NewsAFP NewsSeized British-flagged tanker anchored off Iran: port authority
A British-flagged tanker seized by Iran is now at anchor off the port of Bandar Abbas with all its crew aboard after colliding with a fishing boat, authorities said on Saturday. "The British tanker Stena Impero collided with a fishing boat on its route and, according to law, after an accident it
NewsAFP NewsPenny drops for Canada's teen swim queen Oleksiak
Canada's Penny Oleksiak insists she has finally left the "weirdness" of capturing Olympic swimming gold at the tender age of 16 after finally recovering from a lengthy Rio hangover. Oleksiak, who is preparing for the world championships which begin in South Korea this weekend, stunned
NewsAFP NewsNorth Korea slams Japan over its trade spat with Seoul
North Korea's state media has slammed Japan for its recent trade restrictions against Seoul over wartime slavery disputes, accusing Tokyo of "destroying the trend of peace" on the Korean peninsula. After South Korea's high court ordered Japanese firms that used forced labour to compensate
NewsAFP NewsDeath toll rises to 10 after China gas plant blast
The death toll from a huge explosion that rocked a gas plant in central China rose to 10, state media said Saturday, with five people still missing. Friday's blast at the Henan Coal Gas Group factory left another 19 people seriously injured and more with light injuries, said state broadcaster CCTV
NewsAFP NewsS. Korean man kills himself as dispute with Japan escalates
An elderly South Korean man died on Friday after setting himself on fire outside the Japanese embassy in Seoul as a bitter diplomatic dispute over wartime forced labour compensation took a fatal turn. The row has seen Tokyo restrict exports of chemicals vital to Seoul's world-leading chip and smartphone
NewsAFP NewsTrump says ready to help resolve SKorea-Japan dispute
US President Donald Trump said Friday he remained at the ready to help South Korea and Japan solve their lingering dispute over World War II-era forced labor that has blighted their trade ties. After South Korea's high court ordered Japanese firms that used forced labor to compensate victims, Tokyo
NewsAFP NewsTrump attacks US Fed, demands rate cut
President Donald Trump attacked the independent US Federal Reserve on Friday, demanding the central bank reverse course and cut interest rates -- something it is widely expected to do this month. In another Twitter outburst, Trump called on the Fed to "Correct!" its overreach. "We are
NewsAFP NewsBrazil's Petrobras refuses to refuel Iran ships due to US sanctions
US-listed Brazilian state oil giant Petrobras said Friday it will not refuel two Iranian vessels that have been stuck for weeks at a Brazilian port for fear of violating American sanctions. Washington has imposed a slate of sanctions on Tehran and companies with ties to the Islamic republic since President
NewsAFP NewsStocks wait on Fed rate cut
European markets closed little changed Friday while Wall Street was largely flat as investors waited on a widely expected US interest rate cut to give a clear lead. Continued uncertainty about the US-China trade stand-off despite some positive commentary added to the sense of caution after interest
NewsAFP NewsIndia's Reliance reports 6.8% rise in profits
Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries on Friday reported a 6.8 percent rise in consolidated net profit despite a slowdown in its oil refining business. The Mumbai-based company owned by Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani said its consolidated net profit for the three months through June rose to
NewsAFP NewsEnd Syria hospital attacks, Russia told at UN
Russia on Thursday opposed a United Nations Security Council declaration calling for an end to attacks on health facilities in Syria's Idlib region, diplomats said after the latest meeting over violence in the country's last major opposition bastion. Russian and regime aircraft have since late
NewsAFP NewsTwo killed, 12 missing after huge blast rocks China gas plant: state media
A huge explosion rocked a gas plant in central China on Friday, killing at least two people and injuring another 18, state media said. Another twelve people were missing after the blast, said state broadcaster CCTV, which shattered windows and doors of buildings in a three-kilometre (1.9-mile) radius
NewsAFP NewsIslamic ponzi scam mastermind detained over half-billion dollar fraud
An influential businessman was arrested by Indian police Friday over a half-billion dollar ponzi scheme that allegedly defrauded tens of thousands of mostly-Muslim investors. Mohammed Mansoor Khan was detained at New Delhi airport upon his return from Dubai, where he had fled last month after winding
