Business and Tech

Macau ponders future even as tourists and gamblers return
AFP - 2h ago
Macau's streets were packed in the run-up to the Lunar New Year after pandemic controls were abruptly lifted but it is …
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Asian markets mixed in holiday-hit trade
AFP - 3h ago
Asian markets were mixed in holiday-thinned trade Monday, while the dollar dropped as investors lowered their …
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Sudan's prized gum trees ward off drought but workers wither
Jan 22 2023
A vast belt of trees vital for global production of fizzy drinks helps Sudanese farmers adapt to climate change, but in …
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Iran's Raisi pledges to tackle inflation
Jan 22 2023
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Sunday set the tackling of galloping inflation and currency devaluation as priorities …
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Luxury sector impatient for return of Chinese tourists
Jan 22 2023
The European luxury sector is welcoming the end of pandemic lockdowns in China, as the return of big-spending Chinese …
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'Pokemon Go' creator returns to 'real world' recipe for NBA game
Jan 22 2023
Seven years ago the mobile game "Pokemon Go" took the world by storm, and now its creators are aiming to infuse the same …
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US media rocked by layoffs amid economic gloom
Jan 22 2023
From CNN to the Washington Post, US media are facing tough times, as a series of outlets have announced layoffs this …
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A fifth of new cars in California zero-emission in 2022: data
Jan 21 2023
One-in-five new cars sold in California in 2022 was a zero-emission vehicle, the state said Friday, as the largest car …
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Google cuts 12,000 jobs as tech woes bite again
Jan 21 2023
Google's parent company Alphabet announced Friday it will cut about 12,000 jobs globally, citing a changing economic …
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Biden willing to discuss debt ceiling with Republican leader as default looms
Jan 21 2023
President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy both indicated Friday they are willing to discuss raising the US …
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From tanks to subsidies: the main topics at Davos
Jan 20 2023
The World Economic Forum in Davos wrapped up Friday after a week that featured feverish discussion of the war in …
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Yellen contrasts US-Africa relations with China, Russia on Senegal visit
Jan 20 2023
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Friday touted the fruits of a new "mutually beneficial" economic strategy towards …
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Elon Musk takes stand in Tesla tweet fraud trial
Jan 20 2023
Tesla CEO Elon Musk took the stand in a California fraud trial on Friday, accused of lying in tweets about taking the …
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Global stocks conclude volatile week on positive note
Jan 20 2023
Stock markets rebounded on Friday after a rocky week dominated by uncertainty over whether the global economy will …
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US charges two for protecting Russian oligarch's super yacht
Jan 20 2023
The US unveiled criminal charges Friday against two men who it said sought to protect sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor …
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Western climate subsidies risk hitting emerging markets: IMF
Jan 20 2023
The head of the IMF warned Friday that Western subsidies to combat climate change and encourage the transition to clean …
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US Fed official favors smaller rate hike in February
Jan 20 2023
There is ample evidence that a steep climb in interest rates has dampened demand and economic activity, suggesting the …
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In cold Davos, warmer days seen for the world economy
Jan 20 2023
An air of optimism for the global economy blew through Davos this week after fears that the war in Ukraine, an energy …
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Stocks bounce, yen slides tracking inflation fallout
Jan 20 2023
Stock markets rebounded on Friday after a rocky week dominated by uncertainty over whether the global economy will …
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US home sales slump for 11th month, log largest annual drop since 2008
Jan 20 2023
Sales of existing homes in the United States have fallen for the 11th straight month, with the past year logging the …
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After Davos, a race for money to stop climate change
Jan 20 2023
US climate envoy John Kerry bluntly summed up in one word what the planet needs to avoid a global warming catastrophe at …
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US home sales slump for 11th month, slammed by mortgage rates
Jan 20 2023
Sales of existing homes in the United States have fallen for the 11th straight month, as a rough period of limited …
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Stocks rebound, yen slides tracking inflation fallout
Jan 20 2023
Stock markets rebounded Friday after a rocky week dominated by uncertainty over whether the global economy will suffer …
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Google announces 12,000 job cuts
