Author: Grace Johnson

Seven firms under scrutiny Seven technology firms face a US investigation into how their artificial intelligence chatbots interact with children. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) demands details about safety measures and how the companies make money from these tools. The debate on children and AI grows louder. Many experts warn that young people remain highly vulnerable. Chatbots can mimic emotions and act like friends, blurring the line between real and artificial companionship. The inquiry targets Alphabet, OpenAI, Character.ai, Snap, XAI, Meta and Instagram. Each company has been asked to respond. FTC wants answers FTC chairman Andrew Ferguson said the probe…

A mass immigration raid at a Hyundai facility in Georgia will delay its opening by at least two months. The company confirmed the setback after hundreds of foreign workers were detained. raid sparks international tension The raid has strained ties between Washington and Seoul. Many of the detained workers came from South Korea. President Yoon warned the crackdown could discourage future foreign investment in the United States. South Korean officials said the workers were dispatched temporarily to help launch the new factory. Hyundai chief executive José Muñoz told American media the raid will delay operations by two to three months…

US pharmaceutical giant Merck has abandoned a £1bn expansion in Britain. The company said the government is not providing enough support for the life sciences sector. The multinational, known in Europe as MSD, will shift research to the US and cut jobs in the UK. Executives accused successive governments of undervaluing vaccines and innovative medicines. Industry experts warned the decision could deter other global firms from investing in Britain. Government defends stance but admits more needed A government spokesperson defended current research spending but conceded more must be done. Officials highlighted recent programmes but acknowledged rising global competition. Drug makers…

Donald Trump is urging the European Union to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on China and India. He wants to ramp up pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin and move toward ending the war in Ukraine. Trump presses for tougher measures against Russia The US president made his demand during a meeting with EU officials on Tuesday. Both sides explored new ways to damage Russia’s economy more deeply. According to a source, Trump argued for maximum tariffs aimed at China and India. He had pledged to resolve the conflict on the “first day” of his presidency. Yet peace…

Afghanistan dominated Hong Kong by 94 runs in the Asia Cup 2025 opener in Abu Dhabi. Azmatullah Omarzai starred with a blistering 20-ball fifty to secure the victory. Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat first, scoring 188 for 6. Opener Sediqullah Atal anchored the innings with an unbeaten 73 runs. The fifth-wicket partnership of 82 between Atal and Omarzai proved crucial. Omarzai smashed 53 runs off just 21 balls, including two fours and five sixes, marking the fastest T20I fifty by an Afghan batter. Veteran Mohammad Nabi supported Atal with 33 runs, helping Afghanistan recover after losing early…

Factory closures extended Jaguar Land Rover will keep its UK plants closed until at least Wednesday. The automaker continues to deal with the impact of a cyber attack that struck more than a week ago. Production remains suspended at Halewood, Solihull and Wolverhampton. Facilities in Slovakia, China and India are also affected. Workers on the production lines have been told to stay at home. On 31 August the company shut down its IT systems to protect them from damage. That action caused severe disruption across its operations. Struggle to restore systems Jaguar Land Rover says it is working nonstop to…

Microsoft confirmed that its Azure cloud platform experienced disruptions after undersea cables in the Red Sea were cut. The company said users faced delays as internet traffic through the Middle East slowed. Microsoft shifts traffic to ease impact Microsoft did not disclose what caused the cable damage but confirmed it rerouted traffic through different paths. It emphasised that services outside the Middle East were not affected. Reports over the weekend indicated disruptions also reached the United Arab Emirates and several Asian nations. Cables under sea keep world connected Cables on the seabed carry international data and are considered the backbone…

Ludrick Cooper, an eighth-grade teacher in South Carolina, once resisted artificial intelligence in class. He later changed his mind. “This is the new encyclopedia,” Cooper said, recalling his childhood love of reading reference books. He now joins many teachers who weave AI into lesson plans. This shows how rapidly AI tools gain ground in schools, even as benefits and risks remain uncertain. A study by the Walton Family Foundation and Gallup found six in ten teachers used AI tools during the 2024-2025 school year. On Tuesday, First Lady Melania Trump unveiled the Presidential AI Challenge. The program encourages students from…

Elon Musk, already the wealthiest man alive, might edge closer to becoming the first trillionaire. Tesla’s board introduced a new compensation package aimed at locking his focus on the carmaker as it navigates challenges in the electric vehicle market. The deal promises Musk vast stock rewards if Tesla’s value skyrockets beyond all corporate precedents. His earlier agreement was seen as overly ambitious, yet Tesla hit the targets with surprising ease. Musk’s trillion-dollar climb The new package offers Musk 423.7 million Tesla shares, worth $143.5 billion today. But he only gets them if Tesla achieves huge growth. To claim the full…

Jaguar Land Rover has told factory employees to stay home until Tuesday as it struggles with the consequences of a cyber attack. The breach forced the carmaker to shut down essential IT systems over the weekend. That step has disrupted production and car sales. Plants in Halewood, Solihull, and Wolverhampton remain closed. Managers warn the shutdown could last longer while the situation is reviewed. production and sales in trouble Car sales have been badly affected, though some deals still went ahead, according to sources familiar with the disruption. Jaguar Land Rover, owned by India’s Tata Motors, disabled its systems on…