Business and Economy
Oil prices surge, stocks sink on energy shock fears
AFP - 23m ago
Energy prices soared and stocks sank Thursday as Iran stepped up attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure, reigniting fears …
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Alibaba pins hopes on AI as quarterly net profit drops
AFP - 25m ago
China's Alibaba said Thursday that revenue from AI-related products showed strong momentum, even as the tech giant …
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Oil soars 10% after Qatar energy sites hit in Mideast war
AFP - 37m ago
Oil prices soared 10 percent Thursday after Qatar reported "extensive" damage to the world's largest liquefied natural …
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Defiant Orban digs in over blocked Ukraine loan at EU talks
AFP - 1h ago
A defiant Hungarian leader Viktor Orban vowed Thursday to keep blocking a massive loan for Ukraine despite heavy …
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Middle East war: global economic fallout
AFP - 1h ago
Here are the latest economic events in the Middle East war on Thursday:
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Energy prices surge, stocks sink amid rising energy shock fears
AFP - 2h ago
Energy prices soared Thursday and stocks sank as Iran attacked several Gulf energy facilities and warned of more in …
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Iran causes 'extensive' damage to Qatar gas hub, sparks Trump warning
AFP - 2h ago
Qatar reported "extensive" damage on Thursday to the site of the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility …
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Labubu creators hope for monster film hit in Sony co-production
AFP - 2h ago
China's snaggle-toothed Labubu dolls will soon come alive on the big screen after flying off the toy shelves, with maker …
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War in the Middle East: latest developments
AFP - 3h ago
Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:
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Crude prices surge, stocks sink amid rising energy shock fears
AFP - 1h ago
Oil surged more than five percent Thursday and stocks sank as Iran attacked several Gulf energy facilities and warned of …
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Pacific nations fear fuel shortages as Middle East war sends oil prices soaring
AFP - 3h ago
Leaders of Samoa and Tonga appealed for help this week as the import-reliant Pacific nations raised fears over possible …
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Key Middle East energy sites under fire
AFP - 6h ago
Qatar's main gas facility has suffered extensive damage after several rounds of Iranian strikes, causing new energy …
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Strait of Hormuz blockage drives up Gulf food bills
AFP - 6h ago
In a supermarket in Bahrain, Mahmoud Ali fills his cart as usual. The shelves remain stocked despite the war in the …
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'No oil, no money': Orban brings Ukraine standoff to Brussels
AFP - 6h ago
EU leaders converge on Brussels Thursday hoping to unlock a massive loan for Kyiv, with the much-needed funding ensnared …
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Crude prices surge, stocks sink as Iran warns of regional energy strikes
AFP - 4h ago
Oil surged more than five percent Thursday and stocks sank as Iran carried out a series of attacks on Gulf energy …
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Mideast energy shock rattles eurozone rate-setters
AFP - 8h ago
The energy shock unleashed by the Middle East war will top the agenda at Thursday's European Central Bank meeting, as …
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Iran targets Gulf energy sites after gas field strike
AFP - 10h ago
Iran targeted energy facilities across the Gulf and threatened further destructive attacks after a key gas field was …
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Social media addiction trial jury deliberations continue
AFP - 10h ago
Jurors will return to court here on Thursday to continue deliberations in a civil trial accusing Meta and YouTube of …
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Music popstar will.i.am meshes AI and 'micromobility'
Mar 18 2026
Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am is putting artificial intelligence agents to work in three-wheel vehicles tailored for …
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US Fed raises inflation outlook over 'uncertain' Iran war impact
Mar 18 2026
The US Federal Reserve raised its inflation forecast Wednesday as it held interest rates steady, citing an "uncertain" …
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US Fed Chair says 'no intention' of leaving board while probe ongoing
Mar 18 2026
US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that he did not plan to leave the central bank's board until a …
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US stocks fall on latest oil price surge as Fed lifts inflation forecast
Mar 18 2026
Oil prices surged Wednesday following a strike on a major Iranian gas facility as the Federal Reserve raised its …
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Slovakia curbs diesel sales, ups prices for foreigners
Mar 18 2026
The Slovak government said Wednesday it would restrict diesel sales for 30 days because of a shortage due to the …
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US Fed holds rates unchanged over 'uncertain' Iran war implications
Mar 18 2026
The US Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged as expected Wednesday, in defiance of President Donald Trump as the …
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Iran condemned as UN maritime body holds emergency talks on Mideast shipping
Mar 18 2026
Gulf states and Western nations strongly criticised Iran at an emergency meeting Wednesday of the UN's maritime body, …
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Trump administration takes steps to curb energy cost hikes
Mar 18 2026
US President Donald Trump's administration scrambled Wednesday to rein in surging energy costs from war in the Middle …
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How many cargo ships are passing Hormuz strait?
