Business and Economy
Women sommeliers are cracking male-dominated wine world open
AFP - 4h ago
Women who have fought their way to the top of the male-dominated wine sommelier world say their profession is becoming …
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Why SpaceX IPO plan is generating so much buzz
AFP - 6h ago
More than 20 years after founding SpaceX, the record-breaking company that transformed the global space industry, Elon …
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World stocks mostly slide, consolidating Fed-fuelled gains
Dec 12 2025
Stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic pulled back Friday as profit-taking trimmed some of the gains seen after the …
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Crypto firm Tether bids for Juventus, is quickly rebuffed
Dec 12 2025
Cryptocurrency firm Tether said Friday it had submitted a bid to Juventus's main shareholder, Exor, to acquire its …
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Can Venezuela survive US targeting its oil tankers?
Dec 12 2025
Venezuela has been sidestepping a US oil export embargo for years, selling crude at a discounted price mainly to China. …
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World stocks retrench, consolidating Fed-fuelled gains
Dec 12 2025
Stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic pulled back Friday as pre-weekend profit-taking pared some, but not all, of …
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EU agrees three-euro small parcel tax to tackle China flood
Dec 12 2025
EU finance ministers agreed Friday to impose a three-euro duty on low-value imports into the bloc from July 2026 to help …
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World stocks consolidate Fed-fuelled gains
Dec 12 2025
Global stocks on Friday held on to gains seen after the Federal Reserve bank delivered a much-anticipated rate easing …
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EU 2035 combustion-engine ban review: what's at stake
Dec 12 2025
The European Commission is expected to announce on Tuesday measures relaxing a 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel car …
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Stocks rally in wake of Fed rate cut
Dec 12 2025
European and Asian stock markets rose Friday as investors tracked a record session on Wall Street in the wake of the …
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EU agrees recycled plastic targets for cars
Dec 12 2025
Car manufacturers in Europe will have to include more recycled plastics in new vehicles under new EU rules agreed on by …
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Russian central bank says suing Euroclear over frozen assets
Dec 12 2025
Russia's central bank on Friday said it was suing the Belgium-based Euroclear financial group, which holds Moscow's …
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Asian markets track Wall St record after Fed cut
Dec 12 2025
Asian equities rose Friday as investors tracked a record day on Wall Street in the wake of the Federal Reserve's latest …
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Make your own Mickey Mouse clip - Disney embraces AI
Dec 12 2025
Walt Disney and OpenAI announced a three-year licensing deal Thursday that will allow users to create short videos …
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Crypto mogul Do Kwon sentenced to 15 years for fraud
Dec 12 2025
A US court sentenced cryptocurrency tycoon Do Kwon to 15 years in prison Thursday over fraud linked to his company's …
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Windswept Kazakh rail hub at the heart of China-Europe trade
Dec 12 2025
Operating a huge cargo lifter, Zhandos Nurmagambetov was stacking containers onto a train before it headed across the …
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Kushner returns to team Trump, as ethical questions swirl
Dec 12 2025
His only official job title at the White House is son-in-law. But Jared Kushner has staged a remarkable -- and sometimes …
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Crypto mogul Do Kwon sentenced to 15 years for fraud: US media
Dec 11 2025
South Korean cryptocurrency tycoon Do Kwon was sentenced to 15 years in prison Thursday over fraud linked to his …
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Dow, S&P 500 end at records despite AI fears
Dec 11 2025
The Dow and S&P 500 finished at fresh records Thursday while a big drop in Oracle shares dragged the Nasdaq lower and …
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US Treasury chief seeks looser regulation at financial stability panel
Dec 11 2025
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled key changes Thursday to a high-level panel on financial stability, putting …
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Turnaround for Greece as Pierrakakis tapped to lead Eurogroup
Dec 11 2025
Greece's finance minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis was elected Eurogroup chief on Thursday in a remarkable turnaround for a …
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General strike hits planes, trains and services in Portugal
Dec 11 2025
Widespread disruption hit Portuguese air travel and trains, hospitals and schools on Thursday as the unions called the …
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Dow hits record high despite AI fears
Dec 11 2025
The Dow hit a record high on Thursday despite disappointing earnings from software giant Oracle reviving concerns over …
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Make your own AI Mickey Mouse - Disney embraces new tech
Dec 11 2025
Walt Disney and OpenAI announced a three-year licensing deal Thursday that will allow users to create short videos …
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Mexico approves measure raising tariffs on Chinese imports
Dec 11 2025
President Claudia Sheinbaum defended a tariff increase on goods from China and other countries with which Mexico has no …
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Steam - and uncertainty - rise from Serbia's shuttered refinery
Dec 11 2025
