Business and Economy
Activists hope trial will stop 'forever chemicals' at Italy plant
AFP - 2h ago
Egio Spineto filters his water and avoids eating locally grown produce in case it is contaminated, but the chemicals …
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Trump forms panel to probe US Fed governor Lisa Cook
AFP - 3h ago
US President Donald Trump has set up a committee to probe Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook over alleged "false …
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Stocks advance as Trump rules out pre-vote Iran attack
AFP - 3h ago
Stock markets climbed Friday as oil prices dropped after President Donald Trump ruled out a strike on Iran before next …
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China agrees to 'moderate' car exports to Europe: EU commerce chief
AFP - 4h ago
China and the European Union reached an understanding to "moderate" hybrid vehicles exports on Friday, which could …
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Massive debt puts France in a bind as investor doubts deepen
AFP - 4h ago
French government bonds have become the bane of investors on fears that officials are unwilling or unable to rein in …
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'Human-authored' book labels gain ground amid AI scandals
AFP - 4h ago
Initiatives to label books as written by humans, and not artificial intelligence, are gaining ground following a string …
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BMW pulls car lease offer from German far-right politician
AFP - 4h ago
BMW has withdrawn an offer to lease a car to a politician from the far-right AfD party who was elected to a top post in …
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Stocks advance, oil retreats as Trump rules out pre-vote Iran attack
AFP - 1h ago
Stock markets climbed Friday as oil prices dropped after President Donald Trump ruled out a strike on Iran before next …
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OpenAI denies firing researchers over AI safety warnings
AFP - 5h ago
OpenAI on Friday hit back at three former safety researchers who accused the ChatGPT-maker of firing them for warning …
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China, EU agree on dialogue, cars and rare earths after trade talks
AFP - 2h ago
China and the European Union reached an "understanding" on hybrid vehicles on Friday, as their commerce chiefs concluded …
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EU trade chief seeks 'tangible outcomes' in China talks
AFP - 28m ago
China and the European Union agreed on Friday to "strengthen" dialogue after talks between their commerce chiefs that …
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EU states agree beefed-up European financial markets watchdog
AFP - 7h ago
EU finance ministers struck a deal Friday to establish a new, more powerful European securities watchdog as part of …
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Stocks up, oil retreats as Trump rules out pre-vote Iran attack
AFP - 2h ago
Stock markets climbed Friday as oil prices dropped after President Donald Trump ruled out a strike on Iran before next …
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Saint Laurent designer Vaccarello leaves after glittering decade
AFP - 8h ago
Belgian fashion designer Anthony Vaccarello is to leave Saint Laurent after a decade in charge, having overseen a surge …
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Asian stocks mostly up as traders weigh AI, oil dips after surge
AFP - 3h ago
Asian stocks mostly rose on Friday as traders weighed the outlook for the AI investment boom, with support coming from a …
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Asian stocks mixed amid AI concerns, oil dips after surge
AFP - 2m ago
Asian stocks mostly rose Friday as traders weighed the outlook for the AI investment boom, with support coming from a …
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More than just football: How scandal-tainted City led Manchester's rebirth
AFP - 11h ago
Standing behind the counter of his fish-and-chip shop near the Etihad Stadium, Sailish Parekh says the transformation of …
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Fuel, fertilizer costs strain US farmers' support for Republicans in midterms
AFP - 9h ago
As soybean farmer David Schacht begins his fall harvest, surging diesel and fertilizer costs are fast outpacing his …
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Trump's 'super intelligence' rebrand to sell AI faces uphill battle
AFP - 16h ago
Donald Trump's campaign to rename artificial intelligence as "super intelligence" is unlikely to win over a wary public …
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Oil surges, stocks sink on jitters over US plans in Iran war
Oct 08 2026
Oil prices soared Thursday following reports that the United States could launch fresh attacks on Iran before next …
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OpenAI revenue gap report rattles AI stocks
Oct 08 2026
OpenAI is bringing in about $20 billion less in annualized revenue than investors had been led to believe, the Financial …
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Nigeria looks to ease fuel prices as election looms
Oct 08 2026
Nigeria's finance minister unveiled a raft of measures Thursday aimed at cushioning against energy shocks as the country …
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Saudi kindergarten hit by debris as Houthis say Riyadh airport targeted
Oct 08 2026
The Saudi civil defence agency said a kindergarten and a medical complex in Riyadh were damaged by debris from a missile …
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US suspending Microsoft from visa program: Vance
Oct 08 2026
US Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that software giant Microsoft was being suspended from a key visa program as …
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Riyadh kindergarten hit by interception debris as Houthis say targeted airport
Oct 08 2026
The Saudi civil defence agency said a kindergarten and a medical complex in Riyadh were damaged by debris from a missile …
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Russian data centre hit by drone in first for Ukraine war
Oct 08 2026
A drone attack caused a fire at a data centre belonging to Russian technology giant Yandex, the company told AFP …
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Oil surges, stocks sink as US reportedly eyes new Iran strikes
