NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Rising food and energy prices pushed India's annual retail inflation up towards an eight-year high in April, strengthening economists' view that the central bank would have to raise interest rates more aggressively to curb prices.

BEIJING (Reuters) -China will not hesitate to introduce new policies to prop up growth, a senior Communist Party official said on Thursday, as the economy feels the pinch of protracted COVID-19 lockdowns.

A tycoon and close associate of outgoing Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is considering selling businesses collectively worth several billion dollars, including a South China Sea gas field and a commercial land lease firm at the site of a former U.S. military base, two sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

Ukraine will not reopen the Sokhranovka gas transit route from Russia to Europe until Kyiv obtains full control over its pipeline system, the head of operator GTSOU told Reuters on Thursday.

Shares of Beyond Meat slumped 28% and were on track to open below their initial public offering price for the first time on Thursday as investors fretted over the vegan meat maker's rising costs to battle increased competition.

Chainalysis, the New York-based blockchain data platform company, said on Thursday it had raised $170 million of new funding, bringing its valuation to $8.6 billion.