Jan 20 2023
Google's parent company Alphabet announced about 12,000 job cuts globally on Friday citing a changing "economic …
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Most Asian markets up as traders weigh China hope, recession fear
Jan 20 2023
Asian markets mostly rose Friday after a rocky week that saw recession fears play up against growing hope that China's …
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Elite Davos forum 'sitting target' of conspiracy theorists
Jan 20 2023
A Swiss Alpine town where heads of state and business titans huddle for a week of debate: the World Economic Forum in …
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France gripped by strikes, protests against pension reform
Jan 20 2023
More than a million people marched in France on Thursday to protest pension reforms, with some demonstrators clashing …
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Human error caused outage that snarled US airports: regulator
Jan 20 2023
The computer glitch that forced the temporary suspension last week of US domestic airline departures was caused by a …
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Netflix soars to 230 mn subscribers, co-founder steps down
Jan 20 2023
US streaming giant Netflix ended last year with more than 230 million global subscribers, it said Thursday, beating …
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Meta says reviewing call to make adult nudity policies more inclusive
Jan 20 2023
Meta was reviewing a call by its oversight board to make its policies on adult nudity more inclusive, a spokesperson …
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Japan inflation hits four percent in December
Jan 20 2023
Japan's consumer prices rose four percent in December from a year earlier, a level not seen since December 1981, fuelled …
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Fed Vice Chair sees high rates 'for some time' to cool prices
Jan 19 2023
US interest rates will need to remain high for some time even as inflation eases, Federal Reserve Vice Chair Lael …
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Boeing ordered to face MAX victims' families in US court
Jan 19 2023
A US federal judge on Thursday ordered Boeing to appear in court next week to face family members of those killed in …
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Stocks slide on returning recession fears
Jan 19 2023
Stock markets lost ground on Thursday after disappointing US data and corporate earnings rekindled worries about a …
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US takes 'extraordinary' steps to avoid looming default
Jan 19 2023
The US Treasury began taking measures Thursday to prevent a default on government debt, as Congress heads towards a …
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NASA, Boeing team up to develop lower-emissions aircraft
Jan 19 2023
The US space agency NASA is teaming up with aviation giant Boeing to develop a next-generation commercial aircraft that …
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US strengthens organic food protocols to counter fraud
Jan 19 2023
The US Department of Agriculture on Thursday unveiled new rules to strengthen oversight of the "organic" label on food, …
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Uber drivers in top Mexican resort hope for easier ride after ruling
Jan 19 2023
Uber drivers in Mexico's Caribbean resort of Cancun hope that a legal ruling in their favor will end alleged …
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Macron, Sanchez agree joint approach to US trade dispute
Jan 19 2023
French President Emmanuel Macron and Spain's Pedro Sanchez on Thursday joined forces to call for a "proactive" European …
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Thunberg says Davos elite 'fuelling destruction of planet'
Jan 19 2023
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg slammed business and political leaders attending the World Economic Forum in …
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France gripped by strikes over Macron's pension reform plan
Jan 19 2023
Strikes crippled much of France's public transport on Thursday as protesters came out in force against a deeply …
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US poised for 'extraordinary measures' as debt limit looms
Jan 19 2023
The US Treasury could start taking "extraordinary measures" Thursday to prevent a default on government debt, as …
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Mixed results at P&G as consumers adapt to higher prices
Jan 19 2023
Procter & Gamble reported a dip in quarterly profits Thursday, following a decline in sales as the consumer products …
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In Spain, Macron, Sanchez ink treaty cementing bilateral ties
Jan 19 2023
French President Emmanuel Macron and Spain's Pedro Sanchez inked a Franco-Spanish friendship treaty in Barcelona …
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German parliament recognises Yazidi 'genocide' in Iraq
Jan 19 2023
Germany's lower house of parliament recognised on Thursday the 2014 massacre of Yazidis by Islamic State group jihadists …
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Bird statue fetches $100,000 as Musk auctions Twitter HQ items
Jan 19 2023
A Twitter bird statue fetched $100,000 on Wednesday as Elon Musk auctioned off furniture, decorations, kitchen equipment …
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New leases to significantly expand UK offshore wind power
Jan 19 2023
The UK on Thursday announced leases for six new offshore wind projects which aim to cement the country as one of the …
