Business and Economy
McDonald's to boost franchisees as inflation weighs on consumers
AFP - 15m ago
McDonald's unveiled plans Wednesday to steer $8.5 billion to franchisees for restaurant remodels and technology upgrades …
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Outgoing UN chief makes final climate push at New York summit
AFP - 26m ago
After accusing fossil fuel interests of treating the atmosphere like an "open sewer," outgoing UN chief Antonio Guterres …
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ILO financial crisis takes centre stage in leadership race
AFP - 1h ago
The three candidates vying for the International Labour Organization helm faced off Wednesday, with the deep financial …
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Stocks dip, oil soars despite Trump hailing "productive" Iran talks
AFP - 1h ago
Stock markets fell on Wednesday while oil rose sharply as investors weighed the chances of a deal to end the Mideast …
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Turkey reassures investors over investment fund crisis
AFP - 1h ago
Turkey's justice minister on Wednesday said the government's top priority was to recover the money of nearly half a …
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Fendi brings disco bling, Italian style, to Milan Fashion Week
AFP - 2h ago
Fendi's Maria Grazia Chiuri unveiled a wardrobe of sensual, sheer, 1970s-influenced looks Wednesday at Milan Fashion …
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China's Xi to get rare airport welcome from Trump
AFP - 2h ago
US President Donald Trump will roll out the red carpet for Xi Jinping on Wednesday, giving the Chinese leader a rare …
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Stocks dip, oil rises as traders eye chances of Iran deal
AFP - 1h ago
Stock markets fell on Wednesday and oil prices rose as investors weighed the chances of a deal to end the Mideast war, …
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How is the EU approaching record fuel prices?
AFP - 5h ago
Transport fuel prices in the European Union have struck record highs in recent days, driven by oil futures surging …
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Oil falls, stocks steady as Trump hails 'good' Iran talks
AFP - 3h ago
Oil prices fell and stock markets traded steadier Wednesday after recent volatility, as Donald Trump said US and Iranian …
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China's Xi heads to US for talks with Trump: state media
AFP - 6h ago
China's leader Xi Jinping departed Beijing on Wednesday, bound for Washington where he will meet with US President …
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Oil prices fall after Trump hails 'good' talks with Iran
AFP - 2h ago
Oil prices fell on Wednesday after President Donald Trump said US and Iranian representatives had met for "very good" …
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Meta leans into AI, smart glasses amid privacy pushback
AFP - 11h ago
Meta has spent billions to stay competitive with artificial intelligence, but the tech giant faces growing pushback as …
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Outgoing UN chief makes climate push at New York summit
AFP - 11h ago
Fresh from accusing fossil fuel interests of treating the atmosphere like an "open sewer," outgoing UN chief Antonio …
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Trump met with Venezuela's interim leader at UN
AFP - 12h ago
US President Donald Trump and Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodriguez met in person for the first time on Tuesday and …
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Tata turmoil shines light on India succession woes
AFP - 15h ago
In little over a month, the chairman of India's corporate giant Tata Group has gone from seeking another term to …
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Trump renames AI 'super intelligence' as leaders jostle over dangers
AFP - 4h ago
President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that the US government would rename artificial intelligence "super …
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French prosecutors probe secret filming of women with smart glasses
AFP - 17h ago
Paris prosecutors said Tuesday they had opened several probes after receiving complaints concerning women filmed on the …
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Oil prices retreat as markets welcome US-Iran talks
Sep 22 2026
Oil prices fell again Tuesday as markets focused on the potential upside of renewed US-Iran diplomatic engagement while …
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Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of deadly strikes as thousands flee
Sep 22 2026
Yemen's Houthis accused Saudi Arabia on Tuesday of launching a wave of deadly strikes that killed civilians and prison …
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Ukraine anger as EU lifts sanctions on Russian oligarchs Usmanov, Fridman
Sep 22 2026
EU countries on Tuesday took oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman off a renewed Russia sanctions list in a move …
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Trump renames AI "super intelligence," rejects international oversight
Sep 22 2026
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that the US government would rename artificial intelligence "super …
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EU agrees to lift sanctions on Russian oligarchs Usmanov, Fridman
Sep 22 2026
EU countries on Tuesday agreed a compromise deal to prolong sanctions on Russia that will see oligarchs Alisher Usmanov …
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Oil prices slide, AI stock buzz fades
Sep 22 2026
Oil prices fell further Tuesday on speculation the United States and Iran could make progress on talks to end the Middle …
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Stocks climb as oil slides, AI buzz returns
Sep 22 2026
Stock markets advanced Tuesday as oil prices fell further on speculation the United States and Iran could make progress …
