News Juice!

We extract the best stories, so you don’t have to.

Meta drops fact-checking: Mark Zuckerberg addressed the reasons for Meta’s shift away from fact-checking and towards the use of ‘community notes.’ Facebook’s co-founder argued it was time for the company to ‘get back to our roots on free expression,’ adding that previous fact-checking systems contributed to excessive censorship and that ‘fact-checkers have been too politically biased.’ Critics maintain that the shift will open the floodgates to misinformation, hoax content, and conspiracy theories.
What’s the real reason for Trudeau’s resignation? Justin Trudeau resigned as Canada’s Prime Minister this week, saying: ‘This country deserves a real choice in the next election and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option.’ Those sympathetic to Trudeau argue that the leader of the Liberal Party has reached the end of a ‘natural life cycle’ for a parliamentary government. Critics, however, cite the decline of left-wing politics and liberalism in general, with its aloofness from reality, as the real reason for the resignation. With a national election scheduled this year, Canada is expected to see the rise of the extreme right with Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Canadian Conservative Party, winning the public vote.
Watching the City of Angels burn: Severe winds and dry conditions have contributed to the spread of wildfires across Los Angeles. So far: five people have been killed, almost 400,000 people are under evacuation orders or warnings, losses are at an estimated $10bn, and at least 20 people have been arrested for looting.
How robots can help with an ageing population: By 2050, the U.S. is predicted to have 88.5 million residents who are 65 and over. A new study into how robots help workers in nursing homes, reveals that the use of different robots complements and enhances care, helping to curb high turnover rates by reducing the physical strain associated with elderly care.
Turner for free! This month, fans and novices of JMW Turner’s artwork can wander through Edinburgh’s Royal Scottish Academy, which features 40 of the artist’s unforgettable watercolours, absolutely for free! From sweeping landscapes to crushing waves, William Turner remains one of the greatest British artists, fusing romanticism with an imaginative, often dark, vigour.
UK businesses enter ultra-saving mode: As the pound drops to its lowest in over a year, and Greggs raises the price of its sausage rolls, British businesses are grappling with Keir Starmer’s tax hike in an uncertain climate. A Bank of England survey of over 2,000 firms reveals that 61 per cent of companies expect reduced profits, 54 per cent plan to raise prices, 53 per cent expect lower employment and 39 per cent anticipate smaller pay rises due to the increase in National Insurance.
Is a high-fat diet bad for teenagers’ brains? New research reveals that rats who were fed a high-fat diet of cheesecake grew up to be more compulsive and more risk-averse. The findings suggest that: ‘a high-fat diet during adolescence could interfere with brain development and affect neurobehavioral outcomes in adulthood.’