Business and Economy
Asian markets mixed ahead of US data, expected Fed rate cut
AFP - 1h ago
Asian markets struggled into the weekend on Friday following a bland lead from Wall Street as a mixed bag of US data did …
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French almond makers revive traditions to counter US dominance
AFP - 1h ago
The scent of marzipan wafts through the air as confectioners from a century-old company in southern France prepare …
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Oil refinery shutdown could cost Serbia for years, experts warn
Dec 04 2025
The fallout from the shutdown of Serbia's only oil refinery could last years, experts told AFP, putting thousands of …
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Mixed day for US equities as Japan's Nikkei rallies
Dec 04 2025
Wall Street stocks finished mixed at the end of a choppy session Thursday as markets digested varying labor market data …
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Keep energy infrastructure out of war, Turkey warns Moscow, Kyiv
Dec 04 2025
Turkey has warned Russia and Ukraine against targeting energy infrastructure following several Black Sea drone attacks …
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Facebook 'supreme court' admits 'frustrations' in 5 years of work
Dec 04 2025
An oversight board created by Facebook to review content-moderation decisions trumpeted improved transparency and …
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Global markets scent US rate cuts
Dec 04 2025
World stock markets mostly rose Thursday after the latest batch of US data reinforced expectations that the Federal …
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South Africa says wants equal treatment, after US G20 exclusion
Dec 04 2025
South Africa responded Thursday to a US bar on its participation in G20 events under Washington's presidency by saying …
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Assumed likelihood of US rate cuts lifts global markets
Dec 04 2025
World stock markets mostly rose Thursday after the latest batch of US data reinforced expectations that the Federal …
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Microsoft faces complaint in EU over Israeli surveillance data
Dec 04 2025
Microsoft is facing a complaint in the European Union filed by a non-profit organisation alleging it illegally stored …
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South Africa prepared to 'take a break' from G20 after US ban
Dec 04 2025
South Africa said Thursday it was prepared to wait out next year's G20 after being barred by the United States and did …
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EU hits Meta with antitrust probe over WhatsApp AI features
Dec 04 2025
The EU said Thursday it had opened an antitrust probe to determine if the way Meta is rolling out AI features in …
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Stocks rise eyeing series of US rate cuts
Dec 04 2025
European and Asian stock markets mostly rose Thursday after the latest batch of US data reinforced expectations that the …
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Italy sweatshop probe snares more luxury brands
Dec 04 2025
Italian prosecutors on Thursday named Gucci, Prada, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent as among 13 luxury brands suspected …
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Senegal baskets are hot, but women weavers ask where's the money?
Dec 04 2025
Under the shade of a large mango tree in her sandy courtyard in a village in northwest Senegal, Khady Sene rhythmically …
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South Africa telecoms giant Vodacom to take control of Kenya's Safaricom
Dec 04 2025
South Africa's biggest mobile operator Vodacom said Thursday it had agreed to take control of East Africa's largest …
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South Africa will 'take a break' from G20 after US ban
Dec 04 2025
South Africa said Thursday it was prepared to wait out next year's G20 after being barred by the United States and did …
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Slew of top brands suspected in Italy sweatshop probe
Dec 04 2025
Gucci, Prada, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent are among 13 luxury brands suspected of using subcontractors who exploited …
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Markets mixed as traders struggle to hold Fed cut rally
Dec 04 2025
Asian and European markets were mixed Thursday after the latest batch of US data reinforced expectations that the …
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Asian markets mixed as traders struggle to hold Fed cut rally
Dec 04 2025
Asian markets struggled to maintain their early momentum Thursday, even after the latest batch of US data reinforced …
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Egypt's Sinai mountain megaproject threatens the people of St Catherine
Dec 04 2025
Atop one of Egypt's Sinai mountains, near where the three Abrahamic faiths say God spoke with Moses, another …
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Tree branches to fleece jackets: Chemicals plant in Germany bets on biomass
Dec 04 2025
Staring at a pile of freshly cut beechwood, forestry manager Johannes Brodowski wonders if he is looking at the future …
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Asian markets stumble as traders struggle to hold Fed cut rally
Dec 04 2025
Asian markets struggled to maintain their early momentum Thursday, even after the latest batch of US data reinforced …
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Nintendo launches long-awaited 'Metroid Prime 4' sci-fi blaster
Dec 04 2025
Fans of Nintendo's "Metroid" science-fiction saga have reason to celebrate Thursday as the latest instalment in the …
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Meta starts removing under-16s from social media in Australia
Dec 04 2025
Tech giant Meta said Thursday it is starting to remove under-16s in Australia from Instagram, Threads and Facebook ahead …