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EU in showdown over Russian oligarch sanctions as deadline looms
Sep 22 2026
The EU grappled Tuesday to overcome a standoff between France and Latvia blocking an agreement on prolonging sanctions …
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EU in showdown over Russian oligarch sanctions as deadline nears
Sep 22 2026
EU countries on Tuesday resumed their scramble for an agreement on prolonging sanctions on Russia, after Latvia held up …
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Stocks rise on AI buzz, oil prices cool
Sep 22 2026
Stock markets climbed on Tuesday as the success of Meta's new AI agent and US-China talks on artificial intelligence …
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Stocks rise on AI buzz, drop in oil prices
Sep 22 2026
Stock markets climbed on Tuesday as the success of Meta's new AI agent and US-China talks on artificial intelligence …
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Google data centre sparks protests in Austria
Sep 22 2026
In the Austrian town of Kronstorf, a planned Google data centre promises investment, jobs and a place on the digital map …
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No green light to lift EU sanctions on Russian oligarchs, talks to resume
Sep 22 2026
EU countries failed Monday to finalise a deal that involved lifting sanctions on Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and …
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Global stocks rally on lower oil prices, US-China hopes
Sep 21 2026
Stock markets climbed on Monday, boosted by falling oil prices and positive signals from trade talks between Chinese and …
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Paramount settles with US states to clear Warner Bros. mega-merger
Sep 21 2026
Paramount has reached a settlement with a group of US states that clears the way for its takeover of Warner Bros. …
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South African ostriches plucked alive for luxury fashion: report
Sep 21 2026
South African ostrich farms are using mechanical pluckers to remove feathers from living birds destined for major luxury …
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EU fines Google 403 mn euros for location data breach
Sep 21 2026
Ireland's data protection watchdog, acting on behalf of the European Union, said Monday it had fined Google 403 million …
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Why diesel prices are rising more than crude oil
Sep 21 2026
Prices at the pump for diesel and other fuels are hitting fresh highs as the wars and the Middle East and Ukraine have …
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German auto workers stage mass protests in bid to save jobs
Sep 21 2026
German automotive workers held nationwide protests on Monday calling for government and management action to protect …
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EU proposes energy rating for data centres
Sep 21 2026
Data centres in Europe will be rated on energy and water consumption under an EU proposal put forward Monday to pre-empt …
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Tens of thousands of German auto workers protest to save jobs
Sep 21 2026
German automotive workers held nationwide protests on Monday, calling for government and management action to protect …
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Asia stocks rise on AI, US-China trade talks optimism
Sep 21 2026
Asian stock markets mostly rose on Monday, boosted by global demand for artificial intelligence technology and positive …
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US seeks 'AI dialogue' with China as officials set stage for Trump-Xi summit
Sep 21 2026
US and Chinese economic officials discussed creating a communication channel for AI concerns at meetings Sunday as they …
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Top US, Chinese economic officials meet ahead of Trump-Xi summit
Sep 20 2026
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng began talks Sunday, as they set the stage for …
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PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi under investigation in France for conflict of interest
Sep 20 2026
Nasser al-Khelaifi, the Qatari president of French football club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), is under investigation in …
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France's debt climbs to highest since 1978: ministry
Sep 19 2026
France's debt mountain is growing and will this year be at its highest level since 1978 because of a soaring deficit, …
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Trump's beef policies irk Texas ranchers, testing their loyalty
Sep 19 2026
As dawn breaks over the Texas prairie, where a herd of cattle grazes peacefully, there's growing discontent among …
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Nvidia, OpenAI CEOs to attend Xi dinner at White House
Sep 19 2026
Nvidia boss Jensen Huang and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman are among the tech leaders expected to attend a White …
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Anthropic picks Accenture for in-house AI safety evaluation
Sep 18 2026
Anthropic said Friday it is partnering with consulting giant Accenture to have outside evaluators work inside the AI …
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Global stocks mixed as yen falls despite Bank of Japan rate hike
Sep 18 2026
Global stocks were mixed Friday at the end of a week dominated by central bank moves to tame inflation as the yen …
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Hushing and hedging: US companies retreat on climate
Sep 18 2026
Some companies are talking less about their climate commitments, while others are shifting the goalposts or quietly …
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Russia seizes assets of Nestle, French firms over West's Ukraine support
Sep 18 2026
Russian authorities have seized the businesses and assets of Swiss food giant Nestle and three French groups, a move the …
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California governor signs order to explore AI 'kill switch'
