Author: Trainee Reporter

Boston: France has defeated Morocco 2-0 in the World Cup quarterfinal as Kylian Mbappe led the attack with a decisive performance. Morocco entered the match with hopes of avenging the 2022 semifinal defeat, backed by confidence in a young squad and a new coaching approach. The contest began cautiously, with both teams avoiding early risks in a tense opening half shaped by disciplined defending and limited chances. Mbappe’s missed penalty followed a delay caused by movement inside the box, reflecting the stop-start rhythm of the first half. Morocco held shape and restricted space, while France struggled to find clear openings…

Menlo Park: Instagram’s AI image generator has raised privacy concerns as Meta allows public profile images to be used in generated content by default. The feature forms part of Meta’s Muse Image tool, which has enabled users to create AI-generated visuals by referencing public Instagram accounts. The system allows tagging of profiles and uses images from posts to generate new visuals. Users are not alerted when content becomes part of the training or generation process. Privacy advocates have warned that the default settings could expose user images without clear awareness. Meta has advised users who want to restrict access to…

Europe: Western Europe has recorded its hottest June on record as heatwaves intensify across the region, raising risks for people, ecosystems and infrastructure. Scientists have reported that extreme heat has pushed average surface air temperatures 3.06 degrees celsius above recent decades, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). The findings come as the UK has entered a third heatwave within six weeks while wildfires have spread rapidly across France and Spain. Globally, June 2026 has been measured at 0.56 degrees celsius above the 1991–2020 average and 1.39 degrees celsius higher than preindustrial levels. This has made it the…

Iran: The US- Iran strikes have intensified regional tensions, with explosions reported across southern coastal areas and neighbouring Gulf states facing security threats. Air defence systems have been activated in Bandar Abbas, with damage still unclear and some infrastructure disruptions already addressed. The escalation follows earlier US strikes after attacks on 3 tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, marking one of the most intense exchanges since the June 17, 2026 agreement. Rising hostilities between the US- Iran have led to explosions in Sirik, Bandar Abbas, Konarak, and Chabahar, alongside activated air defences, power outages, and a fire at an IRGC…

Australia: Telecom outage in Australia has disrupted transport services, emergency calls, and mobile networks, following a major failure at the country’s largest provider. The disruption has lasted around 12 hours before services have been fully restored. The outage at Telstra Corporation Limited (Telstra) has begun at 04:30 local time and has affected mobile calls and data services nationwide. Telstra Chief Financial Officer, Michael Ackland, stated that the failure has been caused by a software defect linked to time-keeping servers at data centres in Sydney and Melbourne. Ackland  clarified that the incident has not been related to a cyber attack. Telecom…

London: A rare global phenomenon will create a moment when 99 percent of people worldwide share sunlight or twilight simultaneously. At about 11:10 GMT on July 8, nearly 8.2 billion people will experience daylight or twilight simultaneously. The overlap will last for about one minute. It will bring almost all major population centres under some level of sunlight. Daylight will stretch across North and South America, Europe, Africa and most of Asia, covering the majority of the global population, while Australia, New Zealand, parts of Southeast Asia, Antarctica and surrounding oceans will remain in darkness. Data shows that about 6.9…

California: Meta USD 1.4tn (£1.1 trillion) penalty claim has emerged ahead of a major youth safety trial in California involving allegations linked to Facebook and Instagram. Meta Platforms Inc., stated that in a court filing that four US states have sought penalties amounting to USD 1.4 trillion (£1.1 trillion). The claims allege that the company designed its platforms to engage young users excessively and misled the public about safety risks. The figure has been disclosed in response to filings from attorneys general outlining how penalties could be calculated if the states succeed. The amount is close to Meta’s market capitalisation…

Redmond: Microsoft job cuts have reached 4,800 as the company moves forward with a major restructuring of its Xbox division. Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft) has reduced its workforce by around 2.1 percent, with a significant portion of the layoffs affecting Xbox operations. More than 1,600 roles have been eliminated immediately within the gaming unit, with a further 1,600 positions expected to be cut over the coming year. Amy Coleman, Executive Vice President at Microsoft, stated that, the changes are aimed at focusing on areas that deliver value to customers in a rapidly evolving industry. Coleman added that companies must adapt to…

Kyiv: At least 10 people were killed and more than 50 others injured after Russia launched a massive overnight missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, marking the second large-scale assault on the city in less than a week. According to Ukrainian authorities, the attack began in the early hours, with explosions reported around 1:40am local time before additional waves of strikes followed. Air raid sirens sounded across the country as thousands of residents rushed to underground shelters. Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said at least 10 people were killed in the capital, while 46 others were…

Canberra: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has issued an unequivocal apology after comments he made about pop icon Kylie Minogue during a podcast interview sparked widespread criticism from political leaders and the public. Speaking on comedian Nikki Osborne’s Bush Deep podcast, Albanese was asked to take part in a ‘shag, marry or date’ game involving Minogue, actress Nicole Kidman and entertainer Rhonda Burchmore. Initially attempting to avoid the question by saying he had only recently married his wife, Jodie Haydon, Albanese eventually responded that, “Oh, Kylie, clearly.” When Osborne pressed further, asking if he would marry Kylie, and shag her,…