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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.
Santander profits soar to pre-pandemic levels
Spanish banking giant Santander bounced back from the pandemic as it returned to profit last year, beating analyst expectations and exceeding its pre-Covid earnings, the group said Wednesday.
Sri Lanka gets urgent $500m Indian loan to pay for oil
Sri Lanka was handed temporary relief from energy shortages and rolling blackouts on Wednesday with a $500 million loan from India to finance urgent oil purchases for the cash-strapped nation.
Rape stalks women in C. Africa's dirty war
Maia looks down at her expanding belly, her eyes welling with tears.
'Spider-Man' success helps Sony lift annual profit outlook
Sony upgraded its full-year net profit forecast on Wednesday, buoyed by the success of its latest "Spider-Man" movie and strong results in the gaming sector despite the global chip shortage.
Mexico tries to banish homophobic slur from football
Mexico are playing World Cup qualifiers in front of a limited number of tightly controlled fans -- part of efforts to stamp out an anti-gay slur in the football-loving nation.
Sony hikes annual profit forecast on film, gaming success
Sony upgraded its full-year net profit forecast on Wednesday, buoyed by the success of its latest Spider-Man movie and strong results in the gaming sector despite the global chip shortage.
Iranian female skier cuts icy path to Beijing Olympics
Iranian Atefeh Ahmadi learned to ski not long after she could walk, but the path to the Winter Olympics has not been an entirely smooth run for the 21-year-old.
Spring in February: UK plants flowering 'a month early'
Global warming is causing plants in the UK to burst into flower around a month earlier, with potentially profound consequences for crops and wildlife, according to research Wednesday that used nature observations going back to the 1700s.
Asian markets extend rally as optimism returns to trading floors
Asian equities built on a rally across world markets Wednesday as investors become less worried about the Federal Reserve's plans to tighten monetary policy, while more strong corporate results lifted optimism about the outlook.
General Motors sees solid 2022 on strong demand, improving chip supply
Despite a hit from the semiconductor crunch in the fourth quarter, General Motors on Tuesday projected a highly profitable 2022 based on strong consumer demand in the face of rising inflation.
Pfizer seeks US approval of Covid vaccine for children under 5
Pfizer and BioNTech said Tuesday they are seeking emergency authorization from US health regulators for use of their Covid vaccine for children aged over six months and under five years.
Google parent Alphabet nearly doubles annual profit
Google's parent firm Alphabet announced quarterly profits Tuesday that beat expectations and nearly doubled in 2021 -- after a booming holiday season for the online ads giant facing anti-trust scrutiny.
General Motors reports lower Q4 profits, sees solid 2022
General Motors saw lower fourth-quarter profits as the semiconductor crunch hit vehicle sales, but the company still scored record annual earnings, according to results released Tuesday.
Mexico's energy reforms test relations with US
Relations between the United States and Mexico are under strain as the Mexican government pushes ahead with planned energy sector reforms that have alarmed Washington and foreign investors.
UPS unveils big dividend hike after strong 2021
UPS announced Tuesday a hefty increase in its investor dividend, boosting shares as it moved up key profit targets following a strong 2021.
Ethiopian Airlines completes first 737 MAX flight since 2019 crash
Ethiopian Airlines on Tuesday flew the Boeing 737 MAX for the first time since a crash nearly three years ago killed all 157 people on board and triggered the global grounding of the aircraft.
Whoopi Goldberg apologizes for Holocaust comments
US actress Whoopi Goldberg has apologized after she was criticized for saying that the Nazi genocide of six million Jews "was not about race."
Orban pledges cooperation with Putin in storm of Ukraine crisis
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with Russia's Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Tuesday, pledging cooperation with Moscow for years to come in a trip criticised by his EU allies.
Denmark unmasks to 'live normally' again with Omicron
Denmark waved goodbye to facemasks and health passes on Tuesday as it became the first European Union country to lift all of its domestic Covid curbs despite record numbers of cases of the milder Omicron variant.
ExxonMobil posts $23 bn in 2021 profits on higher oil prices
ExxonMobil reported a profitable fourth-quarter Tuesday to conclude a strong comeback year in 2021 on higher oil prices amid recovering energy demand.
Daimler completes Mercedes-Benz rename after truck split
German auto manufacturer Daimler officially changed its name to Mercedes-Benz on Tuesday after splitting with its truck subsidiary in a major corporate shakeup.
European stocks rally after Tokyo, US gains
European stock markets rallied Tuesday following gains in Tokyo and overnight on Wall Street as investors assess the outlook for interest rate hikes in the face of high inflation.
Murder trial over Bangladesh factory collapse resumes after five years
Bangladesh has resumed the murder trial over one of the world's most devastating factory disasters after five years mired in appeals and court procedure, prosecutors told AFP on Tuesday.
Taiwan chip firm's bid to buy German rival collapses
A Taiwanese semiconductor technology company's $4.5 billion deal to acquire a German rival collapsed on Tuesday after a deadline for Berlin to approve the bid passed without a decision.
Rio Tinto admits culture of 'bullying, sexual harassment, racism'
Australian-based mining giant Rio Tinto released a searing internal report Tuesday that found sexual assault, bullying and racial discrimination are rife "throughout the company".
Asian markets rise as traders buoyed by latest Wall St rally
Asian markets rose in limited trade Tuesday following another strong lead from Wall Street fuelled by a rebound in tech firms, while comments from Federal Reserve officials eased concerns that it will embark on an aggressive phase of policy tightening.
Ethiopian Airlines to resume 737 MAX flights after 2019 crash
Ethiopian Airlines is set Tuesday to operate the Boeing 737 MAX for the first time since a crash nearly three years ago killed all 157 people on board and triggered the global grounding of the aircraft.