Author: Amanda Martinez

President Donald Trump has given TikTok a 75-day extension to adhere to US regulations mandating its sale or ban. Signed on Monday, the presidential order halts the implementation of laws signed under former President Joe Biden last year. In a statement from the Oval Office, Trump stated that affluent people were lobbying him on the app, saying, “I tell you what. Every rich person has called me about TikTok.” Previously advocating for TikTok’s ban in 2020, Trump proposes a 50-50 joint venture between ByteDance and the United States. Big technology executives, including TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew, attended Trump’s inauguration…

Immediately following his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump issued a number of executive orders. Trump’s executive orders enact important policy changes on his first day back in the White House.  These included pardons, immigration reforms, economic plans, and climate policies. Every decision had significant political and legal ramifications, and many were likely to be challenged in court. In the Oval Office, Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border, stating it was essential to curb illegal crossings. A new order targeted the longstanding principle of birthright citizenship for children of immigrants in the…

The UK faces a green energy workforce crisis, with up to 500,000 additional workers needed to meet net-zero targets. Darren Davidson, UK and Ireland boss of Siemens Energy, emphasizes that the green skills gap is a major challenge. Siemens Energy owns the UK’s largest wind turbine blade factory in Hull. The company has created 1,300 jobs since 2016. However, finding skilled workers is getting tougher. Davidson notes that the sector needs workers with the right skills to meet the UK’s green energy targets. The UK aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. Decarbonizing the power grid…

A British teenager admitted guilt on Monday for murdering three young girls in the Southport knife attack, horrifying the nation. Axel Rudakubana, an 18-year-old, initially denied charges but changed his pleas on the trial’s first day at Liverpool Crown Court.  Rudakubana was born in Wales to Rwandan parents and lived near Southport. He confessed to killing 7-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King, who was 6, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, who attended a Taylor-themed dance event on July 29th, 2024. The attack was one of the UK’s worst mass stabbings, also injuring 10 others, including eight children. In addition to…

King Misuzulu’s reign has been marred by controversy since his coronation in October 2022. Specifically, the Ingonyama Trust controversy has raised concerns. Recently, he unlawfully suspended the board of the Ingonyama Trust, which manages vast tracts of communal land in KwaZulu-Natal. As the sole trustee and chairperson, Misuzulu lacks the authority to hire or fire board members. This move sparked concerns among royal watchers. Moreover, Misuzulu has summarily fired two close aides, including his traditional prime minister, in quick succession. His position as king is also being questioned, with a legal case challenging his recognition as monarch by the state.…

Kolkata’s trainee doctor murder case comes to an end after months of protests. For raping and killing a trainee doctor, the court sentenced a police volunteer to life imprisonment on Monday. Judge Anirban Das denied the prosecution’s request for the death penalty, stating that the crime was not among the “rarest-of-rare.” The victim’s body was discovered in a classroom at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital on the 9th of August, triggering national outrage. Doctors across Kolkata staged week-long protests demanding justice for the victim and improved security measures in public hospitals. Sanjay Roy, the convicted police volunteer, was…

The Kaikyokan aquarium in Japan has found a creative solution to address the loneliness of its sunfish. The aquarium’s staff came up with the idea of creating cardboard human friends for the sunfish. This innovative solution is a testament to the aquarium’s commitment to providing the best care for its animals. The sunfish, which had stopped eating and started rubbing against the tank, was believed to be suffering from loneliness after the aquarium closed for renovation. However, after the cardboard human friends were introduced, the sunfish started eating again and seemed to be in good health. Mai Kato, a staff…

Melania Trump, the incoming first lady, has made a bold move by launching her cryptocurrency, $MELANIA, on the eve of her husband’s inauguration as US president, this development is part of the Trump Crypto launch. Melania Trump took to social media platform X to announce the launch of her cryptocurrency. Her coin is a crypto asset created and tracked on the Solana blockchain. Interestingly, both $TRUMP and $MELANIA coins have disclaimers stating they are not intended to be investment opportunities securities. According to CoinMarketCap, $TRUMP has a market valuation of around $12 billion, while $MELANIA stands at approximately $1.7 billion.…

TikTok is resuming services for its 170 million US users after President-elect Donald Trump pledged to give the app a reprieve. Trump’s decision comes after the app briefly shut down on Sunday. The Chinese-owned app stopped working for American users due to concerns that Chinese officials could access their data. However, Trump’s intervention has provided a temporary solution. Many experts have raised concerns about the potential risks of using TikTok, citing its ownership by Chinese firm ByteDance as a major issue. Some argue that the app’s data collection practices pose a threat to national security, while others believe that the…

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he would likely grant TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the impending US ban. He stated that a decision would come after his inauguration on Monday.  The app, which boasts 170 million American users, is scheduled to shut down on Sunday, fueling nervous anticipation among its fans. By Sunday, the Chinese app must sever ties with its parent company, ByteDance, to resolve national security concerns. A Supreme Court decision on Friday upheld the deadline, intensifying the pressure. The Biden administration dismissed TikTok’s Friday comments, accusing the app of stunts and reiterating its stance on…

A court in Kolkata has convicted Sanjay Roy, a hospital volunteer, for the rape and murder of a trainee doctor. The Indian doctor rape and murder committed in August 2024 shocked the nation, spurred protests and raised concerns about the safety of healthcare workers. The victim, a 31-year-old doctor, was attacked at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital after completing a 36-hour shift. Her half-naked, injured body was found near the seminar hall podium by a colleague. According to investigators, Roy entered the hospital intoxicated and found her sleeping alone. Arrested the next day, Roy continues to claim innocence,…

Three lawyers who represented Alexei Navalny have been sentenced to jail. Vadim Kobzev, Igor Sergunin, and Alexei Liptser were found guilty of participating in an “extremist organization.” This verdict raises concerns about Russia’s treatment of opposition leaders. The lawyers were arrested in October 2023. Russian authorities increased pressure on Navalny, who died suddenly in February 2024. The trial took place behind closed doors in Petushki. Many human rights organizations have condemned the verdict. They argue that the charges were trumped up and the trial was unfair. The lawyers’ jailing is seen as part of a broader crackdown on dissent in…