The China Mail - Economy

Featured

China's rare earths El Dorado gives strategic edge

Buried in the reddish soil of southern China lies latent power: one of the largest clusters of crucial rare earths is mined around the clock by a secretive and heavily guarded industry.

Wheelchair user flies into space, a first

A German woman engineer on Saturday became the first wheelchair user to blast into space, taking a brief ride on a Blue Origin flight.

Last news

Trump vows economic boom, blames Biden in address to nation

President Donald Trump promised Americans an economic boom in an address to the nation on Wednesday, while blaming Democratic predecessor Joe Biden for high prices that have hit the Republican's popularity.

ECB set to hold rates but debate swirls over future

The European Central Bank is expected to hold interest rates steady Thursday for its fourth meeting in a row as inflation remains in check, although debate is heating up about the path forward.

EU holds crunch summit on Russian asset plan for Ukraine

EU leaders gather in Brussels Thursday for a make-or-break summit on using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine -- with key player Belgium under pressure to drop its opposition.

Nasdaq tumbles on renewed angst over AI building boom

Tech shares suffered another bout of weakness Wednesday on worries about an AI bubble, hitting US stocks as oil prices advanced following a US announcement of a blockade of tankers to Venezuela.

Billionaire Trump nominee confirmed to lead NASA amid Moon race

The US Senate on Wednesday approved President Donald Trump's re-nomination of billionaire Jared Isaacman to head NASA, following months of backtracking and uncertainty over the space agency's future.

CNN's future unclear as Trump applies pressure

CNN is heading into an uncertain future with its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) destined for a takeover -- and US President Donald Trump hoping the change will allow him to influence the iconic news network's programming.

German MPs approve 50 bn euros in military purchases

German lawmakers Wednesday approved about 50 billion euros ($59 billion) in military purchases, as Berlin accelerates defence spending in the face of a hostile Russia and signs of weakening security commitments from Washington.

EU's Mercosur trade deal hits French, Italian roadblock

EU plans to seal a vast trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur this week were thrown into disarray Wednesday as Italy joined France in demanding more time to sign off on it.

Warner Bros rejects Paramount bid, sticks with Netflix

Warner Bros. Discovery on Wednesday rejected a hostile takeover bid by Paramount launched last week to trump plans by streaming giant Netflix to acquire the Hollywood giant and owner of CNN.

Crude prices surge after Trump orders Venezuela oil blockade

Oil prices surged on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of "sanctioned" oil tankers heading to and leaving Venezuela.

Warner Bros. Discovery rejects Paramount bid

Warner Bros. Discovery on Wednesday rejected a hostile takeover bid by Paramount launched last week to trump plans by streaming giant Netflix to acquire the Hollywood giant and owner of CNN.

Doctors in England go on strike for 14th time

Doctors in England walked out for the 14th time in less than three years Wednesday in a dispute with the government over pay and jobs.

Ghana's Highlife finds its rhythm on UNESCO world stage

On a humid Tuesday night in Accra, Zen Garden is alive with sound, movement and memory as Highlife melodies spill into the open air, drawing families, friends and office workers who sway long past midnight as if the weekend has come early.

Stocks gain as traders bet on interest rate moves

London's stock market rallied Wednesday as the pound faltered on expectations of cuts to Bank of England interest rates, after data showed UK inflation falling faster than forecast.

France probes 'foreign interference' after malware found on ferry

France is probing possible foreign interference after a Latvian national was arrested and charged over the discovery on a passenger ferry of malware capable of allowing the vessel's operating systems to be be controlled remotely, the interior minister said Wednesday.

Bleak end to the year as German business morale drops

German business sentiment fell to its lowest level in seven months in December, a survey showed Wednesday, with Europe's beleaguered top economy set to end the year on a gloomy note.

Hundreds queue at Louvre museum as strike vote delays opening

Hundreds of tourists lined up outside the Louvre Museum on Wednesday as its opening was delayed while unions voted on continuing a strike over working conditions at the Paris landmark.

Markets rise even as US jobs data fail to boost rate cut bets

Equities mostly rose Wednesday even as US jobs data did little to boost expectations for another interest rate cut next month, while oil rallied after President Donald Trump ordered the blockade of "sanctioned" Venezuelan tankers.

Asian markets mixed as US jobs data fails to boost rate cut hopes

Asian equities were mixed on Wednesday as US jobs data did little to boost expectations for another interest rate cut next month, while oil rallied after Donald Trump ordered the blockade of "sanctioned" Venezuelan tankers.

Bondi shooting shocks, angers Australia Jewish community

Near the iconic, sun-soaked Sydney beach where father-and-son gunmen killed 15 people as they fired into crowds at a Hanukkah festival, Jewish Australians say they feel unsafe and angry.

Netflix boss promises Warner Bros films would still be seen in cinemas

Netflix will continue to distribute Warner Bros. films in cinemas if its takeover bid for the storied studio is successful, the streaming service's chief executive Ted Sarandos said in an interview Tuesday in Paris.

Tepid 2026 outlook dents Pfizer shares

Pfizer signaled Tuesday it expects a challenging 2026 as it invests in new products to offset declines in Covid-19 revenues while limiting shareholder payouts.

VW stops production at German site for first time

The last car rolled off the production line at a Volkswagen site in Dresden on Tuesday, marking the first time in company history that it has stopped production at a German factory as cost cuts bite.

Rome's new Colosseum station reveals ancient treasures

Beyond the entrance of Rome's newest metro station under the Colosseum, there are display cases filled with hundreds of ancient artefacts found during a decade-long construction project.

EU eases 2035 combustion-engine ban to boost car industry

The EU on Tuesday walked back a 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars seen as a milestone in the fight against climate change, as the bloc pivots to bolstering its crisis-hit auto sector.

US unemployment rises further, hovering at highest since 2021

The US jobless rate picked up again in November, hovering at its highest level in four years, official data showed Tuesday in a report underscoring a labor market cooldown in the world's biggest economy.

Shift in battle to tackle teens trapped in Marseille drug 'slavery'

They work as drug dealers, but the notes they slip to customers in drug baggies begging for help -- and their pleas to the police -- tell a very different story.

Stocks retreat on US jobs, oil drops on Ukraine hopes

Stock markets fell Tuesday as investors data showed the US jobless rate hit its highest level since 2021, while oil prices slumped on renewed hopes for an end to Russia's war in Ukraine.

Stocks retreat ahead of US jobs, oil drops on Ukraine hopes

Stock markets mostly fell Tuesday as investors prepared for key US jobs and inflation data, while oil prices slumped on renewed hopes for an end to Russia's war in Ukraine.

China to impose anti-dumping duties on EU pork for five years

China will impose anti-dumping duties on European Union pork imports for five years, but at lower rates than temporary levies in place since September, Beijing announced Tuesday.

Economic losses from natural disasters down by a third in 2025: Swiss Re

Global economic losses from natural disasters are projected to have dropped by 33 percent to $220 billion in 2025, despite the damage wrought by the Los Angeles wildfires, reinsurer Swiss Re said Tuesday.

Kenyan girls still afflicted by genital mutilation years after ban

Maasai women erupted with mocking heckles as a community elder, wrapped in a traditional red blanket, claimed that female genital mutilation had all but stopped in their community in southern Kenya.

The China Mail - Economy (English)