Author: Trainee Reporter

Geneva: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that a drone attack on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia power plant raised the risk of a nuclear disaster.  The power plant contains six reactors and is located in southern Ukraine, making it the largest in Europe. It is currently under Russian occupation after the country’s February 2022 invasion. Russia claimed that the attack was carried out by Ukraine, which Ukraine has denied. The drone strike reportedly injured three people. The Zaporizhzhia plant is located on the front line of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the United Nations’ atomic watchdog, IAEA,…

United Kingdom: The Space Agency of the UK has announced the launch of an International Bilateral Fund to foster collaboration with international partners. The fund will support exciting and innovative projects, such as the University of Strathclyde’s partnership with organisations like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Alan Turing Institute to leverage Artificial Intelligence to improve space operations’ safety and sustainability. In addition, Vertical Future is currently designing a robotic ‘space farm’ that can grow plants in space, while Rolls-Royce is collaborating with US-based BWXT on space nuclear power projects. Eleven projects will be presented at the 39th…

Orenburg: The Russian government has said that a dam break near the Kazakhstan border caused flooding in the Orenburg region, affecting more than 4,000 people. The governor’s office of Orenburg reported that 4,208 people, including 1,019 children, were evacuated and more than 2,500 homes were impacted by the floods. The dam gave way last day following heavy rainfall. Governor Denis Pasler stated that the flood reached its peak. He added that the situation is particularly challenging in Orsk, a city located on the border with a population of 230,000. The authorities evacuated around 2,000 people from their homes in Orsk…

Regular physical activities will benefit not just your body but also your cognitive health. Immersing in physical activities releases chemicals in your brain that can boost your mood, self-esteem, concentration, and better sleep. Benefits can be reaped without a fancy gym membership or running marathons. Several simple activities are there which can improve your mental health. Partaking in exercises that bring you joy can significantly impact your mental health. Finding fulfilment in movement can provide a sense of satisfaction and purpose in any activity, whether it is taking a leisurely walk in the park, dancing in the living room, or playing…

Philippines: The government of the Philippines has reported that two Chinese coastguard ships recently harassed Filipino fishing vessels operating within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the disputed South China Sea. This incident occurred just before joint military exercises with the Philippines’ allies were scheduled to take place. According to the spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard, Jay Tarriela, the Chinese coastguard vessels went as far as pretending to man their water cannon and threatening Filipino fishermen at the Iroquois Reef in April. Tarriela noted in a statement that, “This aggressive action stems from China’s greed and unfounded claim that these…

United States: Nancy Pelosi and 40 House Democrats have called on US President Joe Biden to immediately halt US arms transfers to Israel. This comes after the killing of World Central Kitchen workers in a recent Israeli strike while they were delivering food to Gaza. The Democrats wrote a letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, requesting the suspension of weapons transfers to Israel until a full investigation into the airstrike is conducted. The letter, led by Representatives Mark Pocan, Jim McGovern, and Jan Schakowsky, was signed by 40 lawmakers, including Nancy Pelosi and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.…

Australia: The Honourable Julie Bishop, Chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU), has been appointed as United Nations Special Envoy to Myanmar by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The United Nations said in a statement that, “Throughout her career, Bishop has strengthened engagement with regional partners and led international negotiation efforts, including the first-ever United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea conciliation.” Julie Bishop became the first woman to hold the position of ANU Chancellor in 2020. Before that, she served as the first female foreign minister in Australia from 2013 to 2018. Bishop also held several other high-level positions…

Sudan: The UN World Food Programme (WFP), has announced that two aid convoys carrying life-saving supplies finally reached the Darfur region in Sudan. This is the first time in months that the WFP was able to provide help to the people in the area, who were struggling due to nearly a year of heavy fighting. According to Leni Kinzli, WFP Communications Officer in Sudan, the convoys, which arrived in late March, carried enough food and nutrition supplies to help 250,000 people who are facing acute hunger in North, West, and Central Darfur. This humanitarian effort aims to prevent a ‘hunger…

United Kingdom: National Health Service (NHS) Consultants in England have voted in favour of a revised offer from the government, marking the end of their strike action. The new deal aims to address the gender pay gap in the field of medicine, as well as provide consultants with greater clarity on their pay progression arrangements. Additionally, the deal aims to boost consultants’ confidence in the review body that advises the government on rates of pay for doctors and dentists. The current contract for consultants was not revised for two decades, and this proposal aims to bring in changes that align…

China: Microsoft’s threat intelligence team has warned that China will use artificial intelligence-generated (AI) content to interfere with elections in the US, South Korea and India this year. The US company also believes that Chinese state-backed cyber groups, along with North Korea, will target high-profile elections in 2024. The warning comes after China made a dry run in the presidential poll in Taiwan. Microsoft’s report stated that, “As populations in India, South Korea and the United States head to the polls, we are likely to see Chinese cyber and influence actors, and to some extent, North Korean cyber actors, work toward…