Best-Performing Africa Currency Gets a Boost From Gambia Tourism
Gambia’s currency is poised to extend its run as Africa’s best-performing currency this year, supported by stronger remittance
1970-01-01 08:00
South Africa Set to Hold Rates, Keep Hawkish Bias
South Africa’s central bank is set to keep interest rates steady for a second straight meeting, while hinting
1970-01-01 08:00
Signs of Egypt’s Inflation Slowing Point to Rate Hold
Signs that record Egyptian inflation is finally starting to slow may prompt the central bank to keep interest
1970-01-01 08:00
Azerbaijan hails end of Armenian separatists’ advance in Nagorno-Karabakh
Azerbaijan's president on Wednesday hailed the country's restoration to "full sovereignty" over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region as ethnic Armenian forces agreed to lay down their weapons. Authorities in the Armenian region declared that the local defence force will disarm and withdraw all weaponry under a Russia-mediated ceasefire following the latest bout of fighting in the decades-long separatist conflict. President Ilham Aliyev in a televised address hailed his soldiers, while offering the ethnic Armenians of the Nagorno-Karabakh region prospects of cooperation, reconciliation and joint development. "In just one day, Azerbaijan fulfilled all the tasks set as part of local anti-terrorist measures" and "restored its sovereignty", the president said, adding he now wished to integrate Karabakh's population and turn the region into "paradise". He said Azerbaijan had nothing against Karabakh's Armenian people – "they are our citizens" – but only against their "criminal" separatist leadership. His words appeared aimed at addressing allegations by Armenian leaders that Baku planned to "ethnically cleanse" Karabakh's 120,000-strong Armenian population amid decades of mistrust between the two nations. The Azerbaijan army on Tuesday launched an "anti-terrorist" operation, unleashing an artillery barrage and drone attacks against outnumbered and undersupplied pro-Armenian forces. Nagorno-Karabakh human rights ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan said at least 200 people, including 10 civilians, were killed and more than 400 others were wounded in the fighting. He said earlier that children were among the dead and wounded. Russia and America condemned the “bloodshed” and called for an “immediate” end to hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenians in the contested region. French president Emmanuel Macron spoke with Mr Aliyev and "condemned Azerbaijan's decision to use force ... at the risk of worsening the humanitarian crisis" and "compromising ongoing efforts to achieve a fair and lasting peace", his office said. Russian peacekeepers in a statement on Thursday said they have taken in about 5,000 Karabakh residents after evacuating them from dangerous areas. Thousands of Armenians also gathered at the airport of the regional capital, Stepanakert, in a bid to flee the conflict. Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan in an address to the nation said the fighting decreased following the truce, emphasizing that Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh are fully responsible for its residents’ security. "If peacekeepers have proposed a peace deal, it means that they completely and without any reservations accepted the responsibility of ensuring the security of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians, and provide the conditions and the rights for them to live on their land and in their homes safely," he said, according to the Associated Press. Mr Pashinyan, who has previously recognised Azerbaijan's sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh, said Armenia wouldn't be drawn into the fighting. He said his government didn't take part in negotiating the deal, but "has taken note" of the decision made by the region's separatist authorities. Protesters rallied in the Armenian capital of Yerevan for a second straight day Wednesday, blocking streets and demanding that authorities defend Armenians in Karabakh. Azerbaijan's move to reclaim control over Nagorno-Karabakh raised concerns that a full-scale war in the region could resume between the two nations, which have been locked in a struggle over Nagorno-Karabakh since a separatist war there ended in 1994. During another war that lasted for six weeks in 2020, Azerbaijan reclaimed broad swaths of Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent territories that were held for decades by Armenian forces. More than 6,700 people died in the fighting, which ended with a Russian-brokered peace agreement. Moscow deployed about 2,000 peacekeeping troops to the region. Read More Ceasefire agreed after Azerbaijan unleashes military strikes in Nagorno-Karabakh Why new fighting in Azerbaijan's troubled region may herald a new war Nagorno-Karabakh: Fears of full-scale war as Azerbaijan launches attack on Armenian positions The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary
1970-01-01 08:00
Ex-Morgan Stanley Prime Broker Plans $3 Billion Hedge Fund
Kurt Baker, a Millennium Management alumnus and former head of Morgan Stanley’s Asia prime brokerage, is seeking nearly
1970-01-01 08:00
Iran's president says US should ease sanctions to demonstrate it wants to return to nuclear deal
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi says that relations with the United States can move forward if the Biden administration demonstrates it wants to return to the 2015 nuclear deal, and a first step should be easing sanctions
1970-01-01 08:00
Huawei wants to go all in on AI for the next decade
Huawei has joined the list of companies that want to be all about artificial intelligence.
1970-01-01 08:00
'It’s kind of Vanna’s show': Today's Hoda Kotb and Craig Melvin issue stern warning to ‘Wheel of Fortune’ host Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest shared his excitement that Wheel of Fortune’s longtime letter-turner Vanna White will be returning to the show
1970-01-01 08:00
Indonesia jails woman who recited Muslim prayer before trying pork on TikTok
A Muslim woman has been sentenced to two years in prison under Indonesia's blasphemy law over a video she shared on TikTok which showed her reciting an Islamic prayer before trying out pork while visiting the tourist island of Bali.
1970-01-01 08:00
Detroit rookie Reese Olson pitches the Tigers past the Dodgers 4-2 to avoid a sweep
Rookie Reese Olson won for the third time in his last four starts, combining with two relievers on a three-hitter to help the Detroit Tigers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 and avoid a sweep in the three-game series
1970-01-01 08:00
Why has Doja Cat's new song 'Balut' landed her in hot water with some Filipino listeners?
American rapper Doja Cat has landed in hot water with listeners in the Philippines after naming her latest single after a Filipino street food.
1970-01-01 08:00
Russian strikes cities from east to west Ukraine, starting fires and wounding at least 14
Explosions rocked Ukrainian cities overnight, as a massive Russian attack started fires and injured at least 14 people
1970-01-01 08:00
