Author: Trainee Reporter

Washington: US Vice-President JD Vance has warned that additional workforce cuts could be imminent if the ongoing government shutdown is not resolved soon. Vance stated that, “The longer this goes on, the deeper the cuts are going to be. To be clear, some of these cuts are going to be painful.” The current impasse began on October 1, after Democrats rejected a short-term funding bill that excluded federal health insurance subsidies. Democrats are demanding that the budget include an extension of subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees are already on leave without pay as…

Mali: Mali has announced that US nationals seeking business or tourist visas will now be required to post a bond of up to $10,000 (£7,500), mirroring a similar measure recently introduced by the Trump administration against Malian citizens. The US Embassy in Bamako said the bond aims to strengthen Washington’s commitment to protecting America’s borders and safeguarding US national security. Mali’s Foreign Ministry responded, stating that the US had imposed the measure unilaterally, prompting Bamako to introduce an identical visa programme for American visitors. The visa policy shift comes at a sensitive time, as both nations have been working to…

New South Wales: Three adults have died after a light aircraft crashed at Shellharbour Airport near Wollongong, New South Wales. The private plane took off at approximately 10:00 am before crashing and catching fire. It was reportedly en route to Ballarat. Speaking to the media, Chief Inspector Aaron Wunderlich of Lake Illawarra Police District described the incident as ‘a very tragic incident.’ Aaron Wunderlich confirmed that all three occupants were adults of a similar age group, but their identities have not yet been formally released. Aaron Wunderlich stated that, “Police are working to formally identify the three people involved, so…

Idaho: The United States and Qatar have signed a landmark letter of agreement to construct a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, marking a new phase in bilateral defence cooperation. The announcement was made by US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, following his meeting with Qatari Defence Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the Pentagon. Hegseth commended Qatar’s pivotal role in mediating Gaza ceasefire talks, with the first phase of the Israel-Hamas peace deal going into effect the same day. Hegseth stated that, “No one other than President Donald Trump could…

Philippines: A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake has struck off the southern coast of the Philippines, prompting tsunami warnings across coastal regions and neighbouring Indonesia. Authorities in the Philippines urged residents in coastal towns across central and southern regions to evacuate as they warned of potential tsunami waves over a metre high. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the quake was felt strongly in Davao City and surrounding provinces, causing power cuts and suspension of classes in several areas. At least one person was confirmed dead, while reports of damaged buildings and widespread panic surfaced across affected regions. Local…

Baltimore: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has extended nationwide flight delays for a third consecutive day, affecting major airports such as Reagan Washington National and Newark Liberty International, as higher-than-normal staffing shortages continue to strain US air traffic operations. By 5:30 p.m. ET (2130 GMT), nearly 3,000 flights were delayed, following a combined 10,000 delays recorded. Many of these disruptions have been directly linked to air traffic controller absences, which have worsened as the federal government shutdown entered its eighth day. The FAA confirmed that several flights at Reagan National were forced to hold in the air due to reduced…

Macau: The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced a multiyear partnership with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, coinciding with the league’s return to China for the first time since 2019. Alibaba Group confirmed that its cloud computing arm, Alibaba Cloud, will serve as the official cloud computing and AI partner of NBA China. The collaboration will focus on integrating artificial intelligence and cloud technologies to improve fan engagement and digital experiences on the NBA app across China. The announcement comes as the NBA prepares to stage two preseason games in Macau, marking the league’s debut in the world’s largest gambling hub.…

Himachal Pradesh: At least 15 people have lost their lives after a massive landslide struck a bus travelling through the hilly Bilaspur district in northern India, local authorities confirmed. The incident occurred, following days of heavy rainfall. The bus, carrying 20 to 25 passengers, was hit by debris from the landslide. Police reported that nine men, four women, and two children were among the dead. Three injured children were rescued and admitted to a local hospital for treatment. Rescue teams resumed operations to locate other missing passengers, who are feared dead. Visuals from media showed the bus mangled on a…

New Delhi: UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out any relaxation of visa policies for India, despite a new trade agreement aimed at deepening economic ties between the two nations. Speaking ahead of his arrival in India, Sir Keir emphasised that the focus of his two-day visit is on business engagement, investment, and job creation, not immigration policy. Sir Keir is leading a high-profile delegation of more than 100 entrepreneurs, cultural leaders, and university vice-chancellors to promote UK investment and stimulate economic growth. Welcome Prime Minister Keir Starmer on your historic first visit to India with the largest…

Sidoarjo: Indonesia has halted its search for victims at a collapsed Islamic boarding school after recovering more than 60 bodies, officials said. The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) announced that teams were stepping down after more than a week of efforts to recover victims trapped beneath the rubble at the al-Khoziny school. The building partially caved in on September 29 while students were attending afternoon prayers. Basarnas head Mohammad Syafii remarked that, “Entering the 9th day, we have concluded the search and rescue operation for the victims.” Authorities said all debris had been cleared from the site, and no…