Business and Economy
Poland signs 44-bn-euro EU defence loan deal to modernise military
AFP - 32m ago
Poland on Friday became the first country to sign a loan agreement with the European Commission to fund the …
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Airlines banned from adding fuel charges after ticket purchase: EU
AFP - 1h ago
Airlines must not charge customers extra fuel fees after they have already bought tickets, the EU warned on Friday, as …
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Macron seeks to cement Africa legacy with Kenya summit
AFP - 1h ago
President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday embarks on a visit to Africa aimed at renewing France's engagement with the …
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Stocks fall, oil steady as fresh US-Iran clashes hit peace hopes
AFP - 1h ago
Stock markets slid and oil prices steadied Friday as US-Iran clashes in the Strait of Hormuz jolted hopes for a deal to …
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Myanmar says massive 11,000-carat ruby discovered
AFP - 2h ago
A huge 11,000-carat ruby has been discovered in Myanmar, state media reported Friday, one of the largest ever found in …
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Myanmar says massive 11,000-carat ruby discovered in Mandalay
AFP - 29m ago
Myanmar said Friday it had discovered a massive 11,000-carat ruby, one of the largest ever found in the country renowned …
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Stocks fall as US-Iran clashes spark peace talks fears
AFP - 3h ago
Stocks sank Friday as US-Iran clashes in the Strait of Hormuz jolted hopes for a deal to end the war and reopen the …
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Toyota sees profit drop as US tariffs, Mideast bite
AFP - 6h ago
Japanese auto giant Toyota forecast Friday a 22-percent fall in net profit in the year to next March, as it struggles …
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Malaysia plans cloud seeding for drought-hit 'rice bowl'
AFP - 7h ago
Malaysia is resorting to cloud seeding to bring much-needed rain to the country's "rice bowl" north, where a drought has …
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Oil jumps, stocks fall as US-Iran clashes spark peace talks fears
AFP - 4h ago
Stocks sank and oil prices jumped Friday as US-Iran clashes in the Strait of Hormuz jolted hopes for a deal to end the …
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Where are the flash points in next week's Trump-Xi talks?
AFP - 10h ago
Donald Trump is poised to be the first US president visiting China in almost a decade, but an uneasy trade truce and …
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Trump heads for Xi summit overshadowed by Iran war
AFP - 11h ago
US President Donald Trump heads for a superpower summit with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping next week hoping the Iran …
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Trump gives EU until July 4 to ratify deal or face tariff hike
May 07 2026
President Donald Trump on Thursday said the European Union must ratify its trade deal with the United States by July 4 …
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US targets Cuban military, mine in new sanctions
May 07 2026
The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on a Cuban military conglomerate that controls nearly 40 percent of the …
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Google faces new UK lawsuit over online display ads
May 07 2026
Google faces a fresh UK lawsuit accusing it of abusing its dominance in online display advertising, the claimants …
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New Israel-Lebanon talks planned as US awaits Iran response to peace deal
May 07 2026
Israeli and Lebanese envoys will sit down for a fresh round of peace talks in Washington next week, even as Israel …
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IMF warns of 'inevitable' AI-powered threats to global financial system
May 07 2026
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned on Thursday of the risks to global financial stability posed by …
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Oil prices drop awaiting Mideast peace progress
May 07 2026
Oil prices fell and global stock markets traded mixed Thursday awaiting an update on a US plan to end the Middle East …
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Germany warns tax revenues to be hit by Iran war
May 07 2026
Germany will generate less tax revenue in the coming years, in large part due to the "irresponsible" Middle East war …
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US awaits Iran response to latest deal offer
May 07 2026
The United States was waiting on Thursday for Iran to respond to its latest proposed deal to end the war in the Middle …
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AI use surges globally but rich-poor divide widens, Microsoft says
May 07 2026
Generative artificial intelligence is being used by 17.8 percent of the world's working-age population, but the gap …
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Defence giant Rheinmetall makes offer for further shipyard
May 07 2026
German arms maker Rheinmetall said Thursday it had made an offer for a further shipyard as the influential defence giant …
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Oil sinks, Tokyo leads Asia stock surge on growing Mideast peace hopes
May 07 2026
Oil sank again Thursday and Tokyo's Nikkei index led another strong rally across Asia stocks, fuelled by growing …
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AirAsia signs $19bn deal for 150 Airbus A220 jets
May 07 2026
Southeast Asia's AirAsia signed a $19 billion deal to buy 150 Canadian-made Airbus A220-300 jets, the two companies …
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Shell profit jumps as Mideast war fuels oil prices
May 07 2026
British energy giant Shell announced Thursday rising net profits for the first quarter as the Middle East war sent oil …
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Tokyo leads Asia stock surge on growing Mideast peace hopes
May 07 2026
