Author: Trainee Reporter

United States: Starbucks’ new CEO, Brian Niccol, has revealed plans to simplify the coffee chain’s “overly complex menu” in a bid to win back customers and address declining sales. This initiative to simplify menu comes as the company encounters significant challenges, including a 7% drop in global sales from July to September, with a more pronounced 14% decline in China, where the economy is struggling. During a recent statement, Niccol highlighted the need for Starbucks to “fundamentally change,” highlighting a review of pricing techniques as part of the company’s efforts to enhance customer satisfaction. The ongoing rise in living costs…

United States: Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has lodged a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against the UK’s Labour Party, proclaiming “blatant foreign interference” in the upcoming U.S. elections in aid of the Harris-Walz campaign. The complaint references media reports describing contacts between Labour Party representatives and the Harris campaign, as well as volunteer activities, which the Trump campaign claims constitute illegal “contributions.” Labour activists involved in the U.S. presidential election are acting in their capacities, not as representatives of the party. The Labour Party has yet to allocate an official response to the allegations. The complaint specifically…

United States: Harvey Weinstein, the former Hollywood mogul and a central figure in the #MeToo movement, has been diagnosed with bone marrow cancer. The 72-year-old is presently receiving treatment in prison for chronic myeloid leukaemia, a type of cancer that begins in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow and extends to the blood. Chronic myeloid leukaemia accounts for about 15 percent of leukaemia cases in adults, according to the American Cancer Society. The news comes as Weinstein awaits a new trial in New York after the State Court of Appeals overturned his 2020 convictions for rape and sexual assault.…

Lima, Peru: Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo has been sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison after being found guilty of taking $35 million in bribes from the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. The payments were made in relation to a lucrative freeway construction contract during his time in office from 2001 to 2006. Toledo, now 78 and battling cancer, requested clemency at a recent hearing, requesting to finish his final days at home. Toledo stated that, “I want to go to a private clinic. I ask you to please let me get better or die at home.” The…

United States: Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and founder of companies like Tesla and SpaceX, has launched a controversial initiative to support Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Musk announced that he will provide $1 million a day to registered voters in key swing states until the U.S. presidential election on November 5. The winners, selected at random, must mark a pro-U.S. Constitution petition organised by Musk’s AmericaPAC, a political action committee he established to bolster Trump’s White House bid. The first $1 million prize was granted during a town hall event in Pennsylvania, followed by a second distribution. Musk’s initiative…

China: ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant behind TikTok, has dismissed an intern for “maliciously interfering” with the AI training of one of its artificial intelligence (AI) models. Despite the action, the company has renounced claims distributed on social media regarding the extent of the damage, calling such reports exaggerated and inaccurate. The company, in a statement, clarified that the intern worked on the commercialisation technology team and had no involvement with its AI Lab. ByteDance highlighted that the incident did not affect its AI operations, including its large language models used across various applications. Reports suggesting the intern’s actions caused…

United Kingdom: Sir Chris Hoy, the six-time Olympic cycling champion, has revealed that, he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The 48-year-old Scottish athlete disclosed that doctors have given him a prognosis of two to four years to live, following a year of knowing about his condition. Hoy, who formerly announced his cancer diagnosis earlier this year, has now shared that he has been fighting primary prostate cancer, which has unfortunately extended to his bones, categorizing it as stage four. Tumours have been detected in his shoulder, pelvis, hip, spine, and rib. Reflecting on his journey, Hoy stated that, “As…

Georgia: At least seven people have died after a section of the ferry dock collapsed on Sapelo Island, Georgia, according to local authorities. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, which operates the dock, said the collapse occurred around 4:30 PM local time, sending at least 20 people dropping into the water. The event took place at Marsh Landing Dock during a cultural celebration on the island. Rescue teams are actively searching for survivors, and several people have been moved to nearby hospitals for treatment. US President Joe Biden expressed his condolences, grieving the loss of life and extending prayers for…

United States: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating Tesla’s self-driving software systems, affecting approximately 2.4 million vehicles across multiple models manufactured between 2016 and 2024. This preliminary evaluation could pave the way for a potential recall if the agency finds significant safety cases related to the “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) software. The NHTSA’s investigation follows statements of four crashes involving Tesla’s FSD feature, with conditions of reduced roadway visibility due to fog and sun glare cited in the incidents. Among these cases, one tragically resulted in the death of a pedestrian, while another led to injuries. The agency’s…

Cuba: Cuba is grappling with a nationwide blackout after its immense power plant, Antonio Guiteras in Matanzas, went offline on 18th October, affecting power to the island’s 10 million locals. The energy ministry ensured the collapse of the national grid at around 11:00 local time (15:00 GMT) and cautioned that the timeline for restoring electricity remains uncertain. The country has had steady months of lengthy blackouts, exacerbated by deteriorating infrastructure and fuel shortages. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero declared an “energy emergency”, mentioning the fuel crisis as the main contributor to the ongoing power failures. The government has since shut down…