Author: Trainee Reporter

Florida: NASA has ruled out its planned March 6 launch window for the long-awaited Artemis II lunar mission after engineers detected critical issues during final routine checks, officials confirmed. The mission set to send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in half a century, had appeared on track earlier in the week. However, Administrator Jared Isaacman announced that additional maintenance would now be required before liftoff can be approved. The delay follows an unexpected interruption in the flow of helium, a gas essential for pressurising fuel tanks and cooling rocket systems. NASA considers any disruption to helium supply…

Egypt: At least 18 people, most of them fishermen, were killed and three others injured after a collision between a truck and a passenger pick-up in Egypt’s northeastern Port Said province, according to local reports. Survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, while public prosecutors opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. Images circulating online showed the devastating aftermath, with the pick-up vehicle crushed between two cargo trucks and debris strewn across the roadway. The vehicle was believed to be transporting fishermen to fish farms in the coastal area at the time of the crash. Egyptian Prime…

Zimbabwe: DNA from an individual lion has been used to successfully prosecute poachers for the first time anywhere in the world. Authorities revealed that forensic analysis linked body parts found in a suspect’s village directly to a specific lion that had been tracked in Hwange National Park. The male lion had been fitted with a radio collar as part of an ongoing monitoring programme in Zimbabwe. Suspicion arose in May 2024 when the collar suddenly stopped transmitting. Investigators traced its last known location and discovered a snare with lion fur attached, prompting a full forensic investigation. Police later questioned two…

Karachi: At least 13 people, including women and children, were killed and several others were injured after a powerful gas explosion tore through an apartment building in Karachi. The blast occurred in a residential neighbourhood of the port city, the largest in Pakistan and the capital of Sindh province. According to local police chief Rizwan Patel, part of the multi-storey structure collapsed following the explosion, trapping residents under the rubble. Rescue teams rushed to the scene and launched a search-and-rescue operation that continued for hours as workers combed through debris in search of survivors. Authorities fear the death toll could…

Los Angeles: Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms, has taken the witness stand in a closely watched trial examining whether social media platforms are addictive for children. The case, unfolding before a jury in Los Angeles, marks Zuckerberg’s first jury testimony with mounting global scrutiny of tech companies’ impact on young users. Lawyers for the plaintiff confronted Zuckerberg with internal company communications alleging that Meta targeted younger audiences despite official policies barring users under 13. Zuckerberg rejected the claims, arguing that the documents were being ‘mischaracterised’ and insisting the company has worked to protect minors across its platforms, including Instagram,…

Las Vegas: Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao has confirmed he will fight former junior welterweight world champion Ruslan Provodnikov in Las Vegas on April 18, marking his second bout since returning from a four-year retirement. The 47-year-old Filipino icon last stepped into the ring in July, battling to a majority draw against Mario Barrios, the reigning World Boxing Council welterweight champion at the time. Pacquiao remarked that, “I carry the Philippines with me every time I fight. The support from my country and from fans around the world continues to inspire me.” The bout will take place at the Thomas…

California: An avalanche in the Lake Tahoe area of California has left 10 backcountry skiers missing, while six others have been located alive but stranded as rescue operations continue under dangerous weather conditions, authorities said. The avalanche struck around 11:30 a.m. PST in the Castle Peak backcountry near the town of Truckee, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. The group consisted of 16 people, four guides and 12 clients, when the snow slide occurred. Officials said at least six survivors remain at the site awaiting rescue and have been advised to shelter in place due to the high risk…

Havana: A deepening fuel crisis in Cuba has spiralled into a sanitation and public health emergency, with garbage piling up across the capital Havana and other towns as collection trucks run out of fuel. Only 44 of the city’s 106 rubbish trucks remain operational, drastically slowing waste collection and leaving refuse stacked on street corners. The uncollected trash has begun attracting pests and producing foul odours, raising fears of disease outbreaks and environmental hazards. Residents say the situation has worsened rapidly, with some neighbourhoods going more than 10 days without a garbage pickup. Waste heaps now line pavements and roads,…

Pawtucket: At least two people were killed, and three others remain in critical condition following a mass shooting at a high school ice hockey game in Pawtucket, authorities confirmed. The suspected gunman also died, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves, who addressed reporters at a news conference. Officials believe the incident may have stemmed from a family dispute, describing it as a targeted attack, though no further details about the suspect or victims have yet been released. Police said the first emergency call reporting gunfire came in at approximately 2:28 pm local time.…

Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has detailed the conditions he believes must be met for any future agreement between the United States and Iran, insisting that Tehran dismantle all nuclear infrastructure and eliminate its enrichment capability. Speaking at the annual Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations, Netanyahu said he had conveyed his position directly to US President Donald Trump during talks in Washington last week. Netanyahu expressed scepticism about the prospects of a deal but outlined what he described as non-negotiable requirements. Netanyahu said any agreement must ensure that all enriched uranium is removed from Iran, that…