Oct 08 2026
Oil prices soared more than five percent Thursday following reports that the United States could launch fresh attacks on …
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AI startup Manus raises $500m after Meta acquisition blocked by China
Oct 08 2026
AI startup Manus, whose acquisition by Meta was blocked by the Chinese government, said Thursday it had completed a …
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WTO hikes 2026 trade growth forecast on AI boom
Oct 08 2026
The WTO on Thursday sharply raised its global trade growth forecast for 2026, with merchandise trade riding the AI boom …
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Bid by Italy's Intesa bank to take over MPS gets boost
Oct 08 2026
The main shareholders of Italy's Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS) have boosted the chances of a takeover by Intesa …
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EU okay for winter despite 'historically low' gas stocks: operators
Oct 08 2026
The European Union is capable of meeting demand for gas this winter but its reserves are at "historically low" levels …
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Britain's Burnham says open to Germany joining warplane project
Oct 08 2026
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Thursday that he was open to having Germany join a next-generation fighter jet …
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Diplomats, schools in Saudi take safety measures after blasts heard: sources to AFP
Oct 08 2026
Diplomats stationed in the Saudi capital were sheltering in place and international schools took safety measures on …
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Oil surges, stocks sink as US reportedly eyes fresh Iran strikes
Oct 08 2026
Oil prices soared more than five percent Thursday following reports that the United States could launch fresh attacks on …
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France struggles to wean social housing off gas
Oct 08 2026
As France recovers from a sweltering summer where thousands died in gruelling heatwaves, the country now faces a dilemma …
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In Beijing, EU trade envoy says deficit with China 'unsustainable'
Oct 08 2026
The European Union's top commerce official said Thursday that the bloc's trade deficit with China was "unsustainable", …
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Germany lifts GDP forecast as economy withstands Iran war
Oct 08 2026
Germany on Thursday sharply raised its growth forecast for this year, saying Europe's biggest economy had withstood the …
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Taiwan says exports hit record in September on AI demand
Oct 08 2026
Taiwan's exports hit a record high of $87.2 billion in September, the government said Thursday, thanks to skyrocketing …
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Drone hits Yandex data centre, in first such attack on Russia
Oct 08 2026
A drone caused a fire at a data centre belonging to Russian technology company Yandex, the company told AFP Thursday, in …
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Oil prices surge and stocks sink on fresh inflation worries
Oct 08 2026
Oil prices soared Thursday and equities tumbled on fresh inflation fears following a report that said President Donald …
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Stocks fall further as oil surge fans fresh inflation worries
Oct 08 2026
Equities extended losses Thursday as a fresh surge in oil prices stoked inflation fears, following a report that said …
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Stocks fall further as oil spike fans fresh inflation worries
Oct 08 2026
Equities extended losses Thursday as inflation fears were stoked by a fresh jump in oil prices following a report that …
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Gas, health care, utilities: high costs squeeze US midterm voters
Oct 08 2026
Former US steelworker Denise Barber retired three years ago, but steep gasoline prices and family healthcare needs are …
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Samsung expects 780% quarterly operating profit jump on AI boom
Oct 08 2026
Samsung Electronics forecast Thursday a more than 780 percent leap in third-quarter operating profit from a year …
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EU trade chief seeks to dial down China tensions
Oct 07 2026
The European Union's top commerce official was due in China on Thursday for talks aimed at bringing both sides back from …
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Stocks slide as oil sees volatile trading day over Iran war fears
Oct 07 2026
Stock markets slid on Wednesday after a volatile day of trading for oil that saw the commodity rise sharply before …
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Microsoft pushes AI vision with new, expensive Surface laptop
Oct 07 2026
Microsoft is pushing a "hybrid intelligence" future with a new Surface Ultra laptop that runs on Nvidia artificial …
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French luxury giant to fund redevelopment of two Paris streets: city hall
Oct 07 2026
French luxury giant Louis Vuitton, part of the LVMH conglomerate of France's richest person Bernard Arnault, is to fund …
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Stocks slide as oil climbs on Mideast flareup
Oct 07 2026
Oil prices rose Wednesday on fresh concerns about Middle East supplies following a warning that Iran appeared to be …
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IEA ready to release more oil reserves if necessary
Oct 07 2026
The International Energy Agency's member countries stand ready to release additional oil from their strategic reserves …
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HSBC 'consults' over UK unit job cuts amid AI adoption
Oct 07 2026
HSBC said Wednesday consultations were underway, after the Financial Times reported that hundreds of jobs were at risk …
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UK court quashes five ex-traders' Libor rate rigging convictions
Oct 07 2026
The Court of Appeal in London on Wednesday quashed the criminal convictions of five former financial traders for …
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French wine harvest set to hit historic low
Oct 07 2026
With its wine industry hit by a swathe of summer heatwaves, France is set to see this year's harvest hit a historic low.
