Harvey Weinstein avoided a fourth trial on a New York rape charge after his accuser said she could not endure testifying again, leading prosecutors to drop the #MeToo-era case on Thursday. The film mogul still stands convicted of another sexual felony in New York and others in California, and he remains behind bars. But the New York rape charge had remained unresolved after an overturned conviction followed by two hung juries. The judge formally dismissed the charge on Thursday. Weinstein had a...

DeepSeek is looking to “at least double the size of every department” in a new hiring spree, according to an announcement made by the Chinese AI champion on Thursday. The firm announced openings in 33 positions across seven major categories, including full-stack development and algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI) core system R&D, deep learning research, and model data strategy product management and engineering. “DeepSeek’s hiring philosophy is to let newcomers take on the most core and...

The United States is mounting a large-scale humanitarian operation in Venezuela after twin earthquakes devastated the South American country, putting to the test Washington’s role as the most influential international partner in the country’s post-Maduro transition. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was deploying search-and-rescue teams, military logistics and humanitarian help after Wednesday’s magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes, which have killed at least 164 people and injured...

US “freedom of navigation” operations in the South China Sea declined last year, as it relied more on the Philippines and uncrewed drones for reconnaissance flights over the contested waters, a Beijing-based think tank found. The think tank said that as large American vessels such as aircraft carriers and amphibious groups faced growing maintenance and deployment constraints such as the Middle East conflict, Washington had changed the nature of its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Yet, the...

Asian economies are expected to exercise caution in buying oil from Iran following a 60-day sanctions waiver for the Gulf country’s oil exports that took effect from Sunday, as they weigh compliance, financial risk and a potential return of hostilities between Washington and Tehran. Global markets have been looking for signs of progress that the United States and Iran could reach a lasting peace agreement despite concerns over the sustainability of a 60-day ceasefire that began earlier this...

US consumer spending accelerated in May even as prices rose at the fastest pace in more than three years, suggesting Americans are powering through the fallout from the Iran war. The personal consumption expenditures price index rose 4.1 per cent last month from a year earlier, the most since April 2023, Bureau of Economic Analysis data out on Thursday showed. Excluding food and energy, prices were up 3.4 per cent from a year earlier. Inflation-adjusted consumer spending rose 0.3 per cent from a...

Beijing on Thursday rejected criticism from the United States and three European nations over its recent coastguard operations east of Taiwan, declaring the patrols were lawful and necessary to safeguard its maritime rights and regional order. The rebuke came a day after the US, Britain, France and Germany expressed concern over the coastguard deployments, saying the activities “threaten regional stability and the freedom of navigation and safety of international shipping”. Chinese foreign...