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Taliban say ban on women working for UN 'internal social matter'
The decision to ban Afghan women from working for the United Nations was an "internal social matter", the country's Taliban authorities said Friday, a day after the UN Security Council demanded they overturn the ruling.
ExxonMobil, Chevron report higher profits despite oil price dip
US oil giants ExxonMobil and Chevron reported another quarter of heady profits Friday as both companies continued to direct large cash payments to shareholders.
HMV returning to site of flagship London music store
British music retailer HMV said Friday it will return to the site of its once-flagship store on London's Oxford Street after a turnaround in fortunes for the emblematic company.
'Smart mines' show coal deeply embedded in China's future
One hundred metres underground inside a pit in northern China, miners extract lumps of coal with the flick of a finger on a smartphone, as the country tries to drag the traditionally dangerous and dirty work into the digital era.
European stocks retreat as eurozone economy ekes out growth
European stock markets retreated Friday as official data confirmed the eurozone is struggling to grow.
ExxonMobil reports that Q1 profits double to $11.4 bn
ExxonMobil reported Friday that first-quarter profits more than doubled to $11.4 billion, as the US oil giant returned over $8 billion to shareholders during the period.
BBC boss quits over Boris Johnson loan
The BBC's chairman on Friday announced his resignation after his involvement in a loan for then UK prime minister Boris Johnson raised questions about the broadcaster's vaunted impartiality.
Taliban leader says UN Security Council 'pressure' won't work
A senior Taliban leader warned the United Nations Security Council Friday to give up its "failed policy of pressure" after members adopted a resolution condemning Kabul's growing restrictions on women.
German economy stagnates, teeters on brink of recession
Germany teetered on the brink of recession Friday after official data showed the economy stagnated in the first quarter despite expectations for a slight rebound, as the energy crisis weighed on Europe's top economy.
Eurozone GDP grows 0.1% in first three months of 2023
The eurozone economy lumbered forward in the first quarter, official data showed Friday, expanding just 0.1 percent over the previous quarter as high inflation and interest rates weigh on activity.
BBC chairman resigns over loan to Boris Johnson
BBC chairman Richard Sharp on Friday announced his resignation after an inquiry found he had breached rules for failing to declare his involvement in arranging a loan for then prime minister Boris Johnson.
Asian stocks rise on renewed confidence, strong earnings
Asian stocks enjoyed solid gains on Friday after a big finish on Wall Street, with renewed investor confidence and strong earnings by major industry players driving shares up.
Top-end models drive Mercedes profit growth
Mercedes-Benz said Friday its net profits rose by 12 percent in the first quarter to 4.0 billion euros, buoyed by demand for its vans and priciest premium cars.
Argentina VP Kirchner vows not to seek presidency again
Argentina's Vice President and former leader Cristina Kirchner has vowed not to seek a return to the highest office as the country gears up for the October election.
Bank of Japan maintains monetary easing but plans review
The Bank of Japan announced a review of its longstanding monetary easing measures on Friday, but said it would maintain them for the time being in the first policy decision under new governor Kazuo Ueda.
Bank of Japan to review, but maintain, easing measures
The Bank of Japan announced a review of its longstanding monetary easing measures on Friday, but said it would maintain them for the time being in the first policy decision under new governor Kazuo Ueda.
Libya green group battles to save remaining forests
War-ravaged Libya is better known for its oil wealth than its forests, but environmentalists hope to save its remaining green spaces from logging, development and the impacts of climate change.
China rehabilitation scheme makes morticians of murderers
Once jailed for murder, Cao Yongsheng now makes a living caring for the dead, benefitting from a bold rehabilitation scheme that's giving some of China's most serious criminals a second life as funeral workers.
Women take on Japan's political gender gap for 'true democracy'
Women are a rare sight in Japanese politics, but 20-year-old Rinka Saito is determined to run for office one day because "you can't have true democracy without diversity".