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Macron, Sanchez in Barcelona to cement Franco-Spanish ties
Jan 19 2023
French President Emmanuel Macron was meeting Spain's Pedro Sanchez for a joint summit in Barcelona Thursday, as Paris …
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Markets drift after Wall St tumble as recession fears return
Jan 19 2023
Markets were mixed Thursday while oil prices fell and the dollar weakened after disappointing US data renewed worries …
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France gears up for 'hellish' day of pension protests
Jan 19 2023
A day of strikes and protests kicked off in France Thursday, set to disrupt transport and schooling across the country …
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Asian markets mixed after Wall St tumble as recession fears return
Jan 19 2023
Markets were mixed Thursday while oil prices fell and the dollar weakened after disappointing US data renewed worries …
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Wholesale energy dives but bills remain sky high
Jan 19 2023
Plunging wholesale gas prices have sparked speculation of an end to Europe's energy crisis -- but consumers' electricity …
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Finnish fur farm horror caught on video as industry fights ban
Jan 19 2023
Obese, infection-ridden foxes trapped in small cages; cubs feeding on their dead siblings: footage filmed by an animal …
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Our bad fashion habits -- and how we might change them -- in numbers
Jan 19 2023
The fashion industry is estimated to contribute upwards of two percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and is on …
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Sakhalin exception: the Russian energy Japan can't quit
Jan 19 2023
This year's Group of Seven president Japan has joined the bloc's condemnation of Russia's Ukraine invasion, imposing …
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Japan's 2022 trade deficit hits record on energy costs
Jan 19 2023
Japan logged its largest ever annual trade deficit last year, with the soaring price of energy and raw materials …
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Asian markets track Wall St lower as recession fears return
Jan 19 2023
Most stocks dropped alongside oil prices Thursday and the dollar weakened after disappointing US data renewed worries …
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Rapid scale-up of CO2 removal crucial for climate goals
Jan 19 2023
Capping global warming at liveable levels will be impossible without massively scaling up the extraction of …
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Let's-a-go (to Hollywood)! First US 'Super Mario' theme park to open
Jan 19 2023
Nintendo's first theme park outside of its native Japan will open in California next month, just weeks before Mario gets …
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Jury hears Musk told 'lies' that cost Tesla investors millions
Jan 19 2023
A lawyer for angry Tesla investors told a California courtroom on Wednesday that CEO Elon Musk "lied" about having …
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Microsoft to axe 10,000 jobs as tech gloom deepens
Jan 18 2023
Microsoft on Wednesday said it would lay off 10,000 employees in the coming months as the economic downturn continues to …
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US stocks retreat while Bank of Japan decision weighs on yen
Jan 18 2023
Wall Street stocks tumbled Wednesday as traders weighed the latest US data showing slowing economic activity, while the …
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International arrests over 'criminal' crypto exchange
Jan 18 2023
The owner of China-based cryptocurrency exchange Bitzlato was arrested in Miami on Wednesday, along with five associates …
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Jury hears Elon Musk told 'lies' that cost Tesla investors millions
Jan 18 2023
A lawyer for angry Tesla investors told a California courtroom on Wednesday that CEO Elon Musk "lied" about having …
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Trump presses Facebook to restore his account
Jan 18 2023
Former US president Donald Trump is urging Facebook to reinstate his account two years after it was deactivated, his …
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Champagne celebrates record sales in 2022
Jan 18 2023
The waning Covid pandemic in many parts of the world helped put people in a celebratory mood, industry leaders said …
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UN chief slams oil firms for 'big lie' on global warming
Jan 18 2023
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres skewered oil firms on Wednesday for having "peddled the big lie" about their role …
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US arrests Russian crypto boss for alleged criminal 'haven'
Jan 18 2023
US authorities said Wednesday they had arrested the owner of China-based cryptocurrency exchange Bitzlato for alleged …
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Lufthansa closes in on stake in Italy's ITA Airways
Jan 18 2023
German airline giant Lufthansa submitted a fresh offer Wednesday for Italy's troubled ITA Airways, bringing a turbulent …
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UK millionaire says rich people like him should be taxed more
Jan 18 2023
A rich Briton is among a group of millionaires in Davos pushing for governments to tax those like him more in order to …
