Business and Tech
Chinese developer misses major bond repayment of $179 million
AFP - 2m ago
Another Chinese property developer said Monday it had defaulted on a major bond repayment, citing liquidity problems …
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New 'Halo' game debuts as Xbox turns 20
AFP - 1h ago
Fans will this week get their hands on the latest "Halo" video game, as Microsoft marks 20 years of the franchise that …
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Yusaku Maezawa: irreverent billionaire fascinated by space
AFP - 1h ago
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, who blasts off for the International Space Station this week, is an irreverent …
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Russia to send Japanese tycoon to ISS in return to space tourism
AFP - 1h ago
Russia on Wednesday will send Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa to the International Space Station in a move marking …
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Asia's biggest flower market makes stars out of influencers
AFP - 1h ago
Boxes of roses, lilies and carnations pile up as influencer Caicai speaks into her smartphone from a small studio at …
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Asia markets down on Omicron, US jobs data worries
AFP - 2h ago
Asian markets broadly fell in morning trading Monday, tracking uncertainty over the Omicron variant of Covid-19 as well …
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Governments help arms firms avoid Covid slump: report
AFP - 2h ago
The world's biggest weapons manufacturers largely avoided the economic downturn caused by Covid-19 and recorded a growth …
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Protesters hit S.Africa beaches to oppose oil exploration
AFP - 3h ago
Hundreds of environmentalist demonstrators gathered on South African beaches Sunday to protest against oil and gas …
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Pipeline in Canada's west reopens after storm-linked closure
Dec 05 2021
Canada's Trans Mountain pipeline, closed since mid-November following record storms that washed out roads and train …
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Disney's spell unbroken as 'Encanto' stays top of N.American box office
Dec 05 2021
Disney's animated musical fantasy film "Encanto" stayed in top place at the North American box office this weekend, …
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'Metaverse' hype fuels booming digital property market
Dec 05 2021
The idea of spending millions on non-existent land may sound ludicrous -- but feverish predictions of a virtual reality …
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Didi departure from NYSE marks end of Wall Street romance with Chinese big tech
Dec 05 2021
The Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing's announcement that it will delist its shares from the New York Stock …
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Texas bears brunt of US plastic pollution
Dec 05 2021
Former shrimper Diane Wilson watches in disgust as a Taiwan-owned factory in Texas spews millions of plastic pellets …
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CNN fires Chris Cuomo over help he gave to governor brother
Dec 04 2021
CNN fired veteran anchor and correspondent Chris Cuomo, the cable news channel said Saturday, amid an investigation into …
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Thousands block roads in Serbia to protest mining project
Dec 04 2021
Thousands of demonstrators blocked major roads across Serbia Saturday as anger swelled over a government-backed plan to …
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Trump media venture says it has $1 bn investment pledge
Dec 04 2021
Donald Trump's fledgling social media venture and an investment vehicle it is partnering with said Saturday that …
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BuzzFeed to go public after raising less money than expected
Dec 04 2021
American digital company BuzzFeed, known for its viral content and journalism, will go public on Monday after it …
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Twitter admits policy 'errors' after far-right abuse
Dec 04 2021
Twitter's new picture permission policy was aimed at combating online abuse, but US activists and researchers said …
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IMF chief warns Omicron could slow global growth
Dec 04 2021
The new Omicron variant of Covid-19 could slow the global economic recovery, just as the Delta strain did, IMF chief …
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US hiring disappoints in November, complicating Biden's plans
Dec 04 2021
The United States added just 210,000 jobs last month, the government reported Friday, less than half the increase …
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WHO says no Omicron deaths yet, as variant spreads worldwide
Dec 04 2021
The Omicron variant has been detected in 38 countries but no deaths have yet been reported, the WHO said on Friday, as …
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Wikipedia creator's computer and NFT of first edit up for auction
Dec 04 2021
The personal computer that Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales used when programming the online reference resource 20 years …
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Pegasus maker probes reports its spyware targeted US diplomats
Dec 04 2021
The Israeli spyware maker in the Pegasus surveillance scandal said Friday it was investigating reports the firm's …
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Stocks sag as weak US jobs data adds to Omicron worries
Dec 03 2021
Global stocks finished a volatile week on a downcast note Friday, sunk by festering worries over the Omicron variant and …
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IMF says US Fed should accelerate rate hikes
Dec 03 2021
With the recent wave of price increases likely to remain a concern for some time, the US Federal Reserve should raise …
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Stocks sag after weak US jobs data
Dec 03 2021
