LAS VEGAS: The annual CES consumer electronics extravaganza threw open its doors in Las Vegas on Thursday as the industry looks to the latest innovations to help cure the pain from an ailing global economy.

BEIJING: Jack Ma will cede control of Chinese fintech giant Ant Group, the company announced Saturday, following a Communist Party crackdown on the nation’s tech sector that targeted the charismatic billionaire.

WASHINGTON: Amazon announced Wednesday it will cut more than 18,000 jobs from its workforce, citing “the uncertain economy” and the fact that the online retail giant had “hired rapidly” during the pandemic.

LONDON: Stock markets mostly extended the solid start to the year Thursday as China reopens its economy from lockdowns, while oil prices recovered after heavy losses.

KUWAIT: The Central Bank of Kuwait has revealed that the number of people who have taken consumer or housing loans amount to 550,194, and the percentage of people unable to repay their loans is around 2.3 percent of total loaners.

Brussels: The eurozone’s annual inflation rate fell for a second month in a row, to 9.2 percent in December, driven by easing energy prices, official data showed Friday, bringing some relief to Europe in the new year.

London: The dollar fell Friday versus the pound on news that US wage growth slowed in December, dimming expectations of more aggressive interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve, dealers said.

BROU, France: Recently described as “250 grams of magic and perfection” by President Emmanuel Macron, the French baguette is at risk from surging energy prices, with some bakers warning they can no longer afford to fire up their ovens.

CHOLUTECA, Honduras:  For thousands of Nicaraguans who embark on an odyssey to the United States each year in search of a better life, the first hurdle is dealing with corrupt border agents in neighboring Honduras.