Author: Trainee Reporter

England: A major new study has found that regular screen time for babies and toddlers under the age of two may have lasting negative effects on their health, development, and overall quality of life, prompting researchers to call for stricter guidance and further investigation into the impact of digital devices on infants. The review, described as the most comprehensive global analysis of research on the subject, concludes that children under two should not receive regular intentional screen time, warning that any potential benefits are outweighed by developmental risks. Researchers behind the study say the widespread use of smartphones, tablets, and…

Washington: US President Donald Trump has warned that any European country introducing a digital services tax targeting major American technology companies will face an immediate 100 percent tariff on all goods exported to the United States. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said that several European countries were considering implementing new digital taxes and declared that the US would respond with sweeping trade penalties. Trump added that the proposed tariffs would take effect immediately and would override any existing bilateral trade agreements with the affected countries. Trump remarked that, “Please let this statement serve to represent that…

Oman: The United Nations’ International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has temporarily suspended its planned evacuation of more than 11,000 stranded seafarers from the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the strategic waterway. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez announced that although several vessels had already been evacuated under the humanitarian operation, the organisation decided to pause the large-scale mission until adequate safety guarantees can be secured for all participating ships and crews. The decision follows an attack on the Singapore-flagged cargo ship Ever Lovely, which was hit approximately 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman’s…

London: Passengers travelling during the busy summer holiday season are being urged not to pack power banks, vapes and other lithium battery-powered devices in their checked luggage as aviation authorities warn that battery-related fires have become the biggest safety threat facing aircraft. With millions expected to take to the skies in the coming weeks, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched a fresh awareness campaign after incidents involving lithium batteries packed in hold baggage nearly doubled over the past year. The regulator is reminding travellers that such devices should always be carried in cabin baggage, where any overheating or…

Washington: United States President Donald Trump has launched weeks of festivities marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, opening the nationwide celebrations with a high-profile rally on Washington DC’s National Mall. The event featured military bands, aerial displays by some of the United States’ most recognisable fighter jets and stealth bombers, and a keynote address from Trump, who used the occasion to highlight his administration’s achievements and vision for the country. The president described the country’s resurgence under his leadership, touching on issues including immigration, economic growth, prescription drug costs, and foreign policy. He also claimed that recent diplomatic efforts…

Caracas: Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela near the capital Caracas, leaving at least 32 people dead and more than 700 injured, according to Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, as rescue teams race against time to locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed structures. The seismic disaster began with a magnitude 7.2 earthquake, followed just 39 seconds later by an even stronger magnitude 7.5 tremor, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The back-to-back quakes triggered widespread panic across Venezuela and were felt as far away as Bogotá, Colombia, where precautionary evacuations were carried out. Rodríguez declared a nationwide state of emergency and…

France: Western Europe has remained in the grip of an intense heatwave, with record-breaking temperatures, power outages, and widespread disruptions affecting millions across the region. Meteorologists warn that the extreme weather is being fueled by persistent atmospheric patterns that trap hot air over large areas, while climate change continues to intensify the frequency and severity of heatwaves. France recorded its hottest national temperature indicator since records began in 1947, with the average daytime and nighttime temperature across 30 monitoring stations reaching 29.8°C. The scorching conditions triggered a major power outage in the northwestern department of Finistère after a heat-related transformer…

Berlin: A major IT outage brought Germany’s rail network to a standstill, forcing national railway operator Deutsche Bahn to suspend train services across the country for more than two and a half hours before operations gradually resumed. The outage was caused by a malfunction in the Global System for Mobile Communications for Railways (GSM-R), a critical digital communication network used by train drivers and traffic control centres. As a safety measure, all trains were instructed to remain at stations while technicians worked to identify and resolve the issue. Deutsche Bahn announced the disruption at around 10:30 p.m. local time, confirming…

Washington: The US Senate has overwhelmingly approved the bipartisan 21st Century Road to Housing Act, a sweeping housing reform package designed to tackle rising housing costs by increasing the supply of homes, cutting regulatory hurdles, and restricting large-scale investor purchases of residential properties. The legislation passed the Senate in an 85-5 vote, after months of negotiations between Democrats and Republicans. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. The measure comes ahead of the November midterm elections, with housing affordability expected to be a major issue for voters deciding control of Congress during the final two years…

Lucknow: At least 15 people lost their lives after a devastating fire engulfed a three-storey commercial building in Lucknow’s Aliganj area, prompting authorities to order an inquiry into the tragedy and raising fresh concerns over fire safety standards in India’s commercial establishments. The blaze broke out at around 2:45 pm local time in a building housing a pet shop on the ground floor and an animation and 3D gaming training centre on the upper floors. Thick smoke and flames rapidly spread through the building, trapping dozens of trainees and employees inside after the only staircase was engulfed by fire. Rescue…