Author: Trainee Reporter

United States: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump made an unusual stop shortly after a New York judge ordered him to pay nearly $355 million in fines for lying about his wealth and other financial crimes. The Former President attended a self-described “Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth” in Philadelphia, where he debuted Trump-branded footwear, shiny gold high-tops with an American flag on the back and a “T” badge on the front, priced at $399. Amid cheers and boos at Sneaker Con, an event popular with kicks and streetwear collectors, the 77-year-old businessman-turned-politician said that, “There’s a lot of emotion in this…

United Kingdom: Following the Russian invasion, Ukrainians who arrived in the UK can apply to extend their visas by 18 months, according to the government. Since the invasion, which marks its second anniversary next week, around 200,200 Ukrainians and their family members have arrived in the UK. New arrivals are allowed to stay for three years, meaning their first visa will expire in March 2025. The earliest visa holders will be able to remain until at least September 2026. The government stated that, it would provide people with “certainty and stability.” The extension will apply to all three visa schemes established…

United Kingdom: The Foreign Secretary of Unite Kingdom David Cameron is preparing to visit the islands, which will be the first visit by a cabinet minister since 2016. Last month, Argentina’s President Javier Milei has asked for the South Atlantic Ocean islands to be handed over. The trip comes ahead of the G20 foreign ministers’ summit, which includes Argentina and the UK. Lord Cameron reiterated the UK Government’s long-standing position that the islands’ sovereignty is inalienable while its inhabitants remain British. Cameron said that, “The Falkland Islands are a valued part of the British family, and we are clear that…

California: Multiple storm systems will move up the West Coast this weekend and in the next early work week, bringing rain and snow to California. Storms to the west are expected to bring flooding and damaging winds across the region, as well as snowpack in the mountains. The first storm hit California, bringing steady rain to the central and northern parts of the state. The reports indicate that there will be a widespread occurrence of precipitation and mountain snow. The storm is expected to move in a direction that will push it towards the Rockies and Intermountain West region. In the meantime,…

Japan: The new H3 flagship rocket of Japan has been successfully launched In a key test. H3 lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Centre in the country’s southwest after a two-day delay due to bad weather. According to reports from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the rocket has reached an altitude of 420 miles (670 kilometers) and released two satellite. At its debut launch last March, the H3’s second-stage engine failed to ignite due to possible electrical problems. The rocket had to be destroyed along with its payload, the Advanced Land Observation Satellite (ALOS-3), 14 minutes after lift-off. Following…

Washington: National Black Movie Day is becoming a new sensation and is shaping up to be more than just a celebration. In 2015, the campaign “Oscars So White” was launched, calling out the systematic exclusion of Black filmmakers and films from the annual awards ceremony. Agnes Moss stewed on this issue for a few years. She was also offended by the dismissal of black-led films, which eventually led to the creation of National Black Movie Day (NBMD). Since 2019, Moss has held her own annual “call to action to support Black films,” a grassroots step that has attained momentum in…

Thailand: Imprisoned former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be freed on Sunday. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has announced that, “Thaksin’s release would be on the 18th and handled according to the rule of law.” Thaksin, a political leader who served as Thailand’s prime minister from 2001-2006, has been in detention since August after returning home following 15 years in self-imposed exile to dodge prison for conflict of interest. The former prime minister was granted parole earlier this week, but the date was not disclosed at the time. Sunday is his first day of parole eligibility. Tawee Sodsong, the Justice Minister…

Ukraine: The Head of Ukraine’s army has declared that his forces are pulling out from the frontline city of Avdiivka. Ukraine’s newly appointed commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, has remarked that, the military bosses have concluded to “avoid encirclement” and “preserve the lives and health of servicemen.” In a social media post, the commander-in-chief has stated that, “Based on the operational situation around Avdiivka, in order to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of servicemen, I decided to withdraw our units from the city and move to defence on more favourable lines.” Syrskyi has said that, despite the retreat, Ukrainian troops…

New York: Arthur Engoron, a New York judge has issued a harsh ruling against former President Donald Trump and his real estate company. The ruling fined Trump $350 million and barred him and his eldest sons from major New York companies for the next several years. The fraud conviction is a devastating blow to a man who saw himself as a successful real estate mogul and built a political career around that reputation. Engoron fined the defendants $364 million, which is close to the $370 million sought by the attorney general’s office when the case was closed in January. The bulk…

New York: According to the New York attorney general’s office, the National Rifle Association (NRA) and its top executives were involved in widespread corruption. As per the closing arguments of the group’s civil corruption trial, the NRA should reimburse millions of dollars spent on personal expenses. A jury is expected to begin deliberations Friday morning in a case that highlights one of the most powerful lobbying groups in a country that has more civilian guns than people. Assistant Attorney General Monica Connell said the NRA, former CEO Wayne LaPierre, former CFO Wilson “Woody” Phillips and general counsel John Frazer, were…