Tokyo's Nikkei index soared Thursday to lead another strong rally across Asia stocks, fuelled by growing optimism the …
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EU weighs options as summer jet fuel threat looms
May 07 2026
How big is the jet fuel threat to Europe's summer holidays? The EU says it is not facing shortages yet, but it is …
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Lobito Corridor: Africa's mega-project facing delivery test
May 07 2026
The Lobito Corridor mega-project linking three African countries is shifting from blueprint to proving ground in the …
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Africa's Lobito Corridor chief tells AFP business, not geopolitics, drives strategy
May 07 2026
The chief executive of the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) project to link southern African mines to an Angolan export …
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Victim's lawyer alleges Boeing was 'negligent' in 2019 Ethiopian crash
May 06 2026
US aviation giant Boeing was "negligent" in the 2019 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 aircraft, the lawyer for …
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Trump says Iran deal 'very possible' but threatens strikes if talks fail
May 06 2026
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he believed a deal with Iran was "very possible" but threatened to again bomb …
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Musk's SpaceX strikes data center deal with Anthropic
May 06 2026
AI startup Anthropic announced Wednesday it has agreed to a major computing partnership with Elon Musk's SpaceX, …
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Oil prices tumble, stocks rally on Mideast peace hopes
May 06 2026
World oil prices dived Wednesday and stock markets rallied on fresh hopes for an end to the Iran war.
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Trump says Iran deal 'very possible', but threatens strikes if not
May 06 2026
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he believed a deal with Iran was "very possible", but threatened to resume his …
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Pioneering CNN founder Ted Turner dead at 87
May 06 2026
Ted Turner, the flamboyant US entrepreneur who transformed television news with the creation of CNN in 1980 before …
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French aircraft carrier pre-positions for possible Hormuz mission
May 06 2026
France's aircraft carrier the Charles de Gaulle was on Wednesday heading towards the southern Red Sea to pre‑position …
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Trump sees 'very good chance' of Iran deal, but threatens strikes if not
May 06 2026
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he believed there was "a very good chance" of sealing a peace deal with Iran, …
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Europe's first commercial robotaxi service rolls out in Croatia
May 06 2026
For nearly a month, a Croatian company has been rolling out what it says is Europe's first robotaxi service on the …
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EU risks financial hit if Chinese suppliers forced out: trade group
May 06 2026
A group representing Chinese companies warned Wednesday the EU would suffer hundreds of billions of euros in losses if …
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G7 decries 'economic coercion' in swipe at China
May 06 2026
The trade ministers of the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations Wednesday criticised "economic coercion" by …
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CNN founder Ted Turner: 20th century media giant
May 06 2026
Ted Turner created CNN in 1980, revolutionizing the way America, and the world, got their news, and then went on to …
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Trump threatens new Iran strikes, piling on pressure for peace deal
May 06 2026
US President Donald Trump threatened Iran on Wednesday with renewed bombing if it did not agree to a peace deal, piling …
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Disney shares jump after results top expectations
May 06 2026
Disney shares jumped in pre-market trading Wednesday as the entertainment giant reported better than expected revenues …
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Ryanair's O'Leary urges pre-flight morning booze ban
May 06 2026
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has urged a ban on serving alcohol in airport bars before morning flights in an …
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Hopes rise for Iran deal as US halts guiding ships in Hormuz
May 06 2026
The United States and a key mediator in the Middle East war expressed new hope of talks leading to a peace deal with …
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Cambodian PM's cousin says owned 30% of scam-linked firm
May 06 2026
A cousin of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Wednesday he had owned a 30 percent stake in a digital payments …
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US pauses guiding ships through Hormuz, cites Iran deal hopes
May 06 2026
President Donald Trump said he was pausing the US military operation to guide stranded commercial ships through the …
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Oil tumbles and stocks rally on peace hopes, Samsung tops $1 trillion
May 06 2026
Oil prices dived again Wednesday on fresh hopes for an end to the Iran war, while Samsung blasted past the $1 trillion …
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Oil sinks and stocks rally on peace hopes, Samsung tops $1 trillion
May 06 2026
Oil prices extended losses Wednesday on fresh hopes for an end to the Iran war, while Samsung blasted past the $1 …
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US pauses Hormuz escorts, Trump says progress on Iran deal
May 06 2026
The United States will pause escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz barely a day after it began doing …
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Fresh UAE attacks blamed on Iran draw new reality in the Gulf
May 06 2026
