Business and Economy
Netflix boss Sarandos has 'constructive' talks with cinema owners
AFP - 2h ago
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos met with US cinema owners on the sidelines of an industry gathering, the trade association …
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Stocks rise, oil prices retreat on hopes for Mideast peace deal
AFP - 34m ago
Stock markets climbed and oil prices tumbled Tuesday on rekindled hopes for a deal to end the Middle East war and reopen …
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US bank profits jump as execs see consumers surviving oil spike, for now
Apr 14 2026
Large banks reported higher profits Tuesday, pointing to resilience among US businesses and customers despite spiking …
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Trump's Fed chair nominee to face Senate confirmation hearing next week
Apr 14 2026
US President Donald Trump's choice for central bank chair is set to face a confirmation hearing next Tuesday, in a …
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Renault to cut up to 20% of engineers
Apr 14 2026
French carmaker Renault said Tuesday that it plans to reduce its number of engineers by 15 to 20 percent in the coming …
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Ships exit Gulf from Iran despite US blockade: tracker
Apr 14 2026
At least three ships sailing from Iranian ports crossed the Hormuz Strait despite a US military blockade, but some …
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Gucci -- again -- drags down Kering's performance
Apr 14 2026
French luxury group Kering saw sales slide by six percent in the first quarter of this year, with its troubled flagship …
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Rolls-Royce unveils ultra-luxury limited series electric car
Apr 14 2026
Far from the downturn that has shaken many luxury houses in recent years, Britain's Rolls-Royce on Tuesday launched an …
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Geneva watch fair set to show war's effect on luxury sector
Apr 14 2026
The Geneva watch fair, the watchmaking industry's biggest annual showcase, opened Tuesday with the impact of the Middle …
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Lebanon, Israel start direct talks as Hezbollah launches new attacks
Apr 14 2026
Washington's top diplomat urged Israel and Lebanon to seize a "historic opportunity" for peace as direct talks between …
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Trump admin wants new Fed chair in place 'as soon as possible'
Apr 14 2026
The Trump administration wants Kevin Warsh in place as the new US central bank chair "as soon as possible," with the …
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Lebanon, Israel start direct talks as Trump blockades Iran
Apr 14 2026
Washington's top diplomat urged Israel and Lebanon to seize a "historic opportunity" for peace as direct talks between …
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ECB chief insists won't abandon ship amid global turmoil
Apr 14 2026
European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde said Tuesday she would not leave her post early as the global economy …
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Czech govt draws ire with public media financing plan
Apr 14 2026
The Czech culture minister angered the opposition and media freedom watchdogs with a plan presented Tuesday to fund …
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US bank profits jump as execs see consumers surviving oil spike so far
Apr 14 2026
Large banks reported higher profits Tuesday, pointing to resilience among US businesses and customers despite higher oil …
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IMF cuts 2026 global growth forecast on Mideast war
Apr 14 2026
The IMF cut its 2026 global growth projection Tuesday, warning that the world economy could be "thrown off course" by …
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Stocks rise, oil slips on hopes for Mideast peace deal
Apr 14 2026
Stock markets climbed and oil prices retreated Tuesday on rekindled hopes for a deal to end the Middle East war and …
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Amazon says to buy Globalstar to expand satellite network
Apr 14 2026
Amazon said Tuesday that it had signed a deal to buy the US telecoms satellite group Globalstar to expand its own …
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IMF cuts eurozone growth forecast to 1.1%, warns of strong euro
Apr 14 2026
Economic growth across the eurozone will slow to an estimated 1.1 percent this year as higher energy prices weigh on …
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Lebanon, Israel to hold direct talks as Trump blockades Iran
Apr 14 2026
Israel said it was open to peace with Lebanon ahead of the first direct talks in decades between the neighbours Tuesday, …
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US blockade of Iran ports threatens already crippled oil supply
Apr 14 2026
Washington's decision to blockade Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz is sending tremors through global energy …
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Mideast war revs up electric car demand in Asia
Apr 14 2026
Electric vehicle sales have jumped in Southeast Asia as cost-conscious buyers have poured into dealerships looking to …
