Author: Trainee Reporter

London: Stargazers around the world are in for a celestial treat as seven planets align in a rare astronomical event on February 28. Known as a planetary parade, the planet alignment occurs when multiple planets appear to line up in the night sky. Dr. Greg Brown, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, explained that while such planetary groupings happen regularly, a full seven-planet alignment is uncommon. Greg Brown stated that, “The more planets involved, the more things need to be aligned to be visible at once. This makes full seven-planet parades fairly rare.” The alignment will feature Mercury, Venus,…

Washington, D.C.: A new trade deal between the United States and the United Kingdom could be finalised “very quickly,” President Donald Trump said during a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the White House. Trump voiced optimism about securing “a real trade deal” that could exempt the UK from tariffs he has risked against other trading partners. The meeting, a key moment in Starmer’s premiership, focused on trade, Ukraine, and other global issues. During the visit, Starmer proposed Trump with a letter from King Charles, inviting him to a second state visit to the UK.…

Washington, D.C.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet US President Donald Trump to finalise an agreement on mineral deal, that could significantly shape Ukraine’s economic future and its ties with the West. Zelensky described the agreement as inadequate and emphasised the need for further deals that include US security guarantees. However, Trump dismissed the idea of extensive American commitments, stating that Europe should bear more accountability for Ukraine’s defence. Trump also appeared to shut down Ukraine’s hopes of joining NATO, a long-standing ambition of Zelensky’s administration. Speaking at a cabinet meeting, the US president asserted that having American…

United States: Instagram is considering launching its short-form video feature, Reels, as a separate app, according to a new report by The Information. The potential move comes as the future of TikTok in the US remains pending. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri reportedly discussed the idea with staff this week, though the company has not made any official announcement. Meta, Instagram’s parent company, has yet to respond to media inquiries regarding the report. The uncertainty encircling TikTok stems from ongoing regulatory pressure in the US. In January, former President Donald Trump gave TikTok a 75-day extension to comply with a law…

Malaysia: More than a decade after Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 vanished in one of aviation’s greatest mysteries, a new search has been initiated, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced. Maritime exploration firm Ocean Infinity has continued its efforts to locate the missing aircraft, though specific contract details between the Malaysian government and the company are still being finalised. Loke welcomed Ocean Infinity’s proactive approach, stating that their ships had already been deployed for the search. However, he did not specify when the renewed hunt officially commenced or how long it is expected to last. MH370 disappeared from radar shortly after…

United Kingdom: Shares in electric vehicle giant Tesla has tumbled more than 9 percent after sales in the European Union and the UK plummeted by nearly 50 percent in January. The decline caused Tesla’s market valuation to fall below the $1 trillion mark for the first time since November 2024. Despite overall European electric car sales rising by more than a third in January, Tesla’s sales dropped sharply—falling over 45 percent across the EU, EFTA, and UK, and more than 50 percent in the EU alone, according to trade body Acea. This follows Tesla’s first annual sales decline in over…

United States: Starbucks is eliminating 1,100 corporate jobs and reducing its menu by nearly a third to boost its struggling US business. The changes, set to take effect on March 4, will see the removal of several drinks, including the Royal English Breakfast Latte, White Hot Chocolate, and select frappuccinos. The company said the menu cuts strive to reduce wait times, improve quality, and enhance efficiency. Starbucks stated that, “We’re simplifying our menu to focus on fewer, more popular items, executed with excellence.” The job cuts will primarily involve corporate “support partner” roles and will not impact store-level employees or…

Pennsylvania: Mars, known for its barren landscape and harsh radiation, may have once featured sandy shorelines, according to new research. Scientists examining subsurface imaging from China’s Zhurong rover have identified buried beaches, adding weight to the long-debated theory that the Red Planet once had vast oceans. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study underscores findings from the southern Utopia Planitia region, where paleoshorelines had previously been mapped using satellite data. Ground-penetrating radar detected sediment features sloping toward the northern lowlands, comparing Earth’s coastal formations. Dr. Benjamin Cardenas of Penn State University stated that, “The beach…

Los Angeles: Timothee Chalamet has delivered a major surprise at the 2025 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, taking home the award for Best Male Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. The win disrupted a season-long dominance by The Brutalist star Adrien Brody, who had previously claimed the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Critics’ Choice Awards. Chalamet stated that, “I was not expecting this at all, truly. I poured everything I had into playing this incomparable artist.” Demi Moore won Best Female Actor in a Leading Role for her performance in the body…

Washington, D.C.: US President Donald Trump has named conservative commentator and former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino as FBI Deputy Director. Announcing the appointment on social media, Trump depicted Bongino as “a man of incredible love and passion for our Country,” adding that he would serve under newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel. Bongino, 50, previously served in the NYPD and as a Secret Service agent, protecting Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. In recent years, he has gained importance as a right-wing media figure, hosting The Dan Bongino Show, a podcast known for its strong conservative stance. His…