Author: Trainee Reporter

Caracas: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s YouTube channel, which broadcast speeches and clips from his weekly state TV show on Telesur, has been removed without explanation, as tensions between Caracas and Washington escalate. Telesur reported on social media platform X that Maduro’s channel, which had over 200,000 subscribers, was eliminated. YouTube typically removes accounts for repeated violations of its community guidelines, including hate speech, misinformation, or content that interferes with democratic processes. Maduro has faced widespread criticism for allegedly manipulating last year’s presidential election. Opposition activists claim he lost by a landslide, but Venezuela’s election agency never released tally sheets to…

Netherlands: Dutch police have used tear gas and water cannons to disperse violent anti-immigration protesters in The Hague, as clashes left two officers injured and 30 people in custody. According to police figures, around 1,500 protesters blocked a major highway crossing the city, set a police car on fire, and hurled rocks and bottles at law enforcement officers. Prime Minister Dick Schoof condemned the unrest, describing the ‘shocking and bizarre images of shameless violence’ as completely unacceptable. Right-wing leader Geert Wilders, who won the previous election and continues to lead in polls ahead of the October 29 vote, was invited…

Washington: The key US vaccine advisory committee, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (Acip), has voted to no longer recommend the Covid-19 shots for all adults, ending years of routine annual guidance. The panel also narrowly decided against actively advocating for prescriptions for the jab. Over two days of meetings, Acip also revised recommendations for the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine and postponed a vote on the hepatitis B vaccine. The committee has been under scrutiny since Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine sceptic, dismissed all 17 members in June and appointed new members,…

Washington: US President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping executive order introducing a $100,000 (£74,000) fee for applicants to the H-1B visa programme, a popular route for skilled foreign workers in technology and other industries. The White House proclamation cited concerns over abuse of the programme and said entry would be restricted unless the new payment was made. Until now, H-1B applicants have been required to pay administrative charges amounting to approximately $1,500. Critics have long argued that H-1B visas undercut American workers, while supporters, including billionaire Elon Musk, say the scheme is essential for attracting top global talent to…

Taliban: The Taliban government has removed books written by women from Afghanistan’s university teaching system as part of a new ban, which has also outlawed the teaching of human rights and sexual harassment. Some 140 books by women including titles such as Safety in the Chemical Labouratory, were among 680 books identified as being of concern due to anti-Sharia and Taliban policies. Universities were further instructed that they could no longer teach 18 subjects, with a Taliban official stating these conflicted with the principles of Sharia and the system’s policy. The decree is the latest in a series of restrictions…

Washington: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), along with seven US states, has filed a lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation, accusing the entertainment giant of illegal ticket resale practices that cost consumers millions of dollars. According to regulators, the companies coordinated with brokers who purchased tickets in bulk, thereby bypassing the purchase limits set by artists. These tickets were then resold at steep mark-ups on Ticketmaster’s own resale platform, generating an estimated $3.7 billion in fees between 2019 and 2024. The FTC alleged that Live Nation and Ticketmaster turned a blind eye to violations of consumer protection…

Canberra: Australia has boosted its climate ambition, pledging emissions cut by at least 62 percent from 2005 levels within the next decade. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled the updated target, calling it ‘a responsible target supported by science and a practical plan to get there, built on proven technology.’ The move builds on the government’s previous pledge of a 43 percent reduction by 2030. The announcement follows a landmark government-commissioned climate risk assessment, which warned Australia is already facing dangerous climate impacts, including record-breaking floods, devastating bushfires, and mass coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo Reef. The…

Ahmedabad: The families of four passengers who died in the Air India crash in June have filed a lawsuit in the United States against Boeing and Honeywell, blaming the companies for negligence and defective design. The case alleges that faulty fuel switches contributed to the Air India flight crash and that the companies failed to take action despite being aware of the risks. Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 bound for London Gatwick, went down shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people, including 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground. A preliminary inquiry by India’s…

Port Moresby: Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has faced another setback in his pushback against China’s influence in the Pacific, with a major defence treaty with Papua New Guinea (PNG) postponed due to sovereignty concerns. A deal, known as the Pukpuk mutual defence treaty, had been expected to be signed during Albanese’s visit to Port Moresby. Instead, the prime minister left without formalising the agreement with PNG Prime Minister James Marape, with both governments agreeing to continue negotiations. Albanese downplayed the delay, attributing it to cabinet deliberations coinciding with PNG’s independence commemorations. The two countries, however, signed a joint communique…

Machu Picchu: At least 900 tourists have remained stranded in the town of Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu, after passenger train services were suspended due to protests, Peru’s tourism minister confirmed. Authorities said around 1,400 visitors had been evacuated. However, hundreds were still stuck after residents blocked the tracks with large rocks and damaged parts of the rail line in Cusco’s mountainous region. PeruRail, the company operating the route, reported that ‘third parties’ had also excavated parts of the track, affecting stability and delaying evacuation efforts. The demonstrations erupted over a dispute involving the replacement of tourist bus…