Equities fell Friday after weak US jobs data and as traders continued to fret over the possible economic impact of the …
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Turkish inflation surges as currency crisis bites
Dec 03 2021
Turkey's annual inflation rate surged Friday above 20 percent -- its highest in three years -- although the main …
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US closely monitoring China, Switzerland curreny policies
Dec 03 2021
The US Treasury said Friday it will keep a close eye on China's economic policies and actions to influence the value of …
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Chinese govt summons Evergrande founder after warning on funds
Dec 03 2021
The Chinese government summoned the embattled founder of real estate firm Evergrande Friday, after the group issued a …
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Weak US jobs data a boon for stocks
Dec 03 2021
Equities pushed higher on Friday after weak US jobs data reduced the likelihood of a quick tightening of US monetary …
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UAE buys record 80 French fighter jets as Macron starts Gulf tour
Dec 03 2021
The United Arab Emirates signed a record 14-billion-euro contract for 80 Rafale warplanes and committed billions of …
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French champagne houses expect bumper 2021 sales
Dec 03 2021
Champagne sales are expected to clock up a record year as shops and restaurants replenish stocks after months of …
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Omicron spreads in US, Australia
Dec 03 2021
The United States and Australia announced their first locally transmitted cases of the Omicron variant as authorities …
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European stocks waver on caution over Omicron
Dec 03 2021
European equities wavered Friday as dealers tracked Omicron news and awaited key US data, while oil prices surged after …
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Turkey's inflation rate surges in currency crisis
Dec 03 2021
Turkey's annual inflation rate surged Friday above 20 percent -- its highest in three years -- although the main …
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Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi to delist from New York exchange
Dec 03 2021
Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing said Friday it would start the process of delisting its shares from the New York …
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UAE signs deal for 80 French Rafale fighter jets: officials
Dec 03 2021
The United Arab Emirates has signed a deal for 80 French-made Rafale fighter jets, the biggest international order ever …
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Most Asia markets rise with oil prices on easing Omicron fears
Dec 03 2021
Asian markets mostly rose with oil prices Friday on easing concerns about Omicron, ahead of the release of key US jobs …
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China gives long-awaited approval to Boeing 737 MAX after crashes
Dec 03 2021
Chinese authorities have approved the Boeing 737 MAX to resume service after making a series of safety adjustments, …
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US eyes winter battle as Omicron variant starts to spread
Dec 03 2021
First cases of local Omicron infections were reported Thursday and Friday in the United States and Australia, increasing …
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Asia markets mixed as Omicron, Fed taper keep traders on edge
Dec 03 2021
Asian markets were mixed Friday as traders tracked developments in the Omicron virus strain as it spreads around the …
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French concern about Chinese Alibaba cloud for Paris 2024
Dec 03 2021
Chinese e-commerce leader Alibaba Group's role as a "worldwide partner" of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has sparked a …
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Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi to de-list from New York exchange
Dec 03 2021
Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing said Friday it would start the process of de-listing its shares from the New …
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US adopts rule that could see Chinese firms leave Wall Street
Dec 03 2021
US market regulators on Thursday announced the adoption of a rule allowing them to delist foreign companies from Wall …
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UN launches 'bodyright' symbol against online violence
Dec 03 2021
The United Nations on Thursday launched a campaign against gender-based violence on the internet, complete with the …
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US sues to block chipmaker Nvidia's $40 bn merger with UK's Arm
Dec 03 2021
US regulators filed a lawsuit Thursday to block the $40-billion merger of graphics chip star Nvidia with mobile chip …
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NASA awards $415 mn to fund three commercial space stations
Dec 03 2021
NASA on Thursday awarded three companies hundreds of millions of dollars to develop commercial space stations it hopes …
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Germany cracks down on unjabbed as US eyes winter battle
Dec 03 2021
Germany unveiled strict curbs on the unvaccinated Thursday as alarm fanned worldwide over the Omicron variant, and Joe …
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US stocks regain steam, oil gyrates as OPEC+ lifts output
Dec 02 2021
Wall Street stocks rallied after two straight losing sessions Thursday, while oil prices gyrated as OPEC+ decided to go …
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IMF says chief economist taking top leadership role
Dec 02 2021
The IMF's high-profile chief economist Gita Gopinath next month will become the number two official at the …
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'Game changer': Laos opens Chinese-built railway line
Dec 02 2021
Laos is set to open a $6 billion Chinese-built railway on Friday, with debt concerns balanced against hopes it could …
