Author: Trainee Reporter

West Bengal: Voting is underway across key Indian states in a crucial round of elections widely seen as a test of political momentum ahead of national contests, with fierce battles unfolding in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. In West Bengal, polling began for the first phase across 152 of the state’s 294 constituencies, covering 16 districts and featuring 1,478 candidates. A second phase is scheduled for next week. The contest pits Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC), which is seeking a fourth consecutive term. The election is unfolding amid heightened…

Kerala: At least 13 people were killed and several others injured in a powerful explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit in Kerala’s Thrissur, highlighting once again the persistent safety risks in India’s fireworks industry. The blast occurred on April 21 afternoon around 3:30 pm local time, in a cluster of temporary sheds where workers were assembling firecrackers for the upcoming Thrissur Pooram. Officials said around 40 workers were believed to be present at the site, with at least five individuals reported to be in critical condition. Secondary explosions hamper rescue efforts According to authorities, the initial explosion triggered a series…

Jakarta: Indonesia has passed a long-awaited law granting legal protections to millions of domestic workers, marking a major milestone more than two decades after the legislation was first introduced. The newly approved Domestic Workers Protection Law covers an estimated 4.2 million workers across the country, nearly 90 percent of whom are women, who were previously excluded from formal labour classifications. With the new framework in place, domestic workers will now be entitled to essential rights, including health insurance, rest days, and pension benefits. The law also introduces stricter regulations on recruitment practices. Placement agencies will be prohibited from deducting wages,…

San Francisco: The Goldman Environmental Prize has been awarded entirely to women, recognising six grassroots activists for their fight against climate change and biodiversity loss across the globe. Established in 1989 by philanthropists Richard Goldman and Rhoda Goldman, the award, often dubbed the ‘Green Nobel’ honours one environmental hero from each of the world’s six regions. Each recipient receives $200,000 in prize money. This year’s winners include Iroro Tanshi (Nigeria), Borim Kim (South Korea), Sarah Finch (United Kingdom), Theonila Roka Matbob (Papua New Guinea), Alannah Acaq Hurley (United States), and Yuvelis Morales Blanco (Colombia). Vice president John Goldman emphasised the…

Tokyo: Japan has issued urgent warnings over the possibility of a huge earthquake in the coming days after a powerful 7.7-magnitude tremor struck off the country’s north-east coast, prompting mass evacuations and tsunami alerts. The quake hit waters off Iwate prefecture, about 530km north of Tokyo, sending thousands of residents fleeing to higher ground with fears of waves reaching up to 3 metres. While the largest recorded tsunami wave reached 80cm, authorities stressed the threat could escalate with aftershocks. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that seismic activity in the region remains elevated, with the possibility of stronger quakes occurring within…

Bulgaria: A decisive political shift has unfolded in Bulgaria as Rumen Radev led his newly formed Progressive Bulgaria (PB) party to a commanding victory in the country’s eighth general election in five years. With 87 percent of ballots counted, PB has secured at least 135 seats in the 240-member parliament, giving it a clear governing majority. The win places PB well ahead of its main rivals, including the We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria alliance, which garnered around 15 percent of the vote, and former prime minister Boiko Borisov’s GERB party, which secured roughly 13 percent. Public discontent drives…

Shreveport: A devastating act of domestic violence has left a community in mourning after eight children were killed in a mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana. Police said the victims, aged between one and 14, were among 10 people shot in what authorities described as a ‘domestic disturbance’. The incident began around 05:00 local time, with officers responding to multiple crime scenes across a residential neighbourhood. According to investigators, a single gunman opened fire inside a home on West 79th Street before the violence spread to nearby locations, including a residence on Harrison Street. All eight fatalities were juveniles, officials confirmed.…

Angola: Pope Leo has clarified that his recent comments condemning ‘tyrants’ and excessive military spending were not directed at Donald Trump, despite widespread interpretation suggesting otherwise. The pontiff explained that the speech, delivered earlier in the week during his Africa tour, had been written nearly two weeks in advance, before Trump publicly criticised him. Pope remarked that, “And yet as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate the president, which is not in my interest at all.” The clarification follows a sharp exchange between the two figures, after Trump labelled the first American pope…

Sofia: Bulgarians have begun casting their votes in the country’s eighth parliamentary election in just five years, highlighting ongoing political instability in the European Union member state. Polling stations opened early in the morning, with voting set to conclude by evening and preliminary exit polls expected shortly after. The election follows the collapse of a Conservative-led government in December, brought down by large-scale anti-corruption protests that saw hundreds of thousands, mostly young citizens, take to the streets demanding judicial independence and an end to entrenched corruption. At the centre of the contest is Rumen Radev, a former president and air…

Douala: Thousands of worshippers poured into a stadium in Douala, Cameroon’s largest city and economic hub, ahead of a major Mass led by Pope Leo, marking one of the biggest events of his four-nation Africa tour. The Vatican estimates that nearly 600,000 people are expected to gather around Japoma Stadium to attend the celebration and hear the pontiff speak, reflecting the immense enthusiasm surrounding his visit. Despite tight security, many devotees arrived, with some choosing to sleep overnight at the venue to secure a place. Attendees endured difficult conditions, including cold weather and mosquitoes, driven by their determination to witness…