Author: Trainee Reporter

South Korea: South Korean international footballer Hwang Ui-jo has been handed a one-year jail sentence, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to filming sexual encounters with a woman without her consent. The 32-year-old former Premier League forward, who was also part of South Korea’s squad during the 2022 World Cup, emerged in court in October where he acknowledged his wrongdoing. Judge Lee Yong-je, who issued the ruling, emphasised the gravity of the crime, stating that it was necessary to set a strict punishment given the social harm caused by illegal filming crimes. The court noted that Hwang filmed sexual…

India: India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed a “mega partnership” with the United States following a high-profile meeting with US President Donald Trump, where both leaders decided on new energy and defence trade deals. The visit comes with rising tensions over tariffs and trade barriers between the two nations. During a joint press conference, Modi declared India’s plans to increase imports of American oil and gas, calling the agreement a “win-win” for both economies. Trump echoed this sentiment, highlighting that the deal would help close the US trade deficit with India. Trump stated that, “They need it. And we…

France: India and France have announced plans to jointly develop small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) as part of efforts to improve energy security and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. The agreement follows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron. India’s foreign ministry confirmed the collaboration, stating that both nations will work on developing SMRs and advanced modular reactors for civilian use. Unlike conventional nuclear plants, SMRs can be factory-built and assembled on-site, demanding less land and infrastructure. The announcement comes just days after India signalled a potential shift in its…

Austria: Austria is facing renewed political uncertainty after the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) abandoned its attempt to form a coalition government with the conservative People’s Party (OVP). The collapse of negotiations comes after weeks of hectic discussions and marks the second failed coalition attempt since September’s general election. FPO leader Herbert Kickl announced the decision, blaming the OVP for refusing to compromise. Herbert Kickl stated that, “Although we made compromises on many points, the OVP was more concerned with power games than reaching an agreement.” Kickl has now called for swift new elections. Austria’s coalition negotiations, usually held behind closed…

United States: Coca-Cola may be pushed to increase its use of plastic bottles in the US if the 25 percent import tariffs on aluminium lead to higher costs for aluminium cans, CEO James Quincey warned during a call with investors. The tariffs, raised under President Donald Trump’s trade policies, are expected to drive up the cost of canned beverages, which could impact Coca-Cola’s pricing strategies. While the company has traditionally embraced aluminium cans for their recyclability, the price hikes could push it to shift to less expensive plastic bottles to maintain affordability. This move comes on the heels of Coca-Cola…

United States: Google has stopped including references to Black History Month, Women’s History Month, LGBTQ+ holidays, and other cultural observances in its online and mobile calendars for 2025. The tech giant previously marked events such as Black History Month in February and Pride Month in June, but users will no longer see these listed automatically. The removal was first reported by The Verge last week. A Google spokesperson, Madison Cushman Veld, said that the holidays were removed due to sustainability concerns. Madison Cushman stated that, “Some years ago, the Calendar team started manually counting a broader set of cultural moments…

United States: US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order instantly reversing a policy aimed at phasing out plastic straws in federal operations. The measure, initially introduced by former President Joe Biden, was part of a wider effort to curb plastic pollution. Trump told reporters at the White House, stating that, “We’re going back to plastic straws,” criticising paper alternatives as inefficient. Trump added that, “These things don’t work. They break, they explode, and they dissolve in your mouth. It’s a nonsensical situation.” The Biden administration’s policy, signed in 2024, aimed to gradually eliminate government purchases of plastic straws,…

Washington, DC: The United States military has announced it will no longer accept transgender individuals hoping to enlist, nor will it facilitate gender-affirming medical procedures for active service members. The decision, summarised in a memo filed at the US District Court in Washington, DC, marks the latest effort by President Donald Trump’s administration to roll back protections for transgender people. The memo, signed by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and dated February 7, stating that, “Effective immediately, all new acquisitions for individuals with a history of gender dysphoria are paused. All unscheduled, scheduled, or planned medical procedures associated with affirming or…

Europe: The Euclid space telescope has captured a stunning Einstein ring, showcasing the extreme warping of space by a galaxy’s gravity. The image reveals NGC 6505, a nearby galaxy, encircled by a perfect ring of light—an effect induced by the gravitational lensing of a more distant galaxy sitting directly behind it. Prof. Stephen Serjeant, an astronomer at the Open University commented that, “This is a beautiful, extraordinary, thrilling, and lucky find in our first data. An Einstein ring as perfect as this is extremely rare.” Einstein rings, predicted by Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity, form when light from a…

South Wales: Severe thunderstorms were swept across New South Wales and eastern Victoria, triggering flash flooding, destructive winds, and hail. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) warned that extreme weather conditions would persist into next day. A major storm system moved through Sydney’s CBD around midday, bringing dark skies and torrential rain. By mid-afternoon, Observatory Hill had recorded 52.8mm of rain since 9am, while Horsley Park, 50km west of the city, registered 87.8mm. Between noon and 2pm, the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) carried out 21 rescues for people trapped in floodwaters in Sydney’s metropolitan area. A spokesperson urged locals to…