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'Pressing need' for US, China to communicate on economic issues: Yellen
Close communication between the United States and China on economic issues is vital, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Wednesday ahead of a meeting with a top Chinese official in Zurich.
At Davos, Saudi Arabia says curbing oil dependency a priority
Saudi Arabia is working to reduce its reliance on oil exports, Economy Minister Faisal Al-Ibrahim said Wednesday, as the Middle East powerhouse sent one of the largest delegations to the Davos summit to make its case.
Moving house: Arctic mining town's move divides residents
Each time he boasts about the colossal relocation of his town centre in the Swedish Arctic, Kiruna mayor Gunnar Selberg gets a dressing-down from a very dissatisfied resident: his wife.
Taiwan records biggest economic contraction since 2009
Taiwan's economy shrank in the final quarter of 2022, the government said Wednesday, in the island's worst quarterly contraction since it was hammed by the global financial crisis in late 2009.
UK inflation slows in December but remains sky-high
Annual inflation in Britain slowed to 10.5 percent in December, official data showed Wednesday, but remained close to historically high levels that are causing a cost-of-living crisis and mass strikes.
Marvel movies return to China after nearly 4-year break
Chinese film fans on Wednesday celebrated the return of Marvel movies to the country's cinemas after an absence of nearly four years.
Macau jails 'junket king' Alvin Chau for 18 years
Macau's former "junket king" Alvin Chau was sentenced on Wednesday to 18 years in jail for running an illegal gambling empire, ending a criminal trial that shocked the casino hub and toppled one of its highest-profile gaming tycoons.
Staff shortages dent Hong Kong air hub reboot hopes
Regional airlines are struggling to ramp up flights to Hong Kong because of staff shortages at the airport, slowing the city's plan to recapture its travel hub status, industry insiders have told AFP.
Asian markets up on recovery hopes, yen sinks after BoJ decision
Asian markets mostly rose Wednesday following a mixed lead from Wall Street as traders fought to maintain the strong start to the year, while the yen sank after the Bank of Japan decided against further tweaking monetary policy.
Bank of Japan leaves policy unchanged, yen weakens
Japan's central bank left its ultra-easy monetary policy unchanged on Wednesday, a move that sent the yen plunging, despite heavy speculation it could again tweak a key lever.
Most Asian markets rise on recovery hopes
Asian markets mostly rose Wednesday following a mixed lead from Wall Street as traders fought to maintain the strong start to the year.
French-German ties under strain as they mark 60-year friendship
Russia's invasion of Ukraine and a changing world order are straining ties between France and Germany as they prepare to celebrate 60 years since a post-World War II treaty sealed their reconciliation.
Global stocks mixed on China data, drop in European gas prices
Global stocks were mixed Tuesday following data showing China's growth slowed sharply in 2022 as European gas prices hit another 16-month low on fading fears of a winter supply crunch.
United Airlines sees 2023 profit jump amid tight capacity
Eyeing another year of strong travel demand and limited airline industry capacity, United Airlines projected a big jump in 2023 profits Tuesday after releasing fourth-quarter earnings that topped expectations.
The world's oldest known person dies aged 118: spokesman to AFP
The world's oldest known person, French nun Lucile Randon, has died aged 118, a spokesman told AFP on Tuesday.
Hot Brit label Wales Bonner launches buzzy menswear week in Paris
One of the buzziest ever menswear fashion weeks launched in Paris on Tuesday, with young British designer Grace Wales Bonner showing why she is tipped for big things with her homage to the "black flaneur".
Pfizer to sell more drugs at cost to poor nations
US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced on Tuesday that it will greatly expand the number of medicines and vaccines it sells on a not-for-profit basis to the world's poorest countries.
International tourist arrivals doubled in 2022: UN
International tourist arrivals doubled in 2022 over the previous year, and should reach near pre-pandemic levels in 2023 thanks to the lifting of travel restrictions, especially in China, the UN's tourism body said Tuesday.
Greta Thunberg detained at German coal mine protest
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was hauled away and detained on Tuesday during a protest near a German village being razed to make way for a coal mine expansion, police said.
Ukraine sees tourism as 'crucial' for post-war revival
With its beaches targeted by Russian strikes and its hotels empty or closed since the start of the war, Ukraine has been deprived of an important source of income: tourism.
France braces for 'hellish Thursday' as pension strikes loom
France is to face severe public transport disruptions on Thursday, operators have warned, as workers join a nationwide strike against a widely unpopular pension reform plan.
Making fewer babies: the demographic decline
The world's population may have shot up beyond eight billion for the first time recently, but some countries including the most populous, China, are seeing their populations shrink.
'This song sucks': Nick Cave trashes AI-generated lyrics
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be able to generate beguiling images, "deepfake" video and passable high-school essays, but Australian musician Nick Cave is deeply unimpressed with their song-writing skills.
Scottish and trans outrage as UK government blocks gender law
The UK government denied Tuesday it was dismantling Scottish self-rule after exercising an unprecedented veto to block a new law passed already by the Edinburgh parliament.
US high court hears sanctions evasion case against Turkey's Halkbank
The US Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday in an appeal by Turkey's Halkbank against US charges that it violated sanctions on Iran.
Concern over lack of air-con in Paris 2024 Olympic village
The lack of air conditioning in the rooms of the athletes' village for the Paris 2024 Olympics is raising concerns from some federations and athletes, sources told AFP on Tuesday.
Goldman Sachs profits hit by big drop in mergers
Goldman Sachs reported a steep decline in fourth-quarter earnings on Tuesday on much lower merger activity in results that missed analyst expectations and weighed on shares.
Slain Kenya LGBTQ activist laid to rest amid calls for justice
A prominent Kenyan LGBTQ campaigner whose body was found dumped in a metal box about two weeks ago was buried at the family home in the west of the country on Tuesday.
Stocks struggle on China data; gas prices extend losses
Global stock markets struggled Tuesday on news of China's slowing economy, but European gas prices hit another 16-month low on fading fears of a winter supply crunch.
Childcare woes, costs and competition turn Chinese off parenting
Weary parents in China say the difficulties of juggling work and childcare in a costly and ultra-competitive society with little help from the state are at the root of the country's dwindling birth rate.
Ukraine war's shadow hangs over Cyprus church
When the Greek-Orthodox Church of Cyprus enthroned its new leader this month, one bishop stayed away in silent protest over a dispute sparked by the Ukraine war.
China's population shrinks for first time in more than 60 years
China's population shrank last year for the first time in more than six decades, official data showed Tuesday, as the birth rate slows in the face of mounting financial pressures and shifting social attitudes.