Featured
Last news
Russian rescuers scramble to save 13 trapped under gold mine
Russian rescuers were scrambling to save 13 workers trapped inside a giant gold mine near the Chinese border for a second day on Wednesday, as officials warned of a "difficult situation".
Chinese internet giant Tencent posts lowest annual profit since 2019
Chinese internet giant Tencent on Wednesday posted its lowest annual profit since 2019, despite slight improvements recently in China's economy and a more lenient attitude taken by regulators towards the tech sector.
UK inflation slows to lowest level in almost 2.5 years
Britain's annual inflation rate fell more than expected in February, official data showed Wednesday, fuelling speculation that the Bank of England will start cutting interest rates in the coming months.
Apple CEO in China ahead of Shanghai store opening
Apple CEO Tim Cook was on a China charm offensive Wednesday ahead of a new flagship Shanghai store opening, weeks after a report suggested the company's sales in the country slumped at the start of 2024.
Most Asian markets rise as Fed decision looms, yen softens
Asian markets mostly rose Wednesday as traders tracked another record day on Wall Street ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy meeting, while the yen further weakened a day after Japan's rare interest rate hike.
Photographer Annie Leibovitz: 'AI doesn't worry me at all'
Photographer to the stars Annie Leibovitz, inducted into the French Academy of Fine Arts on Wednesday, told AFP that AI was not a threat to her trade -- just another artistic tool.
Contentious Texas immigration law back on hold
A Texas law that would allow state police to arrest and deport migrants who cross illegally into the United States from Mexico was again placed on hold late Tuesday, the latest in an ongoing legal back-and-forth over its fate.
Asian markets mostly up with Wall St as Fed decision looms
Asian markets mostly rose Wednesday as traders tracked another record day on Wall Street, with focus squarely on the Federal Reserve's policy meeting.
Crisis-hit Playmobil eyes a Swift boost as it turns 50
As Playmobil turns 50, the German company behind the popular plastic figures is hoping that pop megastar Taylor Swift can help it shake off a slump in fortunes.
Australia hosts China FM, sees 'stability' in ties
China and Australia claimed to have stabilised long-strained relations after talks in Canberra on Wednesday, despite tensions over a high-profile prisoner, trade and China's crackdowns in Hong Kong and elsewhere remaining evident.
Asian markets swing as traders await Fed policy decision
Asian markets fluctuated Wednesday as traders struggled to track another record day on Wall Street, with focus squarely on the Federal Reserve's policy meeting.
El Salvador's 'Bitcoin Beach' cheers cryptocurrency surge
In a surf town in El Salvador nicknamed "Bitcoin Beach," shopkeeper Maria Aguirre watched with delight as the cryptocurrency -- and her investment in it -- recently soared to new all-time highs.
Finland is world's happiest country for seventh year: study
Finland remained the world's happiest country for a seventh straight year in an annual UN sponsored World Happiness Report published on Wednesday.
Microsoft hires DeepMind co-founder to lead AI unit
DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman will become the head of a newly created consumer AI unit at Microsoft, the scientist and entrepreneur said on Tuesday.
Global shares higher as Fed begins meeting and Japan hikes rates
US and European shares inched higher Tuesday as the US Federal Reserve began a policy making meeting and Japan raised interest rates for the first time in 17 years.
Renault CEO urges 'Marshall Plan' for Europe electric vehicles
The chief executive of French automaker Renault called Tuesday for a European "Marshall Plan" to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and reduce carbon emissions in the face of Chinese competition.
France faces high-risk vote on EU-Canada free trade deal
The French government on Thursday faces a risky vote on a controversial trade deal between the EU and Canada in the Senate where an unlikely alliance between left and right hopes to torpedo the pact.
Yen falls as Japan hikes rates but stocks mixed ahead of Fed
The yen fell and Japanese stocks rose Tuesday after the Bank of Japan raised interest rates, but shares were mixed elsewhere as investors awaited further signals from other central banks.
US Fed kicks off rate meeting with timing of cuts up for discussion
The US Federal Reserve began two days of discussions on Tuesday at which policymakers are expected to hold firm on interest rates, and continue discussions about when to start cutting them.
