Author: Amanda Martinez

The US refugee admissions process has come to a grinding halt. The US Refugee Program is facing a significant setback as a new order aims to suspend refugee admissions. According to the order, the suspension was set to take effect on January 27. However, a memo suggests that the suspension is effective immediately. This sudden move has left many refugees and advocates in limbo. The US refugee program has existed for decades, providing a haven for refugees from around the world. The program has a rigorous vetting process to ensure that only eligible refugees are resettled in the US. Under…

Elon Musk’s Trump rally gestures ignited controversy after he made a one-armed gesture at a post-inauguration rally celebrating Donald Trump’s inauguration. Must thanked the crowd and thrust his arm out straight ahead of him. Many on social media platform X likened the gesture to a Nazi salute. Historians Claire Aubin and Ruth Ben-Ghiat condemned the gesture. Aubin called it a sieg heil, while Ben-Ghiat described it as a very belligerent Nazi salute. Andrea Stroppa, a close confidant of Musk, initially posted a clip of the gesture with the caption Roman Empire is back starting from Roman salute. However, he later…

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister, expressed hope for a Gaza peace deal at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He stated that Qatar hopes to see the Palestinian Authority return to play a governing role in Gaza once the war with Israel comes to an end. The Prime Minister’s comments came two days after a ceasefire, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the US, took effect in Gaza. Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that Gazans should dictate how the enclave will be governed, rather than any other country. He said, “We hope to see the PA back in…

The Turkish Hotel Fire Disaster occurred at the Grand Kartal Hotel, killing at least 66 people. On Tuesday, a devastating fire swept through the 12-story wooden-clad hotel. Over 230 people were staying at the hotel during the busy holiday period. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as guests tried to escape the burning building. Some people jumped out of windows, while others used linen to climb down. Ski instructor Necmi Kepcetutan was on the second floor when the fire broke out. He managed to escape through the ski room and helped with relief efforts. The Grand Kartal hotel fire started in the…

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.…