Featured
Last news
Chinese give guarded welcome to spending subsidies
Beijing is hoping subsidies for rice cookers, microwave ovens and smartphones can boost sluggish spending and help the country weather an economic storm from incoming US president Donald Trump.
World Bank plans $20 bn payout for Pakistan over coming decade
The World Bank plans to loan cash-strapped Pakistan $20 billion over the coming decade to nurture its private sector and bolster resilience to climate change, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said.
Indian Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan stabbed in burglary
Indian Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan underwent surgery Thursday after he was repeatedly stabbed in an apparent burglary at his home in Mumbai, his public relations team said.
Taiwan's TSMC says net profit rose 57% in fourth quarter
Taiwanese chipmaking giant TSMC on Thursday announced a better-than-expected net profit for the fourth quarter as it benefits from booming demand for AI technology.
Herbicide under US scrutiny over potential Parkinson's link
First came the slow hand movements, then the tremor, and now the looming fear of what lies ahead.
US consumer inflation rises in December but underlying pressures ease
US consumer inflation rose for a third straight month in December as energy prices jumped but a widely watched measure eased slightly, raising hopes that underlying inflation may be moderating.
US bank profits rise as Wall Street hopes for merger boom
Large US banks reported soaring profits Wednesday propelled by strength in trading and financial advisory services as Wall Street eyes a potential merger boom under the incoming Trump administration.
Methane leaks from Nord Stream pipeline blasts revised up: studies
A series of underwater explosions that ruptured the Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022 caused the largest known methane leak on record from a single incident, according to new research published on Wednesday.
Death toll at illegal S.African mine reaches 78
Rescuers pulled more bodies from a disused gold shaft in South Africa where the toll climbed to 78 Wednesday as police try to clear out illegal miners who have been underground for months.
US consumer inflation rises December but underlying pressures ease
US consumer inflation rose for a third straight month in December as energy prices jumped but a widely-watched measure eased slightly, raising hopes that underlying inflation may be moderating.
Stock markets get boost from bank earnings, inflation data
Stock markets surged on Wednesday, buoyed by robust US bank earnings and encouraging inflation data from the United States and Britain.
Mozambique's new president vows 'unity' as sworn in amid deadly protests
Mozambique's new president Daniel Chapo vowed to unite the country Wednesday upon taking the oath of office under heavy guard following weeks of deadly political unrest.
Syria sex abuse survivors need aid, says Nobel winner Mukwege
Survivors of sexual violence emerging from Syria's prisons need reparations, urged Nobel laureate Denis Mukwege, renowned for his work with victims of sexual violence during conflict.
Spain hosted record 94 mn foreign tourists in 2024
A record 94 million foreign tourists craving for sun, sand and culture flocked to Spain in 2024 as the sector drives the country's bullish economy, the tourism minister said on Wednesday.
European stocks climb as inflation takes centre stage
European stock markets rose Wednesday as traders focused on inflation data in Britain and the United States.
BP nears deals for oil fields, curbs on gas flaring in Iraq
Iraq and British oil giant BP are set to finalise a deal by early February to develop four oil fields in Kirkuk and curb gas flaring, Iraqi authorities announced Wednesday.
Mozambique inaugurates new president after deadly post-election unrest
Mozambique's new president Daniel Chapo took the oath of office Wednesday in front of a heavily guarded audience of dignitaries in the capital Maputo following weeks of violent demonstrations over the fiercely disputed election results.
Syrian activists work to avoid return to dictatorship
In a Damascus courtyard, Syrian activists brainstormed strategies to ensure their country does not return to authoritarianism, in a scene unimaginable under president Bashar al-Assad's rule.
Beijing 'firmly opposes' US ban on smart cars with Chinese tech
Beijing on Wednesday said it "firmly opposes" a US move to effectively bar Chinese technology from smart cars in the American market, saying alleged risks to national security were "without any factual basis".
Equities mixed as US inflation, China data loom
Stock markets were mixed Wednesday as traders assess the economic outlook ahead of Donald Trump returning to the White House next week, with focus now on the release of key US inflation data.
UK inflation dips, easing some pressure on government
Britain's annual inflation rate unexpectedly fell to 2.5 percent last month, official data showed Wednesday, easing some pressure on the Labour government faced with economic unrest.
