International News
UK Defers To Trump On Chagos Island’s Sovereignty

The United Kingdom (UK) would not be finalising the deal to transfer control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius until the United States of America’s (USA) President-elect, Donald Trump is inaugurated and consulted.
This delay, according to ITVx, stems from concerns within Trump’s inner circle, particularly regarding the strategic Diego Garcia military base, which is used by both the U.S. and the UK.
The UK government emphasised on Wednesday that it will only agree to a deal “that is in the UK’s best interests and protects our national security.”
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On Mauritius’ request for further discussions, the prime minister’s spokesman, Matthew Doyle, added, “It is obviously now right that the new U.S. administration has the chance to consider this and discuss this once they are in office.”
On her part, Mauritius has confirmed that further negotiations will take place, with Attorney General Gavin Glover returning to London for more talks.
It was gathered that the UK has made a decision to cede sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius, while leasing the Diego Garcia base back to the U.S. for an estimated £90 million annually.
Mauritian Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam did not sign off on the previous deal and is sending a delegation back to London for additional negotiations.
Pressed on if this meant the UK would not finalise the deal before Trump’s inauguration on January 20, the spokesman reiterated, “You can take from what I have just said about that, the new U.S. administration.”
While Sir Keir Starmer defended the plan in Parliament, asserting that it “delivers the continued effective operation of the base,”
On her part, conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, has frowned at the negotiations, describing it a “secret deal to surrender British territory.”
The Mauritian government remains steadfast in its pursuit of the islands, with a statement confirming that the Cabinet has been briefed on developments following last week’s talks in London.
“The commitment and resolve of Mauritius to reach an agreement and end this long battle for sovereignty remains unshaken,” the statement read.
There indications that the Chagos Islands, part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, remain highly contentious, attracting diverse interests from different ccountries.
The forced removal of the indigenous Chagossian people in the 1960s and 1970s to accommodate the U.S. military base has sparked ongoing legal and human rights battles.
The International Court of Justice ruled in favour of Mauritius, though the UK has yet to implement the ruling.
International News
Memphis Man Accidentally Shot By His Own Dog

A Memphis man was accidentally shot by his own dog after the pet jumped onto his bed and triggered a loaded firearm, police confirmed on Wednesday.
The incident occurred early Monday morning while the man was asleep alongside his female partner.
According to police reports, the couple’s one-year-old pit bull, Oreo, inadvertently discharged the weapon after getting its paw stuck in the trigger guard.
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The bullet grazed the man’s left thigh, causing a minor injury that was treated at a local hospital.
The victim’s girlfriend, who spoke to Fox 13 Memphis, described Oreo as a playful dog and recounted the shocking moment the firearm discharged.
“The dog is a playful dog, and he likes to jump around and stuff like that, and it just went off,” she said. Reflecting on the incident, she added: “Keep the safety on or use a trigger lock.”
Police have classified the case as an “accidental injury” and have not disclosed the type of firearm involved.
Although gun-related incidents are frequent in the United States, cases involving animals firing weapons are rare.
In a similar case in 2023, a Kansas man was killed when his German shepherd stepped on a hunting rifle.
A comparable incident in 2018 saw an Iowa man accidentally shot in the leg by his pit bull-Labrador mix.
Authorities are using the Memphis case as a reminder of firearm safety, urging gun owners to secure their weapons properly to prevent unintended discharges.
International News
U.S Faces Worst Measles Outbreak In Years, CDC Issues Alert

A deadly measles outbreak in the southwestern United States has claimed two lives and infected at least 228 people, prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a travel advisory.
The outbreak has hit Texas the hardest, with 198 reported cases, while New Mexico has confirmed 30.
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Health officials say both fatalities involved unvaccinated individuals—a child in Texas and an adult in New Mexico who tested positive for measles posthumously.
The CDC has classified both as measles-related deaths.
As the outbreak continues to grow, the CDC is warning that more cases are likely. In a recent Health Alert Network advisory, the agency urged healthcare professionals and public health officials to take precautions.
“With the spring and summer travel season approaching in the United States, CDC emphasizes the important role that clinicians and public health officials play in preventing the spread of measles,” the advisory stated.
“They should be vigilant for cases of febrile rash illness that meet the measles case definition and share effective measles prevention strategies, including vaccination guidance for international travelers.”
Measles, a highly contagious disease, spreads through respiratory droplets and can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.
It causes fever, respiratory symptoms, and a characteristic rash but can also lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, brain inflammation, and death.
Despite the effectiveness of the measles vaccine—providing 93% immunity after one dose and 97% after two—vaccination rates in the U.S. have been on the decline.
The CDC recommends a 95% immunization rate for herd immunity, but coverage among kindergartners fell to 92.7% in the 2023-2024 school year.
The outbreak’s epicenter is in a west Texas county with a large Mennonite community known for vaccine hesitancy.
Religious exemptions have been rising nationwide, contributing to lower immunization rates.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who previously promoted discredited claims linking the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism, has recently shifted his stance.
While he now encourages vaccination, he also continues to advocate for alternative treatments like vitamin A and steroids.
Health experts warn that emphasizing such treatments could divert attention from the urgent need to improve immunization coverage.
The last measles-related death in the U.S. occurred in 2015, when a Washington state woman with a suppressed immune system died from virus-induced pneumonia. Before that, the previous fatality was recorded in 2003.
International News
South Korean Jet Drops Bombs On Residential Area, 7 Injured
A South Korean Air Force fighter jet accidentally released eight bombs outside a designated training range during a joint military exercise on Thursday, injuring several civilians and damaging buildings, officials said.
The Air Force confirmed that a KF-16 aircraft had mistakenly dropped eight MK-82 general-purpose bombs in Pocheon, a city located about 25 kilometers (16 miles) south of the heavily fortified border with North Korea.
The incident occurred around 10:00 am local time (0100 GMT) during a joint live-fire exercise involving the South Korean Air Force and Army.
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“We deeply regret the unintended release of the bombs, which resulted in civilian casualties, and wish those injured a swift recovery,” the Air Force said in a statement.
Officials have launched an accident response committee to investigate the incident and promised compensation for damages.
According to South Korea’s National Fire Agency, the misfired bombs struck a village, leading to injuries and displacement among residents.
Four people were seriously wounded, while three others suffered minor injuries
The explosion also caused damage to a church building and sections of two homes.
Local residents described the moment of impact as a terrifying experience. A villager, identified only by the surname Park, told Yonhap News Agency that he was watching television when the explosion occurred.
“I suddenly heard an enormous explosion, like a thunderclap, and the whole house shook. When I went outside, everything was in chaos,” Park said.
Even a senior center located about a kilometer away felt the impact of the blast. The director of the center, surnamed Yu, recounted the panic among the elderly residents.
“A sudden explosion shook the building. The windows shattered, and one of our teachers was injured and taken to the hospital,” Yu said. “Fortunately, none of the seniors were hurt, but they were so frightened that we sent them all home.”
The accident occurred as South Korea and the United States conducted joint live-fire drills in the area. The two allies are preparing for their large-scale annual military exercise, “Freedom Shield,” set to begin later this month.
The Korean Peninsula remains in a state of war since the 1950-1953 Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty.
The United States maintains tens of thousands of troops in South Korea as part of its defense commitment against potential threats from North Korea.
This is not the first time South Korea has experienced a military mishap. In 2022, a South Korean Hyunmu-2 ballistic missile crashed into a military golf course during a test, though it did not explode and no injuries were reported.
Authorities have assured the public that a thorough investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the accidental bomb release and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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