Author: Grace Johnson

Judge Ends Years of Legal ConflictA bankruptcy judge approved a $7.4bn settlement on Friday that forces Purdue Pharma and its billionaire owners to pay for their role in the US opioid crisis. The decision concludes years of legal battles aimed at holding the OxyContin-maker and the Sackler family accountable. It also frees long-delayed funds for people struggling with addiction. Purdue filed for bankruptcy in 2019 after thousands of lawsuits accused the company of driving the opioid epidemic. New Deal Surpasses Previous OfferThe agreement adds more than $1bn to an earlier settlement rejected by the Supreme Court last year. Steve Miller,…

Apology Fuels Wider FalloutThe national broadcaster apologises to US President Donald Trump after Panorama producers stitched together parts of his 6 January 2021 speech. The edit wrongly implied Trump directly urged violent action. The 2024 programme will not air again. Trump’s legal team threatens a $1bn lawsuit and demands a retraction, an apology, and compensation. The scandal prompts the resignations of Director General Tim Davie and News Chief Deborah Turness on Sunday. The broadcaster asks the White House for comment. Second Questionable Edit UncoveredThe apology follows hours after the Daily Telegraph exposes another altered clip from a 2022 Newsnight episode.…

President Donald Trump has signed a temporary spending bill that ends the longest government shutdown in American history. He approved the measure only hours after the House of Representatives voted 222 to 209 in favor on Wednesday night. The Senate had narrowly passed the same bill two days earlier. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump announced that the government would “resume normal operations” after “people were hurt so badly” during the 43-day closure. Since October, most government services had been suspended. Around 1.4 million federal employees were either on unpaid leave or working without pay. Food aid programs froze, and…

US President Donald Trump says he has a “duty” to take legal action against a British broadcaster for how it edited a section of his 6 January 2021 speech in a Panorama documentary. Speaking to Fox News, he accused the producers of having “butchered” his words and “deceived” viewers. It is his first public statement since his lawyers warned they would sue for $1 billion unless the organisation retracts the film, apologises, and compensates him. Trump says speech was distorted In an interview on The Ingraham Angle, Trump confirmed he plans to proceed with the lawsuit. “Well, I guess I…

The rapid expansion of AI data-centers in the United States is raising concerns about environmental sustainability. Research indicates that between 2024 and 2030, U.S. AI servers could generate an annual water footprint of 731–1,125 million cubic meters and carbon emissions of 24–44 million metric tons CO₂-equivalent, depending on deployment scale. While AI and high-performance computing are driving innovation, these findings highlight the hidden environmental costs of tech growth. Energy consumption, water usage, and emissions from cooling and powering servers could significantly impact natural resources. Experts note that data centers require large volumes of water for cooling and substantial electricity, often…

The United States Senate has passed a critical funding bill that could end the nation’s longest government shutdown within days. Senators voted 60-40 late on Monday, with most Republicans and eight Democrats backing the deal. The measure will fund the government until the end of January. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives, which must approve it before President Donald Trump can sign it into law. Trump said earlier on Monday that he was ready to support the agreement. The breakthrough came after weekend negotiations between members of both parties aimed at restarting vital public services and getting…

New leadership to tackle declining growthDiageo, the world’s largest drinks producer, has appointed former Tesco chief executive Sir Dave Lewis as its new boss. He will step into the role on 1 January, following the summer resignation of Debra Crew after two years in charge. The company hopes his arrival will spark a turnaround after months of sliding sales and investor concerns. Although Guinness continues to grow, Diageo’s overall performance has weakened, sending shares to a 10-year low. The announcement of Sir Dave’s appointment lifted shares by 7% in early Monday trading. Sales slump hits major marketsThe firm, whose brands…

A violent super typhoon has struck the Philippines, unleashing destructive winds and torrential rain across the country. Authorities have issued warnings of “life-threatening conditions” as the storm moves toward the nation’s largest island. Bicol Region Endures the Storm’s First Fury Typhoon Fung Wong, packing sustained winds of 185 km/h, has begun battering several regions, according to the national weather agency Pagasa. The eastern Bicol region was first to feel its full force on Sunday morning. Luzon, the country’s main population hub, is expected to be hit by Sunday night. Locally known as Uwan, the typhoon comes just days after Kalmaegi…

More than 5,000 flights across the United States were cancelled or delayed on Friday after new federal orders forced airlines to cut schedules amid the prolonged government shutdown. The restrictions took effect at 40 of the country’s busiest airports to ease pressure on air traffic controllers and other federal employees still working without pay. Many essential workers have taken second jobs, reported sick, or missed shifts since the shutdown began last month. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directed airlines to reduce flights by 4%, with deeper cuts of up to 10% expected next week. The order affects major hubs in…

Tesla investors have given their backing to a record-breaking pay package for Elon Musk that could reach nearly $1 trillion. The decision, supported by 75% of votes at Thursday’s annual meeting, was met with cheers from the audience. Musk, already the world’s wealthiest individual, must significantly raise Tesla’s market value over the next decade to unlock the full reward. If he achieves all performance goals, he will receive hundreds of millions of new Tesla shares. The scale of the payout has drawn sharp criticism, but Tesla’s board argued that Musk could leave if the deal failed. They insisted the company…