Featured
Last news
Fear grips undocumented foreign workers in South Africa
Zimbabwean domestic migrant worker Precious clocked in late for work, launched into her duties for a white South African family as if nothing happened, yet hours earlier she had been arrested for being in the country without papers.
Recession-bound UK fights inflation with tax cuts
The UK's new government on Friday unveiled a multi-billion-pound package to support households and businesses hit by the highest inflation in decades, cutting taxes as the nation heads for recession.
Markets endure further losses, dollar rises as central banks turn screws
Asian markets fell again Friday and the dollar extended gains as part of a global sell-off fuelled by recession fears after central banks around the world ramped up interest rates to fight decades-high inflation.
Financial markets, Brussels wary of Italy far-right win
From her euroscepticism to her impact on Italy's enormous debt, the likely victory of far-right leader Giorgia Meloni in elections Sunday is causing concern in financial markets and in Brussels.
Hong Kong replaced by Singapore as Asia's top finance centre
Hong Kong has lost its crown as Asia's premier finance centre to Singapore in a global ranking list where New York and London maintained their number one and two spots.
Poitier legacy tackled by Oprah in 'Sidney'
The late Sidney Poitier was at the peak of his Hollywood career when he came under fire from Black activists and intellectuals, accused of playing stereotypical, safe roles for white audiences just as the 1960s civil rights movement was exploding.
Ahead of World Cup, influencer 'Mr Q' lifts veil on Qatar
At a time when prickly questions are being asked about Qatar and its hosting of the World Cup, Khalifa Al Haroon offers a smile, a sigh and a shrug as he seeks to explain its mysteries.
Britain unveils anti-inflation budget as recession looms
The UK's new government unveils Friday multibillion-pound measures aimed at supporting households and businesses hit by decades-high inflation.
Japan to lift Covid restrictions on foreign tourists from October
Japan announced Thursday that it will lift tough Covid restrictions on foreign tourists, reopening the borders after two and a half years.
Facebook whistleblower launches nonprofit to take on big tech
Whistleblower Frances Haugen -- a former Facebook engineer who leaked documents suggesting the firm put profits before safety -- on Thursday launched an organization devoted to fighting harm caused by social media.
Japan to lift Covid restrictions on foreign tourist arrivals
Japan on Thursday announced that it will lift tough Covid restrictions on foreign tourists, reopening the borders after two and a half years.
UK government lifts gas fracking ban in England
Britain on Thursday lifted England's moratorium on controversial gas fracking to boost energy security, despite breaking the ruling Conservative party's manifesto pledge.
Bank of England hikes rates again, warns on recession
The Bank of England hiked its interest rate sharply again Thursday to combat decades-high inflation but warned the UK economy was slipping into recession.
Bank of England hikes rate again as UK enters recession
The Bank of England hiked its interest rate again on Thursday to combat soaring inflation as it warned that the UK's economy had already slipped into recession.
Iran demonstrations hit home for diaspora women
As Iranian women bare their heads and burn Islamic veils in demonstrations that have met nationwide repression, hopes and emotions are also running high among those living abroad.
Japan government intervenes to support cratering yen
Japan's finance ministry said Thursday it intervened in the currency market to bolster the yen, which has plummeted against the dollar in recent months on the widening policy gap between the US and Japanese central banks.
Norway, Swiss central banks hike rates to tame inflation
The Swiss and Norwegian central banks announced hefty interest rate hikes on Thursday as global monetary policymakers ramp up the battle against runaway inflation.
Indonesia hikes rates for second straight month to stem inflation
Indonesia's central bank hiked its key interest rate for the second month in a row Thursday to combat rising inflation stoked by fuel prices and the war in Ukraine.
Japan government intervenes to bolster cratering yen
Japan's finance ministry said Thursday it intervened in the currency market to bolster the yen, which has plummeted against the dollar in recent months on the widening policy gap between the US and Japanese central banks.
Yen hits new 24-year low as Bank of Japan keeps loose policy
The yen sank to a fresh 24-year low against the dollar on Thursday, with the greenback surging to nearly 146 after Japan's central bank left its ultra-loose monetary policy unchanged, a day after the Federal Reserve ramped up interest rates and warned of more to come.