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Elle says will drop fur from magazines worldwide
Dec 02 2021
Elle magazine announced on Thursday it will stop using fur in all its editorial and advertising content worldwide, …
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Biden opens winter battle against Covid-19
Dec 02 2021
US President Joe Biden announced Thursday a winter campaign against Covid-19, with new testing requirements for …
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Oil producers to increase output in January despite Omicron jitters
Dec 02 2021
Major oil producers decided Thursday to keep raising output levels in January, despite the Omicron coronavirus variant …
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Markets volatile as Omicron and OPEC+ drive trading
Dec 02 2021
Oil prices swung sharply on Thursday as OPEC+ decided to go forward with a scheduled production hike despite the threat …
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China gives long-awaited green light to Boeing 737 MAX after crashes
Dec 02 2021
Chinese authorities cleared the Boeing 737 MAX to resume service on Thursday, according to a government directive seen …
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IMF warns of 'economic collapse' unless G20 extends debt relief
Dec 02 2021
The IMF on Thursday urged advanced economies in the G20 to extend and improve their debt relief initiative, warning that …
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Brazil's economy enters recession
Dec 02 2021
Brazil's economy, the largest in Latin America, slid into recession in the third quarter of 2021 as agricultural …
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Equities unsettled on Omicron, oil drops on OPEC+
Dec 02 2021
Fears about Omicron drove equities trading on Thursday, while oil prices fell as OPEC+ decided to keep on increasing …
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Oil producers mull output as Omicron rattles markets
Dec 02 2021
Major oil producers began meeting Thursday to decide on output levels from January, with a freeze possible as the …
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Twitter shuts propaganda accounts in six countries
Dec 02 2021
Twitter on Thursday said it had shut down nearly 3,500 accounts that were posting pro-government propaganda in six …
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Germany eyes crackdown on unjabbed as US eyes winter battle
Dec 02 2021
Leaders in Germany were poised to approve a de-facto lockdown for the unvaccinated Thursday with the United States set …
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European equities drop as Omicron reaches United States
Dec 02 2021
European stock markets slid Thursday with sentiment hit by the first Omicron case in the United States, but oil rallied …
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Hong Kong launches China-style tracking app for mainland travel
Dec 02 2021
Hong Kongers travelling to China will need to download a tracking app similar to those used on the mainland, local …
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Morocco border closure spells doom for tourism sector
Dec 02 2021
Moroccan tourism operators are facing potential ruin after the country abruptly shut its borders over the Omicron …
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Hong Kong quarantine pushes Cathay pilots to 'breaking point'
Dec 02 2021
Cathay Pacific has been hit by a wave of pilot resignations in recent weeks as resentment over Hong Kong's strict …
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Asian stocks mixed with traders sensitive to Omicron headlines
Dec 02 2021
Asian markets were mixed Thursday and oil edged up with traders trying to claw back Omicron-induced losses but still …
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Tweed weaves a way from Scottish islands to catwalk
Dec 02 2021
In the cluttered workshop of his home off the coast of northwest Scotland, Ian Mackay patiently weaves a bright green …
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WHO warns of 'toxic mix' as EU chief mulls mandatory Covid jabs
Dec 02 2021
The WHO has issued stern warnings on the dangers of vaccination apathy and the European Union put mandatory jabs on the …
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Shuttered Hong Kong democracy paper wins press freedom award
Dec 02 2021
Jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai and the staff of his now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper have been awarded a …
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Vietnam's spectacular terraced ricefields wait for tourists
Dec 02 2021
As the morning sun finds its way through the mist over Vietnam's terraced rice fields, local farmers lead buffalo into …
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Japan eases blanket ban on new incoming flight bookings
Dec 02 2021
Japan has softened its suspension of all new incoming flight bookings to make it easier for citizens to return, the …
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Top oil producers may freeze output amid Omicron concerns
Dec 02 2021
Major oil producers are due to meet Thursday to decide on output levels from January onwards, which could be frozen as …
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Payments firm Square gets new corporate name: Block
Dec 02 2021
Digital payments firm Square, which was co-founded and is still led by former Twitter chief Jack Dorsey, on Wednesday …
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Stanford engineers build bird bots that can perch and grab objects
Dec 02 2021
Inspired by how birds land and perch on branches, a team of engineers at Stanford University has built robotic graspers …
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United States is world's biggest plastic polluter, report finds
Dec 02 2021
The United States is by far the biggest contributor to global plastic waste in the world, according to a new report …
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Tinder owner to pay founders $441 mn to settle valuation lawsuit
Dec 02 2021
