Featured
Last news
China unveils new orders for homegrown passenger jet
China announced Wednesday hundreds of new orders for its first domestically manufactured large passenger jet, with the aircraft poised to make its commercial debut early next year.
Dark clouds over China's economy as zero-Covid, global slowdown bite
A slew of lacklustre indicators for October show strict and enduring Covid curbs as well as a global slowdown are dragging on China's economy, analysts told AFP, with prospects looking increasingly grim for 2023.
Nissan hikes forecasts on weak yen despite falling unit sales
Nissan on Wednesday upgraded its full-year profit forecasts, as the depreciating yen helps inflate its overseas profits, despite ongoing challenges including Covid shutdowns and the global chip shortage.
Asian markets tepid with eyes on China, US midterms
Asian stocks made a positive start on Wednesday following gains on Wall Street, but lost momentum as factory gate prices in China fell for the first time in nearly two years.
Striking Kenya Airways pilots return to work
Kenya Airways pilots returned to work on Wednesday, after a court ordered them to end their days-long strike which had led to hundreds of flight cancellations and stranded thousands of passengers.
Moldova facing dark winter as energy crisis bites
A silence hangs over Ion Ignat's normally noisy factory in Chetrosu, Moldova, with his 50 workers fretting about their future.
Australian sentenced to 129 years in Philippine child sex abuse case: prosecutor
An Australian man has been sentenced to 129 years in a Philippine jail as part of a child sexual abuse case involving victims as young as 18 months, a prosecutor said Wednesday.
Turbulence ahead: Airline on the block in Sri Lanka reforms
Dozens of state-owned Sri Lankan companies employing tens of thousands of people could be restructured or closed as part of an IMF bailout of the bankrupt country, with the country's airline top of the list for reform.
Climbers at odds over far-right dogwhistle route names
Just outside Vienna, climbers scramble up "Fortress Europe", one of the routes up an impressive rockface towering over fields and forests.
Asian markets turn tepid after China factory data
Asian stocks made a positive start Wednesday following gains on Wall Street but lost momentum as factory gate prices in China fell for the first time in nearly two years.
China's ultra-rich squeezed by slowing economy: Hurun ranking
The wealth of China's billionaires this year dropped by the largest amount in more than two decades, according to an annual ranking, as zero-Covid curbs and a property market crisis stall the world's second-largest economy.
China factory gate prices fall for first time in nearly two years
Factory gate prices in China were down for the first time in nearly two years last month, official data showed Wednesday, as falling global commodity prices made their mark on an economy ailing under strict Covid controls.
Elon Musk sells nearly $4bn in Tesla stock: SEC filing
Tesla chief Elon Musk sold nearly $4 billion worth of shares in the electric car company, SEC filings showed Tuesday, more than a week after he closed his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter.
Why I voted -- Americans share what drew them to polls
For some, it was a sense of civic duty. For others, it was a chance to voice anger at inflation or high crime. Still more savored the opportunity to send a message to Washington.
NASA Moon rocket launch delayed again, this time by storm
NASA again rescheduled its long-delayed uncrewed mission to the Moon on Tuesday as Tropical Storm Nicole churned toward the east coast of Florida, officials said.
Migrants come ashore at Italian port as another ship heads to France
More than 200 migrants who have been waiting aboard a rescue ship after Italy refused them entry were allowed to come ashore Tuesday, as another vessel gave up hope and appealed to France for safe harbour.
French unions call Paris metro strike as inflation bites
Labour unions have called a major one-day strike which threatens to paralyse Paris public transport Thursday, the latest industrial action to demand relief from the French government over soaring prices.
Striking Kenya Airways pilots to resume work
Kenya Airways pilots will end their days-long strike and return to work on Wednesday morning, their union said, after a court ordered staff to resume operations in a breakthrough for the beleaguered airline.
Colonists nibble at Gran Chaco, South America's other big forest
Dwarfed by its more prestigious sibling, the Amazon, South America's second largest forest is a little-known victim of 25 years of gradual invasion by agriculture.
