Author: Trainee Reporter

Geneva: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that negotiators have made a ‘tremendous amount of progress’ in efforts to finalise a US-proposed peace deal aimed at ending the Russia–Ukraine war. The talks in Geneva brought together Ukrainian and European representatives, with Rubio confirming that the parties had significantly narrowed unresolved issues in the 28-point draft. Despite what he called a ‘very good day’, Rubio emphasised that more work remains. Any agreement must be personally endorsed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump before it can be sent to Moscow for consideration. A joint statement issued…

Colombia: Colombian authorities have confiscated 14 tonnes of cocaine at the southwestern port of Buenaventura, marking the largest seizure by the Colombian police in the past decade. The operation, hailed by the Ministry of Defence as a ‘historic blow’ to drug traffickers, involved the discovery of dozens of 50-kilogramme (110-pound) sacks of cocaine camouflaged with plaster, reportedly destined for the Netherlands. President Gustavo Petro confirmed the seizure on X, sharing a video of officers and canines raiding the warehouse and emphasising that the operation was carried out ‘without a single death.’ The ministry estimated that the bust prevented the circulation…

Bangladesh: At least five people, including one child, have been killed and more than 450 injured after a 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck Bangladesh, sending shockwaves across the densely populated capital, Dhaka and nearby districts. The epicentre was recorded near the Narsingdi district, approximately 30 kilometres from Dhaka, triggering widespread panic as buildings shook for several seconds. Thousands rushed outdoors from residential towers, offices and classrooms, fearing structural collapse. Authorities confirmed that three of the fatalities occurred in Dhaka’s Armanitola area when debris and a metal railing fell from a five-storey building, according to deputy police commissioner Mallik Ahsan Uddin Sami. Elsewhere,…

Vietnam: Relentless flooding across central Vietnam has killed at least 41 people, while rescue teams continue to search for nine others still missing, according to state media. The disaster follows days of torrential rainfall that have submerged more than 52,000 homes and left over 500,000 households and businesses without power. Authorities say tens of thousands have been evacuated as floodwaters swept through multiple provinces, with rainfall exceeding 1.5 metres in several areas over just 72 hours, surpassing the catastrophic 1993 peak of 5.2 metres in some localities. The coastal tourist hubs of Hoi An and Nha Trang are among the…

Bangkok: Fatima Bosch of Mexico has been crowned Miss Universe 2025, capping a season defined by controversy, resignations and record-breaking online debate. The 25-year-old beauty queen won the title during finals in Bangkok, while Miss Thailand Praveenar Singh finished as first runner-up and Miss Venezuela Stephany Abasali placed third. Miss Philippines Ma Ahtisa Manalo and Miss Côte d’Ivoire Olivia Yacé rounded out the Top 5. Bosch’s victory comes just weeks after she walked out of a pre-pageant event when Thai pageant organiser Nawat Itsaragrasil publicly reprimanded her over promotional duties and threatened to disqualify anyone who defended her. Several contestants…

United States: A major new scientific analysis has revealed that more than 5,500 toxic and industrial sites across the United States could face coastal flooding by 2100, posing severe environmental and public health risks as sea levels rise. The study led by scientists at the University of California examines how rising seas, intensified by unchecked greenhouse gas emissions, could inundate hazardous facilities including sewage treatment plants, toxic waste sites, refineries, fossil fuel terminals, power plants, and military sites. Coastal threat extends across 23 states Researchers analysed over 47,600 coastal facilities across 23 states and Puerto Rico. Their findings show that…

New York: Major League Baseball (MLB) has struck a series of major broadcast and streaming agreements with global media giants Netflix, ESPN and NBCUniversal, expanding the league’s reach across multiple platforms over the next three seasons. Under the new deals, Netflix, the world’s largest streaming service, will air several high-profile baseball events that traditionally attract millions of viewers. These include MLB’s exclusive Opening Night matchup and the fan-favourite Home Run Derby, where the league’s top sluggers compete for the home-run crown. The streamer will also broadcast the World Baseball Classic in Japan. Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. said the…

Washington: The White House meeting between US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has opened with controversy after Trump downplayed the Saudi regime’s role in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The remarks came during the crown prince’s high-profile visit to the White House, his first since Khashoggi’s murder and dismemberment in Istanbul, a meeting packed with lucrative investment pledges, defence announcements and symbolic diplomatic gestures. Trump defends Saudi Crown Prince Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump insisted the Saudi leader ‘knew nothing about it,’ despite a formal US intelligence assessment to the contrary. Mohammed bin…

Geneva: The World Health Organisation (WHO) is set to cut over 2,000 jobs by mid-2026 as it restructures following the United States’ withdrawal, while facing a significant budget shortfall. According to internal slides prepared for member states, the Geneva-based agency expects to reduce 2,371 positions from its January 2025 staffing level of 9,401 due to job cuts, retirements and natural attrition. A spokesperson confirmed the figures, noting the organisation’s workforce could shrink by up to 22 percent, depending on whether vacant roles are filled. The downsizing follows Washington’s withdrawal from the agency after President Donald Trump took office, prompting WHO…

London: The UK has unveiled a major $59.2 million (£45 million) initiative that will use advanced artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery of new antibiotics and combat the fast-growing threat of drug-resistant infections. The programme, a collaboration between the Fleming Initiative and pharmaceutical giant GSK, aims to outpace evolving superbugs by combining cutting-edge computing with laboratory research. Scientists say the project represents one of the biggest UK investments ever made in antibiotic innovation. Drug-resistant infections, often called the silent pandemic are now directly responsible for around one million deaths each year and contribute to millions more. With the overuse of…