Author: Trainee Reporter

United States: Genetic testing company 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy protection and announced the immediate resignation of its co-founder and CEO, Anne Wojcicki. The company will now seek a sale under court supervision while continuing operations. In a statement, 23andMe assured customers that there would be no changes to how it stores or protects their data. However, California’s Attorney General has advised customers to delete their data due to the company’s financial troubles. Founded in 2006, 23andMe was once valued at $6 billion, gaining popularity for its at-home DNA testing kits. However, despite going public in 2021, the company has…

North America: Disney’s live-action adaptation of Snow White has debuted at the top of the North American box office, despite receiving lukewarm reviews and encountering multiple controversies. The film grossed an estimated $87.3 million (£67.5m) globally during its opening weekend, according to Box Office Mojo, with nearly half of that amount coming from North America. However, the earnings remain at the lower end of expectations, considering the reported $270 million production budget. Anticipation for the film was high, but Snow White became a focal point for social and political debates even before its international release. The casting of Rachel Zegler,…

Washington, D.C.: U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has joined the growing criticism of federal judges by Donald Trump and his administration, mocking a judge who blocked a ban on transgender troops in the military. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes ruled that Trump’s executive order barring transgender individuals from military service likely violated the constitutional guarantee of equal protection. Hegseth responded on social media by sarcastically referring to the judge as “Commander Reyes” and suggesting she had overstepped her authority. Hegseth stated that, “Since ‘Judge’ Reyes is now a top military planner, they can report to Fort Benning at 0600 to…

Khan Younis: An Israeli air strike in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis has killed senior Hamas political leader Salah al-Bardaweel. The strike also claimed the life of Bardaweel’s wife, according to local sources. Israeli officials have not yet commented on the operation. The air strike comes with a renewed Israeli military offensive on Gaza, which resumed after Israel accused Hamas of violating a ceasefire agreement that had been in place since January 19. The truce, which had lasted nearly two months, was mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. Hamas has denied the Israeli allegations and, in…

India: Bowlers will once again be allowed to use saliva to shine the cricket ball in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL), marking the end of a five-year-old saliva ban imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision, taken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), follows widespread support from franchise captains during a recent meeting, ESPNcricinfo reported. The temporary saliva ban was first introduced in May 2020 on medical grounds, with players permitted to use sweat as an alternative. The International Cricket Council (ICC) later made the restriction permanent in September 2022 to minimize potential virus transmission.…

Washington, D.C.: US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, fulfilling a campaign promise and a long-standing goal of some traditional factions. Calling the agency’s record “breathtaking failures,” the president vowed to return control and funding to individual states. Trump declared at a White House signing ceremony, stating that, “We’re going to shut it down as quickly as possible,” though administration officials acknowledged that a complete closure would require congressional approval. The move is already encountering legal challenges from groups opposing the closure and the sweeping staff cuts announced last week. The executive…

United Kingdom: The UK is set to host high-level military talks, bringing together senior leaders from over 20 nations in the “coalition of the willing” to finalise plans for a proposed peacekeeping force in Ukraine. The closed-door meeting will take place at the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The coalition, led by Britain and France, is moving towards the operational phase of a Western-led peacekeeping initiative aimed at securing long-term stability in Ukraine. Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard emphasised the importance of establishing a “credible force” to ensure Ukraine can “enjoy a lasting…

United States: The Federal Reserve has lowered its economic growth forecast, warning that President Donald Trump’s tariffs are “clearly” driving up prices. The central bank, which kept interest rates unchanged at 4.3 percent, said it monitored the influence of White House policies before making any adjustments. Trump, who has previously criticised the Fed, urged it to cut rates, arguing that tariffs were beginning to ease their economic impact. Trump stated that, “The Fed would be much better off cutting rates.” Fed Chairman Jerome Powell acknowledged that while the economy remains healthy, uncertainty is “remarkably high.” He attributed rising goods prices…

California: Google has agreed to a $28 million (£21.55 million) settlement following a lawsuit alleging that white and Asian employees received better pay and career opportunities than workers from other ethnic backgrounds, according to a law firm illustrating the claimants. The lawsuit, filed in 2021 by former employee Ana Cantu, claimed that Hispanic, Latino, Native American, and other minority workers started on lower salaries and job levels than their white and Asian counterparts. The settlement has acquired preliminary approval from Judge Charles Adams of the Santa Clara County Superior Court in California. The case was based on a leaked internal…

United States: The Trump administration has unveiled thousands of previously classified files related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The long-awaited release possesses digital documents containing intelligence memos, investigative reports, and references to Cold War tensions. During a visit to the Kennedy Centre, Donald Trump highlighted the significance of the disclosure. Trump stated that, “People have been waiting decades for this.” He credited Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard for overseeing the process. While experts doubt the new documents will alter the official conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, the files include references to conspiracy theories…