Author: Trainee Reporter

New Zealand’s fertility rate has hit a record low in 2023 as the total number of births declined, according to official data. Fertility rate is a measure of the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime. In New Zealand, as well as in many other countries, this number has decreased in recent years due to various factors such as increased education and workforce participation among women, as well as greater access to contraception. Statistics New Zealand reported that, there were 1,932 fewer babies in the year ending than in the previous year, the lowest number of births…

Germany: Ursula von der Leyen will announce her bid for a second term as European Commission President at a conference of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party in Berlin. The head of Brussels’ most powerful institution, von der Leyen, 65, has been cautiously safeguarding her intentions, deflecting all questions on the matter for the past year. As a result of announcing her candidacy for another five years, she is embarking on a four-month battle for election that may involve a broader field, with some speculators suggesting Estonia’s prime minister, Kaja Kallas, may be a candidate for the job in the…

Papua New Guinea: A fresh outbreak of tribal violence in the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea has killed dozens of men, according to the police. Enga Provincial Police Commander George Kakas said that they were killed in a serious gunfire. According to him, people from two tribes ambushed and killed another group. The police commander has stated that, “Some dead bodies are still in the bushes and yet to be retrieved by neighbouring tribes. The situation is still tense but the highway is clear for travelling public.” Authorities initially reported that, at least 53 people had been killed in the ambush, later…

United Kingdom: William, Prince of Wales, has come forward with plans to build 24 homes on land in the Duchy of Cornwall to tackle homelessness. The Duchy said that the construction of the homes at Nansledan, Newquay, would begin in September and the first homes would be completed by autumn 2025. They are produced in partnership with homelessness charity St Petrocs. The prince has announced a five-year campaign set to begin in 2023 with the goal of ending homelessness. The Duchy stated that, “The first phase of the development will focus on creating high-quality temporary accommodation that feels like home.” St Petrocs will provide…

United States: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump made an unusual stop shortly after a New York judge ordered him to pay nearly $355 million in fines for lying about his wealth and other financial crimes. The Former President attended a self-described “Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth” in Philadelphia, where he debuted Trump-branded footwear, shiny gold high-tops with an American flag on the back and a “T” badge on the front, priced at $399. Amid cheers and boos at Sneaker Con, an event popular with kicks and streetwear collectors, the 77-year-old businessman-turned-politician said that, “There’s a lot of emotion in this…

United Kingdom: Following the Russian invasion, Ukrainians who arrived in the UK can apply to extend their visas by 18 months, according to the government. Since the invasion, which marks its second anniversary next week, around 200,200 Ukrainians and their family members have arrived in the UK. New arrivals are allowed to stay for three years, meaning their first visa will expire in March 2025. The earliest visa holders will be able to remain until at least September 2026. The government stated that, it would provide people with “certainty and stability.” The extension will apply to all three visa schemes established…

United Kingdom: The Foreign Secretary of Unite Kingdom David Cameron is preparing to visit the islands, which will be the first visit by a cabinet minister since 2016. Last month, Argentina’s President Javier Milei has asked for the South Atlantic Ocean islands to be handed over. The trip comes ahead of the G20 foreign ministers’ summit, which includes Argentina and the UK. Lord Cameron reiterated the UK Government’s long-standing position that the islands’ sovereignty is inalienable while its inhabitants remain British. Cameron said that, “The Falkland Islands are a valued part of the British family, and we are clear that…

California: Multiple storm systems will move up the West Coast this weekend and in the next early work week, bringing rain and snow to California. Storms to the west are expected to bring flooding and damaging winds across the region, as well as snowpack in the mountains. The first storm hit California, bringing steady rain to the central and northern parts of the state. The reports indicate that there will be a widespread occurrence of precipitation and mountain snow. The storm is expected to move in a direction that will push it towards the Rockies and Intermountain West region. In the meantime,…

Japan: The new H3 flagship rocket of Japan has been successfully launched In a key test. H3 lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Centre in the country’s southwest after a two-day delay due to bad weather. According to reports from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the rocket has reached an altitude of 420 miles (670 kilometers) and released two satellite. At its debut launch last March, the H3’s second-stage engine failed to ignite due to possible electrical problems. The rocket had to be destroyed along with its payload, the Advanced Land Observation Satellite (ALOS-3), 14 minutes after lift-off. Following…

Washington: National Black Movie Day is becoming a new sensation and is shaping up to be more than just a celebration. In 2015, the campaign “Oscars So White” was launched, calling out the systematic exclusion of Black filmmakers and films from the annual awards ceremony. Agnes Moss stewed on this issue for a few years. She was also offended by the dismissal of black-led films, which eventually led to the creation of National Black Movie Day (NBMD). Since 2019, Moss has held her own annual “call to action to support Black films,” a grassroots step that has attained momentum in…