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Facebook accused of blocking Australian health sites
A whistleblower group is accusing Facebook of deliberately blocking websites for Australian hospitals and emergency services as part of a negotiating tactic last year.
Crisis-hit Sri Lanka declares emergency after crippling strike
Sri Lanka's president Friday declared a state of emergency for the second time in five weeks, giving security forces sweeping powers amid a nationwide strike by angry demonstrators who blame him for an unprecedented economic crisis.
India, Pakistan must brace for even worse heatwaves
The devastating heatwave that gripped India and Pakistan over the last two months is unprecedented, but worse -- perhaps far worse -- is on the horizon as climate change continues apace, top climate scientists told AFP.
Solid job growth continues in recovering US economy
From bars to factories to warehouses, American businesses hired staff with vigor in April as the US economy recovers from the damage done by Covid-19 while grappling with inflation that has hit the highest rate in decades.
Tech vs telecoms: EU ignites debate on 'net neutrality'
Tech and streaming giants suck up vast amounts of bandwidth, so the EU this week revived a long-standing idea to make them pay the telecom firms who maintain the infrastructure.
Stocks selloff deepens, pound takes fresh tumble
A global stocks selloff over fears about the impact of interest rate hikes that seek to tackle sky-high inflation deepened on Friday.
Ukraine wheat harvest set to drop by third: satellite imagery
Ukraine's wheat production is likely to be down by at least a third from last year due to the Russian invasion, a data analysis firm that uses satellite imagery said Friday.
China troubles mar Adidas's first-quarter result
German sportswear giant Adidas reported a drop in its profits in the first quarter on Friday, as widespread coronavirus lockdowns hurt business in key market China.
India to reopen abandoned coal mines as heatwave hits supply
India plans to lease abandoned coal pits to private mining companies, a government official said Friday, in an effort to ramp up production as power outages exacerbate a sweltering heatwave.
'King of streets': Last skateboarder on Ukraine front
The baby-faced teenager in baggy shorts races his skateboard past the bombed burger joint and hit Peace Square just as air raid sirens rolled over the Ukrainian front.
Police tear-gas students as strike hits Sri Lanka
Police again fired tear gas and water cannon at students trying to storm Sri Lanka's parliament Friday as the country was brought to a halt by a trade union strike demanding the government step down.
Biden heads to Ohio to tout industrial renewal plan
US President Joe Biden will travel to political battleground state Ohio on Friday to announce the launch of a new industrial renewal plan that his administration hopes will revive the country's manufacturing sector.
National strike in Sri Lanka to demand govt step down
Sri Lanka's bus and train networks ground to a halt while offices and factories were empty Friday in a nationwide strike demanding the government's resignation over the island's worsening economic crisis.
US Women's Basketball season kicks off with key star held in Russia
Women's Basketball season kicks off in the United States on Friday without one of its brightest stars: Brittney Griner, who was arrested in Russia just before Moscow launched its war in Ukraine.
Police violence remains chronic struggle in Dominican Republic
An argument between a shopper and a store clerk at a mall in the Dominican Republic capital of Santo Domingo ended last month with police arresting customer David de los Santos.
China building collapse death toll rises to 53
Fifty-three people died in a building collapse in central China, authorities said Friday, announcing the end of the rescue mission in a disaster which has been blamed on illegal construction.
Will Hong Kong reopen for business under new leader Lee?
Hong Kong's next leader John Lee is inheriting a once vibrant Asian business hub mired in its third year of pandemic isolation but he may prioritise security over an economic reboot, business leaders and observers say.
Wall Street tumbles on Fed worries, pound slumps
After breathing a sigh of relief when the Federal Reserve held off on signaling more aggressive measures ahead to fight inflation, Wall Street tumbled on Thursday amid renewed anxiety over rising interest rates, while the pound slumped on fears of a UK recession.
Karine Jean-Pierre named as first Black W.House press secretary
US President Joe Biden on Thursday named Karine Jean-Pierre as the next White House press secretary, the first Black person to hold the high-profile post.
