OpenAI and Reflection AI did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comments, while Anthropic declined to comment [File] | Photo Credit: REUTERS The White House’s Office of the National Cyber Director hosted a briefing for leading AI companies on a planned executive order that would empower intelligence and other government agencies to review advanced…
U.S. military says boarded Iranian-flagged oil tanker in Gulf of Oman The U.S. military said Marines had boarded an Iranian-flagged oil tanker on Wednesday (May 20) in the Gulf of Oman that was suspected of attempting to violate Washington’s blockade of Iran. “American forces released the vessel after searching and directing the ship’s crew to…
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. | Photo Credit: Reuters India and Norway must engage more to ensure they aren’t “overdependent” on any one global power, said Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, pitching for more trade, technology and cooperation on renewable energy, which now powers all of Norway’s electricity grid. Speaking to The Hindu…
Border region between Thailand, left. Myanmar, centre, and Laos, right. File | Photo Credit: AP Myanmar’s military claimed on Wednesday (May 20, 2026) to have recaptured a town on the Thai border, expanding the frontier trade crossings it claims to control in the grinding civil war. The southern Myanmar border town of Mawtaung is a…
Protesters hold placards during a demonstration to call for the start of the impeachment trial against Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte and the arrest of Philippine Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa outside the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay, Metro Manila, on May 18, 2026. | Photo Credit: AFP The Philippine Supreme Court refused on Wednesday…
A file image of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. | Photo Credit: AP Meta began laying off roughly 8,000 employees on Wednesday (May 20, 2026) — about 10% of its global workforce — as co-founder and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg pushes to redirect resources toward an ambitious artificial intelligence agenda. According to Bloomberg, notifications went out…
A freeze on fuel duty, currently saving drivers 5 pence per litre, was due to expire in September, but will now be extended for the rest of the year, the government said. File | Photo Credit: Reuters Britain will cancel a planned rise in tax on motor fuel and give a 12-month road tax holiday…
Vessels sail through the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, on May 20, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters Iran warned on Wednesday (May 20, 2026) that war in West Asia would spread far beyond the region if the United States and Israel resumed their attacks after President Donald Trump threatened to strike again unless a deal…
Iran said on Wednesday (May 20, 2026) it was examining the latest U.S. proposal received from mediator Pakistan in talks to end the West Asia war, despite the two sides trading threats over resuming attacks. It came after U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that Washington was in the “final stages” of negotiations with Iran….
The United States on Wednesday (May 20, 2026) criminally indicted Cuba’s former leader Raul Castro, fueling speculation that President Donald Trump will try to topple the communist state. The Justice Department charged the influential former President over the deadly 1996 downing of two civilian planes manned by anti-Castro pilots. The 94-year-old Castro, brother of Fidel…