Featured
Last news
Canada central bank raises key lending rate to 4.75%
Canada's central bank on Wednesday increased its key lending rate by 25 basis points to 4.75 percent, as the economy surged unexpectedly and inflation remained stubbornly high.
French parliament chief to block bid to axe pension overhaul
France's opposition parties on Wednesday vowed to submit a no-confidence motion against the government after the parliament speaker said she would block an attempt to repeal an unpopular pension overhaul that raised the retirement age.
Pope in hospital for operation on painful hernia
Pope Francis was to undergo Wednesday an operation on a painful abdominal hernia, reviving concerns over the 86-year-old's increasingly fragile health.
Stocks subdued on weak Chinese economic data
European and US stocks edged higher Wednesday as investors weighed data showing weakness in China's economy and hopes that the US Federal Reserve would skip an interest rate hike this month.
All-time high export volumes widen Canada trade surplus
Canada's trade surplus widened sharply to Can$1.9 billion (US$1.4 billion) in April, as exports rebounded to an all-time high in terms of volumes, the national statistical agency said Wednesday.
Pullback in exports widens US trade gap in April
The US trade deficit grew in April on a pullback in exports, bringing the gap to its widest since October 2022, according to government data released on Wednesday.
Stocks mostly drop after weak Chinese economic data
Stock markets mostly retreated Wednesday as data showed ongoing weakness in China's economy, offsetting hope that the Federal Reserve would skip an interest rate hike this month.
Pope to undergo operation for painful hernia Wednesday
Pope Francis will undergo an operation for a painful abdominal hernia on Wednesday, reviving concerns over the 86-year-old's increasingly fragile health.
Deadly booze brings profit and pain to Kenya's streets
Along a polluted riverside, smoking charred oil drums in Mathare are cooking up chang'aa, a potent liquor that's both a scourge and a lifeline.
EU approves first vaccine against common respiratory virus
The European Commission has followed the United States in approving the world's first vaccine for the Respiratory Syncytial Virus, to be used by adults aged 60 and over, its maker GlaxoSmithKline said Wednesday.
Chinese snooker vows crackdown after match-fixing scandal
Chinese snooker vowed Wednesday to crack down on betting and launch an education drive after 10 players from the country were banned from the sport, two for life.
Stocks mixed as China data points to more weakness
Markets swung Wednesday as data showed ongoing weakness in China's economy as speculation swirls that officials will unveil fresh stimulus measures, while investors held out hope the Federal Reserve will skip an interest rate hike this month.
OECD slightly raises world GDP growth forecast to 2.7%
The OECD slightly raised its growth outlook for the world economy on Wednesday as inflation eases and China has dropped Covid restrictions, but it warned the recovery faces a "long road".
China trade with Russia hits highest level since start of Ukraine war
China's total trade with Russia in May soared to levels not seen since the beginning of Moscow's war in Ukraine, official data showed Wednesday, as Beijing steps up support for its sanctions-hit ally.
UK PM in Washington to meet Biden and talk tech, Ukraine
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak flew in to Washington late Tuesday lobbying for Britain to take a lead role in regulating artificial intelligence, after a dire warning of the technology's existential dangers.
China's exports fall 7.5% in May, adding to stimulus talk
China's exports fell in May for the first time since February, data showed Wednesday, breaking a two-month growth streak as a post-Covid rebound faded and adding to speculation that officials will unveil fresh stimulus measures.
Asian stocks edge higher on Fed hope but traders remain wary
Most markets crawled higher Wednesday on speculation that China will unveil measures to support its struggling economy, while investors held out hope the Federal Reserve will skip an interest rate hike this month.
Blinken discusses human rights with Saudi crown prince
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed human rights with Saudi Arabia's crown prince Tuesday during a trip aimed at boosting ties with the long-time ally, which has forged closer relations with Washington's rivals.
US steps up crypto crackdown with Coinbase suit
In their second major action against a big crypto player in two days, US regulators sued Coinbase on Tuesday, alleging its failure to register as a securities exchange venue exposed investors to risk.
Oil slips after Saudi-driven rally while equities edge higher
Oil prices slid Tuesday as dealers mulled the weak demand outlook after having rallied the previous day on output cuts from key crude producer Saudi Arabia.
CIA knew of Ukraine plan to blow up Nord Stream pipeline: report
A European spy agency told the CIA it knew of a Ukraine special operations team plan to blow up the Nord Stream gas pipeline three months before explosions damaged the undersea system last year, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.
French pensions protests falter despite anger
French protests against President Emmanuel Macron's pensions overhaul began to run out of steam on Tuesday with lower numbers taking to the streets and leaders questioning the future of the movement.
Ukraine nuke plant safety at stake after dam damage
While there is "no immediate nuclear safety risk," the UN nuclear watchdog is exploring options to get water to keep cooling Europe's biggest atomic plant after a dam in southern Ukraine was damaged on Tuesday.
Oil slips after Saudi-driven rally; equities edge higher
Oil prices slid Tuesday as dealers mulled the weak demand outlook after having rallied the previous day on output cuts from key crude producer Saudi Arabia.
US securities regulator sues cryptocurrency platform Coinbase
US securities regulators sued Coinbase on Tuesday, alleging that the cryptocurrency platform's failure to register as a securities exchange venue exposed investors to risk.
Apple lays down the gauntlet to the metaverse
Tech giant Apple has unveiled its first major product in more than seven years, a mixed-reality headset that might just deliver a terminal blow to the "metaverse".
Oil sinks after Saudi-driven rally; equities flag
Oil prices sank Tuesday as dealers mulled the weak demand outlook after having rallied the previous day on output cuts from key crude producer Saudi Arabia.
S.Africa skirts recession with surprise first quarter growth
South Africa's economy grew slightly in the first three months of the year, shooing away fears of recession hanging over Africa's most industrialised country, official data showed Tuesday.
Finland's nuclear catacombs nearly ready to house waste
Deep within the bedrock in western Finland, flashing lights from heavy machinery cast shadows in eerie tunnels that lead to a tomb that must remain unperturbed for millennia.
Crisis-hit UK business lobby faces survival vote
Britain's scandal-hit business lobby group, the CBI, faces a vote crucial to its survival Tuesday, with members urged to back reform under new leadership after allegations of sexual harassment by staff.
Asian markets struggle to kick on after rally, with eyes on Fed
Asian markets wobbled Tuesday after a two-day rally as profit-takers stepped in and traders weighed the chances of the Federal Reserve skipping an interest rate hike this month.
French left in last-ditch bid to derail pensions overhaul
France's left-wing forces and labour unions will stage another day of strikes on Tuesday to try to derail President Emmanuel Macron's pensions overhaul, insisting that the fight to thwart the changes is not over even after it became law.