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US services sector growth ebbed in January amid Omicron
Growth in the US services sector slowed modestly in January amid the surging Omicron variant of Covid-19 and lingering supply chain problems, according to a survey released Thursday.
ECB chief opens door to 2022 rate hike as inflation soars
European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde on Thursday left open the possibility of interest rate hikes this year for the first time, as the eurozone comes under pressure from soaring prices.
Meta slump drags stocks lower, oil falls
Stock markets fell Thursday, dragged down by a massive plunge in the shares of Facebook parent company Meta following disappointing earnings.
ECB sees longer inflation but stands pat on policy
European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde said Thursday that record inflation would stay high longer than expected, but the ECB stuck to its ultra-loose monetary policy as it sees prices cooling this year.
WHO sees pause, even end of pandemic for Europe
The World Health Organization on Thursday offered Europe hope of a "long period of tranquility" and even "enduring peace" in the war on coronavirus, with a growing list of nations lifting almost all Covid curbs.
ECB sits tight as inflation pressure rises
The European Central Bank stuck to its ultra-loose monetary policy on Thursday, despite record inflation in the eurozone putting the Frankfurt-based institution under mounting pressure.
BoE agrees second rate hike in row as inflation soars
The Bank of England on Thursday lifted its main interest rate for the second time in a row in a bid to tackle decades-high inflation.
UK to support consumers as energy price cap rises 54%
The UK government on Thursday stepped in to help the hardest-hit households struggling with the rising cost of living, announcing a £9 billion package to offset soaring energy bills.
Stock markets mostly fall before European interest rate decisions
Stock markets mostly dropped Thursday as profit-taking set in after recent strong gains, as traders awaited interest rate updates from the European Central Bank and the Bank of England.
Cuba runs out of milk, breaking Castro's promise
In the early days of communism in Cuba, Fidel Castro had pledged that every child under seven would have a liter of subsidized milk every day.
Turkey inflation surges to near 20-year high
Turkey's annual inflation rate in January reached its highest level since April 2002, official data showed Thursday, after a currency crisis decimated people's purchasing power.
Shell swings into huge profit as oil price recovers
Energy giant Shell surged back into profit last year as oil prices rocketed on recovering demand with economies reopening from pandemic lockdowns.
Rio Tinto's recent scandals
Revelations of rape and sexual assault at Rio Tinto are the latest in a series of scandals to hit the global mining giant, which is listed in London and Sydney.
Asia stocks mixed as profit-taking, tech woes offset catch-up play
Asian markets were mixed Thursday, with a split between those suffering from profit-taking following a recent rally and those that were playing catch-up after a midweek break across much of the region.
Scraping a living: salt offers women lifeline in Yemen
Scooping up handfuls of white crystals from coastal pools, a group of women in Yemen harvest salt -- a traditional industry proving to be a lifeline after seven years of war.
Lisa Cook, expert on economic scars of racism, now Biden Fed nominee
A researcher focused on how discrimination has harmed the American economy and the damage downturns do to the poor, Lisa Cook would bring a new perspective to the US central bank.
Biden's Fed board nominees become political footballs
Though set up as an institution operating above the partisan fray in Washington, the Federal Reserve has again become a political football, with Republicans and business groups attacking President Joe Biden's nominees to serve on the central bank's board.
NFT museum opens its doors in United States
A museum dedicated to NFTs -- the blockchain-based creations that have taken the artworld by storm -- has opened its doors in the United States.
The NFT artist who sold a trashcan image for $252,000
Marcel Duchamp scandalised the art world in 1917 by submitting a urinal as his entry to a prestigious competition. A century later, an American artist known as Robness sparked his own controversy by selling an NFT of a rubbish bin for $252,000.
Meta's profit slips as Facebook loses users
Facebook's parent firm Meta on Wednesday delivered a gloomy mix of a sharper-than-expected drop in profit, a decrease in users and threats to its ad business that plunged shares some 22 percent in after-hours trading.
