Unemployment in Germany hung on at an all-time low in February, official data showed Wednesday, pointing to strength in Europe's largest economy even as political uncertainty clouds future prospects.

The dollar firmed in Asia Wednesday after two top Federal Reserve officials suggested US interest rates could rise this month, while Donald Trump's speech to Congress received a mixed response.

At a furniture store outside India's capital, a salesman scans the manager's ID and takes her fingerprint on a biometric device attached to his cellphone.

Saudi Arabia said Tuesday its $7 billion investment in a giant Malaysian refinery would bolster a bid by state-owned energy firm Aramco to go public next year. 

The deal between Aramco, the national oil company of Saudi Arabia, and Malaysian state energy firm Petronas over the $27 billion project was signed Tuesday during Saudi King Salman's state visit to Malaysia.

The heir to the Samsung empire and four other top executives were indicted Tuesday on multiple charges including bribery and embezzlement, South Korean prosecutors said in the latest blow to the world's biggest smartphone maker.

The presentation of formal charges against Lee Jae-Yong and his colleagues makes them almost certain to face trial, casting new uncertainty over South Korea's biggest business group as it seeks to recover from a humiliating recall.

Asian markets mostly gave up their early gains Tuesday and the dollar came under fresh selling pressure as trading floors become cautious ahead of Donald Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress.

The new US president hinted he would make a "big" announcement on infrastructure policy, raising hopes he will deliver on a key campaign promise.

Uncertainty surrounding the sanctions on Iran and its relations with the United States pose a risk to the oil-producing nation's economy, the International Monetary Fund said Monday.

The comments were a reference to the new sanctions the Trump administration imposed early this month on individuals and companies supporting Iran's ballistic missile program and the Revolutionary Guards military force.

South Korean retail giant Lotte agreed Monday to provide land to host a controversial U.S. missile defense system loathed by Beijing, Seoul's defense ministry said.

World stock markets diverged Monday, as a recent Trump-inspired rally showed signs of fragility.

Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine on Monday threatened to seize control of enterprises across their territories unless Kiev halts a blockade by nationalist protesters.