Author: Trainee Reporter

Ottawa: Canada’s parliament has narrowly approved Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first federal budget, allowing his minority Liberal government to avoid an early election after a tense and closely watched vote. The fiscal plan, which projects a $55.3 billion (C$78-billion) deficit, passed 170–168 with help from a handful of opposition MPs and several strategic abstentions. Carney has defended the package, one of the largest in Canadian history as a ‘generational investment’ to strengthen productivity, competitiveness and long-term economic resilience. The Liberals, two seats short of a majority, needed outside support even with full backing from their caucus. That support came after…

Central Africa: At least 32 people have died after a makeshift bridge collapsed at the Kalando copper and cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Lualaba province. The incident occurred when overcrowding caused the bridge built to cross a flooded trench to give way. Provincial Interior Minister Roy Kaumbe Mayonde said access to the site had been formally banned due to heavy rains and the risk of a landslide. Despite the restrictions, thousands of wildcat miners forced their way in. As miners rushed across the fragile bridge, it collapsed under the weight. A report by the Artisanal…

Tokyo: Japanese tourism-linked and retail stocks have dropped sharply after China warned its citizens against travelling to Japan, escalating tensions between Tokyo and Beijing as both sides remain at odds over Taiwan. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, known for her tough stance on China, recently indicated that Japan could consider military action if Beijing launched an attack on Taiwan. Her remarks, made earlier this month in parliament, have intensified diplomatic friction between the two countries. Department store operators were among the biggest losers. The parent company of Mitsukoshi and Isetan plunged more than 10 percent, while shares of Shiseido and other…

Mexico City: At least 120 people, including 100 police officers, were injured, as widespread anti-government protests swept through Mexico City, according to authorities. Thousands of demonstrators, many of them young activists, marched through the capital to denounce rising violent crime and express anger over President Claudia Sheinbaum’s security policies. The protests, which also erupted in several other cities, were led by Gen Z youth groups and drew support from citizens outraged by high-profile killings including the assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo, who was shot dead on November 1 during a Day of the Dead celebration. Manzo had repeatedly demanded…

Australia: Thirteen people were injured, including two in critical condition, after a car veered off the track and ploughed into spectators during a demolition derby event in southeastern Australia, police confirmed. The incident occurred in the town of Walcha, New South Wales, when a participating vehicle smashed through a fence and struck the grandstand during the annual Walcha Motorcycle Rally. Police said the car had just been involved in a collision on the track moments before the crash. Authorities earlier reported nine injuries, but later updated the total to 13. The injured bystanders ranged in age from 20 to 75,…

Java: At least two people have been killed and 21 remain missing after a landslide triggered by days of heavy rainfall struck three villages in Indonesia’s Cilacap district. Rescue teams are racing against time as unstable terrain and continuous rain complicate search operations. According to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the landslide hit dozens of houses, following prolonged downpours across Central Java province. Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for BNPB, stated that, “23 people have been rescued alive, while two bodies have been recovered. Twenty-one others are still being searched for.” Challenging search conditions Rescue personnel from multiple agencies have been…

Washington: The Trump administration has announced plans to lower import taxes on coffee, bananas and other key commodities as part of new trade agreements with four Latin American nations, Argentina, Guatemala, El Salvador and Ecuador. The move comes as US President Donald Trump faces mounting scrutiny over economic management and growing voter concern about affordability following his party’s weak performance in off-year elections. Under the initial framework agreements, reciprocal tariffs of 10 percent will remain on goods from Guatemala, Argentina and El Salvador, along with a 15 percent tax on imports from Ecuador. However, exemptions will apply to products that…

Edinburgh: The number of children and teenagers living with high blood pressure has nearly doubled worldwide over the past two decades, according to the largest review of its kind published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health. Experts warn that this alarming rise, driven by unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, and soaring obesity rates, poses a serious long-term threat to public health. The analysis, based on data from 96 studies involving more than 400,000 participants across 21 countries, found that the prevalence of hypertension among individuals under 19 has climbed from 3.2 percent in 2000 to 6.2 percent in 2020, affecting…

Washington: The longest government shutdown in US history ended after more than 42 days, following the House of Representatives’ passage of a compromise bill negotiated between Republicans and a group of moderate Democratic senators. The agreement, already cleared by the Senate, allows government operations to resume through January but leaves unresolved a major sticking point, the extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, commonly known as Obamacare subsidies, which Democrats had demanded as part of any deal to reopen the government. President Trump signs bill to OFFICIALLY reopen the government, ending the Democrat Shutdown. Let’s get our country WORKING…

Paris: Global demand for oil and gas could continue rising until 2050, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its latest World Energy Outlook released, marking a major shift from its earlier forecasts of a swift transition to cleaner fuels. The agency warned that the world is likely to miss its key climate targets under current policy trajectories. The IEA, often regarded as the West’s energy security watchdog, has faced political pressure in recent years, particularly from the United States. Under US President Donald Trump, the agency came under calls to focus more on boosting oil and gas output, while…