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Fresh from conflict, Pakistan plays 'peacemaker' in US-Iran talks
Apr 14 2026
As the clock ticked down to US President Donald Trump's deadline to destroy Iran's civilisation last week, hope emerged …
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Asian stocks rally, crude drops on lingering hope for a peace deal
Apr 14 2026
Stocks rose and oil fell Tuesday on hopes for a deal to end the Middle East war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with …
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Botswana seals energy, mining deals with Oman
Apr 14 2026
Botswana has signed energy and mining exploration agreements with Oman as it seeks to deepen economic ties with the …
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Founder of China's Evergrande pleads guilty to fraud
Apr 14 2026
The founder of Chinese property giant Evergrande has pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and bribery, a court said on …
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US says ball in Iran's court as push grows to end war
Apr 14 2026
The United States said "the ball is in the Iranian court" on ending the Mideast war, as diplomats accelerated efforts on …
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OpenAI firebomber was trying to kill boss Sam Altman: prosecutors
Apr 14 2026
A man who allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman's luxury California home was trying to kill the boss of …
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China's economy likely picked up pace in first quarter: AFP survey
Apr 14 2026
China's economic growth likely picked up in the first three months of the year, according to analysts surveyed by AFP, …
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'Blindsided': US farmers strained as fertilizer costs surge on war
Apr 14 2026
On Andy Corriher's farm in North Carolina, planting and preparations are underway for his corn and soybean crops -- but …
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Australia to spend billions on drones as warfare changes
Apr 14 2026
Australia will boost spending on drones by up to Au$5 billion ($3.6 billion) in response to shifts in warfare seen in …
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Venezuela, Chevron strike deals to expand oil operations in key region
Apr 14 2026
US oil giant Chevron and the government of Venezuela signed two deals Monday that will expand oil production in the …
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Trump vows US will sink any Iran boats that challenge blockade
Apr 13 2026
US President Donald Trump warned Monday that any Iranian attack boats that approach the American naval blockade around …
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US stocks finish higher amid hopes for US-Iran deal as oil price gains moderate
Apr 13 2026
Wall Street stocks shrugged off early weakness and pushed higher Monday as oil price gains moderated amid optimism that …
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Hormuz toll preferable to closure, TotalEnergies CEO says
Apr 13 2026
The head of the French energy giant TotalEnergies said Monday that reopening the Strait of Hormuz -- even with a toll -- …
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CinemaCon starts with box office optimism
Apr 13 2026
Movie theater owners huddled in Las Vegas on Monday for their annual meeting, buoyed by optimism over the year's strong …
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LVMH sales feel impact from war
Apr 13 2026
Sales at the world's leading luxury group, LVMH, fell six percent in the first quarter of the year as the war in the …
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Lufthansa pilots strike as cabin crew call further stoppage
Apr 13 2026
Hundreds of Lufthansa flights were cancelled Monday as pilots kicked off a two-day strike over pay and pensions, with …
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Goldman Sachs eyes more corporate mergers despite war uncertainty
Apr 13 2026
Goldman Sachs reported strong first-quarter earnings on Monday, pointing to continued client interest in dealmaking that …
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Satisfaction as Rolling Stones drop track under Cockroaches name
Apr 13 2026
The Rolling Stones have mysteriously released a new limited edition single on vinyl only, under the band name The …
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Oil surges, stocks drop as Trump threatens to block Hormuz
Apr 13 2026
Oil prices surged back above $100 a barrel and stocks mostly fell Monday as a US blockade of Iranian ports went into …
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French court jails Lafarge ex-CEO for funding IS in Syria
Apr 13 2026
A French court on Monday fined the cement group Lafarge over $1.3 million and sentenced its former boss to six years in …
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US says to begin blockade of Iranian ports
Apr 13 2026
The US military said it would begin a blockade of all Iranian ports Monday, after talks between the warring sides in …
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Germany unveils 1.6 bn euro fuel price relief to tackle energy shock
Apr 13 2026
Germany on Monday unveiled 1.6 billion euros ($1.9 billion) in fuel price relief for households and businesses …
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Oil surges, stocks fall as Trump says to blockade Strait of Hormuz