Mar 18 2026
Just a trickle of cargo ships and tankers has made it through the Strait of Hormuz since Iranian forces blocked the …
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Oil surges as Iran gas facilities hit, stocks slide
Mar 18 2026
Oil prices surged Wednesday following a strike on one of Iran's gas facilities that raised the spectre of a further …
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Chilean GDP beats 2025 forecast despite mining dip
Mar 18 2026
Chile's GDP beat expectations for 2025 thanks to a trade and investment boost which helped offset a weaker mining …
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Global music market grows, calls for AI compensation: industry body
Mar 18 2026
The global music industry generated $31.7 billion last year, driven by online streaming, industry body IFPI said …
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Belgian court suspends TotalEnergies climate trial
Mar 18 2026
A Belgian court Wednesday adjourned a case pitting TotalEnergies against a farmer seeking compensation for …
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Troubled waters: Thai fishermen marooned by rising fuel costs
Mar 18 2026
With his belongings stuffed into a plastic bag, Thai fisherman Narongsak Kongsuk heads home, far from the sea.
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US Fed expected to hold rates steady as Iran war's shockwaves ripple
Mar 18 2026
US Federal Reserve policymakers began a meeting on Wednesday where they were expected to leave interest rates unchanged, …
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Stocks fall, oil surges as US inflation jumps and Israel strikes gas facilities
Mar 18 2026
Stocks markets fell and oil prices surged Wednesday after a closely watched US inflation gauge came in hotter than …
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Why convoys cannot fully protect oil tankers from Iran attacks
Mar 18 2026
The Israeli-US war on Iran has provoked a reaction from Tehran that has effectively choked a large chunk of the world's …
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EU lawmakers back ban on sexualised AI deepfakes
Mar 18 2026
EU lawmakers on Wednesday approved a ban on AI systems generating sexualised deepfakes, after a global outcry over …
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Brussels touts 'EU Inc.' company status to lure start-ups
Mar 18 2026
The EU unveiled Wednesday a scheme to make it much easier for innovative start-ups to launch and grow across the …
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UN maritime body kicks off emergency talks on Mideast shipping
Mar 18 2026
The head of the UN's maritime body Wednesday urged "practical measures" to protect trade ships threatened by the Middle …
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Oil wavers, stocks rise as attention turns to US Fed
Mar 18 2026
Stocks markets climbed and oil prices wavered on Wednesday, as traders were reassured by a partial resumption of Iraq's …
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Israel says killed Iran intel chief, tells military to hunt down officials
Mar 18 2026
Israel said Wednesday its forces had killed another top Iranian official, Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, and said …
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China tech giant Tencent bets on AI agents
Mar 18 2026
Tencent wants to bring artificial intelligence agents into its WeChat social media app, the Chinese tech firm's …
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Deadly strikes across Mideast as Iran vows revenge on slain security chief
Mar 18 2026
Iran vowed revenge as it prepared the funeral for its security chief Ali Larijani on Wednesday, firing off a wave of …
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Japan, S. Korea petrochemical industry slows output on Iran war
Mar 18 2026
The Middle East war is forcing petrochemical giants in two key Asian economies to cut production as the conflict rattles …
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Chinese tourists ditch Japan for third month running
Mar 18 2026
Chinese visitors to Japan tumbled 45.2 percent in February from a year earlier, official data showed Wednesday, as the …
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Stocks extend gains, oil sinks as US, Israel, Iran press on strikes
Mar 18 2026
Oil prices sank Wednesday after Iraq said it had resumed exports through Turkey, avoiding the effectively closed Strait …
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Chinese visitors to Japan plunge 45.2% in February
Mar 18 2026
Chinese visitors to Japan tumbled 45.2 percent in February from a year earlier, official data showed Wednesday, as the …
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Stocks extend gains and oil dips as US, Israel, Iran continue strikes
Mar 18 2026
Oil prices sank Wednesday after Iraq said it had resumed exports through Turkey, avoiding the effectively closed Strait …
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Brussels to unveil 'EU Inc' pan-European company status
Mar 18 2026
Entrepreneurs will be able to create pan-European companies under new plans to be unveiled Wednesday, which the EU …
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Iran to hold funeral for slain security chief as it vows vengeance
Mar 18 2026
Iran will hold a funeral Wednesday for its security chief Ali Larijani as it vowed revenge, firing off a wave of …
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TotalEnergies faces ruling in Belgian farmer climate case
Mar 18 2026
A Belgian judge will rule Wednesday in a closely watched case pitting French oil giant TotalEnergies against a farmer …
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Brazil starts to restrict minors' access to social media
Mar 18 2026
Brazil began implementing new measures on Tuesday to restrict minors' access to social media and prevent them from …
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Iran vets friendly ships for Hormuz passage: trackers
Mar 18 2026
Iran is selecting ships from friendly countries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial trade waterway cut off …
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Nvidia says restarting production of China-bound chips
Mar 17 2026
Nvidia chief Jensen Huang on Tuesday said the AI technology powerhouse is restarting production of its high-performance …
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Iran confirms security chief dead as Israel vows to target leader
Mar 17 2026
Iran confirmed Tuesday the death of its powerful national security chief, after Israel said he was killed in an …
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US airlines still see strong demand as jet fuel worries loom
