BUSINESS

From its birth in a Beijing apartment 12 years ago, ByteDance grew into one of the world's biggest tech firms -- best known in most countries as the creator of TikTok.

The Australian wine industry welcomed news on Wednesday that China could begin lifting punitive tariffs within weeks, raising hopes that the country's red wine glut will soon ease.

Beijing warned on Wednesday that a proposed ban on Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok would "inevitably come back to bite the United States".

German auto giant Volkswagen on Wednesday reported a forecast-beating rise in profits for 2023, boosted by higher vehicle deliveries, but gave a cautious outlook for this year.

A Spanish aid boat was en route to Gaza on Wednesday, opening a new maritime corridor intended to allow deliveries of desperately needed food to the Palestinian territory ravaged by months of war between Israel and Hamas.

Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific on Wednesday reported its first annual net profit in four years, citing "significant pent-up demand for travel" following the pandemic.

A huge suspected gas explosion at a restaurant killed one person and injured 22 more on the outskirts of Beijing during Wednesday rush hour, state media reported, causing severe damage to buildings.

Asian markets mostly rose in line with Wall Street on Wednesday as forecast-beating US inflation data did little to dent expectations that the Federal Reserve will begin cutting interest rates this year.

A rocket made by a Japanese company exploded just after launch on Wednesday, with public broadcaster NHK showing footage of the fiery failure.

The US House of Representatives will vote Wednesday on a bill that would force TikTok to cut ties with its Chinese owner or get banned in the United States.

Hundreds of UK subpostmasters wrongly prosecuted for dishonesty due to a faulty software scandal will have their convictions automatically quashed, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's office said on Wednesday.

A gunman wounded two people at Rio de Janeiro's main bus station Tuesday and held 17 passengers hostage for three hours before being convinced to surrender, police said.

US aeronautics giant Boeing, facing increased scrutiny after a series of safety incidents and manufacturing issues, is directing employees to take "immediate actions" to improve operations, according to a message the company sent to its workforce Tuesday.

A political transition deal in Haiti marks a key step forward for the violence-ravaged country but far more needs to be done, with some experts warning the situation could deteriorate further.

US President Joe Biden announced an emergency $300 million military aid shipment for Ukraine on Tuesday, as Poland's leaders visited the White House to warn of the growing threat from Russia.

Despite advancements, women earn only 84 cents for every dollar men make, with Black and Latina women facing even larger wage gaps.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on Tuesday told parliament that Ukraine's fight against the Russian invasion had hit a "tipping point", warning of "real, tangible dangers" for France should Russia defeat Kyiv's forces.

Four US Army vessels departed a base in Virginia on Tuesday carrying about 100 soldiers and equipment they will need to build a temporary port on Gaza's coast for urgently needed aid deliveries.

When the UK's Daily Mail, a loyal champion of the monarchy, splashes the headline "How did Kate photo become a PR disaster?"

Consumer inflation posted a surprise acceleration in February, US government data showed Tuesday, a development that could give policymakers pause as they mull the right time to start interest rate cuts.

Controversial British-American influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have been arrested in Romania over UK sex offence charges, police said on Tuesday.

US disco legend Nile Rodgers, whose hits include "Le Freak" and "Good Times", won Sweden's 2024 Polar Music Prize with Finnish conductor and composer Esa-Pekka Salonen, the jury said on Tuesday.

Four astronauts splashed down off Florida in the Gulf of Mexico on their return to Earth early Tuesday, following a more than six-month mission on the International Space Station.

Pro-Ukrainian militias staged a brazen cross-border attack on Russia on Tuesday, fighters and Russia's defence ministry said, hours after Kyiv launched one of its largest drone attacks since the start of the war.

Lego cemented its position as the world's biggest toymaker last year despite logging its first decline in net profit since 2017 and slumping sales in China, company results showed Tuesday.

Britain's innovative Airlander 10 airship could soon take to the skies to offer leisure passengers panoramic views and far less pollution than traditional aircraft, according to its manufacturer.

An image of a dancer balancing on the words "China Before Communism" looms over Parisian commuters catching the morning metro, signalling the annual return of Shen Yun, a controversial spectacle of traditional Chinese dance mixed with vehement criticism of Beijing and conservative rhetoric.

Airbnb on Monday said it is banning security cameras inside guest homes so as to prioritize privacy.

Elon Musk on Monday said he would make his Grok chatbot, a rival to ChatGPT, open source as his feud with OpenAI deepens.