One of the most comprehensive studies of the state of banking and markets since the financial crisis warns that “dangerous undercurrents” are a rising threat to the world economy. The International Monetary Fund’s Financial Stability Report says that although banks are far safer than they were in 2008 there are new risks.   Trade tensions are growing, the IMF says, ...

When SpaceX launched a rocket carrying an Argentine Earth-observation satellite from California’s Central Coast, both the night sky and social media lit up.   People as far away as San Francisco, Sacramento, Phoenix and Reno, Nevada, posted photos of the Falcon 9 rocket’s launch and return on October 7 night. It was the first time SpaceX landed the first-stage booster ...

Emergency services in Spain’s Balearic islands say at least five people have died in flooding caused by a torrential rainstorm, with rescuers looking for an unknown number of people still missing. An emergency services spokeswoman said four people died in Sant Lorrenc, a town about 60 kilometers (40 miles) east of Mallorca’s capital, Palma.   The fifth victim was in ...

A court in Guatemala has sentenced the former vice-president, Roxana Baldetti, to 15 years and six months in jail for her role in what became known as the “Magic Water” scandal. Prosecutors said that she embezzled millions from a state fund set up to decontaminate a lake.  The chemical formula used as part of the clean-up was an ineffective solution ...

  The UK’s foreign secretary has told Saudi Arabia that Britain expects urgent answers over the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In a phone call to Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, Jeremy Hunt warned that “friendships depend on shared values”.  Mr Khashoggi was last seen visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last week, and Turkey says he may ...

An Afghan official says a Taliban assault in northern Jawzjan province has killed 12 members of the security forces and wounded another 10. Gen. Faqir Mohammad Jawzjani, provincial police chief in Jawzjan, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the attack took place in Qush Typa district late on Monday.   Jawzjani says the assault was a failed attempt to ...

The International Monetary Fund has warned a trade war between the US and China risks making the world a “poorer and more dangerous place” in its latest assessment of the global economy. The IMF has lowered its forecast for global growth this year and next.   It said that a full-blown trade war between the US and China would put ...

Google is shutting down its long-shunned Plus social network for consumers, following its disclosure of a flaw discovered in March that could have exposed some personal information of up to 500,000 people.   The announcement came in a Monday blog post , which marked Google’s first public description of the privacy bug.  Google deliberately avoided disclosing the problem at the ...

Officials are warning residents along Florida’s gulf coast to prepare for a possibly “life-threatening hurricane”, which is due to strike later this week. Hurricane Michael may reach category three strength before it arrives in Florida, possibly on Wednesday, and will then move up the US East Coast.   Michael, which is the 13th named storm of the season, is already ...

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is campaigning for his designated successor and former foe Anwar Ibrahim, urging voters to support Anwar’s return to active politics. Mahathir’s appearance at a late night political rally Monday marked the first time in two decades that the two shared the same stage, after setting aside a bitter political feud to form an alliance that ...