Mar 17 2026
US carriers will face tough challenges in the months ahead if jet fuel prices stay high, but for now consumers are still …
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US, European stocks rise despite latest jump in oil prices
Mar 17 2026
US and European equities rose Tuesday despite another jump in oil prices as fresh Iranian attacks on crude-producing …
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SAS cancels flights after fuel prices surge
Mar 17 2026
Scandinavian airline SAS said Tuesday it will cancel at least a thousand flights in April after the war in the Middle …
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Israel vows to find and 'neutralise' Iran's new supreme leader
Mar 17 2026
Israel's military on Tuesday vowed to hunt down and "neutralise" Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, after …
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Ships in Gulf risk shortages on board, industry warns
Mar 17 2026
Thousands of seafarers face dwindling supplies of fuel and water as they wait on board, stranded by the Middle East war, …
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Oil prices climb as fresh strikes target infrastructure
Mar 17 2026
Oil prices rose again Tuesday as Iran launched fresh attacks on crude-producing neighbours, while stock markets were …
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EU to help reopen blocked oil pipeline in Ukraine
Mar 17 2026
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday the bloc will help reopen a damaged pipeline that pumps Russian oil through …
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Israel says killed Iran's security chief Larijani
Mar 17 2026
Israel said Tuesday it had killed Iran's powerful national security chief, Ali Larijani, with Prime Minister Benjamin …
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US Fed expected to keep rates steady as Iran war impact looms
Mar 17 2026
The US Federal Reserve opened its two-day meeting on Tuesday with policymakers expected to keep interest rates unchanged …
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Two men in Kenyan court for ant-smuggling
Mar 17 2026
Two men appeared in a Nairobi court on Tuesday accused of attempting to smuggle thousands of ants to China, a lucrative …
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War fuels fears of new oil crisis
Mar 17 2026
Attacks on oil infrastructure in the Gulf region and soaring oil prices are raising the spectre of a new oil crisis, …
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Germany targets oil firms to prevent wartime price gouging
Mar 17 2026
Germany said Tuesday its competition watchdog will soon get more powers to target energy firms over concerns they are …
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Israel says killed Iran national security chief Larijani
Mar 17 2026
Israel said Tuesday it had killed Iran's powerful national security chief, Ali Larijani, in what would be a huge blow to …
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Strikes shake Tehran as Trump presses allies to help in Mideast war
Mar 17 2026
Loud explosions shook Tehran Tuesday after a night of bombing, as US President Donald Trump pressed allies to help in …
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Israel strikes Tehran, Beirut as Iraq pulled deeper into Mideast war
Mar 17 2026
Israel launched a wave of strikes on Tehran and Beirut on Tuesday while attacks in Baghdad drew neighbouring Iraq deeper …
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Cash handouts, fare hikes as Philippines battles soaring fuel costs
Mar 17 2026
Hundreds of Philippine tricycle drivers lined up Tuesday in Manila for cash handouts they hope will provide temporary …
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Indonesia weighs response to price pressures from Middle East war
Mar 17 2026
Price pressures fuelled by the Middle East war may push Indonesia's government to reconsider its dogged defence of …
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Nvidia chief expects revenue of $1 trillion through 2027
Mar 17 2026
Nvidia chief Jensen Huang on Monday said he expects the artificial intelligence chip powerhouse to bring in at least a …
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Migrant workers bear brunt of Iran attacks in Gulf
Mar 17 2026
Bangladeshi migrant Ahmad Ali, 55, was doing his regular round delivering drinking water to residents in the United Arab …
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Nvidia rides 'claw' craze with AI agent platform
Mar 16 2026
Nvidia announced Monday that it was joining the OpenClaw craze, unveiling tools to bring AI agents -- which can manage …
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Securing the Strait of Hormuz: Tactics and threats
Mar 16 2026
President Donald Trump is pressuring allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime choke point that has …
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Talks towards international panel to tackle 'inequality emergency' begin at UN
Mar 16 2026
Talks towards creating a new international panel to address extreme wealth disparities, modelled on the United Nations' …
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Western allies push back on Trump call for NATO help to reopen Hormuz
Mar 16 2026
NATO allies and other Western nations pushed back Monday on US President Donald Trump's demand that military alliance …
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European bank battle heats up as UniCredit swoops for Commerzbank
Mar 16 2026
Italian bank UniCredit on Monday made a 35-billion-euro ($40 billion) takeover offer for Commerzbank, sparking fury from …
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EU talks energy as oil price soars
Mar 16 2026
Energy ministers from the EU's 27 nations huddled in Brussels Monday to discuss how to help families and businesses as …
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Oil eases, equities rise as market focuses on Strait of Hormuz
Mar 16 2026
Oil prices pulled back and equities rose on Monday as investors focused on the crucial Strait of Hormuz and the head of …
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Stagflation risk in US 'quite high': Nobel-winning economist Stiglitz
Mar 16 2026
The war in the Middle East has put the United States at high risk of falling into stagflation, Nobel Prize-winning …
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Iran defiant as strikes hit Gulf transport, Trump to speak
Mar 16 2026
Iran said it was ready to take the Middle East war "as far as necessary" as it launched strikes across the region on …
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Will Yemen's Houthis join the Mideast war?
