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Asian stocks struggle, even as China growth tops forecasts
Asian stocks mostly fell Tuesday but pared early losses after data showed China's economy grew more than expected last year, while traders remain hopeful about the country's outlook as it emerges from years of debilitating zero-Covid measures.
Egypt's economic turmoil squeezes struggling middle class
With Egypt's economy in crisis, the currency in freefall and inflation skyrocketing, the poor have been hit hard but the middle class is also teetering on the brink.
China population shrinks for first time in over 60 years
China's population shrank last year for the first time in more than six decades, official data showed Tuesday, as the world's most populous nation faces a looming demographic crisis.
Ukraine centre stage as Davos returns
The war in Ukraine is set to take the spotlight Tuesday as global business and political A-listers huddle in the Swiss Alpine village of Davos with the ambitious aim of uniting a "fragmented" world.
EU vows to protect European industry to counter US subsidies
The EU on Monday said it would take "decisive steps" to protect Europe in the face of massive US subsidies that have left the bloc scrambling to find a way to keep businesses on the continent.
UK strikes to intensify as teachers and nurses announce walkouts
Industrial action looked set to intensify Monday as Britain's largest teaching and nursing unions announced further walkouts over pay, while the government seeks to limit strikes with a controversial bill.
Thousands demand EU blacklisting of Iran's Revolutionary Guards
Thousands of members of the Iranian diaspora from all over Europe on Monday demonstrated in the EU parliament host city of Strasbourg to urge the bloc to list Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terror group.
Greece's last king Constantine laid to rest at former royal cemetery
Greece's last king, Constantine II, was laid to rest on Monday at the royal cemetery of Tatoi near Athens, after a private funeral service that drew dozens of European royals and a crowd of several hundreds.
Scotland warns of showdown with UK over gender law
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Monday warned London against any bid to block a controversial Scottish gender recognition law, adding her devolved government is prepared to "rigorously" defend its powers all the way to the UK's top court.
World stocks mostly rise on optimism over China, rates
World equities mainly rose Monday on growing global optimism as inflation slows and China reopens, while gas prices hit an 18-month low on receding supply fears.
Austrian film 'Corsage' under shadow of actor's child porn trial
One of the main backers of "Corsage", an award-winning Austrian film bidding for Oscars glory, on Sunday distanced itself from one its main actors after he was charged with possessing child pornography.
Boom time for menswear as Paris Fashion Week returns
The fashion juggernaut returns to Paris this week, with Saint Laurent rejoining the line-up and menswear on a hot streak, even if the industry remains wary of economic headwinds.
Former Volkswagen boss Carl Hahn dies aged 96
Carl Hahn, who headed the Volkswagen group during the German car giant's heyday in the 1980s, has died, a spokeswoman for the Carl and Marisa Hahn Foundation told AFP on Sunday.
AI, do my homework! How ChatGPT pitted teachers against tech
Know-it-all chatbots landed with a bang last year, convincing one engineer that machines had become sentient, spreading panic that industries could be wiped out, and creating fear of a cheating epidemic in schools and universities.
China's 2022 growth seen as its lowest in 40 years
China's economic growth for 2022 is expected to have been among its weakest in four decades after the twin crises of the pandemic and property woes, analysts said ahead of Tuesday's GDP announcement.
Tourists surge back to Jordan's desert marvel Petra
Tending to his camels in Petra, Jordan's spectacular archaeological marvel hidden deep in a desert canyon, Hussein Bdoul is all smiles: the tourists are back.
Iraq's currency in flux as foreign transfers come under scrutiny
Iraq's local currency has been on a two-month roller coaster ride following a tightening of procedures for international transfers, with some blaming Washington for the dinar's woes.
Pakistan's economy grinding to a halt as dollars dry up
Thousands of containers packed with essential food items, raw materials and medical equipment have been held up at Pakistan's Karachi port as the country grapples with a desperate foreign exchange crisis.
Protesters clash with police at German coal mine protest
German police clashed with environmental protesters on Saturday at a village being razed to make way for a coal mine expansion.
French football boss Le Graet faces 'sexist outrage' claim
French football chief Noel Le Graet could face criminal proceedings after a claim of a "sexist outrage" was made against him, Le Monde reported on Saturday.
