Athens News - News from Athens, the political, economic and cultural centre of Greece, the European Union and the whole world

Most Asian stocks rose Wednesday and gold topped $4,500 for the first time as investors tracked a record on Wall Street following forecast-beating US economic growth data.

A heady aroma of malt and brewing yeast drifts through Pakistan's oldest and by far largest brewery, which is gearing up for expansion after getting approval to sell abroad after a nearly 50-year ban.

The US oil company Chevron is walking a tightrope amid tensions between Washington and Caracas to retain its fragile position as the only foreign company allowed to exploit Venezuela's oil reserves —- the largest in the world.

The US State Department said Tuesday it would deny visas to a former EU commissioner and four others, accusing them of seeking to "coerce" American social media platforms into censoring viewpoints they oppose.

Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka has left LIV Golf for family reasons, the Saudi-backed circuit announced on Tuesday.

US trade officials determined that China should be punished for employing unfair tactics to dominate the semiconductor industry, but will wait 18 months to impose tariffs, American authorities said Tuesday.

Kepa Arrizabalaga was Arsenal's League Cup quarter-final hero with the decisive penalty shoot-out save that completed a miserable evening for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix on Tuesday.

Nicolas Jackson scored twice as much-fancied Senegal began their Africa Cup of Nations bid with a convincing 3-0 win over Botswana on Tuesday, while Nigeria's Super Eagles made harder work of their opening match against Tanzania before claiming a 2-1 victory.

Elias Achouri's double helped Tunisia ease to a 3-1 win over Uganda in their opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday.

The S&P 500 powered to a fresh record Tuesday following data showing surprisingly robust third-quarter US economic growth as markets hope for a year-end "Santa Claus Rally."

British police said Tuesday they were taking no action against punk-rap duo Bob Vylan, who led a Glastonbury festival crowd in chants of "Death to the IDF" -- the Israeli military.

The head of Libya's armed forces and four other passengers died on Tuesday when their business jet crashed shortly after taking off from Ankara, officials in Turkey's capital and Tripoli said.

Venezuela's parliament passed a law Tuesday that carries lengthy prison terms for any national supporting a United States' oil tanker blockade Caracas has termed piracy.

French lawmakers Tuesday passed last-minute legislation to keep the government in business into January after the divided legislature failed to agree a full budget for the coming year.

The newest US document dump on Jeffrey Epstein is sprawling, uneven and heavily redacted -- but tucked inside are moments that have sharpened scrutiny on President Donald Trump's long-acknowledged past association with the notorious sex offender.

Ademola Lookman secured a 2-1 win for a wasteful Nigeria against Tanzania in Fes on Tuesday in their opening Africa Cup of Nations match.

Ukraine pulled out troops from a town in the east after fierce battles, it said on Tuesday, as relentless Russian strikes killed three civilians and cut power to thousands in freezing winter temperatures.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday met with farmers' unions to discuss a controversial free trade deal and the government's handling of a cow disease that has led to protests and roadblocks.

Scottish cyclist Oscar Onley, who came fourth in the last Tour de France with Picnic PostNL, has signed with Ineos Grenadiers starting from the 2026 season, the two teams announced on Tuesday.

UK police said two new charges, of rape and sexual assault, had been issued on Tuesday against British comedian and actor Russell Brand.

Michelle Bachelet, a trailblazer for Latin America as its first woman to serve as defense minister and the first elected as Chilean president, now aims to become the UN's first female secretary general, and says the world is "ready."

Real Madrid's out-of-favour Brazilian starlet Endrick has joined Lyon on loan, the Ligue 1 club announced on Tuesday.

A man who appears to be Britain's former prince Andrew discussed arranging meetings with "inappropriate friends" with Ghislaine Maxwell, the accomplice of notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to newly released US government documents.

US consumer confidence languished at a multi-month low in December as a slowing job market offset better sentiment after the government shutdown ended, according to a survey released Tuesday.

Norwegian biathlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken, 27, has been found dead in his hotel room in Lavaze, Italy, the Norwegian Biathlon Association said Tuesday, adding that the cause of death was unknown.

UK police said two new charges, of rape and sexual assault, had been issued on Tuesday against British comedian and actor Russell Brand.

Venezuela's parliament is set to debate a law Tuesday that envisages lengthy prison terms for any national supporting a United States' oil tanker blockade Caracas has termed piracy.

Norwegian biathlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken, 27, has been found dead in his hotel room in Lavaze, Italy, the Norwegian Biathlon Association said Tuesday, adding that the cause of death was unknown.

Wall Street's main indices edged higher Tuesday despite stronger-than-expected US growth figures dampening hopes for further interest rate cuts, while gold and silver struck fresh records.

Vietnam's Communist Party on Tuesday endorsed General Secretary To Lam to remain in the top job for the next five years, according to two sources briefed on a meeting where senior officials agreed a slate of candidates to be announced at the party congress in January.

US economic growth in the third quarter came in at 4.3 percent on an annualized basis, easily topping expectations, according to Commerce Department data released Tuesday.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has hit back at Arne Slot after the Liverpool boss criticised Micky van de Ven for a "reckless" tackle that left Alexander Isak with a broken leg.

Russian private military contractors in the Central African Republic told AFP they took any threats to the upcoming elections in the volatile country "extremely seriously" and were ready to "repel any provocations".

The newest US document dump on Jeffrey Epstein is sprawling, uneven and heavily redacted -- but tucked inside are moments that have sharpened scrutiny on President Donald Trump's long-acknowledged past association with the notorious sex offender.

The UK government said Tuesday it will raise inheritance tax thresholds for farmers' estates from £1 million to £2.5 million, signalling a major climbdown of a policy that triggered months of protests.

A Pakistani firm won an auction Tuesday with a $482 million bid for a majority stake in the embattled national carrier PIA, a deal seen as a litmus test of the government's pledge to sell off loss-making state companies.

Wall Street's main stock indices briefly slid lower on Tuesday as much stronger-than-expected US growth figures befuddled hopes for further interest rate cuts, while gold and silver struck fresh records.

The Democratic Republic of Congo edged out Benin 1-0 in their opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday, with Theo Bongonda scoring the only goal of the Group D clash.

A new batch of files released Tuesday by the US government in relation to the notorious late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein contains numerous references to Donald Trump, including documents detailing flights he took on his then close friend's private jet.