Mar 16 2026
With assault rifles, daggers and posters of Iran's late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waving in the air as tens of thousands …
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Rise of drone warfare sharpens focus on laser defense
Mar 16 2026
The surge of drone use in conflicts worldwide, seen most vividly in the Ukraine and Middle East wars, will accelerate …
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Iran defiant as strikes hit Gulf transport, energy hubs
Mar 16 2026
Iran said it was ready to take the Middle East war "as far as necessary" as it launched strikes across the region on …
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Central banks meet as Mideast war fuels inflation fears
Mar 16 2026
Some of the world's biggest central banks meet this week as fears grow the energy shock unleashed by the Middle East war …
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Oil eases on hopes for Strait of Hormuz passage
Mar 16 2026
Oil prices eased on Monday as investors balanced hopes for the crucial Strait of Hormuz reopening with concerns over …
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EU wants to tap citizens' savings. Easier said than done
Mar 16 2026
The idea sounds simple: tap trillions of euros of EU citizens' savings to unlock capital for European companies through …
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Indonesia firms in palm oil fraud probe supplied fuel majors
Mar 16 2026
Indonesian companies targeted in a palm oil fraud probe supplied European firms including Italian energy giant Eni and …
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Italian bank UniCredit makes bid for Germany's Commerzbank
Mar 16 2026
Italian bank UniCredit on Monday made a 35-billion-euro ($40 billion) takeover offer for Commerzbank, a move likely to …
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Oil rises further above $100, most Asian stocks fall as Iran war rages
Mar 16 2026
Oil prices jumped further above $100 Monday and Asian stocks mostly fell as the Iran war moved into a third week with …
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Israel announces Lebanon ground assault against Hezbollah
Mar 16 2026
Israel said Monday it had launched ground operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon while US President Donald Trump piled …
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AI to drive growth despite geopolitics, Taiwan's Foxconn says
Mar 16 2026
Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn on Monday said it expected the booming market for artificial intelligence servers to drive …
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Oil rises further above $100, stocks mixed as Iran war rages
Mar 16 2026
Oil prices rose further above $100 a barrel Monday and stocks fluctuated as the Iran war moved into a third week with …
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Oil hovers around $100, stocks mixed as Iran war rages
Mar 16 2026
Oil prices hovered around $100 a barrel Monday and stocks fluctuated as the Iran war moved into a third week with both …
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Strait of Hormuz forms part of front line in Mideast war
Mar 15 2026
Attacks targeting commercial vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz have put the blockaded waterway on the front line …
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Iran warns against wider war as Trump asks allies to escort ships
Mar 15 2026
Iran on Sunday warned countries against getting involved in its war with the United States and Israel, after President …
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Trump says US not ready to agree deal to end Iran war
Mar 15 2026
Donald Trump warned that he is not ready to seek a deal to end the war with Iran, as US ally Israel launched a new wave …
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Trump urges other nations' warships to protect Gulf oil route
Mar 15 2026
US President Donald Trump called for other nations' warships to help protect world oil supplies passing through the …
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'Dubai is safe': UAE pushes to contain fallout from Iran onslaught
Mar 15 2026
Dubai is scrambling to preserve its image as a safe haven despite Iran's onslaught, with influencers rallying behind the …
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US Fed expected to hold rates steady as Iran war roils outlook
Mar 15 2026
US Federal Reserve policymakers are expected to leave interest rates unchanged at their meeting next week, as the …
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Who covers AI business blunders? Some insurers cautiously step up
Mar 15 2026
As more businesses trust artificial intelligence "agents" to independently grow their revenues, some insurance firms are …
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