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UK sees record-high electricity from renewables in 2025: study
Britain produced a record-high amount of electricity from renewable energy last year, a study revealed on Friday.
London stocks hit record as 2026 kicks off with global gains
Stock markets rose Friday, the first trading day of 2026, with London's benchmark FTSE 100 index reaching 10,000 points for the first time.
Stocks make bright start to 2026
Markets made a bright start to 2026 on Friday but volumes were thin with Tokyo and Shanghai still closed as investors awaited fresh direction from Wall Street.
Asia stocks make bright start to 2026
Asian markets made a bright start to 2026 on Friday but volumes were thin with Tokyo and Shanghai still closed as investors awaited fresh direction from Wall Street.
China's BYD logs record EV sales in 2025
Chinese auto giant BYD sold 2.26 million electric vehicles last year, a company statement showed Thursday, setting a new record for any firm globally.
Trump joins criticism of Clooney's French passport
US President Donald Trump piled on criticism Wednesday of a decision to grant Hollywood superstar George Clooney French passports after a junior government official in Paris labelled the move a "double standard".
AI, chips boom sent South Korea exports soaring in 2025
Soaring global demand for semiconductors fuelled by a boom in artificial intelligence sent South Korea's exports to their highest-ever level in 2025, official data showed Thursday.
Bulgaria adopts the euro, nearly 20 years after joining the EU
Bulgaria became the 21st country to switch to the euro as it entered the New Year on Thursday, a milestone met with both cheers and fears, nearly 20 years after the Balkan nation joined the European Union.
French minister criticises Clooney's 'double standard' passport
A junior member of President Emmanuel Macron's government Wednesday criticised the French passports given to Hollywood superstar George Clooney despite him speaking poor French, saying the move suggested a "double standard".
Stocks pull lower at end of record year for markets
Stock markets mostly retreated Wednesday in thin trading, following a year of record gains for key assets as central banks cut interest rates and the tech sector boomed thanks to the growth of artificial intelligence.
Eurostar trains back with delays after power glitch sparks travel chaos
Rail traffic through the Channel tunnel slowly resumed with more cancellations and delays Wednesday after an electricity failure stranded thousands of passengers and trapped some for a night in a powerless train.
Iran government building attacked as top prosecutor responds to protests
A government building in southern Iran was attacked on Wednesday, authorities said, as the country's top prosecutor warned of a "decisive response" to any attempt to create instability after days of economic protests.
Bulgaria takes hesitant step into the eurozone
Bulgaria will become the 21st country to switch to the euro when it enters the New Year on Thursday, amid concerns the move could usher in higher prices and add to political instability rattling the Balkan country.
Xi says China to hit 2025 growth target of 'around 5 percent'
China's economy is expected to have grown "around five percent" in 2025, President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday, despite "pressure" during a year he described as "very unusual", state media reported.
Stocks drop at end of record year for markets
Stock markets mostly fell Wednesday in thin trading, following a year of record gains for key assets as central banks cut interest rates and the tech sector boomed on growth of artificial intelligence.
Berlin says decision postponed on European fighter jet
Efforts to break a deadlock in 2025 over plans for a new European fighter jet have been unsuccessful, a German government spokesman told AFP on Wednesday.
China says to impose extra 55% tariffs on some beef imports
China said on Wednesday it will impose additional 55 percent tariffs on some beef imports from countries including Brazil, Australia and the United States that exceed a certain quantity from January 1.
Tiny tech, big AI power: what are 2-nanometre chips?
Taiwan's world-leading microchip manufacturer TSMC says it has started mass producing next-generation "2-nanometre" chips.
Bulgaria readies to adopt the euro, nearly 20 years after joining EU
Bulgaria was preparing to switch to the euro on Wednesday night to become the 21st eurozone member, amid concerns the move could usher in higher prices and add to political instability rattling the Balkan country.
Trump v 'Obamacare': US health costs set to soar for millions in 2026
Iowa farmer Aaron Lehman was already paying a hefty price for health insurance, but his premium is set to skyrocket in January when major government subsidies expire, after US President Donald Trump's Republican party declined to extend them.
SoftBank lifts OpenAI stake to 11% with $41bln investment
Japanese tech investor SoftBank said Wednesday that its stake in OpenAI is now around 11 percent after completing the second stage of a $41-billion investment in the maker of ChatGPT.
TSMC says started mass production of 'most advanced' 2nm chips
Taiwanese tech titan TSMC has started mass producing its cutting-edge 2-nanometre semiconductor chips, the company said in a statement seen by AFP on Wednesday.
Drones dive into aviation's deepest enigma as MH370 hunt restarts
Nearly 12 years after Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 vanished with 239 people on board, the search for answers to one of aviation's most haunting riddles resumed Tuesday in the remote southern Indian Ocean.
Stocks higher, silver rebounds as 2025 trading winds down
Stocks markets mostly moved higher on Tuesday while silver prices rebounded amid volatile trading in precious metals.
Students join Iran demonstrations after shopkeepers protest
Iranian students staged street protests in Tehran on Tuesday, a day after the capital's shopkeepers demonstrated against economic hardship and won a message of understanding from the president.
Chinese leasing firm CALC orders 30 Airbus A320neo planes
China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings (CALC) and Airbus said Tuesday that the Hong Kong-listed firm had placed an order for 30 A320neo family aircraft.
Germany bank heist nets about 30mn euros in cash, valuables: police
Robbers used a large drill to break into a German savings bank's vault room and steal cash, gold and jewelry worth some 30 million euros ($35 million), police said Tuesday.
Students join demonstrations after Iran shopkeepers protest
Iranian students staged street protests in Tehran on Tuesday, a day after the capital's shopkeepers demonstrated against economic hardship and won a message of understanding from the president himself.
French ban on 'forever chemicals' in cosmetics, clothing to enter force
A French ban on the production and sale of cosmetics and most clothing containing polluting and health-threatening "forever chemicals" goes into force on Thursday.
I.Coast ruling party's dominance leaves opposition on brink
Ivory Coast's ruling party has further cemented its power after another crushing victory in parliamentary elections at the weekend, two months after President Alassane Ouattara won re-election for a fourth term.
Eurostar urges passengers to postpone journeys due to 'major disruption'
Eurostar advised passengers to postpone their journeys on Tuesday to a later date, citing "major disruption" including severe delays and cancellations.
Iran president urges officials to address protestors' complaints
Iran's president urged his government to listen to the "legitimate demands" of protesters, state media reported on Tuesday, a day after demonstrations by shopkeepers in Tehran over economic hardship.