The company that owns Tinder will pay $441 million to the popular dating app's founders to settle a dispute over the …
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Facebook hits anti-vaccine campaign harassing doctors
Dec 01 2021
Facebook's parent company Meta said Wednesday it had derailed an anti-vaccine campaign that harassed medical workers, …
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Wall Street dives as Omicron arrives in US
Dec 01 2021
Major US stock indices closed lower for the second straight day Wednesday after the first case of the Omicron variant of …
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Facebook whistleblower warns US lawmakers of regulation deadlock
Dec 01 2021
Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen urged a US Congress panel Wednesday not to get mired in drawn out debate amid a …
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Supply snags hurting US growth, but may be easing, Fed says
Dec 01 2021
The US economy continues to struggle with supply issues that have pushed prices higher in recent weeks, but there are …
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US judge dismisses ad discrimination suit against McDonald's
Dec 01 2021
A federal judge dismissed a discrimination lawsuit that accused McDonald's of refusing to advertise on Black-owned media …
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Armani gives up angora wool as part of fur-free policy
Dec 01 2021
Italian fashion house Armani announced Wednesday it would no longer use angora wool, a product made from rabbit hair, as …
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Global markets recover from Omicron turmoil
Dec 01 2021
Global stock markets rebounded Wednesday and oil prices surged following Omicron-driven losses on the eve of a key …
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ExxonMobil aims to double profits on restrained spending
Dec 01 2021
ExxonMobil released a plan Wednesday that aims to double oil company's profits by 2027 as it expands lower-emissions …
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Guernsey issues 40 EU fishing licences amid France row
Dec 01 2021
Guernsey on Wednesday issued fishing licences to 40 European Union boats, in the latest move over post-Brexit access …
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ExxonMobil aims to double profits n restrained spending
Dec 01 2021
ExxonMobil released a plan Wednesday that aims to double oil company's profits by 2027 as it expands lower-emissions …
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EU chief mulls mandatory Covid jabs as Omicron fears deepen
Dec 01 2021
Europe's top official said Wednesday it was time to "think about mandatory vaccination" as the fast-spreading Omicron …
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Renewables accelerating, but must go faster to meet net zero: IEA
Dec 01 2021
Global growth in renewable electricity production is set to accelerate but needs to speed up even more to meet targets …
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Without women and aid, Afghan economy will collapse, UN warns
Dec 01 2021
When Maryam went shopping in Kabul this week after several weeks cooped up at home, the Afghan mother was shocked to …
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OECD warns Omicron threatens world economy
Dec 01 2021
The OECD warned Wednesday that the Omicron coronavirus variant threatens the global economic recovery as it lowered the …
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China denies report it is looking to close foreign IPO loophole
Dec 01 2021
Beijing on Wednesday denied a report that it was looking to plug a loophole used by Chinese tech companies to go public …
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Global markets rebound after Omicron turmoil
Dec 01 2021
Global stock markets rebounded Wednesday and oil prices surged following Omicron-driven losses and on the eve of a key …
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Erdogan defends 'risky but correct' economic policy
Dec 01 2021
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan defended Wednesday his "risky but correct" economic policy of low interest rates …
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Google to halt election ads ahead of 2022 Philippines vote
Dec 01 2021
Google will stop carrying election ads in the Philippines ahead of the May 2022 presidential vote, the internet giant …
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OECD cuts world growth forecast, warns of Omicron threat
Dec 01 2021
The OECD warned Wednesday that the Omicron coronavirus variant threatens the global economic recovery as it lowered the …
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OECD lowers world GDP forecast, says vaccination key
Dec 01 2021
The OECD lowered the world's economic growth outlook for 2021 on Wednesday and called for a swifter rollout of Covid …
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Asian markets rise, oil rallies as virus and Fed hold attention
Dec 01 2021
Asian markets mostly rose Wednesday while oil prices bounced as traders assessed the global economic outlook after top …
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Japan stops flight bookings despite WHO Omicron travel ban warning
Dec 01 2021
Japan suspended all new flight bookings into the country from Wednesday in response to Omicron, ignoring a World Health …
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WHO warns against Omicron travel bans as nations shut borders
Dec 01 2021
The World Health Organization has warned blanket travel bans will not prevent the spread of Omicron, as more countries …
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Lira crisis gives Turkish opposition chance to challenge Erdogan
Dec 01 2021
Turkey's currency crisis has cut into the popularity of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, handing the opposition a golden …
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New Twitch tool helps battle ban evaders
Dec 01 2021
Gaming platform Twitch on Tuesday introduced a tool that detects and blocks users who evade bans, a longstanding problem …
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