Fortune Pink diamond sells for more than $28.5 mn
The Fortune Pink diamond, an exceptionally rare giant gemstone, sold for more than $28.5 million at auction in Geneva on Tuesday to a private Asian collector.
Norway princess gives up royal duties for alternative medicine
Norway's Princess Martha Louise on Tuesday relinquished her royal duties in order to focus on her alternative medicine business with her fiance, a self-proclaimed shaman.
Global stocks move higher as US voters cast ballots
Global stock markets mostly moved higher on Tuesday as Americans headed to the polls in critical midterm elections.
'Toxic cover-up': UN draws red line around net zero greenwashing
The UN's chief called Tuesday for an end to a "toxic cover-up" by companies as a sweeping report said they cannot claim to be net zero if they invest in new fossil fuels, cause deforestation or offset emissions instead of reducing them.
Court orders striking Kenya Airways pilots back to work
A Nairobi court has ordered striking Kenya Airways pilots to return to work by Wednesday morning after the days-long walkout forced dozens of flight cancellations and left thousands of passengers stranded.
Global markets mixed ahead of US midterms
Asian and European stock markets traded mixed Tuesday in jittery deals as Americans head to the polls in critical midterm elections.
UAE, Egypt ink major wind energy deal on COP27 sidelines
The United Arab Emirates and Egypt agreed Tuesday to develop one of the world's largest wind farms in a deal struck on the sidelines of the UN's COP27 climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Renault unveils sweeping overhaul for electric future
French automaker Renault unveiled a sweeping green revamp Tuesday, splitting its operations in two: a new electric vehicle unit and a subsidiary for petrol, diesel and hybrid cars that will pair up with China's Geely.
Weak yen helps Nintendo lift annual net profit forecast
Nintendo raised its full-year net profit forecast on Tuesday, with the weak yen and a solid performance by new games helping compensate for falling sales of its Switch console.
'Black Panther' fights on without Chadwick Boseman
"Black Panther" returns to cinemas worldwide this week, having lost its star with the tragic early death of Chadwick Boseman, but none of its determination to push for greater diversity in superhero movies.
Asian markets mixed ahead of US midterms
Asian markets were mixed on Tuesday following an upbeat session on Wall Street as investors look towards crucial midterm elections that polls show could upend power in Washington.
Microsoft co-founder's art may reap $1 bn at auction
An art collection is tipped to break the $1 billion barrier at auction for the first time when Christie's sells works belonging to late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen this week.
Africa facing climate impact 'nightmare': Kenyan president
The crushing impacts of climate change are already a "living nightmare" for people across Africa, Kenyan President William Ruto told world leaders at UN talks on Monday.
Stocks mostly rise, dollar dips before US midterms
Global stock markets mostly rose Monday, extending last week's strong gains, while dollar dipped against key rivals ahead of this week's US midterm elections.
EU threatens US over electric car subsidies
The European Union threatened Monday to take retaliatory measures against the United States for electric car subsidies that favour domestic manufacturers.
Stocks mostly rise, oil steady tracking China lockdown policy
Global stock markets mostly rose Monday, extending last week's strong gains, while oil prices steadied after China reaffirmed its commitment to an economically painful zero-Covid policy.
Ukraine hails new air defences, warns power situation 'tense'
Ukraine announced Monday it had received more air defence systems from Western military allies, as officials in Kyiv said the situation with supplies was "tense" after protracted Russian attacks on energy facilities.
Black marketeers grease the wheels in Central Africa's petrol crisis
The Tradex petrol station on Bangui's Boganda avenue stands deserted, except for a lone goat wandering between the empty pumps.
Stocks mostly rise, oil falls tracking China lockdown policy
Stock markets mostly rose Monday, extending last week's strong gains, while oil prices fell after China reaffirmed its commitment to its economically painful zero-Covid policy.
Tanzania pays tearful tribute to plane crash victims
Grieving Tanzanians paid emotional tribute Monday to 19 people killed when a passenger plane plunged into Lake Victoria in the country's deadliest air crash in decades.