Author: Trainee Reporter

United Kingdom: British fashion house Burberry has announced plans to cut approximately 1,700 jobs worldwide as part of a sweeping cost-saving initiative, following a reported $88.06 million (£66 million) loss for the last financial year. The iconic brand, known for its signature camel, red, and black check pattern, said the job cuts would help it reach a target of $133.4 million (£100 million) in annualised savings by spring 2027. This includes a previously announced $53.3 million (£40 million) cost-saving programme in November. The proposed redundancies, which amount to nearly 20 percent of Burberry’s global workforce, are expected to hit the…

Brazil: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has pledged to personally urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend peace negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in what could mark the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since 2022. Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Lula said he would attempt to speak with Putin during a scheduled stop in Moscow following a regional forum in China. Lula stated that, “I’ll try to talk to Putin. It costs me nothing to say, ‘hey, comrade Putin, go to Istanbul and negotiate, dammit.’” The potential summit, set to take place in…

Japan: Japanese carmaker Nissan has announced it will cut an additional 11,000 jobs globally and close seven factories as part of a sweeping restructuring effort to offset plunging sales and mounting losses. This move brings the total number of layoffs announced by the company in the past year to around 20,000, roughly 15 percent of its global workforce. Two-thirds of the latest cuts will come from manufacturing, while the rest will affect sales, administrative roles, research, and contract positions, according to Nissan’s new chief executive Ivan Espinosa. The company, which employs about 133,500 people worldwide, including 6,000 at its Sunderland…

United States: The United States has lowered tariffs on small parcels from mainland China and Hong Kong, following a temporary trade truce between the two economic giants. According to a White House statement, President Donald Trump has cut tariffs on small packages valued at up to $800 from 120 percent to 54 percent. The decision came just hours after the U.S. and China agreed to a 90-day mutual reduction in levies and to reopen trade negotiations. The flat $100 fee per item will continue to apply for shipments sent after 2 May. A planned increase to $200, originally set for…

India: Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket, bringing down the curtain on a storied red-ball career that spanned over 14 years. The 36-year-old batter, who made his debut in 2011 against the West Indies, played 123 Tests for India, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85. Kohli confirmed the decision through an emotional message on social media. Kohli stated that, “It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll…

United States: The White House is in discussions with Qatar’s royal family regarding the possible transfer of a luxury jumbo jet for use as an Air Force One aircraft. While the Gulf nation has denied that the aircraft would be a formal gift, Qatari officials confirmed that a temporary use agreement is under review by legal departments in both countries. The discussions come ahead of President Donald Trump’s official visit to Qatar, part of his first major foreign trip of his second term. The aircraft in question is believed to be a Boeing 747-8, a significantly newer and more luxurious…

United States: Donald Trump has ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to hire at least 20,000 new officers as part of a sweeping effort to enforce his administration’s deportation agenda. The directive is central to what Trump calls Project Homecoming, a controversial initiative aimed at encouraging undocumented immigrants to voluntarily leave the United States. Trump said he was making it ‘as easy as possible’ for undocumented migrants to exit the country. The executive order outlines federal funding for return flights and a cash exit bonus for those who choose to self-deport. However, it does not detail how the significant…

India: India and Pakistan have exchanged some of their most serious missile strikes in decades, with both sides accusing the other of launching cross-border attacks targeting key military installations. The escalation marks a new and dangerous phase in the ongoing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. India accused Pakistan of striking 26 military and civilian sites across northern India, including airbases in Pathankot, Srinagar, and Udhampur. The Indian army claimed it had successfully neutralised the incoming threats, though it confirmed damage and casualties at four bases. In response, Indian forces launched retaliatory strikes against Pakistani military positions under what they…

South Africa: South Africa has criticised the United States following emerging reports that the Trump administration is preparing to welcome white Afrikaners as refugees. According to media reports, the US government has labelled the resettlement of Afrikaners as a priority under President Donald Trump. While the White House has not publicly confirmed the timing, the first group, reportedly 54 individuals, is expected to arrive at Dulles International Airport in Virginia, where a press event is scheduled. In a strongly worded statement, South Africa’s foreign ministry condemned the proposed resettlement programme as politically motivated and aimed at undermining South Africa’s constitutional…

United Kingdom: The UK has announced plans to impose new sanctions on up to 100 Russian oil tankers used to evade international restrictions, in a bid to cut off funding for Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will unveil the measures at the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) summit in Oslo, where leaders from ten north European nations are gathering to bolster support for Ukraine. The targeted vessels have transported more than $23.89 billion (£18 billion) worth of oil and gas since the beginning of 2024. The UK government says the tankers form part of a so-called…