SpaceX rocket successfully launches US spy satellite
A US intelligence agency said Wednesday that its newest spy satellite successfully launched into orbit atop a reusable SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Brazil hikes key interest rate to double digits
Brazil's central bank hiked its benchmark interest rate by 1.5 points Wednesday to 10.75 percent, bringing it into double digits for the first time in nearly five years to fight rampant inflation.
Spotify shares fall on worries over slowing growth amid Rogan row
Shares of Spotify tumbled Wednesday after the music streaming service -- roiled in controversy over its star podcaster Joe Rogan -- projected lower profit margins in the coming earnings period as subscriber growth slows.
Facebook parent Meta's profit slips as problems pile up
Facebook's parent firm Meta delivered unsteady results Wednesday, with threats to its key ad business, big expenses on its metaverse vision and a weaker forecast that plunged shares some 20 percent in after-hours trading.
Armenia, Turkey resume first flights in two years
Historic rivals Turkey and Armenia on Wednesday resumed their first commercial flights in two years as part of cautious efforts to warm their frozen ties.
Facebook parent Meta's profit slips
Facebook's parent firm Meta on Wednesday posted a $10 billion quarterly profit that missed expectations alongside a downbeat forecast, sending shares plummeting some 20 percent in after-hours trading.
Uncrewed Artemis I mission to Moon pushed back
The first mission in NASA's program to take humans back to the Moon has been delayed until spring at the earliest, the US space agency said Wednesday, saying it needed more time to complete safety checks.
Sri Lanka seeks IMF advice amid worsening crisis
Sri Lanka has asked for "advice" from the International Monetary Fund amid a worsening economic crisis, the finance minister said Wednesday, signalling Colombo could seek an international bailout.
Germany blocks German-language Russian channel
The German broadcasting regulator said Wednesday it had banned the transmission of the German-language channel of Russian state broadcaster RT, with Moscow vowing to take "retaliatory measures".
Thousands lose power but Mauritius escapes 'major damage' from cyclone
Thousands of homes were left without power in Mauritius on Wednesday but the Indian Ocean island nation escaped without "major damage" from a battering by powerful cyclone winds.
USA Swimming changes rules in wake of transgender athlete's success
A transgender American swimmer's controversial career hung in the balance Wednesday after the collegiate body governing the sport announced new rules, including testosterone limits, that could impact her ability to race competitively.
US private hiring slumps in ominous labor market sign
US private businesses shed jobs last month for the first time since December 2020 as the Omicron strain again complicated workplaces, potentially a bad sign for the upcoming government employment report.
Amazon oil spill in Ecuador was 6,300 barrels
An oil spill caused by a ruptured pipeline in Ecuador's part of the Amazon leaked almost 6,300 barrels into an environmental reserve, according to information given on Wednesday by the company that owns the conduit.
Turkey says 12 migrants blocked by Greece die at border
Turkey on Wednesday accused Greece of allowing 12 migrants to die in the winter cold after stripping them of their clothes and then pushing them back across the Turkish border.
OPEC+ backs another modest oil output hike despite surging prices
Top oil-producing countries led by Saudi Arabia and Russia announced another modest increase in output on Wednesday despite soaring crude prices and geopolitical tensions rattling the markets.
US private hiring fell 301,000 amid January Omicron surge: survey
Private US businesses shed 301,000 jobs last month as the Omicron variant of Covid-19 disrupted activity, payroll services firm ADP said Wednesday in a report that was far worse than expected.
OPEC+ eyes modest output boost despite price surge
Top oil producing countries led by Saudi Arabia and Russia are expected to stick to their guns and announce another modest output increase on Wednesday despite soaring crude prices.
Two Afghan journalists released after Taliban detention
Two Afghan journalists detained by the Taliban earlier this week were released Wednesday, the news editor of their media organisation said.
Eurozone inflation rises to new record high
Inflation in the eurozone soared to a new record high in January, official data showed Wednesday, adding pressure on the European Central Bank ahead of a monetary policy meeting this week.