated by Nordwind Airlines, landed in the North Korean capital approximately eight hours later. According to Russia’s transport ministry, the new air route will initially operate once a month, with the first return flight from Pyongyang scheduled. The service is seen as a milestone in bilateral relations, with Russian Deputy Transport Minister Vladimir Poteshkin stating that, “For the first time in more than 70 years of diplomatic relations, we are launching direct flights between…