IBT Staff Reporter

Britain's economy rebounded much more than expected in January from its coronavirus-related lull in late 2021, according to data on Friday, raising - along with soaring inflation - the likelihood of an interest rate hike next week.

Gabriel Boric, who at 36 years old takes office on Friday as Chile's youngest president, has been building towards this moment since childhood.

Chile shifts to the left on Friday when Gabriel Boric, 36, is sworn in as the South American country's youngest ever president after pledging social and economic reforms, and riding a wave of voter dissatisfaction with the political status quo.

Chilean leftist Gabriel Boric, 36, was sworn in as president on Friday, marking the sharpest shift in the Andean country's politics since its return to democracy three decades ago after the bloody dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet.

Chilean leftist Gabriel Boric was sworn in as president on Friday, vowing to listen to all sides while warning of the challenges ahead, as the Andean country marked the sharpest shift in its politics since the return to democracy three decades ago after the bloody dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet.

The European Central Bank's decision to keep on tightening despite fear of war and stagflation has been criticised as either bluff or error - but may just reflect a deliberate shift in Europe's economic policy mix.

Pakistan on Friday warned New Delhi of "unpleasant consequences" over what it said was an Indian-originated, but unidentified high-altitude supersonic object that crashed in Pakistani territory.

India said on Friday it had accidentally fired a missile into Pakistan this week because of a "technical malfunction" during routine maintenance, giving its version of events after Pakistan summoned India's envoy to protest.

The world's biggest eyewear company EssilorLuxottica reported strong sales growth in the fourth quarter, rising further above pre-pandemic levels and boosted by its performance in the United States and its GrandVision acquisition.

President Vladimir Putin shows no sign of being willing to engage in diplomacy, U.S.

President Vladimir Putin shows no sign of being willing to engage in diplomacy, U.S.

Panic buying in Hong Kong due to fears of a new COVID lockdown has hit the city's refugees particularly hard because they can only spend their food allowance in supermarkets that regularly run out of supplies, aid workers and refugees say.

Leftist Gabriel Boric, the president breaking new ground in Chile

Italy's Draghi walks sanctions tightrope over Russian energy

Russian, Ukrainian and Belarussian weapons makers will not take part in Malaysia's biennial arms show Defence Services Asia (DSA) this month amid the war in Ukraine, the fair's organiser said on Friday.

Chile's millennial president takes office with big plans for change

Hong Kong refugees face 'dire' food crisis in Covid outbreak: survey

The U.S. Justice Department acknowledged on Thursday it would miss a deadline set by President Joe Biden's executive order to review and release documents from the FBI investigation of the attacks of Sept.

Malaysia's Johor state will on Saturday hold the first elections since the country lowered its voting age to 18, with 750,000 new ballots added to regional polls seen as a litmus test for a general election that could be called this year.

Elderly care homes in eye of Hong Kong's deadly Covid storm

Russian forces bearing down on Kyiv are regrouping northwest of the Ukrainian capital, satellite pictures showed, and Britain said on Friday Moscow could now be planning an assault on the city within days.

Russian forces bearing down on Kyiv are regrouping northwest of the Ukrainian capital, satellite pictures showed, in what Britain said could be preparation for an assault on the city within days.

Russian forces bearing down on Kyiv are regrouping northwest of the Ukrainian capital, satellite pictures showed, in what Britain said could be preparation for an assault on the city within days.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday Ukraine had reached a "strategic turning point" in the conflict with Russia, but Russian forces bombarded cities across the country and appeared to be regrouping for a possible assault on the capital Kyiv.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday Ukraine was at a "strategic turning point" in the war as Russian forces bombarded cities across the country and appeared to be regrouping for a possible assault on Kyiv, with satellite images showing them firing artillery as they closed in on the capital.

In about-face, Guatemala president calls for strict abortion law to be shelved

U.S. President Joe Biden will call on Friday for an end to normal trade relations with Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, clearing the way for increased tariffs on Russian imports, five people familiar with the situation told Reuters.

The United States, together with the Group of Seven nations and the European Union, will move on Friday to revoke Russia's "most favored nation" status over its invasion of Ukraine, multiple people familiar with the situation told Reuters.

Prayers in Japan 11 years after tsunami and nuclear disaster