Author: Trainee Reporter

Kyiv: Ukraine has declared a state of emergency in its energy sector, with a particular focus on Kyiv, after sustained Russian attacks on critical infrastructure left thousands of residents without electricity, heating and running water during freezing winter conditions. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of deliberately exploiting the harsh weather as part of its war strategy, noting that overnight temperatures in the capital have recently fallen to around -20°C. The emergency declaration follows weeks of intensified strikes that have crippled essential services across the city. The announcement comes with renewed political controversy, after US President Donald Trump claimed that efforts…

United States: Four astronauts have departed the International Space Station (ISS) nearly a month ahead of schedule, marking the first medical evacuation from the orbiting labouratory since it began operations in 1998. NASA confirmed that Crew 11 undocked from the station following a medical issue involving one astronaut. While the agency has not disclosed the identity of the individual or the nature of the illness, it stated the crew member is in stable condition and receiving appropriate care. The spacecraft is expected to splash down off the coast of California. The returning crew includes NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena…

Thailand: At least 22 people have been killed and around 80 others injured after a construction crane collapsed onto a moving passenger train in northeast Thailand, triggering a derailment and brief fire. The incident occurred in the Sikhio district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, about 230km northeast of Bangkok. The train was travelling from the capital to Ubon Ratchathani province when the crane fell directly onto several carriages. The crane was reportedly being used for construction work on an elevated track under a joint Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project. Authorities said the impact caused the train to derail, with two of the…

Beijing: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has begun a landmark visit to China aimed at repairing strained bilateral relations and opening new economic pathways beyond Canada’s heavy reliance on the United States. The trip, the first by a Canadian prime minister since 2017 comes at a delicate moment for Ottawa. Carney must balance the pursuit of expanded trade opportunities with Beijing while avoiding fallout with Washington and safeguarding Canada’s commitments to national security and human rights. Senior officials have described the visit as historic and consequential, framing it as part of a broader strategy to double Canada’s non-US exports over…

Albany: New York City has witnessed the largest nurses strike in its history, as nearly 15,000 nurses walked off the job across three major private hospital systems, Mount Sinai, Montefiore, and NewYork-Presbyterian, demanding improved working conditions and stronger protections for healthcare workers. The strike follows months of stalled contract negotiations. The New York State Nursing Association stated that hospital management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues including safe staffing levels, healthcare benefits, and workplace violence protections. The union added that, “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health…

Canberra: Australia captain Alyssa Healy has announced she will retire from all forms of cricket following the upcoming multi-format series against India, bringing to a close one of the most celebrated careers in women’s cricket. The 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batter leaves the game with more than 7,000 international runs and 275 dismissals across formats. As captain, she led Australia to a historic 16-0 Ashes whitewash over England in 2025, further cementing her legacy as one of the sport’s great leaders. Healy’s honours list includes two ODI World Cup titles and six T20 World Cup triumphs. Among her many career-defining moments is her…

Los Angeles: Netflix’s animated blockbuster KPop Demon Hunters has claimed two major honours at the Golden Globes, winning Best Animated Feature while its breakout anthem Golden secured the award for Best Original Song. The film, which follows fictional girl group Huntr/x as they use the power of music to battle dark forces, has rapidly become a global phenomenon since its release in June. Beyond critical acclaim, it has also delivered remarkable commercial success, becoming Netflix’s most-watched film of all time within two months. Director Maggie Kang, accepting the award alongside co-director Chris Appelhans, said the film was created to portray…

Australia: Meta has blocked more than 550,000 accounts across its platforms during the initial rollout of Australia’s landmark social media restrictions for children under 16, marking one of the toughest enforcement actions yet under the country’s new online safety laws. The legislation, introduced in December, requires major platforms including Facebook, Instagram and Threads to prevent Australians under the age of 16 from holding accounts. The policy is being closely watched globally as governments explore stronger protections for children online. According to Meta, 330,639 accounts were removed from Instagram, 173,497 from Facebook and 39,916 from Threads in the first week of…

Queensland: Residents across north Queensland are being smashed by intense rainfall and fierce wind gusts after Tropical Cyclone Koji crossed the coast, triggering flooding, power disruptions, and multiple emergency rescues. Wind gusts of up to 100km/h brought down trees and fences as the system tracked south to south-west, placing communities from Bowen to Mackay in the path of severe weather, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) confirmed. In Marian, around 30km west of Mackay, residents reported rapidly rising water levels and road closures as conditions worsened. BoM recorded 146mm of rain in just two hours at nearby Gargett, highlighting the intensity…

Minneapolis: At least 29 people were arrested in Minneapolis following large-scale protests over the death of a woman who was shot by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. One police officer sustained minor injuries after a chunk of ice was thrown during the demonstrations, according to city officials. Protests broke out, with more than 1,000 people gathering near the Canopy Hotel in downtown Minneapolis, where some ICE agents were believed to be staying. Minneapolis Police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly after some demonstrators reportedly forced entry into the hotel through an alley entrance. Authorities said protesters shone…