News Briefs.

Lloyds Banking Group is considering dropping the Halifax brand, sparking concern among residents of the Yorkshire town. The bank, originally a building society, has borne the Halifax name since 1853. Locals are proud of the brand's heritage and believe it…

Venice is poised for a historic breakthrough as seven Bangladeshi-Italian candidates run for the city council. This development comes amid growing tensions between the local community and far-right groups. The Bangladeshi community in Venice has faced hostility and racism, but…

Labour's new sports funding scheme will significantly reduce financial support for primary schools. The scheme, set to replace current government grants, will be worth 40% less. Primary schools will also have to share the reduced funding with secondary schools. This…

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been leading a campaign of "maximum pressure" against Cuba's government, a culmination of his decades-long pursuit to topple the communist regime. Rubio, a Cuban-American, has made it a personal mission to bring about…

Labour's Andy Burnham has launched his campaign for the Makerfield parliamentary seat, framing the upcoming byelection as a chance for change. Burnham, currently the Mayor of Greater Manchester, is seeking to return to Westminster after a decade. He previously served…

Palantir, a US-based data analytics company, has criticized London mayor Sadiq Khan for blocking a £50m contract with the Metropolitan Police. The contract would have used Palantir's artificial intelligence technology to aid intelligence analysis. Khan's decision has been met with…

A significant marine heatwave is currently affecting the US west coast, with ocean temperatures rising substantially above average. This surge in temperature is particularly concerning as it coincides with the onset of El Niño, a natural climate pattern that warms…

Russia's Indigenous communities face increasing threats from authoritarianism, extractivism, and climate change. Daria Egereva, a rights activist, has been jailed for her efforts to protect the interests of these communities. Egereva's case highlights the plight of Russia's Indigenous people, who…

A Nato military exercise has begun in a secret bunker beneath a London tube station, focusing on drone warfare and European defence strategy. The UK is currently 80-90% short of its required drone capacity, a significant shortfall. This exercise aims…

Israel's National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has sparked international condemnation for his treatment of a flotilla of foreign activists. Video footage shows Ben-Gvir taunting and intimidating the group, who were attempting to breach Israel's naval blockade of Gaza. The incident…

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…