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Trump scraps Biden's fuel-economy standards, sparking climate outcry
Dec 03 2025
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday a reset of Joe Biden's fuel-economy standards, arguing it will lower US car …
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US stocks rise as weak jobs data boosts rate cut odds
Dec 03 2025
Wall Street stocks shrugged off early weakness Wednesday and finished with solid gains after poor US hiring data boosted …
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Trump to scrap Biden's fuel-economy standards, sparking climate outcry
Dec 03 2025
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday a rollback of Joe Biden's fuel-economy standards, arguing it will lower US …
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EU agrees deal to ban Russian gas by end of 2027
Dec 03 2025
European Union lawmakers and member states reached a deal Wednesday to ban all imports of Russian gas before the end of …
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Poor hiring data points to US economic weakness
Dec 03 2025
US private-sector hiring data released Wednesday painted a downcast picture of the job market in the world's biggest …
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Trump to scrap Biden's fuel-economy standards
Dec 03 2025
President Donald Trump's administration is set to revoke tougher fuel-economy standards put in place by his predecessor …
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US retail giant Costco challenges Trump tariffs in court
Dec 03 2025
Costco, the major members-only warehouse retailer, has sued US President Donald Trump's administration, demanding a …
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Stocks struggle as data shows drop in US jobs
Dec 03 2025
Equities struggled on Wednesday as data showed US businesses unexpectedly shed jobs last month.
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Retail giant Costco challenges US tariffs in court
Dec 03 2025
The US members-only warehouse retailer Costco has sued President Donald Trump's administration, demanding a refund for …
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Greek govt warns farmers not to escalate subsidy protest
Dec 03 2025
The Greek government on Wednesday warned farmers against escalating a roadblock protest to demand funds delayed by the …
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EU moves to break dependence on China for rare earths
Dec 03 2025
The EU on Wednesday presented a multi-billion-euro plan to help curb the 27-nation bloc's dependence on China for rare …
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Stocks dip after US jobs fall
Dec 03 2025
Wall Street's main stock indices dipped on Wednesday after data showed US businesses unexpectedly shed jobs last month.
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German lithium project moves ahead in boost for Europe's EV sector
Dec 03 2025
Australia's Vulcan Energy said Wednesday it will soon start building a German lithium production project that will …
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Stock markets mostly rise awaiting US data
Dec 03 2025
European and Asian stock markets mostly rose Wednesday following a resumption of Wall Street's rally, but gains were …
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EU agrees deal to ban Russian gas by autumn 2027
Dec 03 2025
European Union lawmakers and member states reached a deal Wednesday to ban all imports of Russian gas by autumn 2027, as …
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Norway postpones deep-sea mining activities for four years
Dec 03 2025
Norway on Wednesday postponed the first licences to permit deep-sea mining in its Arctic waters for four years, a delay …
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Zara owner Inditex posts higher profits
Dec 03 2025
Zara owner Inditex, the world's largest fashion retailer, posted Wednesday higher profits for the first nine months of …
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YouTube attacks Australia's world-first social media ban
Dec 03 2025
YouTube on Wednesday attacked Australia's looming social media ban for under-16s as rushed, but the government called …
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Most Asian markets rise as traders await key US data
Dec 03 2025
Asian markets mostly rose Wednesday following a resumption of Wall Street's rally, but gains were muted as investors …
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Airbus cuts delivery target over fuselage quality issue
Dec 03 2025
Aircraft maker Airbus said Wednesday it had lowered its 2025 target for deliveries because of fuselage panel quality …
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Indian rupee hits fresh record low past 90 per dollar
Dec 03 2025
India's rupee fell to a fresh record low of over 90 per dollar Wednesday, extending recent declines, with traders partly …
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YouTube says Australia social media ban makes children 'less safe'
Dec 03 2025
YouTube on Wednesday attacked Australia's looming social media ban for under-16s, denouncing the world-first laws as …
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Chinese smart glasses firms eye overseas conquest
Dec 03 2025
In China, AI glasses let the wearer pay in shops with just a glance at a QR code and a voice command, as a growing …
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Italy's luxury brands shaken by sweatshop probes
Dec 03 2025
A series of investigations into exploitative work conditions within fashion subcontractors has roiled Italy's luxury …
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Women don fake mustaches in LinkedIn 'gender bias' fight
Dec 03 2025
Flipping their gender setting to "male" and even posting photos with fake mustaches, a growing number of women on …
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What are 'rare earths' for?
