Philippines earthquake: Magnitude 6.7 quake hits off Mindanao
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake has struck off the southern Philippines, with no immediate reports of damage or injuries, the U.S. Geological Survey has sa...
Sweden’s central bank lowered its key interest rate to 2.00% on Wednesday, citing mild inflation and weaker-than-expected economic growth.
"The economic recovery that began last year has lost momentum, and inflation is expected to be somewhat lower than in the previous forecast," the central bank said in its statement, signaling room for further policy easing.
This is the second rate cut of the year, following February’s reduction, which the bank initially signaled might conclude its easing cycle. However, softer inflation data and growing concerns over global economic uncertainty—exacerbated by U.S. President Donald Trump's inconsistent tariff policies—have weighed heavily on consumer and business sentiment.
The Riksbank added that its current policy rate forecast “entails some probability of another cut this year” if inflation stays muted.
In May, the bank left rates unchanged but hinted that additional stimulus could be warranted. Recent figures confirmed only mild price pressures, aligning with analyst expectations. A majority of economists polled by Reuters had predicted the latest rate cut.
Germany’s foreign intelligence service secretly monitored the telephone communications of former U.S. President Barack Obama for several years, including calls made aboard Air Force One, according to an investigation by the German newspaper Die Zeit.
Israeli media report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chaired a lengthy security meeting that reportedly focused on the country’s regional threats, including Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.
At the end of last year, U.S. President Donald Trump was reported to have raised the Azerbaijan–Armenia peace agenda during a conversation with Israel’s prime minister, warning that if peace were not achieved, Washington could raise tariffs on both countries by 100 percent.
President Ilham Aliyev said 2025 has politically closed the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, as a Trump-era reset in U.S. ties, new transport corridors and a push into AI, renewables and defence production reshape Azerbaijan’s priorities.
Dmitry Medvedev has warned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could face the same fate as Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, following what he described as a U.S. ‘abduction’ of the Venezuelan president.
The U.S. dollar has strengthened against major peers on Tuesday, while the euro fell following slower-than-expected inflation in Europe. Market movements were relatively subdued as investors focused on upcoming U.S. economic data.
Wall Street closed higher on Tuesday, boosted by optimism over artificial intelligence (AI) and a strong rally in Moderna shares, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average approaching a record high.
India’s largest oil refiner, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), has taken a significant step towards diversifying its crude oil supply by purchasing Colombian crude, from state oil company Ecopetrol, for the first time.
China has given the nod for car makers to sell Level 3 self-driving vehicles from as early as next year after it approved two electric sedans from Changan Auto and BAIC Motors.
Warner Bros Discovery’s board rejected Paramount Skydance’s $108.4 billion hostile bid on Wednesday (17 December), citing insufficient financing guarantees.
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