Musk faces US fraud trial over Tesla tweet
Elon Musk, the CEO of electric car giant Tesla, will face trial on Tuesday over allegedly manipulating the stock market with a tweet after a federal judge rejected his request to move the case out of California.
Global stocks extend run after US bank earnings and German data
Global stocks mostly rose Friday, extending a positive start to 2023, as Wall Street shrugged off early loses following mixed bank earnings and Europe cheered better-than-expected German economic data.
Colombia to investigate claims US, local soldiers raped indigenous girls
Colombia President Gustavo Petro on Friday ordered an investigation into the alleged rape of underage indigenous girls by US and local soldiers.
US eyes 'extraordinary measures' to avoid default next week: Yellen
The US Treasury Department said Friday it will likely begin "extraordinary measures" next week to prevent a default on government debt, setting up a high-stakes showdown in Congress over raising the nation's borrowing limit.
Europe stocks extend gains on slowing inflation, upbeat data
Equities in Europe and Asia mostly rose Friday as slowing US inflation fuelled speculation the Federal Reserve would take a softer approach to its monetary tightening campaign, though New York stocks were more tentative on bank downturn worries.
Tesla slashes vehicle prices up to 20% in US, Europe
Tesla on Friday announced it will cut the price of its best-selling electric vehicle models up to 20 percent in Europe and the United States, launching a price war as more rivals hit the market.
Big US banks report mixed earnings and gird for 'mild recession'
Major US banks reported mixed fourth-quarter results Friday as executives pointed to the rising odds of a "mild recession," with inflation and interest rate hikes challenging households and businesses.
Travel demand boosts Delta results but labor costs dent profit forecast
Delta Air Lines on Friday reported better-than-expected results in the final months of 2022, helped by strong consumer demand, although it expects labor costs to weigh on first quarter profits this year.
JPMorgan Chase girds for 'mild recession' as Q4 profits rise
JPMorgan Chase reported higher fourth-quarter profits Friday, boosted by income tied to increasing interest rates as the big bank set aside more funds in case of a recession.
Sweden inaugurates new satellite launch site
Just days after a failed UK satellite launch, Sweden inaugurated Friday its new launching site as the race heats up to be first country to send satellites into orbit from the European continent.
China operates first domestic Boeing 737 MAX flight since 2019
A Boeing 737 MAX took off from southern China on Friday, the first domestic flight using the aircraft model since March 2019 when it was grounded after two deadly crashes.
German economy holds up in 2022, despite Ukraine war fallout
The German economy grew a better-than-expected 1.9 percent in 2022, official data showed Friday, as government relief measures cushioned Europe's export giant from an energy crisis triggered by the Ukraine war.
Three frontrunners as Czechs vote for new president
The Czech presidential election is to kick off on Friday with a billionaire, a general and an academic leading a likely two-round vote seen as too close to call.
UK economy wins World Cup boost but recession looms
Britain's economy unexpectedly grew in November as consumers splurged during the World Cup, official data showed Friday, but analysts warned that it remains on course for recession due to the cost-of-living crisis.
German pawnbrokers offer a quick fix to inflation pain
At a pawn shop in the west German city of Duisburg, a young woman hands over a mobile phone and in return gets a wad of cash to help make ends meet -- for a while.
Cameroon's 'funeral music' gives voice to frustrated youth
It began as a form of music chanted at wakes to comfort mourners -- now it is part of Cameroon's cultural mainstream, and a powerful form of expression for its frustrated youth.
UK economy posts surprise growth in November: data
Britain's economy unexpectedly grew in November, official data showed Friday, but it is widely tipped to enter recession this year as the country faces a cost-of-living crisis.
Auctioneers eye new record for Tintin artwork at sale
Known around the world for his blond quiff and daring adventures, Belgian comic book hero Tintin is setting the art world astir with an original illustration that could set a new record at auction.
Leading trio do battle to become Czech president at polls
A billionaire, a general and an academic are favourites going into the first round of the Czech presidential election that begins Friday and concludes on Saturday and is seen by observers as too close to call.