New Zealand’s spy service warned Thursday that China is the most active power engaging in foreign interference in the country, including through front organisations. New Zealand faces the “most challenging national security environment of recent times”, the country’s intelligence agency said in an annual risk assessment. Key drivers of the...
EU gets 15% US tariff for cars, fails to secure wine reprieve
Details of a US-EU trade deal published Thursday showed Brussels secured a tariff reduction for cars exported to the United States but failed to win a reprieve for its cherished wine sector. US President Donald Trump and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen clinched a framework accord in July...
Ukrainian suspect arrested in Italy over Nord Stream blasts
A Ukrainian suspect has been arrested in Italy over the sabotage of the Nord Stream underwater gas pipelines from Russia to Europe in 2022, German prosecutors said Thursday. The suspect, identified as Serhii K., is accused of being part of a cell “who placed explosive devices on the Nord Stream...
Menendez brothers face parole board seeking freedom after parents murders
Lyle and Erik Menendez will appear before California’s parole board to seek freedom this week, more than 35 years after the shotgun murders of their parents in the family’s luxury Beverly Hills home. The separate hearings — Erik on Thursday, Lyle on Friday — are the latest chapter in a long...
Louisiana sues Roblox game platform over child safety
The US state of Louisiana has filed a lawsuit accusing Roblox of facilitating the exploitation of children, prompting the online game platform to reject the claim as “untrue” on Friday. A lawsuit filed by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill contends that Silicon Valley-based Roblox facilitates distribution of child sexual abuse...
The Immigrant that Propelled a Business: How Lorena Peña Barcos Built Her Insurance Business in Record Time in the USA
Early Career in Ecuador Lorena Mariuxi Peña Barcos began her professional career in Ecuador, working in the commercial sector with two multinational companies. These early experiences provided her with practical knowledge in strategy, discipline, and teamwork—skills she later applied to her entrepreneurial endeavors. She went on to establish her own...
Chinese property giant Vanke warns of huge loss, CEO resigns
Indebted Chinese property giant Vanke said Monday that its CEO had resigned due to “health reasons”, after state-backed media reported he had been taken away by authorities. The company also warned on Monday of a net loss of approximately 45 billion yuan ($6.2 billion) last year. Chinese outlet the Economic...
Lawmakers set to confirm Scott Bessent for US Treasury chief
The US Senate is widely expected to confirm billionaire hedge fund manager Scott Bessent for Treasury secretary Monday, putting him at the forefront of implementing Donald Trump’s economic agenda — which is already sparking global jitters. Bessent, a Wall Street veteran who was born and raised in South Carolina, has...
In Brazil, disinformation deals Lula a bruising defeat
An avalanche of disinformation about a new economic measure proved so tricky for Brazil’s government to navigate that they backtracked entirely this week in a rout egged on by the opposition. The political fiasco centered around the beloved instant money transfer system known as PIX, used tens of millions of...
Instagram courts TikTok stars during turbulent times
Meta-owned Instagram has been wooing creators from TikTok as the China-based video-snippet sharing app’s future remains uncertain in the United States. After officially increasing the allowed length of videos and adding a new editing tool, Meta recently began letting TikTok creators earn as much as $5,000 over the course of...