Hours after the UAE's top oil executive said the country had "emerged stronger" from war and as thousands attended an …
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Philips profits double in first quarter
May 06 2026
Philips said Wednesday its first-quarter profits had doubled, maintaining its sales forecasts as the Dutch electronics …
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Iran war jolts China's well-oiled manufacturing hub
May 06 2026
Vacuum cleaners and vapes could get more expensive if the Iran war drags on for much longer, Chinese factory owners and …
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US pauses Hormuz escorts in bid for deal, as threats continue
May 06 2026
The US will pause escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz barely a day after it began doing so, US …
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US declares Iran offensive over, warns force remains an option
May 05 2026
The United States has completed its offensive operations against Iran, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday, even …
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Musk 'was going to hit me,' OpenAI executive says at trial
May 05 2026
OpenAI President Greg Brockman told a California jury Tuesday that Elon Musk physically threatened him during a 2017 …
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Stocks rise, oil falls as traders eye earnings, US-Iran ceasefire
May 05 2026
European and US stocks advanced Tuesday, lifting Wall Street indices to fresh records, as investors focused on …
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US forces ready to resume combat operations against Iran if ordered
May 05 2026
US forces are ready to resume combat operations against Iran if ordered, Washington's top military officer said on …
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G7 trade ministers meet, not expected to discuss US tariff threat
May 05 2026
G7 trade ministers opened a meeting in Paris on Tuesday to discuss issues including critical minerals, but were not …
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France's Macron taps ex-aide to head central bank
May 05 2026
France's President Emmanuel Macron is mulling appointing his former chief of staff as head of the country's central …
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EU urges US to stick to tariff deal terms
May 05 2026
The United States must respect its tariff agreement with the EU, the bloc's trade chief told his American counterpart …
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Vodafone to take full ownership of UK mobile operator
May 05 2026
British mobile phone giant Vodafone announced Tuesday it has agreed a £4.3 billion ($5.8 billion) deal to take full …
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Stocks advance, oil falls as traders eye US-Iran ceasefire
May 05 2026
European and US stocks advanced Tuesday as investors weighed first-quarter corporate earnings alongside uncertainty over …
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US trade gap widens in March as AI spending boosts imports
May 05 2026
The US trade deficit grew slightly less than expected in March, government data showed Tuesday, as spending linked to …
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Stocks diverge as traders eye US-Iran ceasefire
May 05 2026
Global stocks diverged Tuesday as investors weighed first-quarter corporate earnings alongside uncertainty over the …
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Pyongyang calling: North Korea shows off own-brand phones
May 05 2026
North Korea has welcomed foreign visitors and firms to a trade fair this week, showcasing homegrown products including …
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Iran warns 'not even started' in Hormuz
May 05 2026
Iran's powerful chief negotiator warned the United States against any further escalation in the Strait of Hormuz, after …
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War in the Middle East: latest developments
May 05 2026
The latest developments in the Middle East war:
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Asian stocks drop amid fears over US-Iran ceasefire
May 05 2026
Asian stocks sank Tuesday with a fresh spike in Middle East tensions fanning fears over the fragile US-Iran ceasefire, …
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Stocks sink amid fears over US-Iran ceasefire
May 05 2026
Stocks sank Tuesday with a fresh spike in Middle East tensions fanning fears over the fragile US-Iran ceasefire, as the …
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Yoko says oh no to 'John Lemon' beer
May 05 2026
The old saying about lemons and lemonade has borne fruit for a French craft brewery, which was ordered by Yoko Ono to …
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G7 trade ministers set to meet but not discuss latest US tariff threat
May 05 2026
G7 trade ministers are set to meet in Paris on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss issues such as critical minerals and …
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Trouble in paradise: Colombia tourist jewel plagued by violence
May 05 2026
With snow-capped mountains sweeping down to the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National …
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Oil prices jump on Hormuz tensions as US indices retreat from records
May 04 2026
Oil prices jumped on Monday after a drone strike sparked a fire at an Emirati energy installation, threatening a fragile …
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OpenAI co-founder under fire in Musk trial over $30 bn stake
May 04 2026
Following high-profile testimony from billionaire Elon Musk last week, one of OpenAI's co-founders testified Monday in …
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Amazon to ship stuff for any business, not just its own merchants
May 04 2026
Amazon announced Monday it is opening up its massive shipping and delivery network to any business that wants to use it …
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Energy crisis fuels calls to cut methane emissions
May 04 2026