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Yellen eyes China trip after 'constructive' meeting with top Chinese official
Jan 18 2023
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will travel to China soon, following "constructive" discussions with her Chinese …
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Tokyo stocks surge, yen sinks as Bank of Japan holds policy
Jan 18 2023
Tokyo's stock market surged Wednesday, with exporters boosted by a tumbling yen after the Bank of Japan decided against …
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US retail sales shrinks by most in a year as growth engine falters
Jan 18 2023
US retail sales slumped for a second straight month in December, according to government data released Wednesday, with …
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Microsoft says it will axe 10,000 employees over poor economy
Jan 18 2023
Microsoft on Wednesday said it would lay off 10,000 employees in the coming months as the economic downturn continues to …
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US retail sales shrinks for second straight month on consumer caution
Jan 18 2023
US retail sales slumped for a second straight month in December while wholesale prices fell, said government data …
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Burberry fashions rising sales despite China slump
Jan 18 2023
British luxury fashion house Burberry, renowned for its handbags and trenchcoats, announced rising sales Wednesday …
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Uber resumes services in Tanzania
Jan 18 2023
Ride-hailing giant Uber has resumed its services in Tanzania, it said on Wednesday, settling a fare dispute with the …
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'Pressing need' for US, China to communicate on economic issues: Yellen
Jan 18 2023
Close communication between the United States and China on economic issues is vital, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen …
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At Davos, Saudi Arabia says curbing oil dependency a priority
Jan 18 2023
Saudi Arabia is working to reduce its reliance on oil exports, Economy Minister Faisal Al-Ibrahim said Wednesday, as the …
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Taiwan records biggest economic contraction since 2009
Jan 18 2023
Taiwan's economy shrank in the final quarter of 2022, the government said Wednesday, in the island's worst quarterly …
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Taiwan records biggest economic contraction since 2009
AFP - 13m ago
Taiwan's economy shrank in the final quarter of 2022, the government said Wednesday, in the island's worst quarterly …
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Macau jails 'junket king' Alvin Chau for 18 years
AFP - 24m ago
Macau's former "junket king" Alvin Chau was sentenced on Wednesday to 18 years in jail for running an illegal gambling …
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Moving house: Arctic mining town's move divides residents
AFP - 41m ago
Each time he boasts about the colossal relocation of his town centre in the Swedish Arctic, Kiruna mayor Gunnar Selberg …
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UK inflation slows in December but remains sky-high
AFP - 1h ago
Annual inflation in Britain slowed to 10.5 percent in December, official data showed Wednesday, but remained close to …
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Bank of Japan leaves policy unchanged, yen weakens
AFP - 1h ago
Japan's central bank left its ultra-easy monetary policy unchanged Wednesday, bucking heavy speculation that it could …
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Asian markets up on recovery hopes, yen sinks after BoJ decision
AFP - 2h ago
Asian markets rose Wednesday to maintain their strong start to the year, with Tokyo soaring and the yen tumbling after …
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Marvel movies return to China after nearly 4-year break
AFP - 2h ago
Chinese film fans on Wednesday celebrated the return of Marvel movies to the country's cinemas after an absence of …
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Staff shortages dent Hong Kong air hub reboot hopes
AFP - 3h ago
Regional airlines are struggling to ramp up flights to Hong Kong because of staff shortages at the airport, slowing the …
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Out of Nile, into tile: Young Egyptians battle plastic plague
AFP - 7h ago
Entrepreneurial young Egyptians are helping combat their country's huge plastic waste problem by recycling junk-food …
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Most Asian markets rise on recovery hopes
AFP - 34m ago
Asian markets mostly rose Wednesday following a mixed lead from Wall Street as traders fought to maintain the strong …
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US fraud trial begins over Elon Musk's 2018 Tesla tweets
AFP - 9h ago
Jury selection began on Tuesday in a California courtroom over whether Elon Musk committed fraud with a pair of 2018 …
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Microsoft to cut staff again: reports
AFP - 10h ago
Microsoft is readying to cut more positions from its global workforce as tech giants continue paring headcount to ride …
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Global stocks mixed on China data, drop in European gas prices
Jan 17 2023
Global stocks were mixed Tuesday following data showing China's growth slowed sharply in 2022 as European gas prices hit …
