The clash between President Joe Biden and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy over the US debt will decide who is the most dominant figure in Washington for most of the next two years. And a failure by the two men to come to terms by this time next month would result in a national default that could have a profound impact on the economy and the 2024 election.

China is launching a campaign to revive a lagging stock market, and boost investor confidence in an ailing

Lionel Messi has finalized his deal to join Major League Soccer

Taylor Swift, Brittany Mahomes and Chargers lady, Merianne Do, were all on hand for the Chargers vs. Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has warned the merger between Vodafone and Three is “dangerous” and risks giving a company with its roots in Communist Party-ruled China a more prominent place in the UK’s mobile network. The former work and pensions secretary and MP for Chingford and Woodford Green said the proposed deal raised serious questions about national security and competition within the UK telecommunications market. Vodafone and Three, both of which have millions of customers in the UK and Ireland, announced earlier this month that they were joining forces in a multibillion-pound deal they said would create one of Europe’s biggest 5G networks. “This is a dangerous deal, which it seems is yet another example of how the Communist Party is trying to create a Western dependency on China,” Sir Iain told The Independent. “Not only does it raise important questions about competition, but it poses risks to our communication networks and personal data.” Three is owned by CK Hutchison, a Hong Kong-listed conglomerate that has been accused of supporting repression in the former British territory, where thousands of residents fled after China’s implementation of a sweeping national security law used by authorities to crack down on dissent against the regime in Beijing. Sir Iain is among a number of cross-party MPs to raise concerns about the growing influence of China in the West, and in particular, telecoms companies who have their headquarters there and are operating in the UK. “The government still doesn’t seem to understand that Chinese companies can be mandated to hand over their data to Beijing at the drop of a hat,” Sir Iain said. “We should be really worried about that. I also think we need to be taking a closer look at who owns these companies, the links between them and the Chinese government and the origins of the money flowing through them.” Last autumn the government announced that Shenzen-based Huawei technology must be removed from the UK’s 5G public networks by the end of 2027, It followed advice from the National Cyber Security Centre and pressure from Washington, which banned equipment made by the company because it posed an “unacceptable risk” to US national security. In March, prime minister Rishi Sunak warned that China plans to “reshape the world” in plans that posed an era-defining challenge for the UK and its allies in the West but dismissed calls for Beijing to be categorised as a threat, something his predecessor Liz Truss pushed for. The union Unite, which has 1.4 million members, is also campaigning against the merger, which some analysts say could result in job losses and higher prices for consumers who are already being squeezed by the cost of living crisis. The deal has triggered an initial investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority and will be subject to approval under the new National Security and Investment Act. Gail Cartmail, Unite’s executive head of operations, said: “Instead of idly watching the CK Group cream profits from UK businesses, the government should ask if they are a suitable custodian of British assets.” Charlotte Nichols, the Labour MP for Wigan North who sits on the Department for Business and Trade sub-committee on national security, said: “Unite the Union has shared research with me that shows this merger would leave sensitive government contracts and the data of millions of UK consumers in the hands of Three, a company whose key leadership have supported repression in Hong Kong and worked hand-in-hand with the Chinese state for decades. “This will be dangerous deal for the UK and I fully support Unite’s campaign against it.” Other MPs – both Labour and Conservative – have tabled questions to government departments asking what security assessments ministers have made of the proposed merger deal. Both Three and Vodafone refused to comment but have previously dismissed concerns about security, saying that they work closely with security bureaus in what is a regulated industry. The Cabinet Office has said it welcomes foreign trade and investment “where it supports growth and jobs in the UK, meets our stringent legal and regulatory requirements, and does not compromise our national security. “However, we will not hesitate to use our powers to protect national security where we identify concerns.” Read More Vodafone and Three to merge in multibillion-pound deal Vodafone and Three merger: What the huge deal actually means for you Cleverly defends China visit plans and pledges to use UK’s global ‘influence’ Three and Vodafone are merging. Here’s what that means for your phone No one wants to take responsibility for No 10 ‘groper’ complaints, warns accuser Top Tories urge Rishi Sunak to use cabinet reshuffle to get a grip on warring party

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 18, 2023--

Pep Guardiola has denied tipping Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi to be his successor...

Brazil’s central bank cut its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point for the second straight time

Former President Donald Trump isn’t currently entitled to absolute immunity against civil lawsuits seeking to hold him responsible

By James Oliphant WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Tim Scott, the most high-profile Black candidate in the 2024 Republican presidential

A former Apple engineer has been charged with stealing trade secrets, specifically concerning the company's

Kim Kardashian’s shapewear company Skims is now worth US$4bn (approximately £3.09bn) after a new funding round raised US$270m (£209m). This makes Skims a unicorn company four times over. A unicorn company refers to startup companies with a value of more than $1bn. The company, co-owned by Kardashian, 42, and her business partner Jens Grede, plans to announce its new valuation today (Wednesday 19 July), according to the New York Times. Its previous valuation given by investors was $3.2bn. The reality TV star, best known for starring in 20 seasons of Keeping Up With The Kardashians and The Kardashians, said in an interview: “It has grown quickly and we’re so proud of that. We’ve had a really good flow of product launches.” Kardashian launched Skims in 2019 as she wanted to create shapewear that fits her own skin tone and body type. The brand has since released numerous ranges, including loungewear, maternity wear and swimwear. In 2021, the success of the brand increased Kardashian’s net worth to US$1bn, which earned her a spot on Forbes’ World Billionaires List. Last year, when Skims hit its US$3.2bn valuation, it was estimated that Kardashian became US$600m richer. The company secured US$240m in a funding round led by hedge fund Lone Pine Capital, as well as previous investors. Grede, who is Skims’s chief executive, said in an interview that the company was now profitable and on track for US$750 million in sales this year, up from US$500 million in 2022. Grede said nearly 70 per cent of the company’s overall customers are millennials or Gen Zs, while about 15 per cent of the company’s online customers come from outside of the US. Over the last year, he said that 11 million people have joined waiting lists to buy the brand’s most popular items, which regularly sell out. Skims’ bestseller products include its viral “seamless sculpt bodysuit”, which comes with extra compression at the core and waist areas to create a “figure-enhancing” look. The product description says the bodysuit will “flatter your bust, and rounded butt pockets for a lifted look”. Another bestseller is the “soft lounge long slip dress”, a basic maxi slip dress with a body-hugging fit. For a recent collection launched by the brand, British singer-songwriters Raye and PinkPantheress were enlisted to promote it, along with Bronx rapper Ice Spice. The Kardashian family are also responsible for a myriad of viral beauty and fashion companies. Kim also owns a skincare brand named SKKN BY KIM, which sells a nine-product step-by-step routine for “radiant skin”. Kim’s half-sister, Kylie Kenner, is the founder of beauty brand Kylie Cosmetics, which sells makeup and skincare products. Meanwhile, Khloe Kardashian is the co-founder of Good American, a self-claimed “fully inclusive fashion brand” and Kendall Jenner owns the alcohol brand 818 Tequila. Read More Between Brexit and Covid, London’s food scene has become a dog’s dinner – can it be saved? Influencer Annabelle Ham dies at age 22: ‘A light to the world’ Cruise line apologises after passengers witness dozens of pilot whales being slaughtered Woman claims Skims bodysuit ‘saved’ her life after she was shot four times TikTokers are showing off pink outfits they’re going to wear to watch Barbie movie Florence Pugh’s fans praise star for saving Emily Blunt from wardrobe malfunction