Author: Trainee Reporter

Germany: Two German-Russian citizens have been captured in southern Germany on a hunch for planning sabotage attacks, including on US army facilities. The foray was intended to vandalise military support for Ukraine. The individuals, identified as Dieter S and Alexander J, are believed to be working as Russian spies on behalf of the Kremlin. The prosecutor’s office did not confirm the foreign secret service they were working for. The suspects were arrested in the city of Bayreuth, which is known for hosting the annual Richard Wagner opera festival. It is a severe issue that raises concerns about foreign interference and espionage…

Geneva: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed concerns over the rapid spread of H5N1 bird flu, which holds a remarkably high mortality rate in humans. A bird flu virus, also called avian influenza (bird flu), causes the disease. The explosion that began in 2020, resulted in the fatalities or culling of tens of millions of poultry. Recently, there were reports of the virus spreading among several mammal species, including domestic cattle in the United States. According to the WHO, this raises the risk of the virus spilling over to humans. Last month, cows and goats were added to the…

Africa: Scientists have reported that the deadly heatwaves in West Africa and the Sahel were ‘impossible’ without human-caused climate change. It induced temperatures to grow above 48 Celsius in Mali last month. Burning fossil fuels is believed to make temperatures up to 1.4 Celsius more hot than normal. This extreme heat is correlated with hundreds of deaths in hospitals. However, a separate study recently revealed that El Niño is responsible for drought in Southern Africa, rather than weather transformation. Several countries in the Sahel province and West Africa experienced a severe heatwave that commenced in late March and continued until…

United Kingdom: The UK government has signed a pact with Vietnam to enhance their alliance in tackling illegal migration and stop Vietnamese citizens from endangering their lives by choosing the difficult English Channel route. Michael Tomlinson, the UK Minister for Countering Illegal Migration, and Senior Colonel Vu Van Hung from Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security jointly inscribed a statement of association in London to reiterate the powerful coalition between the two countries. Recently, an increasing number of Vietnamese expatriates reached the UK via small boats. Between 2018 and the end of 2023, there were 3,356 Vietnamese small-boat arrivals, which positions Vietnam…

Israel: Hezbollah, the armed group based in Lebanon, has taken responsibility for an attack on a military facility in northern Israel. The attack caused injuries to at least 14 soldiers. The Lebanese armed group claims that the attack was carried out in response to Israeli strikes that killed members of it. The Iran-aligned group stated that it projected the raid operating directed missiles and explosive drones on a new military surveillance and control base in Arab al-Aramshe, which is an Arab-majority village located in northern Israel near the Lebanese border. The recent attack in Israel caused 14 combatants to be injured,…

United Kingdom: The government of UK has pledged to give the International Bank for Reconstruction & Development (IBRD) £100 million to tackle the most pressing global crises. Andrew Mitchell, Deputy Foreign Secretary and Minister for Development and Africa announced the contribution to address urgent development issues, prior to his attendance at the World Bank Spring Meetings. The World Bank’s monetary prototype allows it to lend £10 for every £1 it receives. The UK’s assistance of £100 million will open up ten times as much lending, £1 billion for tackling cases such as climate change, food insecurity, pandemics, and poverty over…

Europe: The European Union General Court recently ruled that Pablo Escobar’s name cannot be registered as a trademark across the union. The court justified the decision by stating that the name is associated with drug trafficking, narco-terrorism, and the crimes and suffering that result from them. As a result, it should not be granted protection under existing intellectual property laws. This ruling supports the conclusion of the EU’s Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) which earlier rejected a brand application by Escobar Inc. in 2022. Roberto de Jesus Escobar Gaviria established Escobar Inc., who was Pablo Escobar’s brother. He was imprisoned for 12 years for…

Jerusalem: David Cameron, the UK foreign secretary, has urged Israel to do ‘as little as possible to escalate’ tensions in the Middle East, ahead of talks with PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel declared that it would respond to Iran’s projectile and drone attack over the weekend. The UK Foreign Secretary is recommending Israel limit its retaliation, as there are concerns it could escalate into a broader conflict. Cameron called on the Israeli administration to act ‘smart as well as tough.’ Shortly after reaching Jerusalem Lord Cameron reported that he was there to show solidarity after that appalling attack by Iran. “It’s right to…

West Virginia: A federal appeals court recently overturned a ban on transgender athletes participating in teams that reflect their gender identity. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals reasoned that this rule violates Title IX, which safeguards against sex-based prejudice in educational institutions. The judges further elaborated that the law cannot be legally enforced to control a 13-year-old girl, who is frankly recognised herself as a girl for years and using puberty blockers, from partaking in sports. It was determined by the court that the option given to B.P.J. of not participating in sports or participating only on boys’ teams was not…

Honiara: Solomon Islands’ people have begun voting in a national election since the government swapped tactful allegiances from Taiwan to Beijing. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare signed a security agreement with China in 2022, which brought the country closer to Beijing. In the Solomon Islands, the night before an election is often referred to as Devil’s Night. It is common for political candidates to offer bribes to assure last-minute votes, ranging from cash to sacks of rice and Chinese-made solar panels. Despite the implementation of strict electoral laws, vote-buying remains prevalent in the Pacific nation’s elections. However, the reason that this vote…