BEIJING -- China's factory activity expanded in December as hot export demand fueled a recovery in the world's second-largest economy from the coronavirus slump, although higher labor and transport costs slowed the pace of growth. Read More
MEXICO CITY -- Mexico's government on Wednesday hailed Britain's approval of a coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, and said that Mexican authorities were also close to authorizing its deployment. Read More
Gold prices held steady on Wednesday, as Read More
LONDON -- Britain on Wednesday became the first country in the world to approve a coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, hoping that rapid action would help it stem a surge of infections driven by a highly contagious variant of the virus. Read
SEOUL -- Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee told a Seoul court on Wednesday he would "make a new Samsung" in the final hearing of a trial that will decide whether he returns to jail for alleged bribery. Read More
BERLIN -- The still high COVID-19 infection numbers do not allow a back to normal for now, German Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Wednesday. Read More
The Turkish lira rose for a sixth straight session on Wednesday after the extension of a free-trade deal with Britain, while other emerging market currencies extended gains against the dollar on optimism over additional U.S. fiscal aid. Read More
The U.S. government has agreed to loan privately-held biotechnology firm Ginkgo Bioworks $1.1 billion for COVID-19 testing and the production of raw materials for therapies that may help address future pandemics. Read More
LONDON -- Britain's government will pause pay rises for public sector workers except those working in the health service and those on lower incomes, finance minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday. Read More
LONDON -- Britain will borrow almost 400 billion pounds in the current financial year to pay for the massive coronavirus hit to its economy, finance minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday, taking the budget deficit to its highest since World War Two. Read More