Dec 03 2025
Crucial for making smartphones, fighter jets and electric cars, "rare earth" metals have become a strategic bargaining …
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San Francisco sues producers over ultra-processed food
Dec 03 2025
San Francisco is suing makers of the ultra-processed food that health experts say has led millions of Americans into …
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Trump hints economic adviser Hassett may be Fed chair pick
Dec 02 2025
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday hinted that he wants to nominate his chief economic adviser Kevin Hassett to …
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US stocks resume upward climb despite lingering valuation worries
Dec 02 2025
Wall Street stocks resumed their upward climb Tuesday after the previous day's stutter, as markets weighed expected …
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German economy in 'deepest crisis' of post-war era: industry group
Dec 02 2025
Germany's economy is suffering its "deepest crisis" since the aftermath of World War II, an industry group warned …
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Faberge's rare Winter Egg fetches record £22.9 mn at auction
Dec 02 2025
Faberge's The Winter Egg, considered one of his most beautiful creations, sold for nearly £23 million ($30 million) at …
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Stocks firm as US rate cut outlook tempers Japan bond unease
Dec 02 2025
Stocks steadied Tuesday following the previous day's stutter, as weak data reinforced optimism for US interest rate cuts …
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Amazon unveils new AI chip in battle against Nvidia
Dec 02 2025
Amazon Web Services launched its in-house-built Trainium3 AI chip on Tuesday, marking a significant push to compete with …
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Prada completes acquisition of flashy rival Versace
Dec 02 2025
Italian fashion group Prada announced on Tuesday it had completed its acquisition of smaller rival Versace, announced …
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OECD raises US, eurozone growth targets as world economy 'resilient'
Dec 02 2025
The world economy has been "surprisingly resilient" in the face of adversity this year, the OECD said Tuesday, raising …
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Most Asian markets rise as US rate cut bets temper Japan bond unease
Dec 02 2025
Asian stocks mostly rose Tuesday following the previous day's stutter, as more weak data helped solidify US interest …
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Most markets rise as US rate cut bets temper Japan bond unease
Dec 02 2025
Stocks mostly rose Tuesday following the previous day's stutter as more weak data helped solidify US interest rate cut …
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Apple AI chief leaving as iPhone maker plays catch-up
Dec 02 2025
Apple on Monday said the head of its artificial intelligence team is stepping down, and the effort is to be led by a …
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Samsung unveils first 'special edition' triple-folding phone
Dec 02 2025
Samsung launched its first triple-folding phone on Tuesday, a special-edition product with an eyewatering price tag …
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South Korean leader calls for penalties over e-commerce data leak
Dec 02 2025
South Korea's president ordered on Tuesday swift action to penalise those responsible for a major data leak at …
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Asian markets rise as US rate cut bets temper Japan bond unease
Dec 02 2025
Stocks rose Tuesday following the previous day's stutter as more weak US data helped solidify US interest rate cut …
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Pacific island office enabling sanctions-busting 'shadow fleets'
Dec 02 2025
Dozens of oil tankers suspected of smuggling contraband crude for Russia and Iran have been using a beachside office in …
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Stocks turn lower as traders eye US data for Fed signals
Dec 01 2025
European and US stock markets turned lower Monday as investors awaited key US data that could play a role in Federal …
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US Supreme Court hears major online music piracy case
Dec 01 2025
The US Supreme Court heard arguments on Monday on whether internet service providers should be held liable for the …
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US to zero out tariffs on UK pharma under trade deal
Dec 01 2025
The United States on Monday exempted British pharmaceuticals from import tariffs under a unique deal which sees the UK …
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In contrast to Europe, Tesla sets sales records in Norway
Dec 01 2025
Tesla has sold more cars in Norway in 11 months than any other brand in a whole year, according to statistics published …
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UK withdraws loan for Mozambique gas project
Dec 01 2025
Britain's government said Monday it would withdraw its financial support for TotalEnergies' gas project in Mozambique, …
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Airbus confirms 'quality issue' on A320 panels
Dec 01 2025
European plane-maker Airbus said Monday it had detected a "quality issue" affecting metal panels on its popular A320 …
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From porcelain to tweed, EU opens protected label to crafts
Dec 01 2025
Traditional crafts from French Limoges porcelain to Irish Donegal tweed became entitled to EU protected status as of …
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Stocks mixed as traders eye US data for Fed signals
Dec 01 2025
Stock markets diverged Monday as investors awaited key US data that could play a role in Federal Reserve deliberations …
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Equity markets mixed as traders eye US data ahead of Fed decision
Dec 01 2025
Asian and European equities were mixed Monday with investors awaiting the release of key US data that could play a role …
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Asian markets mixed as traders eye US data ahead of Fed decision
