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Venezuela inflation hit 475% in 2025, the world's highest level
Venezuelan inflation soared to 475 percent in 2025, the highest in the world, driven by a tightening of US sanctions in the lead up to the ouster of leader Nicolas Maduro.
Only nine commercial ships detected crossing Hormuz Strait since Monday
Only nine oil tankers, cargo and container ships, some of which at times concealed their position, have been recorded crossing the Strait of Hormuz since Monday, according to MarineTraffic data analysed by AFP.
Middle East war a new shock for financial markets
The outbreak of war in the Middle East has sent shockwaves through financial markets, with energy prices soaring and stocks sliding, just a year after US President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught rattled investors.
Only nine commercial ships detected crossing the Hormuz Strait since Monday
Only nine oil tankers, cargo and container ships, some of which at times concealed their position, have been recorded crossing the Strait of Hormuz since Monday, according to MarineTraffic data analysed by AFP.
Swiss eyeing fewer F-35 fighters, reshaping defence set-up
Switzerland announced Friday it wanted to buy 30 US F-35A fighter jets rather than 36 after Washington hiked the price, and said its broader defence set-up needed repurposing to face current threats.
Oil prices surge as Mideast war rages, stocks fall on US jobs
Crude prices surged higher Friday as oil fields in Iraq came under attack and US Donald Trump demanded Iran's unconditional surrender, while stocks slumped after data showed a surprise drop in jobs in the United States.
Securing shipping lane from Mideast war 'challenging', say experts
The United States and France have promised to secure oil shipping threatened by the Middle East war, but experts warn warship availability and Iran's wide range of weaponry could make this complicated.
Oil prices climb as Mideast war rages, stocks fall on US jobs
Crude prices surged higher Friday as oil fields in Iraq came under attack and US Donald Trump demanded Iran's unconditional surrender, while stocks slumped after data showed a surprise drop in jobs in the United States.
US retail sales decline as consumer pullback deepens
US retail sales declined by 0.2 percent in January, according to delayed government data released on Friday, missing some analysts' expectations amid persistent concerns that consumption in the world's biggest economy is slowing.
War in Middle East raises stagflation fears in Europe and beyond
Global energy prices have shot upwards after the US and Israel unleashed war in the Middle East, but just how far those shocks will ripple across the economy remains unclear.
Soaring gas prices spark renewed debate about European electricity
A surge in natural gas prices since the Middle East war erupted has sparked renewed debate about Europe's electricity market, where prices are still linked to gas.
Germany's Axel Springer swoops for British newspaper The Telegraph
German media group Axel Springer said Friday it had agreed to buy right-wing British newspaper The Telegraph in a surprise move, as the UK government investigates a rival bid.
US sheds jobs in February in warning sign for Trump's economy
The United States unexpectedly lost jobs in February while unemployment edged up, government data showed Friday, piling pressure on President Donald Trump's economic agenda as key midterm elections approach.
Iran drone strike on Azerbaijan raises fears of Mideast war spreading to Caucasus
Iranian drone strikes on Azerbaijan have raised fears that the Middle East war could spill into the Caucasus, as Baku, an ally of Israel, vows to respond.
Hungary to expel seven Ukrainians as Zelensky, Orban quarrel over Russian oil
Hungary will expel seven detained Ukrainians, the government said Friday, as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traded threats in a row over stalled Russian oil supplies.
Stocks fluctuate, oil climbs as Mideast crisis rages
Global stock markets fluctuated and oil prices jumped Friday at the end of a volatile week's trading unleashed by the Middle East conflict.
China says 'clearly aware' of economic risks, vows to boost spending
China's leaders are "clearly aware" of challenges facing growth, the head of the country's top economic planning body said on Friday, vowing to boost sluggish domestic consumption.
Most Asian equities drop as Mideast crisis rages, though oil dips
Asian markets mostly down Friday as the war in the Middle East showed no sign of ending, though there was some reprieve from the surge in oil prices after the United States looked to ease supply concerns.
Equities mixed as Mideast crisis rages, though oil dips
Asian markets were mixed Friday as the war in the Middle East showed no sign of ending, though there was some reprieve from the surge in oil prices after the United States looked to ease supply concerns.
Australia forces porn sites to block under-18s from Monday
Australia's online regulator warned porn websites they must block under-18s from Monday under sweeping new restrictions to protect children.
Equities mostly drop as Mideast crisis rages, though oil dips
Most stocks in Asia fell Friday as the war in the Middle East showed no sign of ending, though there was some reprieve from the surge in oil prices after the United States looked to ease supply concerns.
Brazil's Petrobras sees profit soar on record output
Petrobras, Brazil's majority state-owned oil company, said Thursday that its profits nearly tripled last year thanks to record oil and gas output.
US, Venezuela restore ties as Washington pushes for minerals access
Venezuela and the United States are restoring diplomatic ties, the two countries announced Thursday, in a new sign of thawing relations after Washington ousted former president Nicolas Maduro.
Middle East war enters seventh day as Israel strikes Beirut
The raging Iran war, which has spread across the Middle East and beyond, entered its seventh day Friday after Israeli forces announced a "next phase" in the conflict and bombed Beirut's southern suburbs.
US says Venezuela to protect mining firms as diplomatic ties restored
Venezuela has promised safe conditions for foreign mining companies keen to invest in the country, a US official said Thursday, as Washington announced it will restore diplomatic ties with Caracas.
European, US stocks back in sell-off mode as oil prices surge
Oil prices pushed higher while US and European stocks dropped on Thursday as investors tracked developments on the sixth day of the Middle East war.
Oil prices rise, stocks slide as Middle East war stirs supply concerns
Oil prices pushed higher while stocks dropped on Thursday as investors tracked developments on the sixth day of the Middle East war.
Paramount's Ellison vows CNN editorial independence
Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison sought Thursday to calm fears over the future of CNN, pledging to protect the news network's editorial independence as his company closes in on a landmark takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Oil prices rise, stocks drop as Middle East war stirs supply concerns
Oil prices pushed higher while stocks dropped on Thursday as investors tracked developments on the sixth day of the Middle East war.
Israel tells Beirut suburb to evacuate as Mideast war spirals
Israel issued an unprecedented evacuation warning on Thursday for the entirety of Beirut's southern suburbs, a stronghold of Hezbollah, sending residents in the district of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing in a panic.
Union loses fight against Tesla at German factory
Germany's largest union Thursday accused Tesla of intimidating staff at the US carmaker's factory outside Berlin after it lost a vote to gain control of a body representing workers' interests.
Stocks, oil climb as Middle East war stirs volatility
Global stock markets rose and oil prices crept up further on Thursday as the Middle East war entered its sixth day, with energy supplies constrained and investors assessing levels of volatility.