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Mel B, Trump and Milei: What happened at Davos Wednesday

Even when Donald Trump wasn't in the room or even the main theme, the US president kept coming up again Wednesday at the gabfest of global elites in the Swiss resort of Davos.

Argentina's Milei says would leave Mercosur for US trade deal

Argentina's President Javier Milei said Thursday he would be willing to leave the South American Mercosur bloc if necessary to secure a coveted trade agreement with the United States.

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German bourse banks on Trump-fuelled crypto boom

As Donald Trump's looming return to the White House promises to boost cryptocurrencies, a German stock exchange is on a mission to anchor them firmly in the staid world of traditional finance.

Record 36.8 million tourists visited Japan in 2024

Record numbers of tourists flocked to Japan last year, figures showed Wednesday, as the weak yen bolstered the appeal of the "bucket list" destination despite overcrowding complaints in hotspots like Kyoto.

Spanish youth ditch dating apps for 'real life' love

Jilted on dating apps but undeterred in the quest for romance, 20 young singles gathered in Madrid to share activities and flirtatious smiles in a rediscovery of real-life love.

Bangladesh's Yunus demands return of stolen billions

Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday demanded the return of stolen assets, decrying the scale of corruption under the ousted government of Sheikh Hasina, toppled by a revolution last year.

Asian equities mixed as US inflation, China data loom

Asian markets swung Wednesday, continuing their yo-yo start to the year as traders assess the economic outlook with Donald Trump back in the White House, with focus now on the release of key US inflation data.

Renewed US trade war threatens China's 'lifeline'

China might not be able to rely on trade to steer it out of trouble as blistering tariffs being considered by US President-elect Donald Trump threaten an already struggling economy.

China's economy seen slowing further in 2024: AFP survey

China's economic growth likely fell fractionally short of the government's five percent target last year, according to an AFP survey, as leaders head into 2025 steeling for the second presidency of Donald Trump amid fears of another painful trade standoff.

Musk, Bezos, Zuckerberg to attend Trump inauguration: report

Billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg will attend Donald Trump's inauguration next week, NBC news reported Tuesday, further highlighting the tech moguls' efforts to develop closer ties with the incoming president.

'We may look easy-going, but...' Canadians veto Trump's merger plan

Different values, different spelling -- different country. Donald Trump's unlikely plan for Canada to become the 51st US state is leading to a surge of national pride north of the border and a pushback against an often imposing neighbor.

Stocks mixed as traders mull tariffs, inflation, earnings

Stock markets moved in different directions Tuesday with traders' attention fixed on President-elect Donald Trump's tariff plans, earnings updates and inflation data.

Starbucks shift on non-paying visitors stirs debate in US

Starbucks has stirred the coffee pot by reversing a policy that allowed anyone to use its bathrooms, with the US public warned they'll need to buy something or get out.

Boeing 2024 plane deliveries tumble on labor, safety woes

Boeing delivered just 348 commercial planes in 2024 according to figures released Tuesday that showed the ugly effects from a year of labor disruption and safety setbacks.

Argentine annual inflation nosedives, in boost for Milei

Javier Milei's government boasted Tuesday that it had "pulverized inflation" after statistics showing Argentine price increases falling to 117.8 percent in 2024, down nearly 94 points in the first full year since the budget-slashing president took office.

Meta to lay off 3,600 employees in performance-based cuts

Meta plans to dismiss approximately 3,600 employees identified as low performers and replace them with new hires, according to an internal memo reported by Bloomberg on Tuesday.

Mexico hails $5 bn Amazon investment in face of Trump threats

Mexico on Tuesday trumpeted a multibillion-dollar investment pledge from Amazon as a sign of a "great future" awaiting Latin America's second-largest economy, despite US President-elect Donald Trump's threat of a trade war.

MSNBC boss leaves ahead of Trump White House return

The head of the left-leaning US news channel MSNBC has quit, a source at the network told AFP Tuesday, just days before Donald Trump returns to the White House threatening to silence critical coverage.

Panama Canal will 'remain' Panamanian: UN maritime chief

The Panama Canal will remain Panamanian, the secretary general of the United Nation's maritime body told AFP on Tuesday, after Donald Trump refused to rule out using military force to seize the key waterway.

Amazon orders 200 Mercedes-Benz electric trucks

Online retailer Amazon has purchased 202 electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 vehicles from Germany's Daimler Truck, the automaker said Tuesday, marking both firms' largest-ever order for battery-powered lorries.

Amazon to invest over $5 bn in Mexico data center

Amazon will invest more than $5 billion in a data center in central Mexico, the e-commerce giant said on Tuesday, part of a push by big tech to add more storage facilities to meet the needs of AI.

Lindt chocolate to raise prices again this year

Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Spruengli announced Tuesday that it would raise prices again in 2025 after strong sales last year showed that increases had not cut the appetite of consumers.

UK finance minister, hit by market woes, stands firm on growth

Britain's finance minister Rachel Reeves on Tuesday insisted the Labour government needed to "go further and faster" in its bid to kickstart economic growth in the face of UK markets turmoil.

Dozens rescued, 15 bodies pulled from South Africa mine

Over two dozen illegal miners were rescued and at least 15 bodies recovered from an abandoned gold mine in South Africa, as operations continued for a second day Tuesday to reach more people who have been underground for months.

Ukraine hits Russian army factories, energy hubs in 'massive' barrage

Ukraine fired missiles and drones at factories and energy facilities across Russia early on Tuesday, sparking fires hundreds of kilometres (miles) from the frontline, a source in Ukraine's SBU security services said.

NATO launches Baltic Sea patrols after suspected cable sabotage

The NATO military alliance said Tuesday it was launching a Baltic Sea monitoring mission following the suspected sabotage of undersea cables in recent months.

North Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles into sea

North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea Tuesday, according to Seoul's military, in what experts said could be a message to US President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration.

'Not for the poor': Indonesians in capital face housing, commute woes

Scrolling on social media, Indonesian moviegoer Jessica Sihotang stumbled across a film depicting a fellow woman in her 30s struggling to make the dream of buying a Jakarta home a reality.

Trump's return threatens resurgence of trade wars

Donald Trump's second presidential term promises a return to tariffs as he pressures partners and rivals to tackle everything from migration to drug trafficking, while protecting US industries -- in moves that could trigger new trade wars.

Grammys still set for February 2, will support LA fire relief

The Grammys, slated for February 2, will "proceed as planned" despite the devastating fires scorching Los Angeles, the Recording Academy said Monday.

Kazakhstan says part of Aral Sea has nearly doubled in volume

Kazakhstan said on Monday the northern part of the Aral Sea had nearly doubled in volume since 2008, a rare environmental success story in a region plagued by pollution.

Trial over Apple App Store 'surcharge' opens in UK

Apple was accused Monday of abusing the dominant position of its app store at the start of a court trial in the UK, with plaintiffs seeking £1.5 billion pounds ($1.8 billion) in damages.

Last tourist information centre in Paris closes

The last physical tourist information centre in Paris has closed, with officials saying Monday they will boost digital services to meet visitor demand for online information.

Oliviero Toscani, photographer famed for Benetton ads, dies aged 82

Italian photographer Oliviero Toscani, best known for his work on Benetton's provocative advertising campaigns in the 1980s and 1990s including one featuring an AIDS sufferer, died on Monday aged 82.

The Japan Times - Economy (English)