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Kyiv 'cannot agree' to EU membership limiting food exports: minister
Oct 07 2026
Ukraine's agriculture minister on Wednesday said his country would not agree to EU membership if that would entail …
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Shell refining margins reach record highs as wars hit supply
Oct 07 2026
British energy giant Shell said Wednesday that its refining margins surged 75 percent in the third quarter compared with …
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Moldova to name new power line after Donald Trump
Oct 07 2026
A new power line to link Moldova to Romania with US financial backing will be named "Trump Liberty Line" following a US …
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Spotify expands audiobooks to more than 180 markets
Oct 07 2026
Streaming giant Spotify announced Wednesday it is expanding access to its audiobook service to more than 180 markets, up …
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Stocks decline as oil climbs on Mideast flareup
Oct 07 2026
Oil prices rose Wednesday on fresh concerns about Middle East supplies following a warning that Iran appeared to be …
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Micron workers at Taiwan plant vote in favour of strike
Oct 07 2026
Hundreds of workers at a Micron Technology plant in Taiwan have voted to strike, their union said on Wednesday, after …
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As sector struggles, Porsche puts luxury ahead of volume
Oct 07 2026
Luxury sports car maker Porsche announced Wednesday it plans to sell fewer vehicles, but at a higher price to try to …
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Indian central bank hikes rates for first time since 2023
Oct 07 2026
India's central bank hiked interest rates Wednesday for the first time since 2023 as the Middle East conflict stokes …
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Germany factory production at highest level for 18 months
Oct 07 2026
German industrial production rose to its highest level for a year and a half in August, according to data released …
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Oil rises and stocks fall as Hormuz worries flare
Oct 07 2026
Oil prices rose on Wednesday and stocks fell amid fresh concerns about Middle East supplies following a warning that …
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US, China, EU: three paths to regulating AI
Oct 07 2026
The United States, China and the European Union are taking different paths to govern artificial intelligence, as calls …
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How the EU regulates lobbyists
Oct 07 2026
Following the 2022 Qatargate bribery scandal, the European Union tightened its lobbying rules in Brussels, where …
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Fierce lobbying in EU over 'forever chemicals'
Oct 07 2026
The European Union is under pressure to ban "forever chemicals" but a battle is heating up over the toxic substances …
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Indian central bank hikes rates for first time in more than 3 years
Oct 07 2026
India's central bank hiked interest rates for the first time in more than three years on Wednesday as the Middle East …
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Climate champion Australia digging more coal
Oct 07 2026
Australia's coal mines are expanding as exports boom, awkward timing for a nation preparing to champion clean energy as …
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Bangladesh nuclear plant draws hope -- and worry
Oct 07 2026
Bangladesh is preparing to switch on its first nuclear power plant, a long-delayed project promising relief from chronic …
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Africa launches own credit agency in bid for cheaper borrowing
Oct 07 2026
Africa will launch its own credit rating agency on Wednesday, aimed at countering what many see as unfair assessments by …
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Paramount completes Warner Bros takeover, creating Skydance
Oct 06 2026
Paramount on Tuesday completed its takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, uniting two of Hollywood's most storied studios …
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US stocks hit fresh records as oil stabilizes on rising supplies
Oct 06 2026
Stock markets firmed Tuesday with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 hitting record highs in the United States, as oil prices …
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Emmys gala will now stream its premier television awards
Oct 06 2026
The Emmy Awards that celebrate the best in television are the latest entertainment industry gala to ink a streaming …
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Quebec separatist win rattles Carney's unity push
Oct 06 2026
Prime Minister Mark Carney insists "Canada strong" can defy threats from the United States, but his national unity …
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Paris Women's Fashion Week: the key trends
Oct 06 2026
Paris Women's Fashion Week wraps up Tuesday after nine days of shows and celebrity sightings. AFP looks at some of the …
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Asos says probing 'unauthorised activity' after phone alerts
Oct 06 2026
UK online fashion giant Asos said Tuesday it was investigating "unauthorised activity involving third-party platforms" …
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Stocks climb as oil prices retreat under $100 per barrel
Oct 06 2026
Stock markets firmed Tuesday as oil prices retreated on easing supply worries, helping to temper concerns about rising …
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New investor forecasts LIV Golf teams could be worth $100 mn each
Oct 06 2026
