Author: Trainee Reporter

Cebu City: A massive mound of rubbish has collapsed at a landfill in the central Philippines, killing a 22-year-old woman and leaving at least 38 people missing, authorities said. The incident occurred at the privately owned Binaliw Landfill in Cebu City, where rescuers pulled 12 injured sanitation workers from the debris. All the injured were rushed to the hospital for treatment, while search and rescue operations continued. Officials believe many of the victims were workers at the landfill at the time of the collapse. The exact cause of the incident remains under investigation. Around 300 personnel from various government agencies,…

Portland: Two people were wounded during a shooting involving US federal agents in Portland, Oregon, authorities said, in an incident that has intensified scrutiny of federal law enforcement operations in American cities. Portland Police said a man and a woman were taken to the hospital after being found several blocks from the scene in the city’s Hazelwood neighbourhood. Their conditions were not immediately known. Officers applied a tourniquet and called emergency medical services before transporting the pair to a hospital for treatment. At 2:19 PST, US Border Patrol agents were conducting a targeted vehicle stop in Portland, Oregon. The passenger…

Canberra: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a royal commission, the country’s most powerful form of independent inquiry, into last month’s deadly shooting at Bondi Beach that targeted a Jewish festival and left 15 people dead, one of the worst mass-casualty attacks in Australia’s history. The decision follows weeks of sustained public pressure from victims’ families and prominent figures across the legal, business and sporting communities. Albanese had earlier argued that tighter gun laws, hate speech reforms, measures to combat antisemitism, and a review of intelligence and law enforcement agencies would provide a faster response. However, he said he…

London: People who stop using popular weight-loss injections such as Mounjaro and Wegovy may regain the weight they lost far more quickly than those who rely on traditional dieting and exercise, according to new research published in the British Medical Journal. The analysis suggests that while the injections help users shed a significant amount of weight, roughly 20 percent of their body mass, the kilos can return rapidly once treatment ends. On average, former users regain about 0.8kg per month, meaning many are back to their original weight within 18 months. By contrast, people who lose weight through diet and…

China: An employee at Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has lost a work phone containing sensitive information while on a personal trip to China, Japanese media report. The phone reportedly held contact details of staff involved in confidential nuclear security operations. The NRA has not confirmed whether the data was compromised. The incident comes as Japan seeks to revive its atomic energy programme, which has been largely stalled since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. Following the catastrophe, all nuclear reactors in Japan were ordered to shut down, and the NRA was established to oversee nuclear safety and manage reactor restarts.…

France: Intense snowfall and icy conditions have caused widespread disruption across Europe, leaving at least six people dead and thousands of travellers stranded as flights and train services were cancelled across multiple countries. Five fatalities were reported in France due to treacherous driving conditions, while one woman was killed in Sarajevo after heavy snow caused a tree to collapse. Authorities warned that disruption is likely to continue as severe weather persists. In France, three people died in two separate incidents in the Landes region in the south-west after vehicles skidded on black ice, according to local authorities. Two more people…

Las Vegas: Hyundai Motor Group has planned to roll out human-like robots across its factories worldwide starting in 2028, joining a growing list of major companies racing to adopt humanoid technology for industrial use. The South Korean automaker showcased Atlas, a humanoid robot developed by Boston Dynamics, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Hyundai, which holds a majority stake in Boston Dynamics, said it plans to integrate Atlas across its global manufacturing network, including facilities in the United States. Atlas is designed for general industrial applications and is being developed to work alongside human employees as well…

Washington: The United States has overhauled its childhood immunisation guidelines, reducing the number of diseases for which vaccines are routinely recommended from 17 to 11, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from leading medical organisations. The revised recommendations, issued by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), retain vaccines for diseases such as measles, polio and diphtheria as standard for all children. However, several others, including hepatitis A, hepatitis B and Covid-19, are now advised based on individual risk and shared clinical decision-making between doctors and parents. US President Donald Trump welcomed the changes, describing them as rooted…

Cuba: The Cuban government has said that 32 of its nationals were killed during a US operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, marking a sharp escalation in regional tensions. In a brief official statement, Havana said those killed were members of Cuba’s armed forces and intelligence agencies. Two days of national mourning have been declared across the country. The statement did not provide details on the exact role of the Cuban personnel in Venezuela. However, Cuba and Venezuela are long-standing allies, with Havana historically providing security and intelligence support to Caracas in exchange for subsidised…

Washington: Gold and silver prices surged in early Asian trade as investors sought safe-haven assets following the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a move that heightened geopolitical concerns. Gold climbed about 1.8 percent to around $4,408 (£3,282) an ounce, while silver rose nearly 3.5 percent, as market participants shifted funds away from riskier assets. In contrast, crude oil prices were little changed, and share markets across much of the Asia-Pacific region traded higher. Both precious metals had reached record highs in 2025 before easing in the final days of the year. Despite the late pullback, gold still recorded…