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GM buying out SoftBank's $2.1 bn stake in Cruise self-driving cars
American automaker General Motors announced Friday it is acquiring SoftBank's $2.1 billion stake in its autonomous car venture Cruise.
Stocks mostly rise, oil climbs at end of volatile week
Oil prices rose while most leading global stock markets also climbed to conclude a positive week for equities despite the growing toll of Russia's attack on Ukraine and central bank moves to counter inflation.
US Congress moves to ban discrimination of race-related hairstyles
Afros, braids, dreadlocks: the US House of Representatives on Friday voted to ban discrimination based on hairstyles associated with a particular race or national origin.
Erdogan inaugurates world's longest suspension bridge
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday opened the world's longest suspension bridge over the Dardanelles strait in northwestern Turkey -- which cuts travel time between Asia and Europe to six minutes.
US existing home sales fell in February amid supply crunch
Sales of existing homes dropped sharply in the United States last month as buyers struggled to afford homes that remained scarce, an industry survey said Friday.
'Our heroes': taxi drivers ferry Ukraine refugees to Spain
After fleeing the war in Ukraine and reaching Warsaw by car and on foot, 22-year-old Khrystyna Trach had no idea how she would make it to Spain where her sister lives.
Toyota pauses most Japan production after quake
The world's top-selling automaker Toyota said Friday it will halt operations on the majority of its Japanese production lines for three days as parts supply is hit by a recent powerful earthquake.
Bank of Japan says no tightening as oil stirs inflation
Japan's central bank chief said on Friday the country will likely reach its key two-percent inflation target as oil rates surge, but the bank will continue monetary easing policies because the price rises are caused by external factors.
Postmen deliver the goods on Ukraine's home front
There is war raging in Ukraine but the postmasters in the western city of Lviv promise to keep making deliveries.
Thailand to scrap pre-travel Covid-19 test to boost tourism
Travellers to Thailand will no longer have to take a Covid-19 test before boarding the plane, under plans announced Friday as part of efforts to reboot the kingdom's pandemic-battered tourism sector.
Beijing's vow to stabilise the market has worked... for now
An unexpected pledge by top Beijing officials this week to shore up the economy sent Asian stocks surging after days of jitters over China's coronavirus rebound, war in Ukraine and an uncertain property market.
Sri Lanka secures Indian lifeline as IMF signals help
Cash-strapped Sri Lanka has secured a billion-dollar credit line from India to buy urgently needed food and medicine, officials said Friday, as the IMF confirmed it would discuss a possible bailout.
Taliban welcomes UN's continued Afghanistan presence
The Taliban Friday welcomed a UN Security Council resolution formally extending the world body's presence in Afghanistan, although the government of the hardline Islamist group remains unrecognised by the international community.
Argentina parliament approves IMF deal for $45 billion debt
Argentina's Senate on Thursday gave final approval to an agreement with the International Monetary Fund that restructures a $45 billion debt, clearing the country's short-term financial horizon but leaving a serious inflationary challenge.
Asian traders take breather, Hong Kong slips after huge surge
Asian equities were mixed Friday as investors took a breather from a strong rally, with Hong Kong giving up some of the colossal gains fuelled by China's support pledge, while unease over the Ukraine war helped oil extend a recovery.
Unwed and unwanted, Chinese single mothers fight for rights
Li Meng is a devoted mother trying to support her two-year-old daughter, but in the eyes of Chinese society and the state, she is almost a second-class citizen.
Japan's prices are finally rising, but will it last?
From rice balls to nappies, prices are rising in Japan. But unlike inflation seen in many other places, the increases are long-sought but also unlikely to last, analysts say.
In Yemen's civil war, decaying hospitals on life support
Five-year-old Amina Nasser hugs her toys in a decrepit cancer ward in Yemen, her life in the hands of a healthcare system pushed to the brink of collapse by grinding conflict.
Nina Simone comes to a New York stage, as song rights controversy brews
In New York, an off-Broadway show is bringing queen of the blues Nina Simone back to life -- but backstage, a battle has been brewing over rights to the anti-racist icon's songs.
