. When Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke takes the podium next week at the central bank's annual meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, his sense of deja vu may be overwhelming. Stocks have been giving up gains won after last year's speech, when Bernanke hinted at plans to pump more money into the financial system. Oil
More
. President Dilma Rousseff faces a damaging showdown with Congress that threatens to hurt Brazil's growth prospects as she struggles to contain a rebellion over her drive to cut costs and root out corruption. Since taking office on January 1, the no-nonsense former guerrilla has scorned the usual back-slapping and handouts that oil the wheels
More
. South Africa's governing alliance between labour and the ANC was given an uncomfortable warning this week by the finance minister, who suggested labour laws they had crafted over the years to protect workers could in fact be causing chronic unemployment. The comments from Pravin Gordhan annoyed leading labour federation COSATU, but they could spur
More
Sixth-form students face a scramble for U.K. university places in the final year before tuition fees rise after another record set of A-level results, with many Cypriots concerned if the greater competition will deprive them of places in British universities. The pass rate rose for the 29th successive year to hit 97.8%, while around one
More
Similarities between a new Chinese fighter jet and a prototype Russian plane have brought suggestions that Moscow may be quietly helping Beijing compete with the world's military powers. Experts say the fifth-generation J-20 fighter, which made its maiden flight in January during a visit of the U.S. defense secretary, could have its origins in the
More
The head of Egypt's anti-graft authority, Assem el-Gohari, has ordered a top aide of ousted President Hosni Mubarak to be tried on charges of corruption and illegal profiteering, local newspapers reported on Thursday. They said Zakaria Azmi, former chief of staff of the president ousted in a popular uprising in February, would appear before a
More
The U.S. Federal Reserve Bank is taking a closer look at the U.S. units of Europe's biggest banks, concerned that Europe's debt crisis could spill into the U.S. banking system, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Fed's New York branch — which oversees U.S. units from many European banks — is asking more information about
More
As a child, Kristen Wolf set up a makeshift altar in the driveway of her home, decorating a desk with a white cloth and a crucifix before proceeding to conduct a Mass and causing a stir that resulted in a reprimand. The move came, she now says, from a sense that she was left outside
More
Cyprus faces serious economic problems but they can be overcome with collective effort, central bank Governor Athanasios Orphanides said on Wednesday. "I am optimistic that with the right actions and effort by all we will pull through this," Orphanides told reporters after a meeting with Finance Minister Kikis Kazamias. They were Orphanides' first public comments
More
Asian stocks fell on Thursday on profit-booking by nervous investors, while the Swiss franc stayed firm after plans to curb the currency disappointed those looking for more drastic action. Commodity and technology shares dragged the region's shares lower as investors skimmed off some of this week's gains amid lingering worries on the U.S. economy and
More