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This is the world in brief from The Economist.

Our top stories.

Donald Trump's administration will reportedly slash the workforce of USAID, America's main development agency, from 10,000 to less than 300. The news of the expected cuts

comes a day before most of the agency's employees are to be placed on administrative leave.

Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, who on Monday assumed the title of USAID's acting director, said

rank insubordination within the agency necessitated the takeover.

A judge delayed the deadline for American federal workers to respond to a buyout offer from

Thursday to at least Monday. The deferred resignation scheme,

devised by Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency, would allow employees who quit

to be paid until September. The Washington Post reported that less than 2% of the federal

workforce, despite being pressured to accept the

deal, had done so as of Wednesday. The Bank of England cut interest rates by 0.25 percentage

points to 4.5% its third reduction since August 24. Guilt yields fell on the news.

The Futsi 100 hit a record high ahead of the decision,

driven by expectations of lower borrowing costs.

Strong corporate earnings also lifted stocks,

with AstraZeneca's share price rising nearly 5% after posting better than expected results.

...