Reuters

BERLIN (Reuters) - German company HyImpulse successfully launched on Friday a candle wax-powered rocket capable of carrying commercial satellites on a test suborbital flight into space for the first time.

"We're signalling Germany's prowess as a spacefaring nation and expanding Europe's access to space," HyImpulse's chief executive Mario Kobald said in a statement.

The 12-metre, 2.5-tonne test rocket dubbed "SR75" lifted off shortly... (continue reading...)

By Karin Strohecker and Sumanta Sen

LONDON (Reuters) - Interest rates at major central banks remained static in April as the prospect of higher-for-longer U.S. Federal Reserve rates exerted some pressure on policymakers, especially in emerging markets, where Indonesia delivered a surprise hike.

All four of the central banks overseeing the 10 most heavily traded currencies that held meetings in April - the Bank of Japan, the Bank of... (continue reading...)

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong's March retail sales fell 7% from a year earlier, partly due to a high base of comparison for visitor spending and the Easter holidays, government data showed on Friday.

Sales decreased to HK$31.2 billion ($3.99 billion), snapping 15 consecutive months of growth. That compared with a 1.9% rise in February.

"The changing consumption patterns of visitors and residents may continue to pose challenges," a... (continue reading...)

GENEVA (Reuters) - An Israeli incursion in Rafah would put the lives of hundreds of thousands of Gazans at risk and be an incredible blow to the humanitarian operations of the entire enclave, a spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian office said on Friday.

Israel has warned of an operation against Hamas in the southern Gazan city of Rafah where around a million displaced are crowded together in shelters and makeshift accommodation.

"It... (continue reading...)

(Reuters) - U.S. drugmaker Amgen's shares jumped 13% to $316.26 premarket on Friday as the company teased encouraging data for its experimental obesity drug, igniting investor hopes but leaving Wall Street frustrated over a lack of details.

Amgen, which is conducting mid-stage studies of its injectable drug MariTide, said that it was "confident in MariTide's differentiated profile and believe it will address important unmet medical needs."