Sep 18 2026
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Friday directing state officials to explore the feasibility …
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Crisis-wracked Volkswagen warns of 10-bn-euro hit to profits
Sep 18 2026
German auto giant Volkswagen warned Friday of a 10-billion-euro ($11.4 billion) hit to its annual earnings, citing tough …
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Stock markets retreat after central bank rate hikes
Sep 18 2026
European and US stock markets retreated while oil prices wobbled on Friday at the end of a week dominated by central …
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Warren Buffett steps down as Berkshire Hathaway chairman
Sep 18 2026
Influential US billionaire investor Warren Buffett stepped down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate …
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Stock markets diverge after central bank rate hikes
Sep 18 2026
Global stock markets diverged and oil prices wobbled on Friday approaching the end of a week dominated by central bank …
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Mbappe ends Nike partnership to join Swiss brand On
Sep 18 2026
France captain Kylian Mbappe has signed with Swiss sportswear brand On, ending a long association with Nike that …
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Russia seizes assets of Nestle, French firms
Sep 18 2026
Russian authorities have seized the businesses and assets of Swiss food giant Nestle and three French groups, a move the …
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Asian stocks boosted by falling oil, yen weakens after BoJ rate hike
Sep 18 2026
Asian stocks mostly rose on Friday in line with a rally on Wall Street as a tumble in oil prices eased inflation …
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Bank of Japan hikes rates to 31-year high to battle inflation
Sep 18 2026
The Bank of Japan raised interest rates to a 31-year high on Friday and said it would lift them further as it looks to …
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Most Asian stocks track Wall St rally, yen drops after BoJ rate hike
Sep 18 2026
Asian stocks mostly rose on Friday in line with a rally on Wall Street as a drop in oil prices eased inflation concerns, …
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AI doomsday warnings unlikely to slow IPOs but questions linger
Sep 18 2026
Anthropic is expected to beat rival OpenAI to the public markets with a blockbuster IPO later this year despite recent …
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Australia to detain tourists who overstay visa, minister says
Sep 18 2026
Australia will detain tourists who overstay visas to send a message of deterrence under new rules aimed at reducing …
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In Brazil's Amazon, the hunt for oil fuels hopes and fears
Sep 18 2026
Indigenous chief Wagner Karipuna gazes worriedly at the tranquil river flowing past his village in the Brazilian Amazon …
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Asian stocks track Wall St rally as oil prices drop
Sep 18 2026
Asian stocks rose Friday in line with a rally on Wall Street as a drop in oil prices eased inflation concerns, while …
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Oversight Board blasts 'inadequate' Meta safeguards for AI deepfakes
Sep 18 2026
Meta on Thursday moved to remove AI-generated videos targeting two women, including a British politician, after the tech …
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Stocks climb as oil retreats, Fed calms inflation fears
Sep 17 2026
Stock markets rose on Thursday a day after the US Federal Reserve raised interest rates as expected to cool inflation …
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Hispanics feel 'betrayed' on immigration, Republican warns Trump
Sep 17 2026
US lawmakers from both parties attacked President Donald Trump's mass deportation drive Thursday, with a member of his …
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'In our lane': Fed's Warsh defies Trump but still fighting for credibility
Sep 17 2026
US Federal Reserve chair Kevin Warsh delivered the interest rate hike this week that many economists think surging …
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GM delivers first components for US interceptor missiles
Sep 17 2026
General Motors has delivered its first components for Lockheed Martin interceptor missiles as the defense contractor …
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Canada's Carney pushes 'new alliance' with EU despite Trump threats
Sep 17 2026
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney shrugged off a threat of US retaliation Thursday as he pitched a "new alliance" with …
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French fishermen block ports over petrol prices
Sep 17 2026
Fishermen on Thursday blocked the entrance to two ports and a petrol depot in southern France in protest at rising fuel …
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Kids and social media: what would change under new EU law
Sep 17 2026
The EU laid out plans Thursday for strict age limits for children to access social media, games and AI assistants -- and …
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Micron's Taiwan workers say 68 months' bonus not enough
Sep 17 2026
Hundreds of workers at memory chip giant Micron Technology rallied on Thursday, threatening a strike as they rejected …
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'Another arrow to the quiver': World Bank posts record private capital mobilization
Sep 17 2026
The World Bank announced Thursday that it had mobilized a record $112 billion in private capital for developing …
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Germany urges EU action against China to defend carmakers
Sep 17 2026
Germany's finance minister urged the European Union on Thursday to step up action against what he called China's "unfair …
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From land to race laws: what's driving the US-South Africa rift?
