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World equities extend gains on Fed rate optimism
Global stocks rose further Thursday as Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell flagged a moderation in interest rate hikes, while China signalled a softer approach to fighting Covid.

Eurozone unemployment drops to record low
Unemployment in the eurozone has dropped to a record low, at 6.5 percent in October, the EU's Eurostat statistics office said Thursday.

Musk vows interface implants in human brains within six months
Tech billionaire Elon Musk said on Wednesday one of his companies would in six months be able to implant a device into a human brain that would allow communication with a computer.

China protests explode 'harmonious society myth': Tiananmen leader
Demonstrations in China sparked by tough anti-Covid policies explode the "myth" of a "harmonious society" and reveal deep discontent with Beijing's rulers, a leader of the Tiananmen Square protests said on Thursday.

El Salvador journalists sue NSO Group in US over alleged Pegasus attacks
Salvadoran digital newspaper El Faro's employees filed a lawsuit in a US federal court on Wednesday against NSO Group, alleging the Israeli firm's controversial Pegasus software was used to spy on them.

Asia extends stocks rally as dollar drops on Fed rate optimism
Asian stocks extended a global rally Thursday and the dollar sank after Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell flagged a rate hike slowdown and China signalled a softer approach to fighting Covid.

Pride and pain in Albania's 'Little London'
In the town hall of Has, in Albania's mountainous northeast, the Union Jack flag has pride of place next to a framed photo of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Asian stocks extend global rally as dollar drops on Fed rate hope
Asian stocks extended a global rally Thursday and the dollar sank after Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell flagged a rate hike slowdown and China signalled a softer approach to fighting Covid.

Asian stocks join global rally and dollar drops on Fed rate joy
Asian stocks extended a global rally Thursday and the dollar fell after Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell flagged a slowdown in the pace of interest rate hikes and China opened the way for a softer approach to fighting Covid.

India's Bishnoi community, the original eco-warriors
Surrounded by deer and antelopes, Ghevar Ram caressed an injured fawn at a rescue centre run by India's Bishnoi community, who have been fighting to protect the environment for more than 500 years.

Hackers dump Australian health data online, declare 'case closed'
The hackers leaking stolen Australian health records to the dark web on Thursday appeared to end their extortion attempt by dumping a final batch of data online and declaring:"Case closed."

Prince William, Kate, in US for visit overshadowed by new race row
Prince William and wife Kate began their first visit to America in eight years Wednesday under the cloud of a fresh racism row after his godmother quit the royal household for repeatedly asking a Black British woman where she was "really" from.

Bankman-Fried apologizes, says didn't 'try to commit fraud'
Former FTX Chief Executive Sam Bankman-Fried apologized Wednesday for a "lot of mistakes" in the abrupt collapse of the cryptocurrency firm and said he did not knowingly behave fraudulently.

US stocks rally, dollar retreats as Powell shifts tone on rate hikes
Wall Street stocks soared and the dollar fell Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled a shift from the central bank's aggressive policy to counter inflation.

US rate hikes could slow 'as soon as' December: Fed chair
The Federal Reserve could ease its pace of interest rate hikes "as soon as" December, chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday, as the US central bank's campaign to cool prices trickles through the world's largest economy.

US House approves bill to avert freight rail strike
Lawmakers in the US House of Representatives voted Wednesday to prevent a potentially catastrophic freight rail strike, stepping in to break an impasse between workers and executives during a critical pre-holiday period.
Macron welcomed as 'vital ally' as US state visit ramps up
France's President Emmanuel Macron underlined US-French cooperation with a tour of NASA headquarters Wednesday, but tough talks on trade and China are expected when he meets Joe Biden for the main part of a rare state visit.

Airbus pays 15.9 mn euros to close French corruption probe
A French judge on Wednesday allowed European aerospace firm Airbus to pay 15.9 million euros ($16.4 million) to avoid a corruption probe into aircraft deals in Libya and Kazakhstan between 2006 and 2011.

HSBC shuts more UK branches as banking goes online
HSBC on Wednesday announced plans to permanently shut more than a quarter of its remaining bank branches in the UK as customers increasingly switch to making transactions online.

China has room for further 'recalibration' of zero-Covid policy: IMF
China has room to adjust its strict zero-Covid policy, the IMF said Wednesday, while underlining that the country's tough virus restrictions have been especially hard on its people.

Eurozone inflation falls for first time in 17 months
The eurozone annual inflation rate fell for the first time in 17 months in November as it slowed to 10 percent, official data showed Wednesday.

Stocks diverge ahead of next Fed rate signal
Stock markets fluctuated on Wednesday as eurozone inflation slowed for the first time in 17 months and investors awaited fresh signals about the US central bank's interest rate plans.

UK finance sector needs greater social mobility: study
Britain's financial and professional services sector must boost socio-economic diversity in boardrooms, helping to bridge big differences in pay, a study commissioned by the government concluded Wednesday.

Bird flu kills almost 14,000 pelicans, seabirds in Peru
The highly contagious H5N1 avian flu virus has killed thousands of pelicans, blue-footed boobies and other seabirds in Peru, according to the National Forestry and Wildlife Service (SERFOR).

US private hiring eases more than expected in November: survey
US employers eased their hiring pace in November, with job creation slowing the most since early 2021, as the central bank's interest rate hikes trickle through the economy, payroll firm ADP said Wednesday.

H&M to cut 1,500 jobs worldwide
Swedish fashion retailer H&M said Wednesday it would cut some 1,500 jobs worldwide as a result of a cost-cutting programme launched following its decision to leave the Russian market.

Losses deepen at crisis-hit SAS airline
Troubled Scandinavian airline SAS, which has filed for bankruptcy in the United States, reported Wednesday deeper losses in the fourth quarter.

Kenya's Ruto launches flagship credit scheme for poor
Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday launched a low-interest credit scheme to boost financial access for the country's poorest citizens, fulfilling a key campaign promise made to voters.

Europe stocks, euro rise on elevated eurozone inflation
European equities and the euro rose Wednesday as eurozone inflation slowed but remained elevated on high energy costs.

Lebanon crisis means 'no football this year' for World Cup fans
Football fans looking for a respite from Lebanon's crushing economic crisis have found a challenge in simply watching the World Cup after the bankrupt state failed to pay for broadcasting rights.

Let them eat bread: the origins of the baguette
It is as much a part of French culture as the Eiffel Tower or Edith Piaf but the origins of the humble baguette, which UNESCO on Wednesday added to its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, remain a mystery.

UK union announces ambulance strike as stoppages widen
Britain's government on Wednesday rejected union pay demands after ambulance workers joined nurses in voting to go on strike.