Category: World

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday predominantly passed a $95 billion bundle to give basic guide to Ukraine and order an arrangement that could prompt a cross country restriction on TikTok. The vote of 79-18 sends the bundle to the White House. The legislation was rejected by 15 Republicans and 3 Democrats. On Saturday, the package was approved by the House. Tuesday night, Biden stated that he would swiftly implement the measure. "I will sign this bill[more...]

Over 2,100 residents residing near an erupting volcano on Indonesia's Sulawesi island were evacuated on Friday due to hazards posed by ash, falling rocks, hot volcanic clouds, and potential tsunamis. Indonesia's volcanology center reported at least three eruptions since Friday afternoon, with the eruption column reaching a maximum height of 1,200 meters (3,900 ft). The international airport in Manado City, located less than 100km (60 miles) from the erupting Mount Ruang, remained closed temporarily as volcanic ash[more...]

Emirates CEO Sir Tim Clark has penned a lengthy open letter to customers, expressing his apologies for "unacceptable" delays caused by record storms in Dubai. The 570-word apology follows the United Arab Emirates experiencing its highest rainfall in 75 years, which severely impacted one of the world's largest airport hubs. The storm initially struck Oman, resulting in at least 20 fatalities, before hitting the UAE on Tuesday. Dubai has witnessed over 1200 flight cancellations and 40 diversions[more...]

Overnight, the US Congress approved legislation that would enforce a ban on TikTok within the country if its China-based owner fails to divest its stake within a year. However, despite this move, the app's disappearance isn't imminent. The decision to incorporate TikTok into a larger foreign aid package by House Republicans, aligning with President Joe Biden's priorities and garnering broad congressional support for Ukraine and Israel, expedited the ban process after a previous version had stalled in[more...]

According to a survey conducted by the independent researcher YouGov and investment management company Challenger Limited in February, Australian retirees rated their retirement happiness at 70 out of 100. The survey of 1,000 Australians over 60 highlighted that good physical health was considered more crucial than financial stability for a happy retirement. On the other hand, in the US, the retirement landscape has become a source of anxiety for many older adults who struggle financially. A report[more...]

Stocks saw a recovery from earlier lows in US trading on Friday as tensions in the Middle East appeared to ease, leading to a decrease in demand for safe-haven assets like bonds, gold, and the US dollar. Oil prices also declined. The Dow Jones Index climbed by 0.6%, driven by Tehran's dismissal of reports regarding an Israeli strike on Iran. US Treasury 10-year yields experienced a notable drop to 4.62%, nearly reversing their earlier plunge. The US[more...]

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim predicts that Johor's economy could surpass that of other Malaysian states within the next one to two years, driven by impactful initiatives such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and the establishment of a special financial zone in Forest City. Anwar expressed his optimism during a Madani Aidilfitri 2024 celebration in Johor Bahru, emphasizing that these projects, while still in formulation, will accelerate economic growth in the region. The Johor-Singapore SEZ,[more...]

China's first-quarter GDP figures highlight President Xi Jinping's strategy of relying on a manufacturing surge to counterbalance the prolonged downturn in the property market. The National Bureau of Statistics reported a 6.1 percent increase in industrial production and nearly 10 percent growth in manufacturing investment, contributing to a stronger-than-expected 5.3 percent GDP growth for the first three months of 2024. However, amidst double-digit declines in property sales, analysts question the sustainability of policymakers' focus on boosting supply[more...]

UK inflation moderated less than anticipated last month as fuel prices edged up, highlighting central bankers' hesitance to commence interest rate cuts. The Office for National Statistics reported a 3.2 percent increase in consumer prices in March compared to a year earlier, slightly lower than February's 3.4 percent. Despite being the lowest since September 2021, both the Bank of England and private-sector economists had predicted a reading of 3.1 percent.

Australia's competition watchdog has brought the manufacturer of GLAD bags to court over accusations of making false or misleading claims about their products containing recycled ocean plastic. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced today that it has commenced proceedings in the Federal Court against Clorox Australia. The ACCC alleges that Clorox misrepresented that its GLAD kitchen tidy bags and garbage bags were composed of 50 percent recycled ocean plastic sourced directly from an ocean or[more...]