Author: Trainee Reporter

London: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that he will step down as prime minister after mounting pressure from Labour MPs and senior cabinet ministers, bringing an abrupt end to his premiership less than two years after leading the party to a landslide general election victory. Starmer’s resignation follows weeks of growing unrest within the governing Labour Party, intensified by Andy Burnham’s return to Westminster after his victory in the Makerfield by-election. Burnham is widely viewed as the frontrunner to succeed Starmer, although a leadership contest could still see other candidates, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, enter the race.…

London: EasyJet has turned down a $6.25 billion (£4.74 billion) takeover proposal from US investment firm Castlelake, calling the offer ‘highly opportunistic’ and declining to engage with three separate approaches made this month. Castlelake, which holds a 2.14 percent stake in the low-cost airline through funds it manages, revealed details of its latest bid after the airline’s board rejected its proposals. The investment firm said it wanted shareholders to evaluate the offer directly, arguing that it represents ‘compelling value.’ Under the latest proposal, EasyJet shareholders would receive 625 pence per share, representing a 24 percent premium to the airline’s closing…

Switzerland: Direct talks between the United States and Iran are set to begin in Switzerland, as renewed tensions in the Middle East threaten to complicate efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire. The negotiations come despite Iran’s military announcing it had once again closed the Strait of Hormuz, citing continued Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon and alleging that Washington had failed to uphold key commitments under a recently signed peace agreement. The United States, however, disputed Iran’s claim, with US Central Command (Centcom) stating that commercial shipping continues to move through the strategic waterway. A spokesperson said US forces are closely…

London: King Charles III will become the first British monarch in modern history to publicly disclose his personal tax payments, marking a significant step toward greater transparency in the Royal Household’s finances. The King’s tax payments for the 2024-25 financial year will be published, as part of the annual royal financial accounts. Buckingham Palace said the decision was a personal initiative by the King and reflects the monarchy’s ongoing efforts to modernise and improve public accountability. Palace officials said the move aims to provide a clearer understanding of royal finances and follows growing calls for greater openness, particularly after controversies…

Denmark: A large Danish study has found that frequent forward bending and prolonged walking at work during the early stages of pregnancy may be linked to a higher risk of miscarriage, although researchers stress that the findings do not prove these activities directly cause pregnancy loss. The research, published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, analysed 803,829 pregnancies among 475,312 women in Denmark between 2004 and 2018. Of these, 81,307 pregnancies ended in miscarriage. Using a pregnancy-specific job exposure model that combined activity tracker data with expert assessments, researchers from Bispebjerg Hospital and the University of Copenhagen evaluated workplace…

Guadalajara: Co-hosts Mexico became the first team to secure a place in the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after edging South Korea 1-0 in Guadalajara. Midfielder Luis Romo scored the decisive goal five minutes into the second half, capitalising on a costly error by South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu. The keeper spilled the ball following a collision with teammate Lee Gi-hyuk, allowing Romo to tap into an empty net. South Korea pushed for an equaliser late in the match, with Cho Gue-sung coming closest in the 87th minute. His close-range header was brilliantly saved by Mexican goalkeeper…

California: Apple is preparing to increase the prices of some of its products as surging memory chip costs continue to squeeze the technology giant, outgoing CEO Tim Cook has revealed. In an interview, Cook said price increases have become ‘unavoidable’ after months of absorbing rising component costs, particularly for memory chips that have seen sharp price hikes amid booming demand from the artificial intelligence (AI) industry. Cook stated that, “We’re doing our best to mitigate the huge increases that are being passed to us, and we’ve been trying to shield our customers from the increases, but the situation has become…

France: US President Donald Trump has said he plans to visit India sometime in the future following a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, signalling a possible improvement in relations between the two countries after months of diplomatic and trade tensions. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Trump said Washington and New Delhi were close to finalising a long-awaited trade agreement and described Modi as a ‘tough negotiator.’ The proposed visit comes as both nations seek to rebuild momentum in their strategic partnership. The leaders also discussed regional security, trade, and…

News Delhi: Telegram has moved the Delhi High Court against the Indian government’s decision to temporarily block access to the messaging platform just days before millions of students retake the crucial National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test. The challenge was mentioned before the court, a day after authorities imposed the restriction over concerns that Telegram had been used to circulate leaked examination papers. The court agreed to hear the matter later in the day, according to legal reports. The government has defended the move as necessary to protect the integrity of the NEET retest scheduled for June 20. Last month’s examination was cancelled…

China: Yum! Brands has announced the sale of its struggling Pizza Hut business in a deal valued at $2.7 billion (£2 billion), marking a major shift for one of the world’s most recognisable restaurant chains. Under the agreement, private equity firm LongRange Capital will acquire Pizza Hut’s operations outside mainland China for $1.5 billion. In comparison, Yum China Holdings will purchase the brand’s mainland China business for $1.2 billion. Yum! Brands Chief Executive Officer Chris Turner said the move would position Pizza Hut for future growth under owners with extensive experience in the restaurant industry. The sale follows a prolonged…