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OECD calls for higher property taxes to fight debt
The OECD slightly raised its world economic growth forecast for 2024 on Wednesday but called for higher property and environmental taxes to combat soaring debt in many countries.
Environmentalists smear Finland's parliament in red paint
Environmental activists sprayed red paint on Finland's parliament building on Wednesday to protest against the peat industry, sparking strong criticism from politicians.
World Cup winner Varane retires
France World Cup winner Raphael Varane on Tuesday announced his retirement from football at the age of 31.
Britain's Rightmove rejects higher £6.1-bn Murdoch bid
British property website Rightmove said Wednesday it had rejected a third "unsolicited" proposal, worth £6.1 billion (US$8.2 billion), from REA Group, the Australian peer majority-owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp empire.
Stocks rally stutters but Hong Kong, Shanghai up on new China move
Hong Kong and Shanghai extended gains Wednesday as China announced another interest rate cut the day after unveiling a series of measures to boost the country's ailing economy.
Cuts, cash, credit: China's latest bid to jumpstart flagging economy
China this week unveiled a bundle of new measures aimed at kickstarting its economy, which has been battered in recent years by unprecedented headwinds including a property sector crisis and sluggish spending.
Hezbollah fires missile at Tel Aviv in Israel
Hezbollah said it had fired a ballistic missile at the Israeli city of Tel Aviv on Wednesday, with the Israeli military describing the launch as unprecedented.
Zelensky to take UN stage in plea to sustain support
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky takes center stage at the United Nations on Wednesday as he seeks to sustain global support ahead of US elections that could bring a sharp shift from his top backer.
Leftist Sri Lanka leader stuck with painful IMF deal: analysts
Sri Lanka's new leftist leader has little room to renegotiate an IMF bailout that threw a lifeline to his bankrupt country but imposed punishing and unpopular austerity measures, analysts say.
Cryptocurrency platform boss urges tighter regulation
The co-founder of one of the world's most popular cryptocurrencies called for tighter regulation of the sector to guard against the fraud and wild swings that have dogged it, in an interview with AFP.
'Crazy' tree planter greening Sao Paulo concrete jungle
In just over two decades, Brazilian Helio da Silva has single-handedly planted about 40,000 trees in the urban jungle that is Sao Paulo.
French champagne makers bid to protect seasonal workers from abuse
French champagne producers are looking to restore their damaged reputations after four workers died last year amid hot weather, as authorities closed squalid housing and launched probes into suspected human trafficking.
Trump says 'big threats' on his life by Iran
Donald Trump said Wednesday there were "big threats" on his life posed by Iran after the Republican presidential candidate's campaign team said US intelligence warned him of "real and specific" threats from Tehran.
Atletico Madrid president splits time between football and film
Enrique Cerezo is best known in Spain as the longtime president of Atletico Madrid football club, the less glamorous cross-town rivals of Real Madrid.
Japan ruling party to hold 'toss-up' vote for next PM
Japan could get its first woman or youngest-ever prime minister on Friday when the ruling party holds a leadership vote described as the most "unpredictable" in many years.
Alcaraz says 'a lot of players' agree after schedule 'kill us' comments
Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday doubled down on his criticism of the demands of the tennis calendar, saying "a lot of players" agree with him and "we have to do something about it".
Outdated rules, limited metro collide for 'unbearable' Athens gridlock
Straining to squeeze his taxi between two hulking trucks blocking an Athens street, 66-year-old cabbie Damianos says he's never seen traffic congestion in the Greek capital this bad.
Ninth body recovered in flood-hit Japan region
Rescuers on Wednesday recovered the body of a ninth victim of severe floods which battered parts of central Japan last week, local media said.
Sirens sound in Tel Aviv after fresh air strikes reported in Lebanon
Israeli warplanes pounded villages in south Lebanon for a third day, Lebanese media reported Wednesday, while Israel said it intercepted a missile fired after sirens sounded early morning in Tel Aviv.
China launches intercontinental missile into Pacific in rare test
China said it test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile on Wednesday, firing it into the Pacific Ocean in a rare trial run that flexed its military might.
The EU vs X: How big could the fines be for Musk?
Elon Musk's X is in hot water with the EU for allegedly breaking new content rules -- and the world's richest man risks multibillion-dollar fines even he might find prohibitive.
Hefty Australian penguin chick 'Pesto' becomes star
Pesto the penguin towers over the colony at his Australian aquarium home, a fluffy brown furball impossible to miss as he waddles across the ice.
Fashion's fun 'Frankenstein' flies after Olympic triumph
"The fashion world likes everything to be slick, but I'm a bit like Dr. Frankenstein, experimenting all the time with little bits and bobs," said Kevin Germanier, the young Swiss designer who created the Golden Voyager costume for the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
Volkswagen crisis pits homegrown leaders against each other
Volkswagen managers and workers representatives will start crunch talks in Hanover on Wednesday, following the German group's announcement that drastic cost-cutting measures are needed to keep the carmaker competitive.
Princess Zelda takes the lead in 'Echoes of Wisdom'
Princess Zelda will shed her role as damsel in distress to play the heroine for the first time in the nearly four-decade history of the Nintendo fantasy series named after her.
Astros clinch division title, Yankees kept waiting
The Houston Astros clinched their fourth consecutive American League West divisional title on Tuesday to surge into the postseason with a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
Asian markets boosted again after another Chinese rate cut
Most Asian markets built on a global rally Wednesday as China announced another interest rate cut the day after unveiling a series of measures to boost the country's ailing economy.
The struggle to keep track of Gaza war deaths
The health ministry in Gaza says the war that erupted after Hamas attacked on Israel on October 7 has killed more than 41,467 people.
China cuts another key interest rate to boost economy
China's central bank on Wednesday said it would slash another key interest rate, a day after it unveiled a raft of new measures aimed at boosting its ailing economy.
Restarting nuclear power plants: the unprecedented gamble in the US
Two American energy companies are each preparing to bring a nuclear power station back into service, an unprecedented operation which should help meet the growing need for electricity in the United States.
US state executes man despite conviction doubts
Two men on death row in the United States were executed Tuesday, including a Black man convicted of murder who had maintained his innocence and drawn support from civil rights groups.
Asylum seeker lifts South Korea hopes at Homeless World Cup
Fleeing civil war in his home country Cameroon, Fossi Wandji found himself stuck in Incheon airport terminal for a year when his attempt at obtaining asylum from South Korea was rejected.