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Workers strike at world's largest copper producer, Chile's Codelco

Workers at Chile's state mining company Codelco, the largest producer of copper in the world, went on an "indefinite" strike on Wednesday, unions said, protesting the closure of a foundry in one of the country's most polluted regions.. FTC president Amador Pantoja told a local television station the strike will cost Codelco -- which produces around eight percent of the world's copper amounting to 10-15 percent of Chile's GDP -- $20 million a day.

Wed, Jun 22, 2022 2 mins read

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Vienna returns as world's 'most liveable city'

The Austrian capital Vienna has made a comeback as the world's most liveable city, according to an annual report from the Economist published Thursday.. The United Kingdom's capital London was the world's 33rd most liveable city, while Spain's Barcelona and Madrid came 35th and 43rd respectively.

Wed, Jun 22, 2022 2 mins read

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US Fed chair admits recession a 'possibility' after rate hikes

The US economy remains strong but a series of aggressive rate hikes meant to cool soaring inflation could eventually trigger a recession, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell cautioned Wednesday.. The ideal scenario would be for those moves to cool the economy enough to douse inflation pressures, without choking off growth -- the hoped-for "soft landing."

Wed, Jun 22, 2022 3 mins read

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At least 1,000 killed in Afghan quake, with fear toll will rise

A powerful earthquake jolted a remote border region of Afghanistan overnight killing at least 1,000 people and injuring 1,500 more, officials said Wednesday, with the toll expected to rise as desperate rescuers dig through collapsed dwellings.. He said more than 1,500 people were injured, many critically.

Wed, Jun 22, 2022 4 mins read

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Heartbreak and shock at Afghan quake hospital

Bibi Hawa's face is distorted by tears as she tries to grasp her predicament from a hospital bed in Sharan, capital of Afghanistan's Paktika province.. Mohammad Yahya Wiar, director of Sharan Hospital, says they have been doing their best to treat everyone.

Wed, Jun 22, 2022 2 mins read

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UK inflation hits fresh 40-year high in cost-of-living crisis

British annual inflation has hit a fresh 40-year high, official data showed Wednesday, further eroding workers' wages in a cost-of-living crisis, and heaping more pressuring the Bank of England to keep raising interest rates.. Decades-high inflation is causing a cost-of-living crisis in Britain and elsewhere.

Wed, Jun 22, 2022 2 mins read

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Xi warns about 'expanding military alliances' at BRICS summit: state media

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against "expanding" military ties on Wednesday in a speech ahead of a virtual summit with top leaders from Russia, India, Brazil and South Africa.. Xi took a swipe at US and European Union sanctions on Russia in the speech on Wednesday, saying "sanctions are a boomerang and a double-edged sword".

Wed, Jun 22, 2022 2 mins read

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'We are human beings': Transgender rugby player says ban is punishment

Transgender former rugby player Caroline Layt said she was assaulted by her teammates nearly two decades ago, and now she fears a new generation of players is being punished for being themselves.. "We get punished for transitioning, we also get punished for having to go through puberty," Layt said.

Wed, Jun 22, 2022 2 mins read

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Sri Lanka bets on casino magnate to revive wrecked economy

Sri Lankan casino magnate Dhammika Perera entered parliament on Wednesday with a mandate to revive the bankrupt island nation's wrecked economy -- working alongside a premier who once accused him of corruption.. "He was nominated by the president and will shortly take over the investment promotion portfolio and enter the cabinet," a ruling party official told AFP.  Perera will serve in a unity government formed to tackle the crisis alongside Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who in 2015 accused the casino boss of being a "demon who protected the corrupt regime of Rajapaksas".

Wed, Jun 22, 2022 1 mins read

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Spain bets on green hydrogen in clean energy push

As Europe seeks to move way from fossil fuels, Spain is racing ahead in developing green hydrogen, aided by a growing wind and solar power complex in efforts to decarbonise its economy.. Spain has "great potential" because it has a well-developed renewables sector, with important solar and wind resources, said Javier Brey, president of the Spanish Hydrogen Association (AeH2).

Wed, Jun 22, 2022 3 mins read