World economy
Venezuela in recession as oil prices plunge
01 Jan 2015
Oil revenues account for more than 50 per cent of GDP and over 90 per cent of total exports of Venezuela, which is the fifth largest member of oil the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries
Japan announces tax cuts to bolster public spending
31 Dec 2014
The tax reforms envisage slashing corporate tax by 3.29 per cent to 31.33 per cent over the next two fiscal years and exempting gifts of up to ¥10 million from parents or grandparents to their offspring from taxation, to boost spending
2014: Ebola renders waste most of Sierra Leone and Liberia
31 Dec 2014
In fact, Ebola’s nasty reputation as a contagious disease that can make people bleed from their eyeballs has dented tourism across the entire African continent
NATO ends Afghan war, lowers flag in low-key ceremony
29 Dec 2014
General John Campbell, the American commander who led NATO's International Security Assistance Force, lowered the green and white mission flag, replacing it with one of a training and support mission known as Resolute Support
Drop in oil prices should spur growth in euro zone: German central bank chief
29 Dec 2014
The 45 per cent drop in oil prices in the last six months is estimated to be equivalent to a $1.1 trillion stimulus for the global economy
Japan’s Abe pushes $29 bn fresh stimulus to spur growth
27 Dec 2014
The government expects the stimulus plan to boost Japan’s GDP by 0.7 per cent, but does not explain how that growth would be achieved
North Korea blames US for internet outages
27 Dec 2014
North Korea’s National Defence Commission accused US President Barack Obama of going reckless like a monkey in a tropical forest by inciting the release of ‘The Interview’, a comedy featuring a fictional plot to kill its leader
Russia names NATO as key risk in new military doctrine
26 Dec 2014
Document posted on the Kremlin website names NATO’s attempts to overthrow neighboring governments and the buildup close to the country’s borders as a major threat
Russia irate as Ukraine votes to join NATO
24 Dec 2014
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev had warned that Ukraine’s move for NATO membership will turn it into a potential military opponent of Russia and that his country will have to respond to them
Pakistan becomes associate member of CERN
20 Dec 2014
Obama warns proportional response to cyber attacks on Sony
20 Dec 2014
The US President, however, faulted the Hollywood studio for giving in to intimidation by withdrawing `The Interview,’ the satirical movie based on a fictional assassination attempt on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un
Flipkart raises $700 mn in fresh funding; files for Singapore listing
20 Dec 2014
The fresh investments, raised from Baillie Gifford, Greenoaks Capital, Steadview Capital, T Rowe Price Associates, Qatar Investment Authority, DST Global, GIC, ICONIQ Capital and Tiger Global, takes the number of Flipkart investors to over 50
Putin confident of Russian recovery in 2 years; blasts West
19 Dec 2014
While Putin blamed the West for all of Russia’s current woes, his economics minister Alexei Ulyukayev blamed the crisis entirely on the Russian government, or "delayed reforms and everything we did not do"
US exonerates black teen of murder 70 years after his execution
19 Dec 2014
George Stinney Jr, 14, was sent to the electric chair for allegedly battering to death two white girls in 1944