Briefly

UNITED STATES

Consumers tighten belts as outlook dims

More US citizens are beginning to hold off on booking flights, getting haircuts, building backyard pools and replacing old, leaky roofs, in some of the new signs that the consumer engine of US economic growth could be losing steam, The Washington Post reported. Business owners around the country say rising prices, dwindling savings and concerns over a souring economy are taking a toll on household spending decisions, according to the report. Retail sales slowed last month for the first time this year, driven by a 4 percent drop in car sales. US flight bookings dipped 2.3 percent in May from a month earlier. And both high－and low-income consumers have begun pulling back, particularly on services, in the past four to six weeks, it added.

Job-shedding Tesla broke law, suit claims

Former Tesla employees have filed a lawsuit against the US electric car company alleging its decision to carry out a "mass layoff" violated federal law as the company did not provide advance notice of the job cuts. The lawsuit was filed late on Sunday in Texas by two workers who said they were terminated from Tesla's gigafactory plant in Sparks, Nevada, in June. According to the suit, more than 500 employees were terminated at the Nevada factory. The workers allege the company failed to adhere to federal laws on mass layoffs that require a 60-day notification period under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, according to the lawsuit. They are seeking class-action status for all former Tesla employees throughout the United States who were laid off in May or June without advance notice.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

China hands over hospital in province

China handed over a newly built hospital in Enga Province to the government of Papua New Guinea, or PNG, on Monday, in a move that will improve medical services for local people. Addressing the handover ceremony in the Engan capital Wabag, Prime Minister James Marape thanked the Chinese government for its support for the high-quality project, saying that the government is willing to deepen cooperation with China in all areas. Calling the project the latest outcome of bilateral cooperation in the health sector, Chinese Ambassador to PNG Zeng Fanhua said both China and PNG are developing countries and that bilateral cooperation demonstrates friendship as well as mutual support and trust.

BRAZIL

Petrobras chief quits in fuel price standoff

The chief executive of Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras resigned on Monday after a hike in fuel prices. Jose Mauro Coelho had stayed in his post despite being fired by President Jair Bolsonaro in May. He is the third Petrobras CEO to leave since February last year in a standoff between the company and the president over fuel prices. Petrobras, in announcing Coelho's resignation on Monday, said Fernando Borges, the head of exploration and production, would take over temporarily until government pick Caio Paes de Andrade, an economy ministry official, assumes the top job.

Agencies - Xinhua