World News

Fed leaves rates unchanged, signals cautious outlook as US economy improves

The Federal Open Market Committee voted 10-2 Wednesday to hold the benchmark federal funds rate in a range of 3.5%-3.75%

From icon to also-ran: Puma's long slide as rivals Adidas and Anta loom

Puma was the no. 3 in sportswear after Nike and Adidas until recent years, competing to churn out cool sneakers and win top athletes and soccer-team sponsorships

EU's Antonio Costa meets Vietnam leaders to unveil strategic partnership

Vietnam has signed 17 trade pacts as it seeks double-digit expansion of its trade-reliant economy

UK PM Keir Starmer takes 'China matters' message on first Beijing visit

The UK PM is set to meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Thursday for talks on trade, investment and national security

UK proposes forcing Google to let publishers opt out of AI summaries

Google said it was looking forward to engaging with the watchdog and would continue discussions with website owners

Al-Maliki stands his ground as Trump warns of ending US support for Iraq

Trump's intervention in Iraqi politics came as he weighs carrying out new strikes on Iraq's neighbour, Iran

Sri Lanka's fund facility to continue despite Cyclone Ditwah impact: IMF

Sri Lanka is to receive around $330 million as the sixth tranche of the $2.9 billion bail out for four years entered by the government in March 2023

Massive armada heading to Iran, says Trump; urges Tehran to 'make a deal'

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said a "massive armada" was heading towards Iran, led by the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln

Man arrested after spraying unknown substance on Rep. Ilhan Omar

Police identified the man as 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak. It was not immediately clear if Kazmierczak had an attorney. The county public defenders' office could not immediately be reached

Outcry in Italy as US says ICE agents will join Olympics delegation

The Italian government said it had requested clarification from American diplomats after DHS said that ICE agents would help secure the US Olympic delegation next week in northern Italy

TikTok app deletions rise 150% in US after new joint venture. Here's why

TikTok has set up a new US joint venture with American investors to avoid a ban; Adam Presser will lead the unit as CEO, but the move has sparked privacy concerns and a spike in app deletions

Asian shares mixed after Wall St sets record, US dollar slides further

South Korea's benchmark hit a record, lifted by gains for technology shares like computer chip maker SK Hynix, which climbed 3 per cent. The Kospi was up 1.3 per cent at 5,152.14

'Time for deescalation' says Tim Cook after fatal ICE shooting in Minnesota

Apple CEO Tim Cook and other tech leaders speak out after a Border Patrol agent fatally shot a nurse in Minneapolis, as federal immigration actions face protests and court scrutiny

US sending ICE unit to Winter Olympics for security sparks concern in Italy

The reaction reflects growing unease in Europe over US immigration policies under President Donald Trump

Several arrested in Manhattan during sit-in over immigration crackdown

Demonstrators occupied the hotel lobby accusing it of housing federal immigration officers; police detained dozens after ordering them to leave

Amazon bungles Wednesday layoff plan with misfired internal email

The email sent on Tuesday signed by Colleen Aubrey, senior vice president of applied AI solutions at AWS, wrongly said that impacted employees in the US, Canada and Costa Rica

TikTok star Khaby Lame inks $975 million deal to monetise fan base

TikTok's biggest star Khaby Lame has signed a $975 million deal to sell brand rights, aiming to turn his massive global fan base into a long-term business venture

North Korea to unveil new nuclear plans at upcoming ruling party congress

The Korean Central News Agency said North Korea performed a live-fire drill of an upgraded large-caliber multiple rocket launcher system in the presence of Kim on Tuesday

'Another beautiful armada floating': Trump renews hard-line Iran stance

Speaking in Iowa, the US president pointed to a major military buildup near Iran even as he said Tehran has repeatedly sought negotiations

'We'll get it done one way or the another': Trump defiant on tariffs

The US president criticised judges blocking his tariff regime and said he would find other ways to impose duties if the court rules against him