Apr 13 2026
Oil prices surged and stocks sank Monday after US-Iran peace talks fell apart and Donald Trump announced a blockade of …
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Germany to cut fuel taxes amid Iran war energy shock
Apr 13 2026
Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday Germany will slash fuel taxes as households struggle with the energy shock from …
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US military to begin blockade of Iranian ports on Monday
Apr 13 2026
The US military said it would begin a blockade of all Iranian ports on Monday, after talks between the warring sides in …
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US to begin blockade of Iranian ports Monday: military
Apr 13 2026
The US military said Sunday it would begin a blockade of all Iranian ports within hours, after peace talks in Pakistan …
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Irish government announces tax cuts after fuel cost protests
Apr 12 2026
Ireland's government announced fresh tax cuts on petrol and diesel at an emergency cabinet meeting Sunday after fuel …
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Trump orders blockade of Hormuz strait after Iran talks fail
Apr 12 2026
President Donald Trump ordered the US Navy on Sunday to block the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, furious with …
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Trump orders US Navy to block Hormuz Strait after Iran talks fail
Apr 12 2026
President Donald Trump ordered the US Navy on Sunday to block the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, furious with …
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Trump orders US Navy to block Hormuz after Iran talks fail
Apr 12 2026
US President Donald Trump ordered the US Navy on Sunday to block key Gulf sea lane the Strait of Hormuz, furious with …
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US-Iran talks fail as world urges respect for truce
Apr 12 2026
Iran and the United States failed to strike a deal Sunday to end the war in the Middle East, but there was no immediate …
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Vance says talks failed to reach deal with Iran on ending Mideast war
Apr 12 2026
Iran and the United States failed to reach an agreement to end the war in the Middle East, US Vice President JD Vance …
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'Stop hiring humans'? Silicon Valley confronts AI job panic
Apr 12 2026
AI industry insiders want workers to code smarter, think harder and lean into their humanity -- but still dodge the …
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US, Iran talks extend into second day as strait showdown deepens
Apr 11 2026
Top-level peace talks between the United States and Iran entered a second day early Sunday, as Washington piled pressure …
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US says warships transit Strait of Hormuz in mine clearance op
Apr 11 2026
Two US Navy warships transited the Strait of Hormuz to begin clearing Iranian-laid mines, US Central Command said …
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US warships transit Strait of Hormuz in mine clearance op
Apr 11 2026
Two US Navy warships have transited the Strait of Hormuz to begin clearing the strategic waterway of mines laid by Iran, …
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US, Iran hold high-level peace talks in Pakistan
Apr 11 2026
American and Iranian officials were holding face-to-face talks in Pakistan on Saturday, the most significant since the …
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Top US, Iran officials hold direct peace talks in Pakistan
Apr 11 2026
American and Iranian officials were holding face-to-face talks in Pakistan on Saturday, the most significant since the …
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Iran and US top officials launch negotiations in Pakistan
Apr 11 2026
Senior Iranian and American officials began negotiations in Pakistan on Saturday, Iranian media reported, in a bid to …
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US and Iran envoys meet Pakistani PM as negotiations get under way
Apr 11 2026
Senior Iranian and American delegations met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Saturday to begin …
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In Europe first, Netherlands to allow Teslas to self-drive
Apr 11 2026
In a first for Europe, the Netherlands is poised to allow Tesla owners to use their car's self-driving feature -- as …
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Iran envoys meet Pakistani PM ahead of US talks
Apr 11 2026
An Iranian government delegation met Pakistan's prime minister on Saturday to discuss the terms of planned "make or …
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OpenAI CEO's California home hit by Molotov cocktail, man arrested
Apr 11 2026
The luxury San Francisco home of OpenAI boss Sam Altman was hit by a Molotov cocktail on Friday, the company said, as …
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Small US farm copes with fuel hikes from Mideast war
Apr 11 2026
An hour's drive north of New York City, the greenhouses at Cropsey Farm are seeing their first leaves of kale, spinach …
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Mythos AI alarm bells: Fair warning or marketing hype?
