EU has a ‘strong plan’ to retaliate on Trump tariffs, says von der Leyen | International trade

The European Union has a “strong plan” to retaliate against tariffs imposed by Donald Trump but would prefer to negotiate, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has said. Trump, who has upended eight decades of certainties about the transatlantic relationship since taking office, has threatened tariffs on goods from around the … Read more

Judge rules Alabama cannot prosecute those who help with out-of-state abortions | Alabama

Alabama’s attorney general cannot prosecute individuals and groups that help Alabama women travel to other states to obtain abortions, a federal judge ruled on Monday. US district judge Myron Thompson sided with an abortion fund and medical providers who sued Alabama’s attorney general, Steve Marshall, after he suggested they could face prosecution under anti-conspiracy laws. … Read more

AI firms are ‘scraping the value’ from UK’s £125bn creative industries, says Channel 4 boss | Artificial intelligence (AI)

The chief executive of Channel 4 said that artificial intelligence companies are “scraping the value” out of the UK’s £125bn creative industries, and urged the government to take action. Alex Mahon told MPs that if the government pursues its proposed plan to give AI companies access to creative works unless the copyright holder opts out, … Read more

Cory Booker holds marathon Senate speech to warn of Trump’s ‘harmful’ policies | US politics

Cory Booker, the Democratic US senator from New Jersey, has embarked on a marathon overnight speech on the Senate floor to warn of what he called the “grave and urgent” that Donald Trump’s presidential administration poses to democracy and the American people. Booker began his speech at 7pm on Monday night and passed the 12-hour … Read more

Hooters restaurant chain files for bankruptcy protection | US news

Hooters, the US-based restaurant chain known for chicken wings and skimpy waitstaff outfits, has filed for bankruptcy protection. HOA Restaurant Group filed the motion for chapter 11 protection Monday in the north Texas bankruptcy court in Dallas. The company – whose outlets are often derisively called “breastaurants” and are known for their so-called “Hooters girls” … Read more

French far right calls for nationwide protests against Marine Le Pen ban | Marine Le Pen

France’s far-right National Rally (RN) party is calling for nationwide demonstrations against a court decision to ban Marine Le Pen from public office for five years, seemingly wrecking her hopes of becoming president in 2027. Jordan Bardella, the RN president, said French people “must be outraged” after what he called a “disproportionate, political and partisan” … Read more

Wild co-founders ‘land £100m’ from sale of natural deodorant maker | Unilever

A pair of UK entrepreneurs selling refillable deodorant cases and manuka honey lip balms made from natural ingredients have reportedly landed a near-£100m payday from the sale of their brand to the global consumer goods group Unilever. Wild, founded by childhood friends Freddy Ward and Charlie Bowes-Lyon, has been bought by Unilever, the maker of … Read more