NewsAFP NewsIran Guards seize 'foreign tanker' accused of fuel smuggling
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Thursday they had detained a "foreign tanker" and its crew for allegedly smuggling fuel, in the latest incident to send tensions soaring in the Gulf. The announcement follows Iran saying it had come to the aid of a foreign tanker after receiving a distress
NewsAFP NewsPolitics and finance dog EU climate zero efforts
Momentum is growing across Europe toward a mid-century target for climate neutrality that UN scientists say the world must embrace to avert catastrophe. Ursula von der Leyen put the mid-century target atop her programme to the European Parliament before it confirmed her on Tuesday as the new European
NewsAFP NewsIran Guards say they have seized a 'foreign tanker'
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Thursday they had detained a "foreign tanker" and its crew for allegedly smuggling fuel in the Gulf. The tanker was seized on Sunday "south of the (Iranian) island of Larak" in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the force's Sepahnews website
NewsAFP NewsOutgoing RBS chief to lead National Australia Bank
National Australia Bank on Friday announced veteran banker Ross McEwan would be its new chief executive, as the lender seeks to rebuild confidence after a scathing national inquiry. Australia's biggest banks were forced to spend billions of dollars to reimburse customers. The year-long investigation
- FinanceReuters
World's longest electric road trip ends in New Zealand
A Dutch sustainability advocate completed the longest ever journey in an electric vehicle in New Zealand on Friday after a three-year drive that took him through more than 30 countries. Wiebe Wakker set off from the Netherlands in March 2016 in his "Blue Bandit" to showcase the potential of
NewsAFP NewsTaiwan pledges help for Hong Kong protesters seeking sanctuary
Taiwan's government said Friday it would provide assistance to Hong Kongers seeking sanctuary after local media reported dozens of activists involved in an unprecedented storming of the city's parliament had fled to the island. The pledge risks infuriating Beijing but comes as Taiwan gears up
- NewsReuters
Oyo founder to buy back $2 billion worth stake in SoftBank-backed Indian co
Indian hospitality startup Oyo Founder Ritesh Agarwal raised his stake in the company with a $2 billion buyback, in a move that will bring his ownership closer to biggest investor SoftBank Corp . The fresh investment round will take Agarwal's stake to around 30% from 10%, a source familiar with
NewsAFP NewsAB InBev to sell Aussie brewer CUB to Asahi for $11.3 bn US
The world's leading brewer, debt-laden AB InBev, said Friday it is selling off its Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) unit in Australia for 16 billion Australian dollars (US$11.3 billion) following a failed IPO. It was selling CUB to Japanese group Asahi Holdings in a deal that would also see Asahi
- EntertainmentReuters
ITV, BBC to offer BritBox at 6 pounds per month in UK
ITV will control the venture, a Netflix-style offering of British box-sets and original series, with a 90% stake, while the BBC will an option to increase its holding to 25%. The commercial broadcaster also said it was commissioning a range of original exclusives from British production houses to be
NewsAFP NewsAustralia challenges China over criminal detention of its citizen
Canberra on Friday said it was "deeply disappointed" with the criminal detention of an Australian-Chinese writer in China, demanding Beijing release him if he is being held for "his political views". Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia had received confirmation Friday that
- FinanceReuters
Allies play hard to get on U.S. proposal to protect oil shipping lanes
DUBAI/PARIS (Reuters) - The United States is struggling to win its allies' support for an initiative to heighten surveillance of vital Middle East oil shipping lanes because of fears it will increase tension with Iran, six sources familiar with the matter said. Washington proposed on July 9 stepping
- NewsReuters
Wirecard to handle card payments for ALDI supermarket chains
Wirecard, the German payments company, said on Friday it had signed an agreement with supermarket chains ALDI Nord and ALDI Sued to process card payments at all their stores in the country. The two retailers, founded by brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht after World War Two and run separately today, own