Steam still rises from the chimneys of Serbia's only oil refinery as it slowly grinds to a halt under US sanctions, …
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Time magazine names 'Architects of AI' as Person of the Year
Dec 11 2025
Time magazine named the "Architects of AI" as its Person of the Year on Thursday, highlighting the US tech titans whose …
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OpenAI, Disney to let fans create AI videos in landmark deal
Dec 11 2025
Walt Disney and OpenAI announced a three-year licensing deal Thursday that will allow users to create short videos …
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Stocks diverge as AI fears cloud US rate cut
Dec 11 2025
Stock markets diverged Thursday as optimism over the Federal Reserve's latest interest rate cut was dampened by …
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US trade gap shrinks to narrowest since 2020 after tariff hikes
Dec 11 2025
The US trade deficit narrowed unexpectedly in September to the smallest since 2020, delayed government data showed …
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German growth forecasts slashed, Merz under pressure
Dec 11 2025
Leading German institutes on Thursday downgraded their 2026 growth forecasts, in another bad sign for Chancellor …
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Thyssenkrupp pauses steel production at two sites citing Asian pressure
Dec 11 2025
Europe's largest steelmaker Thyssenkrupp is to pause steel production at two sites for about two weeks because of Asian …
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ECB proposes simplifying rules for banks
Dec 11 2025
The European Central Bank proposed Thursday simplifying rules for the region's lenders to help them compete …
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Stocks mixed as US rate cut offset by Fed outlook, Oracle earnings
Dec 11 2025
Asian markets were mixed Thursday as earlier gains fuelled by the Federal Reserve's latest interest rate cut were offset …
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Asian traders cheer US rate cut but gains tempered by outlook
Dec 11 2025
Asian markets were mixed Thursday as earlier gains fuelled by the Federal Reserve's latest interest rate cut were offset …
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Eurogroup elects new head as Russian frozen assets debate rages
Dec 11 2025
Finance ministers from Europe's 20-country single currency area are to choose the next Eurogroup chief on Thursday, as …
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Taiwan to keep production of 'most advanced' chips at home: deputy FM
Dec 11 2025
Taiwan plans to keep making the "most advanced" chips on home soil and remain "indispensable" to the global …
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Chocolate prices high before Christmas despite cocoa fall
Dec 11 2025
After soaring for nearly two years, cocoa prices dropped sharply in 2025. However, chocolate, in demand ahead of the …
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Not lovin' it: McDonald's pulls Dutch AI Christmas ad
Dec 11 2025
Burger chain McDonald's said on Wednesday it had removed an AI-generated Christmas advertisement in the Netherlands …
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AI's $400 bn problem: Are chips getting old too fast?
Dec 11 2025
In pursuit of the AI dream, the tech industry this year has plunked down about $400 billion on specialized chips and …
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Oracle shares dive as revenue misses forecasts
Dec 10 2025
Shares in business computing giant Oracle fell more than 10 percent on Wednesday on word its revenue missed heady …
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Divided US Fed makes third straight rate cut, signals higher bar ahead
Dec 10 2025
A divided US Federal Reserve lowered interest rates Wednesday for a third consecutive time this year, but signaled that …
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US stocks rise, dollar retreats as Fed tone less hawkish than feared
Dec 10 2025
Wall Street stocks rose and the dollar retreated Wednesday after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates again as it …
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Divided US Fed makes third straight rate cut on jobs risks
Dec 10 2025
A divided US Federal Reserve lowered interest rates Wednesday for a third consecutive time this year, flagging labor …
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Intel sees record EU fine reduced further
Dec 10 2025
The EU General Court dealt a blow to the European Commission on Wednesday in reducing what was initially a record fine …
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Stocks mark time ahead of Fed decision
Dec 10 2025
Global stock markets marked time and the dollar steadied Wednesday with investors' eyes on a highly anticipated Federal …
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Veggie 'burgers' remain on table as EU talks stall
Dec 10 2025
EU wrangling over whether to give plant-based "sausages" and veggie "burgers" the chop and restrict such labels to meat …
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Instagram users given new algorithm controls
Dec 10 2025
Instagram on Wednesday unveiled a new AI-powered feature that lets users view and adjust the algorithm shaping their …
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US Fed expected to make third straight rate cut despite divisions
Dec 10 2025
The US Federal Reserve is expected to deliver a further interest rate cut Wednesday despite divisions among its ranks, …
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EU seeks better Spain-France energy links after blackout
Dec 10 2025
The EU said Wednesday it wants to boost energy links between France and Spain as part of a bloc-wide push to secure …
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Greek govt in emergency meeting as farmers block central port
Dec 10 2025
Greece's government held emergency meetings Wednesday to address a growing farm protest movement, as demonstrators …
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China consumer prices pick up pace but demand still slack
