Economy

Books & Literature

Cheshire West Libraries Launch Costume Swap for World Book Day

Libraries across Cheshire West and Chester are hosting fancy dress swaps to help children dress as book characters for World Book Day. The program accepts donations of gently used costumes now through March 6.

WH News 4 months

Economy

Vietnam Eyes 10% Growth in 2026 After 8% Surge Led by Exports, FDI

Vietnam's economy expanded 8.02 percent in 2025, driven by surging exports, record foreign direct investment and robust public spending. Officials now target 10 percent or higher growth in 2026 amid challenges from moderating global demand and U.S. tariffs.

WH News 4 months

Economy

US Unemployment Claims Fall 23,000 to 206,000 for Week Ending Feb 14

New unemployment claims in the United States plunged by 23,000 to a seasonally adjusted 206,000 for the week ending February 14, Labor Department data shows. The drop points to a labor market holding firmer than some forecasts predicted.

WH News 4 months

Diplomacy & Trade

Shabana Azmi Praises Macron’s Charm at Bollywood Luncheon

Shabana Azmi described French President Emmanuel Macron as 'very charming' and 'attentive' during a private luncheon with Bollywood stars in New Delhi on February 17. The gathering highlighted cinema's role in cultural exchange and economic growth between India and France.

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Policy & Law

Somerset Council Proposes 4.99% Tax Rise Amid Funding Pressures

Somerset Council plans a 4.99% council tax increase for Band D properties, matching the government-approved cap, despite earlier calculations showing needs up to 5.9%. Cllr Bill Revans defended the move, blaming past freezes and complex national funding shifts for the district's financial strain.

WH News 4 months

Economy

Prabowo Urges US Investors to Target Indonesia’s Minerals, Downstreaming

President Prabowo Subianto called on American business leaders Wednesday to pour more investment into Indonesia's vast mineral reserves and industrial projects. He pitched the country as a prime spot for high-tech raw materials during a summit at the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C.

WH News 4 months

Negocios

Ormat firma acuerdo de 150 MW geotérmicos con NV Energy para centros de Google

Ormat Technologies firmó un acuerdo a largo plazo con NV Energy para suministrar hasta 150 megavatios de energía geotérmica a centros de datos de Google en Nevada. Los nuevos proyectos entrarán en operación entre 2028 y 2030, según informó la empresa con sede en Reno.

WH News 4 months

Corporate

Nigeria to Review MTN’s IHS Towers Acquisition

Nigeria's federal government will scrutinize MTN Group's acquisition of IHS Towers to protect consumers and ensure sector stability. Communications Minister Bosun Tijani announced the review Wednesday.

WH News 4 months

Economy

Nigeria Unveils 2025 Industrial Policy Targeting 25% Manufacturing GDP Share

Nigeria's federal government launched the 2025 National Industrial Policy on February 17 to overhaul its industrial base. Vice-President Kashim Shettima introduced the plan, which sets ambitious targets like boosting manufacturing's GDP contribution to 25 percent by 2035.

WH News 4 months

Markets

Fed Minutes Confirm USD/JPY Rate Check by New York Fed

Federal Reserve minutes released Wednesday confirm the New York Fed checked rates in the USD/JPY currency pair on behalf of the U.S. Treasury. The rare intervention, likely at 5 p.m. London time on Jan. 23, signals coordinated U.S.-Japan efforts to cap the pair below 160.

WH News 4 months

Energy Transition

Nigeria CBN Governor Cardoso Calls for Climate-Resilient African Industrialization

Olayemi Cardoso, governor of Nigeria's Central Bank, urged African nations to pursue industrialization, job creation and climate-resilient growth during a keynote speech at the Egypt 30by30 Programme. He stressed collaboration on green finance and risk-aware financial systems to lift millions from poverty.

WH News 4 months

Europe

London Gatwick Returns as Headline Sponsor for Crawley Community Awards 2026

London Gatwick Airport will serve as headline sponsor for the 2026 Crawley Community Awards, recognizing local volunteers, educators and sports contributors. The airport, which supported nearly 12,000 jobs in the borough last year, praised the event for honoring community heroes.

WH News 4 months

Economy

IMF Urges China to Shift to Consumption-Led Growth, Cut Export Reliance

The International Monetary Fund called on China Wednesday to prioritize consumption-driven growth through sweeping reforms. The fund projects those changes could raise the consumption-to-GDP ratio by 4 percentage points over five years.

WH News 4 months

Corporate

APA Group H1 Profit Jumps to A$95M, Confirms FY EBITDA Outlook

APA Group reported a first-half net profit after tax of A$95 million, more than doubling from A$34 million a year earlier. The energy infrastructure firm cited lower net finance costs as the main driver.

WH News 4 months

Policy & Law

NYC Mayor Mamdani Eyes Canceling Adams’ 5,000 NYPD Officer Hiring Plan

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has proposed scrapping a plan to hire 5,000 additional police officers outlined by his predecessor Eric Adams. The move comes as part of Mamdani's first preliminary budget amid a reported fiscal crunch.

WH News 4 months