Dec 01 2025
Asian equities were mixed Monday with investors awaiting the release of key US data that could play a role in Federal …
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Arms makers see record revenues as tensions fuel demand: report
Nov 30 2025
Sales by the world's top 100 arms makers reached a record $679 billion last year, as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza …
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OPEC+ reaffirms planned pause on oil output hikes until March
Nov 30 2025
OPEC nations and oil-producing allies reaffirmed Sunday plans to keep current oil output levels unchanged until March, …
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Long-lost Rubens 'masterpiece' sells for almost 3 mn euros
Nov 30 2025
A long-lost painting by 17th-century Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens sold at auction in France on Sunday for almost …
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Electric vehicle prowess helps China's flying car sector take off
Nov 30 2025
A worker in white gloves inspects the propellers of a boxy two-seater aircraft fresh off the assembly line at a Chinese …
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Trump ramps up Venezuela threats, warns airspace 'closed'
Nov 30 2025
US President Donald Trump sharply escalated his threats against Venezuela on Saturday with an ominous warning that the …
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Hungary's 'Hollywood on the Danube' faces Trump tariff threat
Nov 30 2025
A prop axe was brought in as crew members set the scene for a horror movie being filmed in Budapest's former psychiatric …
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OPEC+ likely to maintain current output levels
Nov 30 2025
Ministers of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied nations (OPEC+) are expected to keep …
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Trump says Venezuela airspace should be considered 'closed in its entirety'
Nov 29 2025
US President Donald Trump warned on Saturday that the airspace above and near Venezuela should be considered closed, the …
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Travel chaos fears ease after Airbus intervenes on software fix
Nov 29 2025
Fears of days of travel chaos across Europe and the world eased on Saturday after plane manufacturer Airbus intervened …
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Air travel disrupted over Airbus A320 software switch
Nov 29 2025
More airlines around the world announced delayed or cancelled flights Saturday following an Airbus alert that up to …
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How successful has OPEC+'s oil output policy been in 2025?
Nov 29 2025
Ministers of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied nations (OPEC+) are unlikely to make …
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Air travel faces disruptions over A320 software switch
Nov 28 2025
Several airlines announced delayed or cancelled flights on Friday following an Airbus alert that up to 6,000 operational …
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Stocks rise in thin post-Thanksgiving trading
Nov 28 2025
Global stocks mostly rose Friday, extending a positive winning streak based in part on expectations that the Federal …
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Crowds, bargains greet US shoppers on 'Black Friday'
Nov 28 2025
The annual "Black Friday" kickoff to the US holiday shopping season drew crowds Friday as millions of Americans seized …
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Canada PM under fire for alleged climate U-turn
Nov 28 2025
Critics accuse Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney of betraying the fight against climate change.
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Stocks rise in thin Thanksgiving trading
Nov 28 2025
Wall Street and key European equity markets rose on Friday in thin US holiday weekend trading, with a key US exchange …
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Belgian PM digs in against EU push to use Russian assets for Ukraine
Nov 28 2025
Belgium's Prime Minister Bart De Wever has called an EU plan to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine "fundamentally …
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Markets muted in thin trade, hit by data centre glitch
Nov 28 2025
Stock markets were little changed Friday, capping a solid week driven by expectations of more US rate cuts, with trading …
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Driven by TikTok trends, new beauty brands target children
Nov 28 2025
Should children be using beauty face masks? Dermatologists say no, but a growing number of companies are targeting a new …
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India economic growth beats forecasts but tariffs loom
Nov 28 2025
India's economy grew faster than expected in the last quarter, official data showed Friday, but the impact from US …
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Most equity markets build on week's rally
Nov 28 2025
Most markets squeezed out gains Friday at the end of a strong week for equities fuelled by growing expectations that the …
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Most Asian markets build on week's rally
Nov 28 2025
Most markets squeezed out gains Friday at the end of a strong week for equities fuelled by growing expectations that the …
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China says humanoid robot buzz carries bubble risk
Nov 28 2025
More than 150 Chinese companies are making humanoid robots but a market bubble risks forming in the rapidly growing …
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Asian markets struggle to build on week's rally
Nov 28 2025
Markets fluctuated Friday at the end of a strong week for equities fuelled by growing expectations that the Federal …
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China, inflation could pop Japan PM's bubble
Nov 28 2025
Charming Donald Trump one week, angering China the next, Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has had a busy start and …
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