News Briefs.

UK borrowing reached £24.3bn in April, exceeding expectations. This figure is higher than the £18.5bn forecast by economists. The increased borrowing is largely due to higher debt interest payments. Meanwhile, retail sales have declined as drivers reduce fuel consumption. Fuel…

Andy Burnham is set to launch his byelection campaign as the Labour candidate for Makerfield. The former Labour leadership contender will address supporters as he formally begins his bid. The Makerfield seat became vacant following the resignation of Yvonne Fovargue,…

Estée Lauder has ended merger talks with Puig, the owner of Jean Paul Gaultier and other fashion brands. The potential deal aimed to create a beauty powerhouse, but negotiations stalled due to disagreements over control. A key sticking point was…

Retail sales in Great Britain fell 1.3% in April, the largest decline since 2017. This drop is largely attributed to a significant decrease in petrol purchases, the biggest in six years. Concerns over the Iran war and its potential impact…

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has stated that President Trump's dissatisfaction with NATO will be a key issue at the upcoming summit. Trump has expressed disappointment with the alliance's response to US operations in the Middle East. Senator Marco…

The international aid sector is facing a reckoning, with high overhead costs and bureaucratic structures coming under scrutiny. Charity executive Halima Begum argues that the traditional model of aid delivery is no longer sustainable. Large international NGOs with expensive headquarters…

Israel's coalition government is on the verge of collapse, threatening Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hold on power. Netanyahu's Likud party has been in a fragile coalition since 2020. Recent polls suggest a tight contest between Likud and opposition parties. The…

The Charity Commission has intervened to secure the future of William Blake House, a children's care home in Northamptonshire. An inquiry by the commission found significant management failures at the home. Families of residents had raised concerns, prompting the investigation.…

The UK's public spending watchdog has reported that ditched government projects resulted in a loss of £6.6bn to taxpayers last year. This figure is based on an analysis of abandoned schemes across various government departments. The Ministry of Defence was…

A reunion has taken place between girls who survived a violent attack in Southport. The meeting was an emotional occasion, with one parent describing the older girls as "big sisters" to the younger ones. The attack, which occurred in a…

The Taliban has introduced a new law that effectively bans divorce if the husband disagrees, sparking concerns among activists that it legitimises child marriage. Afghanistan already has high rates of early and forced marriages, with up to 70% of girls…

Philippine authorities have ordered the arrest of Ronald dela Rosa, the country's former police chief. Dela Rosa is wanted for his role in the government's 'war on drugs' campaign, which was launched by former President Rodrigo Duterte. The campaign resulted…

A 60-year-old Australian tourist has died while hiking the Inca Trail in Peru, local media reports. The incident occurred near the Sun Gate, a popular viewpoint on the trail. Peruvian authorities have confirmed the death but have not released the…