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United Airlines sees 2023 profit jump amid tight capacity
Jan 17 2023
Eyeing another year of strong travel demand and limited airline industry capacity, United Airlines projected a big jump …
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Pfizer to sell more drugs at cost to poor nations
Jan 17 2023
US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced on Tuesday that it will greatly expand the number of medicines and vaccines it …
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International tourist arrivals doubled in 2022: UN
Jan 17 2023
International tourist arrivals doubled in 2022 over the previous year, and should reach near pre-pandemic levels in 2023 …
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Ukraine sees tourism as 'crucial' for post-war revival
Jan 17 2023
With its beaches targeted by Russian strikes and its hotels empty or closed since the start of the war, Ukraine has been …
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Goldman Sachs profits hit by big drop in mergers
Jan 17 2023
Goldman Sachs reported a steep decline in fourth-quarter earnings Tuesday, on much lower merger activity in results that …
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Electric car batteries could be key to boosting energy storage: study
Jan 17 2023
Electric car batteries could be used to boost power storage in the future, injecting electricity into the grid during …
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Stocks struggle on China data; gas prices extend losses
Jan 17 2023
Global stock markets struggled Tuesday on news of China's slowing economy, but European gas prices hit another 16-month …
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US high court hears sanctions evasion case against Turkey's Halkbank
Jan 17 2023
The US Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday in an appeal by Turkey's Halkbank against US charges that it violated …
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EU takes on US, China over clean tech in Davos
Jan 17 2023
The EU's chief announced ambitious plans Tuesday to challenge China and the United States in the race for clean-tech …
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Son of Equatorial Guinea's ruler held for graft: state TV
Jan 17 2023
One of the sons of Equatorial Guinea's veteran ruler has been arrested on suspicion of illegally selling a plane owned …
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Asian stocks struggle after China data but outlook hopeful
Jan 17 2023
Asian stocks mostly fell Tuesday after data showed China's economy at its slowest pace in four decades last year, though …
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China's economy grows at slowest pace in decades but tops forecasts
Jan 17 2023
China's economy grew last year at its slowest pace in four decades as it was hammered by Covid lockdowns and a property …
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Nissan, Renault near 'historic' rebalancing of alliance: source
Jan 17 2023
Nissan and Renault are nearing a "historic" rebalancing of their auto alliance, with a deal likely to be announced in …
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Asian stocks struggle, even as China growth tops forecasts
Jan 17 2023
Asian stocks mostly fell Tuesday but pared early losses after data showed China's economy grew more than expected last …
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Egypt's economic turmoil squeezes struggling middle class
Jan 17 2023
With Egypt's economy in crisis, the currency in freefall and inflation skyrocketing, the poor have been hit hard but the …
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Ukraine centre stage as Davos returns
Jan 17 2023
The war in Ukraine is set to take the spotlight Tuesday as global business and political A-listers huddle in the Swiss …
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EU vows to protect European industry to counter US subsidies
Jan 16 2023
The EU on Monday said it would take "decisive steps" to protect Europe in the face of massive US subsidies that have …
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EU ombudsman urges parliament 'culture change' over graft scandal
AFP - 25m ago
The EU's ombudsman on Monday said a graft scandal roiling the European Parliament must bring a cultural shift in the …
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World stocks mostly rise on optimism over China, rates
AFP - 1h ago
World equities mainly rose Monday on growing global optimism as inflation slows and China reopens, while gas prices hit …
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Most Asian markets rise on optimism over China, rates
AFP - 4h ago
Markets mostly rose in Asia on Monday, following another rally on Wall Street fuelled by optimism over the world economy …
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Dockers killed, kidnapped and corrupted by drugs mafia
AFP - 11h ago
They could be scenes straight from gangster movies, except all happened for real in the French port of Le Havre over the …
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China's Tencent fires more than 100 for fraud, embezzlement
AFP - 11h ago
Chinese tech giant Tencent said Monday it had fired more than a hundred employees for violating company policies, with …
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Inflation bites into Sierra Leone's all-important 'cookeries'
AFP - 12h ago
Jariatu Kargbo hauls a wooden spoon longer than her arm through a vat of rice as customers patiently wait their turn to …
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