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South Korea welcomes rare baby bump as population shrinks
Kim Su-jin and her husband have set aside their doubts and embraced parenthood, joining a small but notable wave of South Korean couples having children despite the country's steep demographic decline.
Soaring energy profits reignite calls for windfall tax
European oil and gas companies who posted huge profits in the first quarter on soaring prices caused by the war in the Middle East face new calls from London to Paris to tax their outsized gains.
Iran keeps US waiting for response on peace plan
Iran questioned the seriousness of American diplomacy on Saturday in the wake of renewed naval clashes in the Gulf, while keeping Washington waiting for a response to its latest negotiating position.
Canary Islands brace for arrival of hantavirus-hit cruise ship
A cruise ship hit with a deadly hantavirus outbreak is headed for Spain's Canary Islands, where most of the nearly 150 people on board will be evacuated and flown home after weeks at sea.
'No home left' for Gazans stranded in West Bank since Oct 7
Under the bleachers of a West Bank stadium, a dozen men from Gaza live in a former changing room, blocked from returning home by the war that erupted more than two and a half years ago.
Global stocks diverge, oil rises as fresh US-Iran clashes hit peace hopes
Global stock markets diverged and oil prices rose Friday as fresh US-Iran clashes in the Strait of Hormuz jolted hopes for a deal to end the Middle East war and reopen the crucial waterway.
Stocks diverge, oil rises as fresh US-Iran clashes hit peace hopes
Stock markets diverged and oil prices rose Friday as fresh US-Iran clashes in the Strait of Hormuz jolted hopes for a deal to end the Middle East war and reopen the crucial waterway.
Selling factories to Chinese partners: risky road for European carmakers
Carmaker Stellantis announced Friday it is considering selling an underutilised factory in Spain to its Chinese joint venture Leapmotor, which could save jobs in the short term but risks further strengthening Chinese automakers.
US job growth beats expectations but consumer confidence at all-time low
US employment rose more than expected in April, alleviating some concerns about the health of the world's largest economy even as one measure of consumer confidence came in at its lowest-ever level.
German sports car maker Porsche to cut 500 jobs
Porsche said Friday it will close three subsidiaries, including an EV battery developer, with the loss of more than 500 jobs, in the latest sign of strains for the German luxury auto manufacturer.
US job growth consolidates gains, beating expectations in April
US employment rose more than expected in April while the unemployment rate remained steady, according to government data released Friday, with the world's largest economy firming recent labor market gains though analysts warned of underlying weakness.
Rising fuel prices strand hundreds of Indonesian fishermen
Hundreds of fishermen in an Indonesian coastal town on the island of Java have been forced to stop going out to sea and told AFP their livelihoods are at risk due to soaring fuel prices.
Stocks diverge, oil steady as fresh US-Iran clashes hit peace hopes
Stock markets diverged and oil prices steadied Friday as US-Iran clashes in the Strait of Hormuz jolted hopes for a deal to end the Middle East war and reopen the crucial waterway.
US adds 115,000 jobs in April, beating expectations
US employment rose more than expected in April, while the unemployment rate remained steady, government data showed, with the world's largest economy firming recent labor market gains but analysts warning of underlying weakness.
Poland signs 44-bn-euro EU defence loan deal to modernise military
Poland on Friday became the first country to sign a loan agreement with the European Commission to fund the modernisation of its military and arms industry, under which it will receive nearly 44 billion euros ($52 billion).
Stocks fall, oil steady as fresh US-Iran clashes hit peace hopes
Stock markets slid and oil prices steadied Friday as US-Iran clashes in the Strait of Hormuz jolted hopes for a deal to end the Middle East war and reopen the crucial waterway.
Myanmar says massive 11,000-carat ruby discovered
A huge 11,000-carat ruby has been discovered in Myanmar, state media reported Friday, one of the largest ever found in the country renowned for its precious gemstones.
Myanmar says massive 11,000-carat ruby discovered in Mandalay
Myanmar said Friday it had discovered a massive 11,000-carat ruby, one of the largest ever found in the country renowned for its precious gemstones.
Toyota sees profit drop as US tariffs, Mideast bite
Japanese auto giant Toyota forecast Friday a 22-percent fall in net profit in the year to next March, as it struggles with the effects of US tariffs and the Middle East war.
Former China Eastern boss charged with bribery
The former chairman of one of China's biggest state-owned airlines has been charged with bribery, state media said Friday, nearly a year after he was investigated for graft.
Malaysia plans cloud seeding for drought-hit 'rice bowl'
Malaysia is resorting to cloud seeding to bring much-needed rain to the country's "rice bowl" north, where a drought has delayed planting of the staple crop and raised supply fears.
Where are the flash points in next week's Trump-Xi talks?
Donald Trump is poised to be the first US president visiting China in almost a decade, but an uneasy trade truce and tensions over Iran and Taiwan loom over his trip next week.
What does China want out of Trump's visit?
US President Donald Trump is due to visit China on May 14-15, where he is expected to meet leader Xi Jinping, after delaying an earlier summit because of the Iran war.
US and Iran trade fire, threatening fragile truce
The US military said it carried out strikes on Iranian military targets Thursday after an attack on three American destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran accused Washington of striking first.
Global stocks mostly fall as US rally shows signs of fatigue
Global stocks mostly fell Thursday as US indices pulled back from records while Washington awaited Tehran's response to a US plan to end the Middle East war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Google faces new UK lawsuit over online display ads
Google faces a fresh UK lawsuit accusing it of abusing its dominance in online display advertising, the claimants announced Thursday, in the latest antitrust action against the US tech giant.
France to ban CBD edibles: sources
France will ban the sale of cannabidiol (CBD) edibles from May 15, while still allowing it to be sold to be smoked, AFP learnt from several sources on Thursday.
Hundreds paid or seeking damages over Harrods Al-Fayed abuse complaints
More than 75 survivors have been awarded "full compensation" for suffering sexual abuse at the hands of late Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, and nearly another 200 claims are being processed, a company scheme told AFP Thursday.
US oil blockade on Cuba 'energy starvation': UN experts
The fuel blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States amounts to "energy starvation", and has "grave consequences" for human rights and development, three UN special rapporteurs said Thursday.
Covid flashbacks haunt Canary Islands as hantavirus ship nears
Six years after registering Spain's first Covid case, the Canary Islands are awaiting the arrival of a cruise ship struck by a deadly hantavirus outbreak that is reviving painful memories.
IMF warns of 'inevitable' AI-powered threats to global financial system
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned on Thursday of the risks to global financial stability posed by cyberattacks powered by advanced artificial intelligence tools, calling for greater international cooperation on the issue.
Germany warns tax revenues to be hit by Iran war
Germany will generate less tax revenue in the coming years, in large part due to the "irresponsible" Middle East war launched by US President Donald Trump, the finance minister warned Thursday.