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Most Asian markets rise in thinned trade after Wall St rally
Most Asian markets rose Monday after a late afternoon rally on Wall Street capped a volatile week for global equities, though traders remained nervous about the Federal Reserve's plan to hike interest rates as it battles surging inflation.
Weekend-long Canada anti-vax protest riles Ottawa
A "Freedom Convoy" of trucks joined by thousands of demonstrators brought Ottawa to a virtual standstill for a second day Sunday to protest Canada's vaccine mandates, as other sympathetic truckers blocked a border highway into the United States.
Foreign journalists in China facing 'unprecedented' pressure: media group
Threats of legal action, online troll campaigns and dwindling numbers after the expulsion of colleagues -- foreign journalists in China are facing "unprecedented hurdles" from efforts to discredit independent reporting, a press group said Monday.
Canada anti-vax protest continues as vandals spark anger
Truckers and thousands of sympathizers blocked Ottawa streets for a second day Sunday to protest Canada's vaccine mandates, as reports of vandalism and harassment by some demonstrators sent tempers flaring.
Portugal's Socialists win election marked by far right gains: exit polls
Portugal's ruling Socialists won Sunday's early election by a wide margin but may still fall short of an outright majority while the far right made huge gains, exit polls showed.
US, UK ramp up sanctions pressure on Russia over Ukraine
The United States and Britain on Sunday flagged new and "devastating" economic sanctions against Russia, as Washington and its NATO allies step up efforts to deter any invasion of Ukraine.
China factory activity edges down in January amid Covid outbreaks
Factory activity in China edged down in January, official figures showed Sunday, but slightly exceeded expectations as businesses struggled with sporadic disruptions due to coronavirus outbreaks.
Start ups bringing Pakistan's farming into digital age
Agriculture entrepreneurs are bringing the digital age to Pakistan's farmers, helping them plan crops better and distribute their produce when the time is right.
Bottom of gender rankings, Iraqi women defy critics to work
Each working morning, oil engineer Safa al-Saeedi dons a safety helmet and heads into a gas complex for another day challenging conservative prejudices by being a professional woman in Iraq.
Miami's lure during Covid sends housing prices through the roof
Miami resident Maria Ruby learned last month that her rent will shoot up 65 percent in February. She cannot afford it and does not know where to go.
A Ukrainian mother vows to take up gun if Russia invades
Standing in the dining room of her Kyiv flat, mother-of-three Mariana Zhaglo pulls her long rifle out of its khaki case.
UK assisted dying bill hopes to end 'inhumane' suicides
Molly Meacher's voice quivers with emotion as she tells how her aunt took her own life after her liver cancer tumour grew to the size of a football.
Qatar looks to profit from Europe gas fears over Ukraine
Europe's fears of losing Russian gas supplies in the Ukraine crisis will loom large when Qatar's emir meets the US president on Monday but the powerful Gulf ruler has no "magic wand", analysts say.
Amazon accused of anti-union tactics in New York
US labor authorities have filed a complaint accusing e-commerce giant Amazon of using threats and surveillance against its workers trying to organize a union at a New York City warehouse.
At collapsed bridge, Biden envisions rebuilding America
A bridge collapse Friday in Pittsburgh provided a symbolic backdrop for President Joe Biden's trip to the city to tout his $1 trillion infrastructure plan -- and try rebuilding his own crumbling approval ratings.
Russia loses a million people in historic population fall
Russia's population declined by more than one million people in 2021, the statistics agency Rosstat reported Friday, a historic drop not seen since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
US regulator points to progress in allowing 5G at more airports
US aviation officials reported progress Friday on allowing more 5G service near airports following negotiations with telecommunications providers, but airlines said there were still some disruptions.
Wall Street rebounds, European stocks slump at end of volatile week
European stock markets ended a volatile week in the red of Friday, as investors weighed expectations of economic recovery against soaring inflation, rising interest rates and mixed earnings.
Bridge collapses in Pittsburgh just before Biden speech
A bridge collapse Friday in Pittsburgh provided a symbolic backdrop for President Joe Biden's trip to the city to tout his $1 trillion infrastructure plan -- and try rebuilding his own crumbling approval ratings.
