Author: admin@primenews

US Senator and former presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has called for Donald Trump and Joe Biden to “stand aside” and make room for a new generations of politicians. He made the remarks while speaking to media about his own plans to retire. He said he was choosing not run again because it was time “for a new generation of leaders”. Mr Romney, 76, has had a 20-year career in US politics, including a stint as governor of Massachusetts. In recent years, the prominent Republican has become a vocal critic of both Mr Biden and Mr Trump. He will remain in…

UK-based chip designer Arm Holdings has secured a $54.5bn (£43.6bn) valuation, as it makes its highly-anticipated return to the stock market. The shares were priced at $51 each, which is at the top of the range that had been indicated to prospective investors. It makes the sale the biggest initial public offering (IPO) of the year. Arm shares are scheduled to start trading on New York Nasdaq stock market on Thursday. The company says 95.5 million shares were sold, raising $4.87bn for its Japanese owner SoftBank Group. Arm customers, including Apple, Google, Nvidia, Alphabet, Advanced Micro Devices, Intel and Samsung…

China has become the first country to name an ambassador to Afghanistan since the Taliban took over in 2021. The Taliban says Zhao Xing’s appointment is a sign for other nations to establish ties with its government. Analysts say the move shows how China is seeking to establish its influence in the region. Taliban leaders received Mr Zhao at the presidential palace in Kabul on Wednesday under lavish protocol. China’s foreign ministry says Beijing will “continue advancing dialogue and cooperation” with Afghanistan and that its policy towards the country is “clear and consistent”. Mr Zhao’s appointment is part of a…

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says there was “overwhelming consensus” for regulation on artificial intelligence after tech heavyweights gathered in Washington to discuss AI. Tech bosses attending the meeting included Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Google boss Sundar Pichai. Microsoft’s former CEO Bill Gates and Microsoft’s current CEO Satya Nadella were also in attendance. The Wednesday meeting with US lawmakers was held behind closed doors. The forum was convened by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and included the tech leaders as well as civil rights advocates. The power of artificial intelligence – for both good and bad – has been the subject…

One of Australia’s richest men has sparked a global backlash after saying unemployment should double to remind arrogant workers of their place. “We need to see pain in the economy,” gym-owner-turned-real-estate-mogul Tim Gurner said. He has previously suggested young people cannot afford homes because they spend too much on avocado toast. Video of his comments has gone viral, attracting over 23 million views and strong criticism online. Speaking during a property summit this week, the 41-year-old said the Covid-19 pandemic had changed employees’ attitudes and work ethics for the worse – singling out builders as an example. He claimed that…

France is set to ban disposable e-cigarettes – known locally as “puffs” – because of the danger they pose to the environment and public health. Speaking recently on RTL radio, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne said the measure was part of a new anti-smoking plan being drawn up by the government. It should be in force by the end of the year, campaigners said. Several other countries in Europe, including Germany, Belgium and Ireland, have announced similar bans. The UK is also said to be considering one. Sold over the counter by tobacconists, disposable vapes in France cost around €9 (£7.70)…

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un is continuing his highly scrutinised visit to Russia, following talks with Vladimir Putin over a suspected arms deal. The pair met on Wednesday at the Vostochny space centre after Mr Kim arrived in his private armoured train. Mr Putin later said they discussed “possibilities” for military cooperation, and indicated he would help Pyongyang develop satellites. The US says Moscow is attempting to buy weapons to support its war on Ukraine. It has warned that any help Moscow gives to Pyongyang’s satellite programme would violate UN Security Council resolutions. Mr Putin has also accepted an invitation…

The two rival governments in Libya are co-ordinating relief efforts for flood victims, the UN has said. More than 5,300 people died after two dam bursts brought devastating floods to the eastern city of Derna. At least 10,000 people are missing, and tens of thousands more have been displaced. A UN official said that both the eastern and western governments had requested international aid and were liaising with each other. “Both governments have reached out to the international community requesting services and help,” Tauhid Pasha, of the International Organisation for Migration, told BBC Radio 4’s the World Tonight programme. “The…

A British soldier has been charged with second degree murder in Canada after an alleged assault left a man dead. Craig Gibson, 28, is accused of assaulting Brett Sheffield in Toronto city centre at 23:25 local time (03:24 GMT) on Monday 28 August. Mr Sheffield, 38, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and died two days later. Mr Gibson appeared in court on Monday charged with his murder, Toronto Police said. The alleged altercation took place in the Portland Street and King Street West area of downtown Toronto, in the Canadian province of Ontario. Police say “life-saving measures” were…

Israel’s Supreme Court held hearings Tuesday on a law to curb its powers, in a case that could set the judiciary on a collision course with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline government after months of mass protests over the controversial legislation. The court heard arguments for and against the first part of Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul plan to pass parliament – a law that restricts the court’s ability to nullify government actions it deems “unreasonable.” Beyond the legal questions surrounding the law and the justices ruling on their own powers remains the question of whether Netanyahu’s government would even abide by a…