Author: Trainee Reporter

Peru: A tragic air disaster has struck southern Colombia after a military transport aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, leaving at least 66 people dead and dozens injured. The aircraft, a US-made Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, went down near Puerto Leguízamo in the remote Putumayo region, close to the border with Peru. According to Air Force commander Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda, there were 114 army personnel and 11 crew members on board at the time of the crash. Initial reports from military sources indicate that 58 soldiers, six air force personnel, and two police officers were among the dead. Subtle disaster…

Hong Kong: The Hong Kong authorities have introduced sweeping new powers under the National Security Law (NSL), allowing police to demand access to electronic devices, including phones and computers, from individuals suspected of national security offences. Under the amended bylaw, those who refuse to provide passwords could face up to one year in prison and a fine of HK$100,000 ($12,700). Individuals found to have provided false or misleading information may face harsher penalties of up to three years behind bars. The changes were officially gazetted, marking a significant expansion of enforcement authority under the controversial legislation introduced in 2020 following…

United States: The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has issued a stark warning that the Earth’s climate system is now more out of balance than at any point in recorded history, driven largely by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. According to the agency, the planet is absorbing far more heat energy than it can release back into space, creating a record energy imbalance. This excess heat has already pushed global ocean temperatures to unprecedented levels, accelerated ice melt across polar regions, and intensified extreme weather patterns worldwide. UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated the urgent need for nations to transition away from fossil…

Doha: At least six people have been confirmed dead after a Qatari military helicopter crashed into the country’s territorial waters following a reported technical malfunction, authorities said. One person remains missing, with search and rescue operations still underway. According to Qatar’s Ministry of Interior, seven individuals were on board the aircraft at the time of the incident. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed to the crash site, where specialised units continue efforts to locate the missing in challenging maritime conditions. Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Defence stated that the helicopter experienced a technical failure during what was described…

Washington: US President Donald Trump has threatened to launch strikes on Iran’s power plants if navigation through the Strait of Hormuz is not restored within 48 hours, marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran. In a late-night post on Truth Social, Trump warned that the United States would hit and obliterate Iran’s energy infrastructure, starting with its largest power facility, if Tehran fails to reopen the strategic waterway. The threat comes as global markets react to rising uncertainty, with oil prices surging and stocks declining. Iran responded swiftly, warning that any attack on its energy infrastructure…

Colombia: The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, has been named in two separate criminal investigations led by prosecutors in the United States, according to media reports. The investigations, being handled by US attorneys in Brooklyn and Manhattan are focused primarily on drug-smuggling operations in Latin America. While Petro is not the direct target, prosecutors are reportedly examining whether he had any contact with drug traffickers and whether illicit donations were solicited during his 2022 presidential campaign. Petro swiftly denied the allegations, stating on X that he has never had any dealings with drug traffickers. Petro emphasised that his campaign strictly…

Arizona: An intense early-season heatwave has pushed temperatures in the US Southwest to unprecedented levels, with a desert community in Arizona recording the highest March temperature ever in the country. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), temperatures reached a scorching 43°C (110°F), in an area near Martinez Lake in the Yuma Desert. The reading surpasses the previous March record of 42°C (108°F), which had stood since 1964 in Rio Grande. The extreme heat forms part of a widespread and unusually intense heatwave affecting large parts of the US Southwest during what is typically the final stretch of winter. Several…

Washington: The United States Commission of Fine Arts has approved plans to mint a commemorative gold coin featuring a portrait of Donald Trump, in a move that is already drawing legal and political scrutiny. The federal panel, composed largely of Trump appointees, unanimously backed the design during a meeting. The coin is intended as a commemorative piece rather than circulating currency, a distinction supporters say allows it to bypass longstanding legal restrictions. US law prohibits the depiction of living presidents on currency. However, officials argue that commemorative coins fall under a different rule. Despite this, critics say the effort undermines…

Sydney: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has faced a hostile reception during an Eid gathering at Lakemba Mosque in Sydney, where sections of the crowd heckled him over the government’s stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Albanese, accompanied by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, attended the Eid prayers after being invited by community leaders. However, as speeches were underway, several attendees shouted ‘boo’ and ‘get out,’ with some accusing the leaders of supporting ‘genocide.’ The disruption occurred while a mosque representative urged stronger engagement between the government and Muslim Australians. Police intervened to remove one protester who had been shouting at…

California: The administration of Donald Trump has defended the Pentagon’s decision to blacklist AI firm Anthropic, arguing in a court filing that the move was both lawful and justified on national security grounds. The filing marks the latest development in a high-stakes legal dispute between the US government and the company behind the AI assistant Claude. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth formally designated Anthropic as a national security supply chain risk on March 3. The decision came after the company refused to remove safeguards that prevent its technology from being used in autonomous weapons systems and domestic surveillance. According to…