Officials pushed Monday for faster action to reduce methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector to both help slow …
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Oil prices jump as Iran attacks UAE, US warships enter Hormuz
May 04 2026
Oil prices jumped on Monday after a drone strike sparked a fire at an Emirati energy installation following US warships …
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UniCredit raises capital ahead of Commerzbank takeover bid
May 04 2026
Shareholders in Italy's UniCredit approved on Monday an increase in share capital that enables the Italian bank to mount …
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Seoul, Taipei hit records on tech rally
May 04 2026
Seoul and Taipei hit record highs Monday as Asian traders joined the rally in tech shares, while oil prices rose as US …
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Seoul, Taipei hit records as Asian stocks track Wall St tech rally
May 04 2026
Seoul and Taipei hit record highs Monday as tech firms led a rally across most Asian markets, tracking a healthy day on …
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Musk vs OpenAI trial enters second week
May 04 2026
Following high-profile testimony from billionaire Elon Musk last week, one of OpenAI's co-founders will testify Monday …
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Boeing faces civil trial over 737 MAX crash
May 04 2026
Boeing is scheduled to return to court Monday to face its latest lawsuit over a deadly 737 MAX crash in Ethiopia, …
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Village braces for closure of Spain's largest nuclear plant
May 04 2026
In the western Spanish village of Almaraz, the uncertain future of the country's biggest nuclear power plant casts a …
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GameStop makes $56 billion takeover bid for eBay
May 04 2026
US video game retailer GameStop made a takeover bid on Sunday to buy eBay for about $55.5 billion in an attempt to turn …
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'No pilgrims': regional war hushes Iraq's holy cities
May 04 2026
In Iraq's holy city of Najaf, the majestic shrine of Imam Ali stands quiet, its vast courtyards no longer echoing with …
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'Devil Wears Prada 2' takes top spot in N. America box office
May 03 2026
"The Devil Wears Prada 2" debuted atop the North American box office this weekend, industry estimates showed Sunday, 20 …
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OPEC+ hikes oil production quotas but stays mum on UAE pull-out
May 03 2026
Saudi Arabia, Russia and five other OPEC+ countries increased their oil production quota on Sunday in an expected move …
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German fertiliser makers and farmers struggle with Iran war fallout
May 03 2026
As Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz roils the global economy, one German town has been scrambling to help make up …
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OPEC+ to make first post-UAE production decision
May 03 2026
Seven OPEC+ members are meeting Sunday to make their first decision on oil-production quotas since the United Arab …
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US airlines step up as Spirit winds down
May 03 2026
US air carriers on Saturday mobilized to help passengers and crew members stranded by the overnight shutdown of Spirit …
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Aviation companies step up as Spirit winds down
May 02 2026
US air carriers mobilized Saturday to help passengers and crew members stranded by the overnight shutdown of Spirit …
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Spirit Airlines begins 'wind-down', cancels all flights
May 02 2026
Low-cost US carrier Spirit Airlines said on Saturday that all of its flights have been cancelled as it started an …
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Trump says will raise US tariffs on EU cars to 25%
May 01 2026
President Donald Trump said Friday that he will hike US tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union next week, …
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S&P 500, Nasdaq end at fresh records on tech earnings strength
May 01 2026
The Nasdaq and S&P 500 soared to fresh records Friday, cheering mostly strong earnings from tech giants and continuing …
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ExxonMobil CEO sees chance of higher oil prices as earnings dip
May 01 2026
US oil giants reported lower earnings Friday with accounting effects muting the benefits of the Middle East oil shock, …
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Baguettes take centre stage on France's Labour Day
May 01 2026
French bakeries sold crusty baguettes and flaky croissants with government backing Friday, defying labour unions arguing …
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Trump says will raise US tariffs on EU cars, trucks to 25%
May 01 2026
President Donald Trump said Friday that he will hike US tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union next week, …
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Blockbuster EU-Mercosur trade deal enters into force
May 01 2026
The European Union's mammoth trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur provisionally enters into force Friday, …
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US Fed official says rate hikes may be needed if inflation surges
May 01 2026
A key US Federal Reserve official warned Friday that a series of interest rate hikes could be needed if price shocks …
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Gulf countries' plans to bypass Hormuz still far off, experts warn
May 01 2026
The war in the Middle East has forced the Gulf monarchies to rethink their oil and trade routes, but rerouting them will …
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Oil steady after wild swing, stocks diverge in thin trading
May 01 2026
Oil prices steadied and stocks diverged Friday in thin holiday trading, as investors awaited the next move in the Middle …
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