News Briefs.

US President Trump has delayed an executive order on artificial intelligence, citing concerns about China. The order aimed to boost US competitiveness in AI development. Trump expressed reluctance to hinder US tech firms competing with Chinese counterparts. The decision reflects…

Talks to end the US-Iran conflict are ongoing, with Pakistani mediators facilitating negotiations. The conflict began in 2020 with the US drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. A permanent ceasefire is considered within reach, although significant issues remain…

Western Europe is bracing for unusually high temperatures, with Portugal, Spain, France, and the UK expected to exceed 30C on Friday. This heatwave is set to continue into next week, with new May records predicted. Temperatures in some areas are…

Britain is preparing for a busy bank holiday weekend, with nearly 19 million drivers expected to take to the roads. The long weekend is forecast to bring warm weather, with temperatures predicted to exceed 30C. This is likely to attract…

Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters has apologised for comments he made about the bank's staff. He referred to some employees as 'lower-value human capital' during a discussion about job cuts. The bank plans to reduce its workforce of nearly 80,000…

Progressive Democrats are criticizing the 2024 election autopsy report for its silence on key issues, notably the Gaza conflict. The 192-page document, intended to analyze the party's performance, makes no mention of Gaza. This omission has sparked concern among progressive…

Hearst, a major US media company, is facing allegations from local newspaper workers that it is attempting to undermine union efforts. Workers claim Hearst is trying to "destroy unions" through various tactics. The allegations include contract violations and unfair labor…

Venezuelan makeup artist Andry José Hernández Romero has sought asylum in Spain after a tumultuous deportation process. Romero was initially deported from the US to El Salvador, where he was held at the notorious Cecot prison. He was eventually allowed…

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…

The UK's public sector net borrowing was £24.3 billion in April, exceeding forecast expectations. This increase is largely due to rising inflation, which has driven up the cost of benefits such as pensions. The higher cost of benefits added to…

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…

Tony Abbott is set to become the new president of the Liberal Party, marking his return to the political frontlines. The former Prime Minister has been nominated unopposed for the role. This development comes seven years after Abbott lost his…

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…

Heavy rainfall has caused widespread flooding and landslides in parts of China, resulting in 12 reported deaths. The southern and central regions are the most affected, with slow-moving bands of heavy rain triggering the disasters. Travel has been severely disrupted,…