Protests as transgender swimmer Thomas powers to US college crown
Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas shrugged off protesters as she powered to a historic victory in the 500-yard freestyle at the US collegiate championships in Atlanta on Thursday in the latest milestone of her controversial career.
Transgender swimmer Thomas powers to US college crown
Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas powered to a historic victory in the 500-yard freestyle at the US collegiate championships in Atlanta on Thursday in the latest milestone win of her controversial career.
Risk of imminent Russian debt default appears to ebb
The possibility of an imminent Russian debt default appeared to diminish Thursday following statements from Moscow and news of a payment to JPMorgan Chase, however a ratings agency warned of a continued risk of nonpayment.
Ukraine war profits fuel unease in Norway
One man's loss may, at times, be another's unfortunate gain, and the Ukraine conflict is proving a boon to some energy producing nations as oil prices soar.
P&O Ferries axes UK jobs to stay afloat, sparking angry protests
P&O Ferries, which sails daily between Britain and France, on Thursday axed 800 UK crew with immediate effect and suspended services in a bid to stay afloat, sparking protests from angry staff and trade union fury.
Oil surges back up on Russia tensions
Oil prices soared Thursday on tensions surrounding key producer Russia, as equities diverged with traders tracking interest rate decisions, the Ukraine conflict and China's pledge to support volatile markets.
BoE hikes rate again as Ukraine war fuels inflation
The Bank of England on Thursday hiked its main interest rate to its pre-pandemic level to combat runaway inflation that risks soaring far higher as the Ukraine conflict fuels energy costs.
Indonesia begins electric car production with Hyundai plant
South Korea's Hyundai has launched the first electric car assembly plant in Indonesia, as the Southeast Asian archipelago looks to exploit an abundance of resources used in EV production.
BoE agrees third straight rate hike as inflation soars
The Bank of England on Thursday hiked its main interest rate to its pre-pandemic level, the third increase in a row, to combat decades-high inflation.
Moscow says it made debt interest payment, avoiding default
Russia announced Thursday that it paid interest on foreign debt due this week, avoiding a devastating default for now after it was hit by unprecedented Western sanctions over Ukraine.
Deliveroo reports rising annual losses as costs jump
International takeaway food app Deliveroo on Thursday announced rising annual losses after costs rose by more than one third, offsetting a surge in home deliveries.
UN to vote on its scope in Afghanistan, barring a Russia veto
The Security Council votes Thursday on a resolution to secure the United Nations' presence in war-torn Afghanistan into the future -- unless Russia, which has stymied negotiations this week, vetoes the measure.
'Here there is nothing': Yemen's Aden scarred by grinding war
Bullet-riddled homes, buildings turned to rubble and countless pictures of "martyrs": seven years into Yemen's civil war, the interim capital Aden bears the scars of a conflict that shows no signs of abating.
Netflix tests charging a fee to share accounts
Netflix on Wednesday said it is testing charging a fee to subscribers who share their accounts with people who don't live in their homes.
Brazil hikes key interest rate ninth straight time
Brazil's central bank raised its key interest rate for the ninth straight time Wednesday, as Latin America's biggest economy continues to reel from surging inflation, now exacerbated by the Ukraine war.
Citigroup to cover travel costs after US state abortion laws
Citigroup plans to provide travel benefits to workers who live in states that have passed laws to restrict abortion rights, such as Texas.
US Fed raises interest rate in battle against high inflation
The Federal Reserve escalated its battle against the wave of prices increases battering the US economy on Wednesday by raising the benchmark interest even as it acknowledged the risk posed by the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine leader entreats US as Putin claims invasion on course
Ukraine's leader on Wednesday made an emotive appeal to US lawmakers for greater Western intervention against Russia, which insisted its invasion was going "successfully" despite the West rallying to Kyiv's aid with arms and sanctions.
Stocks rally on China action, Ukraine hopes
Global stocks rallied on Wednesday, buoyed by Ukraine peace hopes and China's pledge to help stabilise markets after recent routs.
Nickel trading resumes in London after IT error
Trading in nickel resumed Wednesday on the London Metal Exchange but was disrupted by an IT glitch, after a suspension linked to the Ukraine crisis.