Dec 10 2025
Rising food costs pushed consumer inflation in China last month to its fastest pace in nearly two years, data showed …
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Stocks retreat ahead of Fed decision
Dec 10 2025
Stock markets mostly fell and the dollar steadied Wednesday following a tepid day on Wall Street as investors bided …
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France's 'Battery Valley' makes use of Asian experts
Dec 10 2025
France is developing domestic production of electric vehicle batteries with an eye on industrial independence but Asian …
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Stocks in retreat as traders eye Fed decision, tech earnings
Dec 10 2025
Most markets fell Wednesday following a tepid day on Wall Street as investors bided their time ahead of a highly …
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Asian stocks in retreat as traders eye Fed decision, tech earnings
Dec 10 2025
Asian markets fell Wednesday following a tepid day on Wall Street as investors bided their time ahead of a highly …
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Veggie 'burgers' at stake in EU negotiations
Dec 10 2025
EU countries and lawmakers will wrangle Wednesday over whether to give plant-based "sausages" and veggie "burgers" the …
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Oil-rich UAE turns to AI to grease economy
Dec 10 2025
Deep in the Abu Dhabi desert, a vast AI campus a quarter the size of Paris is starting to emerge, the oil-rich UAE's …
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China surplus pushing EU to take 'offensive' trade measures: business lobby
Dec 10 2025
China's mammoth trade surplus with Europe as well as challenges faced by foreign firms in the country are incentivising …
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Nepal faces economic fallout of September protest
Dec 10 2025
When Nepal's government was toppled in September after deadly youth-led protests against economic stagnation and …
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Australia bans under-16s from social media in world-first crackdown
Dec 10 2025
Australia banned under-16s from social media in a world-first crackdown on Wednesday, declaring it was time to "take …
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US Fed appears set for third rate cut despite sharp divides
Dec 10 2025
The US Federal Reserve is expected to deliver a further interest rate cut Wednesday despite divisions among its ranks, …
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South Korea chip giant SK hynix mulls US stock market listing
Dec 10 2025
South Korean chip giant SK hynix said on Wednesday it was considering a US stock market listing using treasury shares as …
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ExxonMobil slows low-carbon investment push through 2030
Dec 10 2025
ExxonMobil is slowing medium-term investments in low-carbon ventures by some $10 billion compared with its outlook a …
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Canada launches billion dollar plan to recruit top researchers
Dec 09 2025
Canada on Tuesday launched a CAN$1.7 billion ($1.2 billion) program to recruit leading global researchers, part of the …
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US Supreme Court weighs campaign finance case
Dec 09 2025
The US Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday in a Republican challenge to campaign finance rules that could impact …
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Stock markets drift on eve of Fed rate call
Dec 09 2025
Global stock markets traded mixed on Tuesday as markets avoided major swings while awaiting a Federal Reserve decision …
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French lawmakers give first approval to social security budget bill
Dec 09 2025
The lower house of French parliament on Tuesday narrowly approved a social security budget, clearing a major hurdle for …
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France's prime minister faces crunch vote in parliament
Dec 09 2025
France's social security bill was to go to a vote in parliament Tuesday, in a key hurdle for Prime Minister Sebastien …
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TotalEnergies in deal for Namibia offshore oil field
Dec 09 2025
TotalEnergies said Tuesday it had reached a deal to become a partner in the Mopane oil field off the coast of Namibia, …
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Microsoft announces $17.5 bn investment in India, its 'largest ever' in Asia
Dec 09 2025
Global technology giant Microsoft announced on Tuesday plans to invest $17.5 billion to help build India's artificial …
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India's biggest airline IndiGo says operations 'back to normal'
Dec 09 2025
India's biggest airline IndiGo said Tuesday its operations had stabilise after it cancelled thousands of flights, …
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Greek govt seeks to tackle farmer protests after Crete clashes
Dec 09 2025
Greece's government was on Tuesday scrambling to keep angry farmers from blocking key infrastructure after airports were …
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Bleak year for German engineering firms amid US, China turmoil
Dec 09 2025
Production in Germany's key engineering sector plunged for a third straight year in 2025 as firms were squeezed by US …
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UK's renationalised trains to get Union Flag makeover
Dec 09 2025
Britain's railways will feature trains painted in the red, white and blue of the nation's Union Flag as underperforming …
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BMW names new boss to steer car giant in tough times
Dec 09 2025
BMW said Tuesday its head of production Milan Nedeljkovic will take over as chief executive as the German auto giant …
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Euroclear details 'concerns' over EU's frozen Russian asset plan
Dec 09 2025