Markets tumble again as Fed hikes rates, warns more to come
Markets sank Thursday and the dollar rallied after the Federal Reserve unveiled a third straight jumbo interest rate hike, said more were in the pipeline, and warned the battle against inflation was straining the US economy.
Protests mark Australia's 'day of mourning' for queen
Hundreds of activists rallied in Australia on Thursday to decry colonial Britain's destructive impact on Indigenous peoples, as the country held a public holiday to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Soup kitchens full as battle rages over Italy's poor
Mario Conte's Salerno soup kitchen serves 140 hot meals every day but as soaring inflation hits Italy's poverty-stricken south, he is struggling to keep up with demand.
Women at the heart of Swiss pension reform vote
Switzerland votes Sunday on a divisive pension reform plan the government says is vital to safeguard benefits, including a controversial push to raise the retirement age for women.
Europe throws billions at energy crisis
Almost every week now, European governments are announcing emergency measures to protect households and businesses from the energy crisis stemming from Russia's war in Ukraine.
'Very high chance' Hong Kong will end year in recession
Hong Kong is set to end the year in the midst of a full-blown recession, the city's finance chief warned Thursday, as spiralling interest rates join strict Covid-19 controls in hammering the economy.
Cheap mealboxes a taste of Hong Kong's economic woes
Hong Konger Kitty Chan pivoted to takeout to help her restaurant survive the pandemic, but she has since opened a second shop as demand for cheap mealboxes surges in a city enduring economic woes.
US jury orders Meta to pay $174.5 mn for violating patents
A US jury on Wednesday ordered Meta to pay $174.5 million for violating live-streaming patents developed by a US Army veteran seeking to fix shortcomings in battlefield communications.
IAEA, Western powers air growing worries on Ukraine nuclear plant
The UN nuclear watchdog and Western powers voiced alarm Wednesday over the safety of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia atomic power plant as Kyiv accused Russia of new shelling.
US stocks fall, dollar gains as Fed unveils latest big rate hike
Wall Street stocks tumbled and the dollar rallied Wednesday after the Federal Reserve announced another large interest rate increase and signaled it expects more monetary tightening ahead to fight inflation.
New 007 to 'serve King and country' as producers vow to keep Bond 'fresh'
The next James Bond will serve King and country -- but discussions with new 007 studio owner Amazon over the spy film franchise's future direction haven't really started, long-standing producer Barbara Broccoli said Wednesday.
Fed hikes rates again, says inflation fight can't be 'painless'
The Federal Reserve raised the key US interest rate again Wednesday and said more hikes are coming as it battles soaring prices -- an aggressive stance that has raised fears of a recession.
US Fed raises key interest rate as recession fears mount
The Federal Reserve raised the key US interest rate again Wednesday and said more hikes are coming as it battles soaring prices -- an aggressive stance that has raised fears of a recession.
Who wants to go to the moon? Europe names astronaut candidates
The European Space Agency announced a team of seven astronauts on Wednesday to train for NASA's Artemis mission to the moon -- but only one will have the chance to become the first European to walk on the lunar surface.
Biden vows solidarity with Iran women as protests spread
US President Joe Biden vowed solidarity with Iranian women Wednesday as eight people were reported killed in growing protests over the death of a young woman arrested by morality police.
War fears at another Ukraine nuclear site
A vast crater several metres deep in empty land strewn with wild grass bears witness to the shelling this week at the Pivdennoukrainskpower plant site in southern Ukraine, the latest sign of nuclear risk in the war-scarred nation.
US home sales fall for seventh straight month in August
Existing home sales slipped in August to the lowest in two years, marking a seventh straight monthly declines, according to industry data released Wednesday showing the continued slowing in the US housing as mortgage rates surge.
Walmart hiring fewer US holiday staff this year
Walmart announced Wednesday it will hire 40,000 workers for the upcoming holiday season, far fewer than last year, as inflation weighs on US households and curtails consumption.
American, Russians blast off for ISS as war rages in Ukraine
A US astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts blasted off to the International Space Station (ISS) Wednesday on a Russian-operated flight, in a rare instance of cooperation between Moscow and Washington.