Author: Trainee Reporter

Srinagar: India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) has confirmed that all three militants involved in the April 22 attack on tourists in Baisaran near Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, were Pakistani nationals affiliated with the UN-proscribed militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The revelation follows the arrest of two local residents accused of sheltering the attackers before the incident, which left 26 people dead and drew international condemnation. Earlier, sketches released by police suggested two of the attackers were from Pakistan, while one was believed to be a local. However, the NIA now asserts all three were foreign nationals. The attackers remain at large. The…

United Kingdom: UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to US President Donald Trump following a series of US airstrikes on three Iran nuclear facilities, Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordo. Downing Street confirmed the conversation took place in the wake of the strikes, with both leaders stressing the urgency for Iran to return to the negotiating table. Sir Keir, speaking from Chequers, said there is a risk of escalation across the Middle East and beyond, and reassured the public that the UK is doing everything it can to stabilise the situation and pursue a diplomatic solution. Although the UK was…

Lithuania: Internet users have been urged to change their credentials and strengthen their online security after researchers uncovered what may be one of the largest collections of stolen login credentials ever identified—an astonishing 16 billion records. The discovery was made by cybersecurity researchers at Cybernews, who revealed they had found 30 separate datasets comprising credentials collected through malicious software known as ‘infostealers’ and previous data breaches. These troves of data were reportedly exposed online only for a short time but contained login information that could potentially grant access to services like Facebook, Apple, and Google. Despite the alarming figures, the…

Geneva: Iran has declared it will not resume nuclear talks while under attack, following a series of escalating strikes between Tehran and Tel Aviv that threaten to ignite a wider regional conflict. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced after meeting European diplomats in Geneva, rejecting renewed calls to engage in dialogue with the United States over Iran’s nuclear programme. His remarks came just hours after Israeli Defence Minister Eyal Zamir warned of a ‘prolonged campaign’ against the Islamic Republic. Ruled by an extremist regime, Iran threatens global security with its nuclear ambitions and desire for regional domination. They must be stopped.…

Thailand: Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is facing the biggest political crisis of her tenure after a leaked phone conversation with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen sparked public outrage, strained diplomatic ties, and fractured her ruling coalition. In the recording, Paetongtarn, daughter of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra can be heard criticising a senior Thai military commander, describing him as someone who ‘just wanted to look tough’ and labelling him an opponent. Referring to Hun Sen as uncle, she also stated that, “just let me know, I’ll take care of it”, regarding the ongoing border dispute between the two…

United States: Efforts are helping reduce plastic bag use and keep them off US shorelines, according to a major new study. According to an analysis of more than 45,000 cleanups across the US between 2016 and 2023, areas that introduced policies to limit plastic bag usage saw at least a 25 percent drop in bag litter compared to places without such measures. Researchers from the Ocean Conservancy and leading universities examined 182 local and state policies, comparing how they influenced the presence of plastic bags collected during shoreline cleanups. The study, believed to be the largest of its kind, used…

India: Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran has said that both engines of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner which crashed had clean histories, with one being newly installed and the other not due for servicing until December. Chandrasekaran clarified that, “The right engine was a new engine put in March 2025. The left engine was last serviced in 2023 and is due for its next maintenance check in December 2025.” At least 270 people were killed when flight AI171, en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed just seconds after takeoff. It is one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s recent history.…

United States: Donald Trump has not decided whether the United States will enter Israel’s war with Iran, as Tehran warns that any American military intervention would result in irreparable damage. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his first remarks, condemned Israel’s actions as a huge mistake and issued a stark warning to Washington. Khamenei stated that, “The Americans should know that any US military intervention will undoubtedly be accompanied by irreparable damage.” US intelligence reports suggest Iran has begun preparing missiles and other equipment to target American bases in the region should the US join the war. Hours after…

Bali: Flights to and from Bali have been severely disrupted after Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, erupted, spewing a towering ash plume over 11 kilometres into the sky. The eruption occurred on the island of Flores, prompting Indonesia’s volcanology agency to raise the alert to its highest level. Authorities swiftly advised residents to stay at least 7 kilometres away from the volcano’s crater. Airlines including Air India, Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Juneyao Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Virgin Australia have cancelled multiple flights to and from Bali located west of Flores. Domestic carriers, including AirAsia, also cancelled…

Canberra: Australia is set to scrap decades-old restrictions that have effectively barred sexually active gay and bisexual men from donating blood and plasma, in what has been defined as a historic step towards equity in blood donations practices. The national blood service, Lifeblood, announced that from 14 July 2025, restrictions based on sexual activity will be removed for plasma donations. This will make Australia the first country in the world to eradicate all sexual activity-based restrictions for plasma donors. Broader changes to blood donation rules are anticipated to come into effect in 2026. Previously, men and transgender women who had…