Author: Trainee Reporter

Paris: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is making his first foreign visit to Paris and London, strengthening ties with Canada’s founding nations as he confronts escalating economic and political tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump. Carney emphasised Canada’s distinct identity from the United States, declaring that, “Canada will never, ever, in any way, shape, or form, be part of the United States.” His trip aims to boost trade partnerships with France and the UK while signalling resistance to Trump’s tariffs and rhetoric about Canada becoming the 51st state. In Paris, Carney will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron before heading…

New Delhi: India and New Zealand have restarted free trade negotiations, a decade after talks fell apart, marking a significant step in economic cooperation between the two nations. The decision comes as New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon embarks on a five-day visit to India, with a scheduled meeting with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi. The two sides have decided to initiate the first round of negotiations next month, with Luxon calling the development a “major breakthrough” in their economic relationship. Luxon stated that, “India holds significant potential for New Zealand and will play a pivotal role in doubling New…

Cuba: Cuba’s national power grid has suffered a major collapse, triggering widespread blackouts across the country, including the capital, Havana. Millions were left without power as officials rushed to restore the failing system. The Ministry of Energy and Mines reported that an electrical substation in Havana failed around 8:15 p.m. local time, causing a chain reaction that disrupted the national electrical system (SEN). The outage affected vast areas of western Cuba, with reports of blackouts extending as far as Guantánamo, Artemisa, Santiago de Cuba, and Santa Clara. Havana’s iconic waterfront skyline is in darkness, with only a few tourist hotels…

Ottawa: Mark Carney was sworn in as Canada’s 24th prime minister in a rapid political ascent, pledging to uphold the country’s sovereignty amid growing tensions with the United States. Addressing a crowd outside Rideau Hall, Carney firmly ignored any possibility of Canada becoming part of the U.S. in response to recent annexation rhetoric from Donald Trump. Carney declared that, “We will never, in any shape or form, be part of the U.S. We are very fundamentally a different country.” Carney emphasised Canada’s expectation for “respect” from its southern neighbour while expressing hope for cooperation with the Trump administration. Carney, a…

Philippine: Rodrigo Duterte is set to make his first appearance at the International Criminal Court (ICC) as he faces crimes against humanity charges over his controversial “war on drugs.” The 79-year-old former Philippine president will appear before the court at 2 p.m. local time (1 p.m. GMT), where he will be informed of the charges against him and his rights as a defendant, according to an ICC statement. Duterte is accused of the crime against humanity of murder for his administration’s violent anti-drug campaign, which human rights groups say resulted in tens of thousands of deaths. Duterte’s arrest followed a…

Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed support for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine but raised several conditions, leaving tension over whether a truce is imminent. At a press conference in Moscow, Putin stated that while the idea was “right,” there were “questions” about its implementation. His remarks came after Ukraine decided on the ceasefire proposal following discussions with the United States earlier this week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Putin’s response as “manipulative” and called for further sanctions on Russia. Russian officials previously reported that Putin was expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff,…

United States: A NASA-SpaceX mission intended to clear the way for the return of two “stranded” astronauts has been delayed due to a hydraulic ground issue. The Falcon 9 rocket, set to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, was postponed, with the next possible launch window scheduled for March 14th at 19:03 Eastern Time (23:03 GMT). The mission aims to transport four new crew members to the International Space Station (ISS) and facilitate the return of NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore. The pair has been at the ISS since June 2024 after their scheduled return on Boeing’s…

Canada: Canada’s Prime Minister-designate Mark Carney has expressed readiness to negotiate a renewed trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump—on the condition that Canadian sovereignty is respected. Speaking at a steel plant in Hamilton, Ontario, Carney reaffirmed Canada’s view as the government unveiled $20.7 billion (C$29.8 billion) in retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports. The move comes in reaction to Trump’s imposition of 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminium entering the U.S. Since taking office in January, Trump has committed to an escalating trade war with Canada, repeatedly threatening to annex its northern neighbour. Carney condemned the latest U.S.…

Greenland: Greenland’s centre-right opposition party, Demokraatit, has secured an incredible victory in the country’s general election, with independence and US President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring the territory dominating the vote. Near-final results show Demokraatit winning around 30 percent of the vote, marking a dramatic change in Greenland’s political landscape. Party leader Jens Frederik Nielsen called for unity, stating that, “Greenland needs us to stand together in a time of great interest from outside. There is a need for unity, so we will enter into negotiations with everyone.” With no single party securing an outright majority, Demokraatit will now…

United States: The US Department of Education is set to lay off nearly 2,100 employees as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to decline the size of the federal government. The move will take effect on March 21. Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that the cuts would affect all divisions of the department and were aimed at improving service for students, parents, educators, and taxpayers. The department, which currently employs over 4,000 people, will see its workforce shrink by nearly half, leaving around 2,183 employees. Some reductions include individuals who retired or accepted buyout offers earlier this…