Yen drops, stocks mixed as Japan hikes rates at last
The yen weakened and Tokyo stocks rose Tuesday after the Bank of Japan hiked interest rates for the first time in 17 years owing to elevated inflation.
Acerbi facing federation probe over alleged racist comments
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced on Tuesday that it had opened an investigation into racist insults allegedly made by Inter Milan defender Francesco Acerbi.
Ben & Jerry's owner Unilever to spin off ice cream arm
British consumer goods giant Unilever announced Tuesday that it will separate its ice cream unit, whose top-selling products include Ben & Jerry's and Magnum, as a standalone business.
Yen drops, stock markets mixed as Japan hikes interest rates
The yen weakened and Tokyo stocks rose Tuesday after the Bank of Japan hiked interest rates for the first time in 17 years as it shifted away from its long-running ultra-loose monetary policy.
Bank of Japan hikes rates for first time since 2007
Japan's central bank pulled the plug Tuesday on its ultra-aggressive monetary stimulus programme, hiking rates for the first time since the global financial crisis.
Bank of Japan hikes rates for first since 2007
Japan's central bank pulled the plug Tuesday on its ultra-aggressive monetary stimulus programme, hiking rates for the first time since the global financial crisis.
Easy does it: The Bank of Japan's experiment
The Bank of Japan on Tuesday announced a seismic change in direction on Tuesday, hiking interest rates for the first time in 17 years.
Yen drops, Asian markets mixed as Japan hikes interest rates
The yen weakened and Tokyo stocks rose Tuesday after the Bank of Japan hiked interest rates for the first time in 17 years as it shifted away from its long-running ultra-loose monetary policy.
Bank of Japan scraps negative interest rate
Japan's central bank on Tuesday on Tuesday its negative interest rate as it finally began unwinding one of the world's most aggressive monetary easing programmes.
Napoli's Jesus accuses Italy defender Acerbi of racist abuse
Napoli defender Juan Jesus on Monday blasted Francesco Acerbi for denying he dished out racist abuse after the Italy international was forced to leave the Azzurri's training camp ahead of two friendlies in the United States.
AI giant Nvidia unveils higher performing 'superchips'
Nvidia on Monday unveiled its latest family of chips for powering artificial intelligence, as it seeks to consolidate its position as the major supplier to the AI frenzy.
Iconic US magazine Sports Illustrated gets publishing lifeline
Sports Illustrated, one of America's most storied magazines, saw an end to months of limbo Monday as a new 10-year publishing deal was announced.
US oil stockpile to be refilled this year: Energy secretary
The United States plans to refill its strategic oil reserve by the end of 2024 after the stockpiles reached historic lows last year, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said Monday.
Success and setbacks: 100 days of Argentina's Milei
Argentina's President Javier Milei has slashed public spending but 100 days into his presidency social tensions are simmering and he is still battling to pass his flagship economic reforms.
Tata Steel brings forward UK coke ovens closure
Indian-owned Tata Steel UK said Monday that it would shut down coke ovens at its Port Talbot steelworks in south Wales starting this week -- months earlier than previously announced.
Wall Street stocks lifted by tech rebound before key rate decisions
Renewed interest in tech stocks drove Wall Street's main indices higher Monday, while European shares dipped at the start of a busy week of central bank meetings that should shed more light on the direction of interest rates.
Wall Street stocks rise before key rate decisions
New York stocks climbed Monday at the start of a busy week of central bank meetings in the United States, Britain and Japan that should shed more light on the direction of interest rates.
Inter's Acerbi leaves Italy camp after racist abuse claims
Francesco Acerbi on Monday left Italy's training camp ahead of two friendlies in the United States after reports he will be investigated for alleged racial abuse of Napoli defender Juan Jesus.
Stock markets rise before key rate decisions
Stock markets climbed and the dollar dipped Monday ahead of interest-rate decisions due this week from the United States, Britain and Japan.
TikTok and its 'secret sauce' caught in US-China tussle
As a US campaign to sever TikTok from its Chinese parent heads to the Senate, analysts say Beijing's response to a forced sale of the app -- and its 'secret sauce' algorithm -- will be clear: Hands off.