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Will Yemen air strikes stop the Red Sea attacks?
Will Yemen air strikes stop the Red Sea attacks?
by  AFP

US and British strikes on rebel-held Yemen on Friday marked a sharp escalation after weeks of attacks on Red Sea shipping by the Iran-backed Huthi insurgents. "It seems very likely that the Huthis will continue attacking ships with whatever capabilities they have left.

Venezuela kills off petro cryptocurrency
Venezuela kills off petro cryptocurrency
by  AFP

Venezuela is putting an end to the petro cryptocurrency that President Nicolas Maduro launched six years ago to sidestep US sanctions, but which never took off and became embroiled in a graft scandal. With Caracas strangled by Washington's economic sanctions, Maduro vowed the petro would "allow new forms of international financing."

Sharks killed at alarming rates despite regulations: study
Sharks killed at alarming rates despite regulations: study
by  AFP

Global shark populations are plummeting despite worldwide efforts to curb mass killings for their fins, researchers said in a new report showing that more needs to be done to protect one of the ocean's apex species. Between 2012 and 2019, the number of sharks killed from fishing increased from some 76 million a year to more than 80 million, they reported in the journal Science.

US banks report mixed results, see consumers as still fairly healthy
US banks report mixed results, see consumers as still fairly healthy
by  AFP

Large US banks reported mixed results Friday, dented by exceptional costs connected to job cuts and to replenishing a federal fund tapped during last year's crisis involving midsized lenders. Besides the FDIC fee, Wells' results included a $1 billion hit for severance costs due to job cuts.

Delta reports profit jump but lowers earnings forecast
Delta reports profit jump but lowers earnings forecast
by  AFP

Delta Air Lines saw its profits more than double in the fourth quarter last year, helped by strong travel demand, even as it trimmed its earnings expectations for 2024, the US carrier said Friday. "In 2024, demand for air travel remains strong and our customer base is in a healthy financial position with travel a top priority," said Delta chief executive Ed Bastian in a statement.

Wars to cast pall over meeting of global VIPs in Davos
Wars to cast pall over meeting of global VIPs in Davos
by  AFP

The world's political and business elites will convene in Davos next week, with wars in Gaza and Ukraine set to dominate the annual gabfest in the Swiss Alps. "We know that the war in Gaza is still going on and there are worries for a further escalation," Brende said, adding that the WEF meeting would "look how to avoid a further deterioration".

China, Russia trade soared in 2023 as commerce with US sank
China, Russia trade soared in 2023 as commerce with US sank
by  AFP

Trade between China and Russia hit a record high in 2023, official data from Beijing showed on Friday, as commerce with the United States fell for the first time in four years on the back of geopolitical tensions. Commerce with the United States was valued at $664 billion last year, down 11.6 percent from 2022.