Sep 17 2026
The Trump administration this week announced visa restrictions on South African officials over alleged discrimination …
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Ireland to boycott Eurovision 2027 over Gaza
Sep 17 2026
Ireland will not participate in or broadcast next year's Eurovision Song Contest, public broadcaster RTE said Thursday, …
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India's Tata Sons reappoints N. Chandrasekaran as chairman
Sep 17 2026
India's Tata Sons said Thursday its board had voted to reappoint N. Chandrasekaran as executive chairman for another …
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Stocks mostly rise after US Fed rate hike, oil eases
Sep 17 2026
Stock markets mostly rose on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve delivered a widely expected interest rate hike, while …
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Doubts as Italy eyes electric future for steel plant
Sep 17 2026
Italy's government says the country's largest steel works must be converted to electric after a court-ordered shutdown …
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Modi pitches India as global chipmaking hub
Sep 17 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched India as a new global hub for semiconductor production on Thursday, urging …
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Canada alliance plan 'not against anyone', EU says after Trump threat
Sep 17 2026
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen's proposal to make Canada an "associate member" of the bloc is not aimed against the …
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Most stocks rise as Fed hikes and oil prices drop
Sep 17 2026
Most equities rose on Thursday after the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates for the first time in three years and boss …
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Most stocks rise as Fed hikes and indicates drive to curb inflation
Sep 17 2026
Most equities rose Thursday after the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates for the first time in three years and boss …
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Gambian businesses struggle under prolonged blackouts
Sep 17 2026
In the coastal Gambian town of Tanji, Sirah Darboe-Manneh cleans fish next to a row of ice boxes laying empty because of …
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Trump to host Xi amid pomp, low expectations
Sep 17 2026
The US military honor guard has been rehearsing and the new White House helipad is ready. But will Xi Jinping and Donald …
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Where the US-China tariff row stands ahead of White House summit
Sep 17 2026
Trade frictions between the world's top two economies are set to take centre stage next week when US President Donald …
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AI looms large ahead of Xi, Trump summit
Sep 17 2026
Artificial intelligence is set to loom large when Chinese President Xi Jinping meets counterpart Donald Trump in …
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US Congress passes sweeping Russia sanctions bill
Sep 17 2026
US lawmakers approved broad new sanctions designed to squeeze Russia over its war in Ukraine on Wednesday, sending the …
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US Fed raises rates to tackle 'too high' inflation, irking Trump
Sep 17 2026
The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised interest rates for the first time since 2023, defying President Donald …
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Trump threatens EU over 'hostile' Canada association plan
Sep 16 2026
US President Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to cut trade with the European Union after the bloc proposed to make …
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US House backs data center power cost bill amid midterm backlash
Sep 16 2026
The US House of Representatives approved legislation Wednesday aimed at making data centers shoulder more of their own …
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Argentine judge orders suspension of Falklands oil project
Sep 16 2026
An Argentine judge on Wednesday ordered the suspension of a British-Israeli oil project near the Falkland Islands, a …
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US stocks fall, dollar gains after Fed lifts interest rates
Sep 16 2026
Wall Street stocks fell while the dollar advanced Wednesday after the Federal Reserve lifted interest rates for the …
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US Fed raises rates to tackle 'too high' inflation in move sure to rile Trump
Sep 16 2026
The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised interest rates for the first time since 2023, defying President Donald …
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EU chief pitches 'associate member' status for Canada
Sep 16 2026
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen raised the prospect of Canada becoming the bloc's first "associate member" Wednesday, a …
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US Fed raises rates to battle inflation in move likely to rile Trump
Sep 16 2026
The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised interest rates in the world's largest economy by 25 basis points to tackle …
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'We're losing control,' AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio tells AFP
Sep 16 2026
The Canadian computer scientist considered one of the founders of AI, Yoshua Bengio, told AFP that humanity is "losing …
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Stocks edge higher ahead of US Fed rate call
Sep 16 2026
Global stock markets mostly rose as oil prices fell on Wednesday ahead of the Federal Reserve's decision on US interest …
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US House targets data centers as midterm backlash grows
Sep 16 2026
The US House of Representatives is set to vote Wednesday on whether data centers should shoulder more of their own …
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British PM says to make 'difficult decisions' as inflation rises
Sep 16 2026
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Wednesday that he was ready to take "difficult decisions" as higher fuel prices from …
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US Fed to deliver rate decision with markets betting on hike
Sep 16 2026
The US Federal Reserve will announce its decision on setting interest rates for the world's largest economy on …
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