UN convoy en route for rescue from Mariupol 'hell'
The United Nations on Thursday said a new convoy was heading to evacuate civilians from the "hell" of a besieged steel plant in Mariupol, even as Ukraine accused Russia of breaking its promise to pause fire at the site.
Boeing will move its headquarters to Washington area
Boeing announced Thursday it will relocate its headquarters from Chicago to the Washington suburb of Arlington, Virginia, moving the airplane maker and defense contractor closer to government decision-makers.
Covid killed some 15 million in 2020-21: WHO
The Covid-19 pandemic killed around 15 million people worldwide in 2020 and 2021, the WHO estimated Thursday -- nearly triple the number of deaths officially attributed to the disease.
UN sends rescue convoy as Ukraine denies Russian truce at steel plant
The United Nations on Thursday said a new convoy was en route to evacuate civilians from the "hell" of a besieged steel plant in Mariupol, even as Ukraine accused Russia of breaking its promise to pause fire at the site.
Armed gang robs Chanel boutique in Paris
An armed gang on Thursday robbed a Chanel watch and jewellery store near the swanky Place Vendome in central Paris in broad daylight, police told AFP.
Turkey inflation spirals to nearly 70 percent
Turkey's official inflation rate spiralled to nearly 70 percent in April, data showed on Thursday, posing a huge challenge to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose unconventional economic policies are often blamed for the economic turmoil.
Top oil producers agree modest supply boost amid demand concerns
Saudi Arabia, Russia and other key oil producers agreed Thursday on another marginal increase in output, bolstered by risks to demand amid coronavirus restrictions in China.
Sri Lanka police tear gas student protesters outside parliament
Police fired tear gas on students attempting to storm Sri Lanka's parliament Thursday as the protesters demanded the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over the country's worst-ever economic crisis.
Musk secures $7.1 bn to finance Twitter deal
Elon Musk has raised $7.1 billion for his Twitter acquisition from investors that include Oracle founder Larry Ellison and Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, according to a securities filing Thursday.
Pound slumps after tepid BoE rate hike
The pound tumbled after the Bank of England raised interest rates by just a quarter of a percentage point despite surging inflation, while oil prices jumped after OPEC+ only modestly hiked production.
Lufthansa warns of price rises as tourist demand takes off
German national carrier Lufthansa said Thursday that ticket prices could rise as the cost of energy soars following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Top oil producers agree on modest supply boost amid demand concerns
Saudi Arabia, Russia and other key oil producers agreed on Thursday to another marginal increase in output, bolstered by risks to demand amid coronavirus restrictions in China.
Lufthansa optimistic for 2022 as tourist demand bounces back
German national carrier Lufthansa on Thursday said it slashed its losses in the first quarter and set its sights on a record summer for tourist traffic as demand recovers from the pandemic.
Shell profit up as high oil prices offset Russia hit
British energy giant Shell on Thursday logged soaring first-quarter net profit as surging oil prices offset a sizeable charge linked to its Russia exit.
Turkey inflation spirals to nearly 70 percent in April
Turkey's official inflation rate spiralled to nearly 70 percent in April, data showed on Thursday, posing a huge challenge to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose unconventional economic policies are often blamed for the economic turmoil.
TikTok to launch ad revenue-sharing program for creators
TikTok on Wednesday announced an ad revenue-sharing program with the social media platform's most prominent creators, moving closer to a model already used by its competitors.
China’s Covid rules batter business confidence: EU Chamber
China's strict zero-Covid policy has led to a plunge in confidence among European companies operating in the country as supply chains are tangled, revenue projections fall and staff leave, according to a business group survey released Thursday.
Asian markets rise as Fed eases fears over huge rate hike
US central bank officials announced an expected half-point lift in borrowing costs -- the biggest since 2000 -- as part of its battle to rein in inflation, while unveiling a timetable to offload its vast bond holdings.
BoE set for fresh rate hike as inflation soars
The Bank of England is on Thursday expected to raise interest rates for a fourth time in a row to contain runaway inflation that is causing a cost-of-living crisis.
OPEC+ eye modest supply boost as demand dented by China Covid rules
OPEC+ members meeting on Thursday are expected to agree a marginal increase in oil production, bolstered by risks to demand amid coronavirus restrictions in China.