Alibaba rises 3% in premarket after profit beat, despite miss on sales

In France, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou is facing political uncertainty as he plans to use special executive powers to pass his budget without a parliamentary vote, potentially leading to a motion of no confidence and his downfall. This move comes after previous Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned in December due to a confidence motion. Bayrou aims to secure the budget adoption amidst a fractured National Assembly and opposition from parties like France Unbowed and the...

Panama's president vows to end a development deal with China after meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and facing criticism from President Donald Trump over the Panama Canal. Rubio emphasizes the U.S. cannot allow Chinese control of the canal area and supports efforts to repurchase the waterway. House Republicans introduce a bill to give the president authority to negotiate with Panama to reacquire the Panama Canal, citing concerns about China's influence. Full Article

The 2025 Grammy Awards are honoring top musicians, with Beyoncé leading nominations for her album "Cowboy Carter." Performers include Shakira, Billie Eilish, and Chappell Roan, while a tribute to Quincy Jones is presented by Will Smith, Stevie Wonder, and Janelle Monáe. Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars win best group/duo performance for "Die With a Smile," with Gaga advocating for the LGBTQ+ community. The show also pays tribute to the late Liam Payne, features a star-studded...

Sabrina Carpenter won her first Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance for her hit song Espresso, and later won Best Pop Vocal Album for Short N’ Sweet at the 2025 Grammys. During her acceptance speech, she expressed gratitude to her parents and sisters, but was censored by the production team for using strong language. Similarly, Doechii, the third woman to win Best Rap Album, also had her speech cut off after using explicit language. Full...

Bed Bath and Beyond has been fined $230,000 for selling non-compliant children's pyjamas and hot water bottles, breaching the Fair Trading Act. The retailer failed to include required safety information, such as detailed instructions for hot water bottle use and permanent warning labels on pyjamas. Over 27,000 consumers were put at risk due to the lack of fire safety information on the products, resulting in the largest non-compliance case seen by the Commerce Commission. Full...

Yvette Cooper has warned that Donald Trump's pursuit of tariffs against the US's closest neighbors could have a damaging impact on the global economy, as the president imposes levies on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China. The UK government aims to break down trade barriers, not put them up, amidst fears of a global trade war that could escalate the cost of living. If the US targets the UK with tariffs, the government is prepared...