Author: Grace Johnson

A major Microsoft failure on Wednesday caused global online chaos, taking down websites including Heathrow, NatWest, and Minecraft. The outage lasted several hours and affected millions of users before normal service gradually returned later that evening. Thousands report widespread online breakdown Outage tracker Downdetector logged thousands of complaints from users who could not load pages or log in to accounts. Across several countries, websites slowed, froze, or crashed entirely. Microsoft confirmed that users of Microsoft 365 suffered delays in Outlook and other services. By 21:00 GMT, the company said most affected websites were back online after it rolled back a…

A surprise hit at the U.S. box office, the anime film Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc soared past expectations in its opening weekend. The film took in an estimated $17.25 million from approximately 3,003 theatres for its three‑day debut. Industry trackers had been forecasting an opening nearer to $10 million. However strong word‑of‑mouth, high audience scores and a surge in demand for English‑dubbed anime helped push results well above those projections. The film held the #1 spot at the weekend box office, which is especially notable given that the release came during a typically slower period. Premium format screens—including IMAX—accounted…

OpenAI has finalized its move to become a for-profit company. The transformation aims to attract billions in fresh investment and could pave the way for a future stock market debut. Microsoft redefines its powerful partnership with OpenAI As part of the restructuring, OpenAI and Microsoft have renewed their alliance. Microsoft now holds a 27% stake in the ChatGPT developer. The new deal marks a turning point in a partnership that began in 2019, when OpenAI still operated as a non-profit research organization. Under the updated terms, Microsoft can now develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) independently or with other partners. AGI…

Amazon is preparing for one of its largest corporate layoffs in years, with tens of thousands of office jobs expected to be cut as early as this week, according to multiple media reports. Both The Wall Street Journal and Reuters report that Amazon plans to eliminate up to 30,000 positions. The move is part of a broad restructuring effort led by chief executive Andy Jassy to reduce costs and refocus company priorities. Amazon declined to provide a statement when contacted by international media organizations. Biggest workforce reduction in years If confirmed, the layoffs would rank among the largest in the…

Real Madrid produced a statement performance at the Bernabéu. Xabi Alonso’s team beat Barcelona 2-1 to open a five-point lead at the top of La Liga. Jude Bellingham ended his drought with his first league goal and assist since returning from shoulder surgery. Kylian Mbappé extended his goal streak and showed his class once again. Alonso’s tactical debut in the Clasico was close to flawless. But the evening’s joy dimmed when Vinicius Jr erupted in anger after being substituted. The Brazilian winger’s frustration boiled over in the 72nd minute when he was replaced. He ignored Alonso, walked straight down the…

U.S. home equity reached a record high of $35 trillion as of March 2025, reflecting the strength of the housing market and the wealth-building potential of homeownership. This milestone underscores how homes continue to serve as a primary source of financial security for Americans. Experts say the rise in home equity is driven by steady home price growth over the past several years. Even amid fluctuations in mortgage rates, property values have remained resilient, allowing homeowners to build substantial equity. This financial cushion provides greater flexibility for households to invest, borrow, or plan for the future. The surge in equity…

US President Donald Trump has raised tariffs on Canadian goods after Ontario broadcast an anti-tariff advert featuring former US President Ronald Reagan. Trump called the advert a “fraud” and accused Canadian officials of refusing to remove it before the World Series baseball championship. “Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now,” he wrote on social media on Saturday. Washington and Ottawa drift further apart Trump had already ended trade talks with Canada on Thursday, deepening the diplomatic rift. Ontario Premier…

President Donald Trump is set to meet Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in Kuala Lumpur before a formal signing ceremony for a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia. The meeting signals a coordinated effort to promote stability in the region. Officials said the Kuala Lumpur discussions will focus on supporting the ceasefire and ensuring a smooth implementation of the agreement. Both leaders are expected to discuss strategies to maintain peace and security. The ceasefire, which involves Cambodia, is intended to end long-standing tensions and foster dialogue between conflicting parties. Trump’s meeting with the Thai Prime Minister emphasizes the U.S. role in facilitating…

Beef prices in the United States have surged to record levels, turning into a major political flashpoint. Donald Trump, who once proclaimed that inflation was “dead,” now faces growing pressure as rising beef costs threaten his pledge to lower grocery bills for American families. This week, he took to social media to urge ranchers to cut cattle prices. But his call — and other proposals from his administration — have triggered anger among ranchers who say his ideas could harm their livelihoods without easing the burden on consumers. Shrinking herds and vanishing ranches The number of US cattle ranchers has…

US President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on 30 October. The White House confirmed the long-awaited meeting, which will take place on the sidelines of a major Asian summit. The encounter has been in preparation for weeks, though rising friction between Washington and Beijing nearly derailed it. It will mark the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since Trump returned to the presidency. Trump recently warned he would impose a 100% tariff on Chinese imports in November if Beijing fails to ease its limits on rare earth exports. White House confirms meeting during…