Author: Grace Johnson

Close Vote Signals Resistance to Tariff Policy The US House of Representatives voted to overturn President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods. Lawmakers approved the resolution with 219 votes in favor and 211 votes against. Six Republican lawmakers joined Democrats to support the measure. The vote remains symbolic because the US Senate must approve it and Trump must sign it. Trump is very unlikely to sign the resolution into law. Trump Escalated Tariffs After Winning a New Term Trump imposed several tariffs on Canada after his re-election. He recently threatened a 100% import tax in response to Canada’s proposed trade…

US Agency Refuses to Accept Application and Questions Trial Design The US Food and Drug Administration refused to accept Moderna’s application to review its first mRNA seasonal flu vaccine. The company confirmed the decision on Tuesday. The refusal marks another setback for mRNA vaccine development in the United States. Several health officials in the Trump administration have recently criticized the technology. The FDA said the application lacked an adequate and well-controlled trial. The agency said the control group did not reflect the best available standard of care in the United States during the study. Moderna said regulators did not identify…

Discord will soon require users worldwide to verify their age before they can access adult content. Users must confirm their age with a face scan or upload an official ID document. The chat platform says it has more than 200 million monthly users. Discord says the new safety approach will place everyone into a teen-appropriate experience by default. The platform already enforces age checks in the UK and Australia to comply with online safety laws. Discord will expand the system globally from early March. Savannah Badalich, Discord’s policy head, said teen safety remains a priority. She said teen-by-default settings will…

The Seattle Seahawks overpowered the New England Patriots with a relentless defensive performance, winning the Super Bowl 29-13 at Levi’s Stadium. The victory marked Seattle’s second championship in franchise history. Two of the NFL’s most formidable defences met in the season’s biggest game, and Seattle dominated from the opening snap. Briton Aden Durde became the first overseas coach to win the league’s top prize in the United States. Dark Side Defence Steals the Spotlight Seattle’s 46-year-old defensive coordinator has built the league’s most feared unit, called “the Dark Side.” In Santa Clara, California, the Patriots could not break through. New…

A South Korean cryptocurrency exchange accidentally sent customers more than 40 billion dollars in bitcoin. The mistake briefly turned some users into multimillionaires. The company planned to send a small reward of 2,000 won, worth about 1.37 dollars. Instead, it sent 2,000 bitcoins to customers on Friday. The platform Bithumb apologised for the error and explained the incident. The company said it quickly noticed the mistake and recovered almost all missing tokens. It restricted trading and withdrawals for 695 affected customers within 35 minutes of the glitch. Exchange Retrieves Nearly All Incorrect Transfers Bithumb said it recovered 99.7 percent of…

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order threatening new tariffs on countries that continue trading with Iran. The order does not set a fixed rate but uses 25 percent as an example. It says the tariff could apply to goods imported into the United States from any nation that directly or indirectly purchases goods or services from Iran. Trump did not comment directly on the order but reiterated that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons. He spoke from Air Force One while senior US and Iranian officials held talks in Oman after weeks of escalating threats. Trump had already…

The European Union has warned TikTok to overhaul its platform design or face substantial financial penalties. The European Commission said the video platform breached EU online safety regulations. Officials reached this conclusion after an investigation launched in February 2024. Regulators focused on how TikTok’s mechanics influence user behaviour. The Commission said TikTok failed to properly evaluate risks to user wellbeing. Investigators examined autoplay and continuous content delivery systems. They said these features can harm users, especially children. Regulators also said TikTok failed to implement sufficient risk mitigation measures. TikTok dismissed the findings through a company spokesperson. The firm described the…

For two months, the US Department of Justice released millions of documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein. The records describe years of alleged sex trafficking by the financier. President Donald Trump now calls for national closure. Washington shows little intention of ending the debate. Justice department ends its official work Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the government review has concluded. Congress mandated the review through legislation passed in November. Blanche said prosecutors found no grounds for new criminal charges. He said the files include emails, photographs, and extensive correspondence. He said that evidence alone does not meet prosecution standards. The…

Netflix faced intense scrutiny in Washington over its $82bn (£61bn) plan to acquire Warner Bros Discovery. Lawmakers questioned whether the merger would benefit consumers or workers. Senators from both parties raised concerns during a high-profile antitrust hearing. Senators flag risks to competition and pricing Members of the Senate antitrust subcommittee warned the deal could weaken competition across entertainment markets. Several senators said consumers could face higher subscription prices. Others questioned the long-term future of cinemas if regulators approve the merger. The Department of Justice is reviewing the proposed transaction. Approval would give Netflix control of Warner Bros film and television…

China has banned hidden door handles on electric vehicles amid growing safety concerns. The move makes China the first country to prohibit the design. Regulators acted as electric vehicles face mounting scrutiny from safety watchdogs worldwide. Several deadly incidents intensified pressure on authorities. Two fatal crashes in China involved electric cars produced by Xiaomi. Investigators suspected power failures prevented passengers from opening the doors. New Rules Focus on Emergency Escape The new regulations allow sales only for cars with mechanical door releases inside and outside. State media reported the scope of the measures. Authorities want to guarantee access during crashes…