EU reassurances over its plan to use frozen Russian assets to help fund Ukraine have failed to quell worries about the …
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'Resilient' airlines head for record passenger numbers: IATA
Dec 09 2025
International airlines expect to transport a record 5.2 billion passengers in 2026 despite global headwinds affecting …
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Stock markets downbeat on eve of Fed rate call
Dec 09 2025
European and Asian stock markets were largely downbeat Tuesday on uncertainty over the US Federal Reserve's plans for …
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EU launches antitrust probe into Google's data use for AI
Dec 09 2025
The EU announced Tuesday it had opened a probe to assess whether Google breached antitrust rules by using content put …
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Most markets track Wall St losses as jitters set in ahead of Fed
Dec 09 2025
Most stocks fell in Asia on Tuesday as investors grew nervous about the Federal Reserve's plans for interest rates next …
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Trump says US will allow sale of Nvidia AI chips to China
Dec 09 2025
President Donald Trump said Monday he had reached an agreement with President Xi Jinping to allow US chip giant Nvidia …
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German exports tread water as US, China shipments fall
Dec 09 2025
German exports almost stagnated in October, official data showed Tuesday, as heavy declines in shipments to the United …
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Rising living costs dim holiday sparkle for US households
Dec 09 2025
At a Christmas market outside the US capital, festive cheer alone hasn't been enough to drive affordability worries out …
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Data centers: a view from the inside
Dec 09 2025
The expansion of data centers to power the AI boom has more people wondering: what exactly is in a data center?
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World stocks mostly lower as markets await Fed decision
Dec 08 2025
Global stock markets were mostly soft on Monday as investors avoided risks ahead of this week's Federal Reserve meeting, …
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Paramount counters Netflix with hostile bid for Warner Bros
Dec 08 2025
Paramount on Monday launched an all-cash tender offer to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, the Hollywood giant that also …
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EU pushes back 2035 combustion-engine ban review to Dec. 16
Dec 08 2025
A highly-anticipated review of the EU's 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales has been pushed back to next week, …
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World stocks tread water with eyes on Fed
Dec 08 2025
Global stock markets were mostly soft on Monday as investors avoided risks ahead of this week's Federal Reserve meeting, …
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Boeing closes takeover of aviation supplier Spirit
Dec 08 2025
Boeing announced Monday that it completed an acquisition of aerospace supplier Spirit AeroSystems, saying the move will …
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Deal agreed to save Frankfurt's euro sculpture
Dec 08 2025
A landmark blue and yellow euro sculpture in the German financial capital Frankfurt, created to mark the single …
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Trump says to sign order blocking AI regulation by states
Dec 08 2025
President Donald Trump said Monday he will attempt to strip states of the right to regulate the surging AI industry, …
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Meta to allow European users to share less data: EU
Dec 08 2025
Meta will allow European users of Facebook and Instagram to share less data and see fewer personalised ads after it was …
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Stocks mostly rise as Fed set to cut US rates
Dec 08 2025
Major stock markets mostly rose Monday as investors geared up for an expected cut to US interest rates and clues over …
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Louvre trade unions call for rolling strike next week
Dec 08 2025
Trade unions at the Louvre Museum in Paris on Monday called for a rolling strike next week over working conditions, …
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Markets mostly up as traders prepare for expected US rate cut
Dec 08 2025
Most markets rose Monday as investors gear up for an expected US interest rate cut this week, with debate centring on …
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Asian stocks drift as traders prepare for expected US rate cut
Dec 08 2025
Asian equities drifted Monday as investors gear up for an expected US interest rate cut this week, with debate centring …
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China's trade surplus tops $1 trillion despite plunge in US-bound exports
Dec 08 2025
China's towering annual trade surplus surpassed $1 trillion for the first time last month, data showed Monday, as a …
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Asian stocks stagger as traders prepare for expected US rate cut
Dec 08 2025
Asian equities drifted Monday as investors gear up for an expected US interest rate cut this week, with debate centring …
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Trump airs doubt about Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros.
Dec 08 2025
US President Donald Trump commented Sunday on Netflix's effort to acquire storied Hollywood studio Warner Bros., saying …
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Macron threatens China with tariffs over trade surplus
Dec 07 2025
French President Emmanuel Macron said he has threatened China with tariffs if Beijing fails to take steps to reduce its …
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Number's up: Calculators hold out against AI
Dec 07 2025
The humble pocket calculator may not be able to keep up with the mathematical capabilities of new technology, but it …
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