LIV Golf teams could be worth up to $100 million (£75 million) each, even though it's just under a month since the …
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Bulgaria searches for missing crew after drones hit more Black Sea ships
Oct 06 2026
Bulgarian authorities on Tuesday were searching for the missing crew of a ship that sank in the Black Sea after drones …
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Le Pen vows drastic cost savings to prevent French 'default'
Oct 06 2026
French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen said Tuesday that she would implement 140 billion euros ($157 …
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France's Mistral unveils latest model in sovereign AI push
Oct 06 2026
French AI startup Mistral announced Tuesday its biggest open-weight model, dubbed "Chonk", claiming enhanced performance …
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Stocks climb as oil prices retreat
Oct 06 2026
Stock markets firmed Tuesday while oil prices retreated on easing supply worries, helping to temper concerns about …
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World Bank forecasts modest growth for Latin America, highlights climate risks
Oct 06 2026
The World Bank on Tuesday forecast modest economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean, warning that risks from …
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IMF warns cost-of-living shocks cause 'lasting deterioration' in affordability
Oct 06 2026
The International Monetary Fund warned Tuesday that price increases for necessities like food and energy, fuelled by the …
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Stock markets climb as oil prices retreat
Oct 06 2026
Stock markets firmed Tuesday and oil prices retreated, helping to temper worries about spikes to government borrowing …
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7-Eleven exits India amid mounting competition
Oct 06 2026
All 7-Eleven convenience stores in India shut down in September, according to its Japanese parent company on Tuesday, as …
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Asian stocks mostly up after tech-led Wall St record
Oct 06 2026
Asian stocks mostly rose on Tuesday as a tech-led record on Wall Street was tempered by ongoing worries about a spike in …
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German factory orders plunge as recovery still fragile
Oct 06 2026
German factory orders fell faster than expected in August, official data showed Tuesday, underscoring the fragility of a …
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South Korea warns of possible AI use in banking hacks
Oct 06 2026
Artificial intelligence may have been used in a string of cyberattacks targeting South Korea's financial sector, the …
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Purple reign: Philippines seeks to keep grip on ube throne
Oct 06 2026
The Philippine ube has become a trend-setting sensation from Los Angeles to London to Seoul, with the humble yam's …
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Asian stocks mixed despite tech-led Wall St record
Oct 06 2026
Asian stocks were mixed Tuesday as a tech-led record on Wall Street was tempered by ongoing worries about a spike in …
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AI borrowing binge rattles US markets
Oct 06 2026
The world's richest companies can no longer rely on their massive cash piles alone to stay in the artificial …
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Euro slides as concerns about French debt mount
Oct 05 2026
The euro slid Monday to its lowest level against the dollar in 17 months on worries about France's high debt and …
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US Supreme Court considers bid to shut the door on climate suits
Oct 05 2026
The US Supreme Court heard arguments Monday in a crunch climate case, with justices wrestling over whether it followed …
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US Supreme Court judges mull bid to shut the door on climate suits
Oct 05 2026
The US Supreme Court heard arguments Monday in a crunch climate case, with justices wrestling over whether it followed …
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Brazilian stocks surge to record after Bolsonaro election lead
Oct 05 2026
Brazilian stocks surged to record highs Monday, with Sao Paulo's main index up almost nine percent by midday, after a …
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'Reckless' AI firms can't control models, says whistleblower
Oct 05 2026
Leading artificial intelligence companies do not know how to keep AI systems from pursuing objectives their developers …
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Putin allows Italy's UniCredit to sell part of Russian business
Oct 05 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday allowing Italy's UniCredit bank to sell part of its Russian …
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EU, China to hold Beijing talks to avert trade war
Oct 05 2026
EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic will travel to Beijing Thursday for two days of high-stakes talks aimed at staving off a …
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US Supreme Court hears bid to shut the door on climate suits
Oct 05 2026
The US Supreme Court was hearing arguments on Monday in a case that could determine the fate of dozens of climate …
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Euro slides as worries about French debt grow
Oct 05 2026
The euro slid Monday to the lowest level against the dollar in 17 months on worries about France's high debt and …
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Norway eyes partial ban of smart glasses
Oct 05 2026
Norway's government said Monday it wants a temporary ban on the use of smart glasses in certain public places, citing …
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