Quack 'aphrodisiac' from lizard a hit in Pakistan
In a clamorous bazaar, hot-blooded Pakistani men seek a cold-blooded cure for their sexual ills -- freshly rendered lizard fat, marinated in scorpion oil and garnished with filaments of a fiery red spice.
Amazon cloud and ad revenue grows as shoppers remain cautious
Online retail titan Amazon on Thursday reported that its cloud and ads units helped it beat earnings expectations in the first quarter of this year despite shoppers and businesses being more careful about spending.
DiCaprio and Scorsese talk 'Killers' as Rihanna hits CinemaCon
Martin Scorsese unveiled the first footage from his film "Killers of the Flower Moon" Thursday at CinemaCon, where his lead actor Leonardo DiCaprio and pop superstar Rihanna were among the surprise guests.
Relief rally on Wall Street after better-than-feared earnings
Wall Street stocks shook off recent weakness and powered higher on Thursday following strong results from Facebook parent Meta Platforms and mixed US economic data.
Amazon shares surge as earnings beat expectations
Shares in Amazon leapt on Thursday after the online retail colossus reported it made a lot more money than expected in the first quarter of 2023.
US to review migrants abroad, toughen penalties in revamp
The United States on Thursday revamped its policy on migrants by setting up processing centers overseas and toughening penalties for unlawful entry, anticipating a surge of arrivals as Covid-era rules expire next month.
UN, NGOs, warn of rising hunger deaths in Africa
Deaths from hunger are on the rise in Africa because of droughts worsened by climate change and conflict, UN officials and non-governmental organisations said Thursday.
Caterpillar shares fall despite strong results
Caterpillar reported higher profits Thursday and offered an upbeat outlook on industrial conditions, but shares fell amid worries over weakening global growth.
Ukraine PM invites pope to visit, urges help with deported children
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Thursday invited Pope Francis to visit his country, during a meeting at the Vatican, where he also asked for help to return children forcibly taken to Russia.
Spain lawmakers pass key housing law ahead of elections
Spanish lawmakers on Thursday approved a housing bill aimed at capping soaring rents and addressing dire social housing shortages as the government seeks to bolster the right to affordable homes.
US growth cools in first quarter as recession fears deepen
US economic growth lost steam in the first quarter this year, said the Commerce Department on Thursday, as the possibility of a mild recession brews while consumer spending weakens.
Strong demand lifts American Airlines to profitable Q1
American Airlines reported a profitable first quarter Thursday and said persistently robust travel demand would translate to even stronger results in the current period.
Microsoft says EU more attractive after UK blocks deal
Microsoft on Thursday said the European Union was "more attractive" for businesses than post-Brexit Britain after the latter blocked its vast takeover of video game maker Activision Blizzard on competition fears.
Stocks rise, dollar falls before US growth data
Asian and European stock markets mostly edged higher and the dollar dropped Thursday ahead of first-quarter US growth data.
Spain to vote on key housing law ahead of elections
Lawmakers vote Thursday on a housing bill aimed at capping soaring rents and addressing Spain's dire social housing shortage as the government seeks to bolster the right to affordable housing.
UK bank Barclays profits from rising interest rates
British bank Barclays said Thursday that net profit jumped 27 percent in the first quarter, boosted by rising interest rates and non-repetition of exceptional charges.
Asian stocks rise after shaky start
Asian markets overcame a shaky start to enjoy modest gains on Thursday, bucking a session on Wall Street that saw major indices sink despite a surge in tech.
Asian stocks mixed after lacklustre session on Wall Street
Asian shares were mixed in early trade on Thursday, following a session on Wall Street that saw major indices sink despite a surge in tech.
BP faces angry shareholders over climate plans
Energy giant BP on Thursday faces a shareholder revolt over its decision to slow its energy transition, with activist investors promising to block the re-election of the head of the board of directors.
Ukrainian refugees struggle in nationalist Hungary
Pope Francis is set to meet refugees in Hungary this weekend, shedding light on the plight of Ukrainians trying to rebuild their lives in a state that offers a frosty reception.