US inflation slowed in December, spending fell: govt
In the final month of 2021, Americans dialed back their spending even as incomes rose thanks to wage increases, while inflation showed signs of moderating, government data released Friday said.
Argentina president announces new debt deal with IMF
Argentine President Alberto Fernandez unveiled what he called a "reasonable" new debt repayment deal with the International Monetary Fund on Friday, the day a $700-million repayment was due.
Caterpillar reports profit jump but warns of supply chain headwinds
Caterpillar reported a jump in fourth-quarter earnings Friday on surging demand for industrial equipment, but warned that supply chain problems will probably continue to weigh on results in 2022.
Italy speeds up presidential vote but deadlock persists
Italy on Friday sought to accelerate the process of electing a new president after days of deadlock that has paralysed Prime Minister Mario Draghi's government, but parliament remained bitterly divided.
Rwanda to reopen Uganda border in boost to ties
Rwanda said Friday it would reopen its land border with Uganda next week after a three-year closure, a major breakthrough in repairing relations between the neighbours.
IMF warns China's property stress poses spillover risk
A funding crisis battering China's big property developers could start to shake the wider economy and global markets, the IMF warned on Friday, saying deeper reforms were needed to fully curb the threat.
Left out in the cold by Spain's soaring energy prices
In her flat on the outskirts of Madrid, Pamela Ponce no longer turns on the heating despite the biting chill coming in through the windows.
Google to invest $1 bn in India's number two mobile operator
Google will invest up to $1 billion in India's second-largest mobile operator, Airtel, the companies said Friday, as the Android-maker looks to bolster its presence in the vast nation's booming telecoms market.
Toyota keeps top-selling automaker title despite chip crunch
Toyota retained its crown as the world's top-selling automaker on Friday, having overcome a chip shortage and supply chain woes to beat Volkswagen for a second straight year.
Philippines to re-open to vaccinated foreign tourists
The Philippines will re-open to fully vaccinated tourists from most countries on February 10 and lift quarantine requirements, officials said Friday, nearly two years after closing its borders to contain the coronavirus.
China Unicom says no 'justifiable grounds' for US ban
China Unicom said Friday there were no "justifiable grounds" for a US order that banned the company from operating in the country on national security concerns.
Ex-government workers mine for salvation in Afghan mountains
In the bone-splitting chill of the Afghan mountains, Mohammad Israr Muradi digs through coarse earth spilling from the open mouth of an emerald mine.
German industry seeks ladder out of supply chain woes
A new warehouse with a freshly unboxed smell is the consequence of the coronavirus pandemic for the German ladder, stool and scaffold-maker Munk.
Salvadorans show support for bitcoin despite IMF criticism
Karen Hernandez sells mobile phone accessories in El Salvador and says business has been through the roof since the country started using bitcoin as legal tender.
Apple quarterly revenue record high despite chip shortage
Apple reported record $124 billion quarterly revenue on Thursday, despite a global chip pinch and shifting impacts of the pandemic that have weighed down other big tech players.
Morocco starts construction of anti-Covid vaccine plant
Morocco on Thursday inaugurated construction of an anti-Covid vaccine manufacturing plant in partnership with Swedish firm Recipharm, the official news agency MAP reported.
Honduras: Poor, violent and corrupt
Honduras, which inaugurated Xiomara Castro as its first-ever woman president Thursday, is a small country with idyllic beaches at the heart of Central America's "triangle of death," plagued by gangs, poverty and corruption.
McDonald's profits rise as fast-food giant lifts prices carefully
Price increases helped McDonald's report higher profits Thursday as the fast-food giant navigates an inflationary environment that it argues advantages the Big Mac maker over its competitors.
Tests of HIV vaccine using mRNA technology have begun
Testing in humans of an HIV vaccine that uses messenger RNA technology has begun, the biotech firm Moderna and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative said Thursday.
Rare Botticelli sells for $45 mn at New York auction
A rare Botticelli painting depicting Jesus Christ sold at auction for more than $45 million Thursday at Sotheby's in New York, a year after a record $92 million was paid for a work by the Italian Renaissance master.