Listen to Vladimir Putin, and one would think Russia is marching to victory in Ukraine and overcoming whatever minor economic challenges it faces, thanks to the support of its patriotic people. On November 30th state television showed Mr Putin visiting a command post wearing military fatigues, receiving reports on the latest offensive. “The Russian troops…
As China’s leadership meets this week to chart a policy course for the 15th five-year plan – China’s development blueprint for the rest of the decade – events that unfolded more than 70 years ago are echoing again. The growing external challenges of today have similarities to those the country faced in the 1950s –…
Americans still opened their wallets last month, despite persistent fears about the economy, a slowing labor market and higher tariffs. Spending at US retailers rose 0.6% in August, the Commerce Department said Tuesday, unchanged from July’s upwardly revised 0.6%. Last month’s figure came in much better than economists’ expectations of a 0.2% increase, according to…
BANGKOK – Shares were mixed Wednesday in Europe and Asia after an update on U.S. inflation pulled most Wall Street stocks lower, though gains for Nvidia pushed the Nasdaq to another record. The report showed inflation in the United States accelerated to 2.7% last month from 2.4% in May. Economists said higher prices for clothes,…
Hong Kong recorded 1,138 suicides last year, the highest number since 2003, with the rate for men aged 30 to 49 jumping sharply in a 12-month period, an NGO said on Saturday. The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong released the findings of its analysis of the Coroner’s Court’s data, which showed a 4 per cent rise…