Author: Trainee Reporter

Vatican: Pope Francis has approved a new Vatican document claiming gender-affirming surgery and surrogacy are grave human rights violations. These practices are considered by the Vatican to be on par with abortion and euthanasia, as they go against God’s plan for human life. The Vatican’s doctrine office released a 20-page declaration titled ‘Infinite Dignity’ that was in the works for five years. After significant revisions in recent months, it was endorsed by Pope Francis and he ordered its publication in March. The document argues that the sex a person is born with is an ‘irrevocable gift’ from God, and any sex-change…

Florida: South Korea has successfully launched its second military surveillance satellite just days after North Korea reaffirmed its intent to launch multiple spy satellites. The National Ministry of Defence in South Korea confirmed that the satellite entered orbit after being launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States. Seoul’s military announced that the recent launch of a satellite boosted their independent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. The statement also mentioned that they plan to proceed with future satellite launches without any problems. The statement further explains that the satellite successfully separated…

Lisbon: Paddy Cosgrave, the co-founder of Web Summit, has returned as chief executive officer (CEO) after stepping down six months ago. Cosgrave faced criticism for comments he made that were critical of Israel. In a statement, he said that his time away from the annual Web Summit, one of the world’s largest tech conferences, allowed him to reflect on the event and what he wanted it to be. Further, he added that thinking about “Why I started it on my own from my bedroom and what I wanted it to be.” The Web Summit Co-Founder noted in a post on…

Geneva: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that a drone attack on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia power plant raised the risk of a nuclear disaster.  The power plant contains six reactors and is located in southern Ukraine, making it the largest in Europe. It is currently under Russian occupation after the country’s February 2022 invasion. Russia claimed that the attack was carried out by Ukraine, which Ukraine has denied. The drone strike reportedly injured three people. The Zaporizhzhia plant is located on the front line of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the United Nations’ atomic watchdog, IAEA,…

United Kingdom: The Space Agency of the UK has announced the launch of an International Bilateral Fund to foster collaboration with international partners. The fund will support exciting and innovative projects, such as the University of Strathclyde’s partnership with organisations like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Alan Turing Institute to leverage Artificial Intelligence to improve space operations’ safety and sustainability. In addition, Vertical Future is currently designing a robotic ‘space farm’ that can grow plants in space, while Rolls-Royce is collaborating with US-based BWXT on space nuclear power projects. Eleven projects will be presented at the 39th…

Orenburg: The Russian government has said that a dam break near the Kazakhstan border caused flooding in the Orenburg region, affecting more than 4,000 people. The governor’s office of Orenburg reported that 4,208 people, including 1,019 children, were evacuated and more than 2,500 homes were impacted by the floods. The dam gave way last day following heavy rainfall. Governor Denis Pasler stated that the flood reached its peak. He added that the situation is particularly challenging in Orsk, a city located on the border with a population of 230,000. The authorities evacuated around 2,000 people from their homes in Orsk…

Regular physical activities will benefit not just your body but also your cognitive health. Immersing in physical activities releases chemicals in your brain that can boost your mood, self-esteem, concentration, and better sleep. Benefits can be reaped without a fancy gym membership or running marathons. Several simple activities are there which can improve your mental health. Partaking in exercises that bring you joy can significantly impact your mental health. Finding fulfilment in movement can provide a sense of satisfaction and purpose in any activity, whether it is taking a leisurely walk in the park, dancing in the living room, or playing…

Philippines: The government of the Philippines has reported that two Chinese coastguard ships recently harassed Filipino fishing vessels operating within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the disputed South China Sea. This incident occurred just before joint military exercises with the Philippines’ allies were scheduled to take place. According to the spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard, Jay Tarriela, the Chinese coastguard vessels went as far as pretending to man their water cannon and threatening Filipino fishermen at the Iroquois Reef in April. Tarriela noted in a statement that, “This aggressive action stems from China’s greed and unfounded claim that these…

United States: Nancy Pelosi and 40 House Democrats have called on US President Joe Biden to immediately halt US arms transfers to Israel. This comes after the killing of World Central Kitchen workers in a recent Israeli strike while they were delivering food to Gaza. The Democrats wrote a letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, requesting the suspension of weapons transfers to Israel until a full investigation into the airstrike is conducted. The letter, led by Representatives Mark Pocan, Jim McGovern, and Jan Schakowsky, was signed by 40 lawmakers, including Nancy Pelosi and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.…

Australia: The Honourable Julie Bishop, Chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU), has been appointed as United Nations Special Envoy to Myanmar by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The United Nations said in a statement that, “Throughout her career, Bishop has strengthened engagement with regional partners and led international negotiation efforts, including the first-ever United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea conciliation.” Julie Bishop became the first woman to hold the position of ANU Chancellor in 2020. Before that, she served as the first female foreign minister in Australia from 2013 to 2018. Bishop also held several other high-level positions…