HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 3.1% in the September-November period versus the prior three-month period, the government said on Tuesday. “The labour market should remain largely stable in the near term, though the situation in some sectors might be more affected by increased uncertainties in the global …
Hong Kong’s Sept-Nov unemployment holds steady at 3.1% Read More »
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany plans talks with representatives of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Damascus on Tuesday, the foreign ministry said, joining the United States and Britain in establishing contact with the Islamist group after it led the overthrow of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad. German diplomats’ first talks with representatives of the HTS-appointed interim government will …
Germany joins U.S., UK in making diplomatic contact with Syria’s HTS Read More »
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s rand slipped against a stronger dollar on Tuesday, as investors turn their attention to the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision. At 0820 GMT, the rand traded at 17.93 against the greenback, about 0.4% weaker than its previous close. The dollar index was last trading up about 0.2% against a basket …
South African rand weakens ahead of Fed decision Read More »
By Francesco Guarascio and Phuong Nguyen HANOI (Reuters) – Communist-run Vietnam is planning its boldest bureaucratic reform in decades, slashing ministries, agencies and broadcasters in a bid to reduce bottlenecks and red tape, but risking short-term “paralysis”, officials and investors said. Under the plan, five ministries, four government agencies and five state TV channels would …
Analysis-Vietnam’s sweeping administrative cuts stir investors’ anticipation, worries Read More »
By William Schomberg and Suban Abdulla LONDON (Reuters) -British pay rose by more than expected in the three months to October, official data showed on Tuesday, prompting investors to further rein in bets on Bank of England interest rate cuts next year, despite warning signs of a slowdown in the economy. Average weekly earnings, excluding …
UK pay growth speeds up, adding to worries for Bank of England Read More »
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s top diplomat said on Tuesday he hoped the incoming Trump administration would “make the right choice” and work with Beijing, hours after Donald Trump told reporters the COVID-19 pandemic had strained his relationship with “friend” Xi Jinping. “We hope the new U.S. administration will make the right choice and work with …
China, Trump talk up prospects for US-China collaboration Read More »
BERLIN (Reuters) – Volkswagen management and labour representatives will resume high pressure talks on Tuesday morning over planned cost cuts to the carmaker’s German sites after a 13-hour negotiation round on Monday failed to produce an agreement. Unions said late on Monday night that it was still “far from clear” whether Tuesday’s talks would bring …
VW, unions resume last-ditch round of talks for the year on cost cuts Read More »
ZURICH (Reuters) – The Swiss economy will grow by 1.5% next year, the government forecast on Tuesday, slightly revising down its outlook for one of Europe’s traditionally most resilient economies. This year, the economy is expected to grow 0.9%. Switzerland’s export-oriented economy had previously been forecast to grow by 1.2% this year and 1.6% next …
Swiss economy to grow 1.5% next year, government forecasts Read More »
PRAGUE (Reuters) – The Czech Republic has received assurances from Germany that it will abolish a gas transit fee this week or in early January, news agency CTK reported, citing a deputy industry minister. Germany’s neighbours, also including Austria and Slovakia, want the fee waived as it pushes up prices as they seek to shift …
Czechs get assurances German gas levy to be abolished, deputy minister says Read More »
By Kate Abnett BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The growth of solar power installations in Europe slumped to just 4% this year after years of double-digit increases, industry data showed on Tuesday, heightening concerns about the continent’s clean energy transition. The findings bode ill for the European Union’s plans to rapidly expand its use of renewable energy …
EU solar growth slows, raising fears for energy transition Read More »