German bourse banks on Trump-fuelled crypto boom
As Donald Trump's looming return to the White House promises to boost cryptocurrencies, a German stock exchange is on a mission to anchor them firmly in the staid world of traditional finance.
Record 36.8 million tourists visited Japan in 2024
Record numbers of tourists flocked to Japan last year, figures showed Wednesday, as the weak yen bolstered the appeal of the "bucket list" destination despite overcrowding complaints in hotspots like Kyoto.
Spanish youth ditch dating apps for 'real life' love
Jilted on dating apps but undeterred in the quest for romance, 20 young singles gathered in Madrid to share activities and flirtatious smiles in a rediscovery of real-life love.
Bangladesh's Yunus demands return of stolen billions
Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday demanded the return of stolen assets, decrying the scale of corruption under the ousted government of Sheikh Hasina, toppled by a revolution last year.
Asian equities mixed as US inflation, China data loom
Asian markets swung Wednesday, continuing their yo-yo start to the year as traders assess the economic outlook with Donald Trump back in the White House, with focus now on the release of key US inflation data.
Renewed US trade war threatens China's 'lifeline'
China might not be able to rely on trade to steer it out of trouble as blistering tariffs being considered by US President-elect Donald Trump threaten an already struggling economy.
China's economy seen slowing further in 2024: AFP survey
China's economic growth likely fell fractionally short of the government's five percent target last year, according to an AFP survey, as leaders head into 2025 steeling for the second presidency of Donald Trump amid fears of another painful trade standoff.
Musk, Bezos, Zuckerberg to attend Trump inauguration: report
Billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg will attend Donald Trump's inauguration next week, NBC news reported Tuesday, further highlighting the tech moguls' efforts to develop closer ties with the incoming president.
'We may look easy-going, but...' Canadians veto Trump's merger plan
Different values, different spelling -- different country. Donald Trump's unlikely plan for Canada to become the 51st US state is leading to a surge of national pride north of the border and a pushback against an often imposing neighbor.
Angilak Uranium Project Geophysical Survey Successfully Increases Depth Extent at Lac 50 Deposit To >1 Km; Identifies New 25 Km Trend Associated with Historic Unconformity-Type Alteration and Mineralization with Grades Up To 5.6% U3O8
HIGHLIGHTS
Stocks mixed as traders mull tariffs, inflation, earnings
Stock markets moved in different directions Tuesday with traders' attention fixed on President-elect Donald Trump's tariff plans, earnings updates and inflation data.
Starbucks shift on non-paying visitors stirs debate in US
Starbucks has stirred the coffee pot by reversing a policy that allowed anyone to use its bathrooms, with the US public warned they'll need to buy something or get out.
Boeing 2024 plane deliveries tumble on labor, safety woes
Boeing delivered just 348 commercial planes in 2024 according to figures released Tuesday that showed the ugly effects from a year of labor disruption and safety setbacks.
Argentine annual inflation nosedives, in boost for Milei
Javier Milei's government boasted Tuesday that it had "pulverized inflation" after statistics showing Argentine price increases falling to 117.8 percent in 2024, down nearly 94 points in the first full year since the budget-slashing president took office.
Meta to lay off 3,600 employees in performance-based cuts
Meta plans to dismiss approximately 3,600 employees identified as low performers and replace them with new hires, according to an internal memo reported by Bloomberg on Tuesday.
Mexico hails $5 bn Amazon investment in face of Trump threats
Mexico on Tuesday trumpeted a multibillion-dollar investment pledge from Amazon as a sign of a "great future" awaiting Latin America's second-largest economy, despite US President-elect Donald Trump's threat of a trade war.
MSNBC boss leaves ahead of Trump White House return
The head of the left-leaning US news channel MSNBC has quit, a source at the network told AFP Tuesday, just days before Donald Trump returns to the White House threatening to silence critical coverage.
Panama Canal will 'remain' Panamanian: UN maritime chief
The Panama Canal will remain Panamanian, the secretary general of the United Nation's maritime body told AFP on Tuesday, after Donald Trump refused to rule out using military force to seize the key waterway.