Apr 10 2026
Anthropic postponing the release of its new AI model Claude Mythos, said to be so skilled at coding it could be a wicked …
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US inflation surges to 3.3% as Iran war impact bites
Apr 10 2026
Inflation in the United States rose sharply in March, government data showed Friday, as higher energy prices due to the …
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Stocks up, oil down over week on guarded optimism for Iran
Apr 10 2026
Wall Street stocks rose sharply over the week and oil prices fell as a fragile truce was struck between the United …
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US budget deficit remains steady in first quarter of 2026
Apr 10 2026
The US budget deficit remained virtually stable during the first three months of 2026, as increased revenue -- primarily …
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OpenAI CEO's California home hit by Molotov cocktail
Apr 10 2026
The luxury San Francisco home of OpenAI boss Sam Altman was hit by a Molotov cocktail on Friday, the company said.
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Celine Dion's Paris concerts promise to spin the money on and on
Apr 10 2026
Celine Dion's fans are not the only ones excited about the megastar's new tour in Paris. Hotels, restaurants and shops …
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Stocks mixed, oil steadies on guarded optimism for Iran ceasefire
Apr 10 2026
Stock markets were mixed and oil prices steady Friday with investors cautiously optimistic about the US-Iran ceasefire …
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War's impact on fertilisers stirs food producer fears
Apr 10 2026
Even as Gulf tanker traffic slowly resumes, the road back to normal food production will be long and arduous, given the …
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Middle East war: global economic fallout
Apr 10 2026
Here are the latest economic events in the Middle East war:
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On Iran truce, all sides want bigger China role, but does China?
Apr 10 2026
For decades, the United States has cast itself as the guarantor of stability in the Middle East, allying militarily with …
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Pay fears grow for US security workers in shutdown
Apr 10 2026
Thousands of US homeland security employees are facing growing uncertainty over their pay after being told Friday's …
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US inflation surges 3.3% as Iran war impact bites
Apr 10 2026
Inflation in the United States rose sharply in March, government data showed Wednesday, as higher energy prices due to …
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Antwerp port reopens to North Sea shipping after oil spill
Apr 10 2026
Belgium's Antwerp port said Friday that it had reopened to North Sea shipping after an oil spill brought traffic to a …
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Stocks climb, oil steadies on guarded optimism over Iran war ceasefire
Apr 10 2026
Stock markets rose and oil prices flattened Friday with investors nervously optimistic about the shaky US-Iran ceasefire …
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Irish govt to meet farmers, hauliers over fuel cost fears
Apr 10 2026
The Irish government was set to hold talks Friday with agricultural and haulage representatives, as days of protests …
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Oil spill snarls shipping traffic in Antwerp port
Apr 10 2026
Shipping was at a near-standstill in Belgium's port of Antwerp on Friday following an overnight oil spill, Europe's …
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Stocks rally on optimism over Iran war ceasefire, oil extends gains
Apr 10 2026
Stocks rose Friday with investors still optimistic about the shaky US-Iran ceasefire ahead of weekend talks, though oil …
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IMF to cut global growth forecast due to Mideast war
Apr 10 2026
The International Monetary Fund will lower global growth forecasts due to the Middle East war, its chief said Thursday, …
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New Jersey city spurns data center as defiance spreads
Apr 10 2026
Residents of a New Jersey city mobilized within days to kill a planned data center -- and now activists nationwide want …
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After oil, Venezuela opens up mining to private investors
Apr 09 2026
Venezuela on Thursday threw open the country's vast mineral reserves to private investment, less than three months after …
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US stocks extend gains, shrugging off ceasefire worries
Apr 09 2026
Wall Street stocks finished higher Thursday after a shaky start, adopting an optimistic view of the Middle East …
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IMF chief urges nations to 'do no harm' in fiscal response to Iran war
Apr 09 2026
The International Monetary Fund's chief urged governments on Thursday to "do no harm" as they face the massive economic …
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Shipping toll for Hormuz passage sharply divides nations
Apr 09 2026
Iran's imposition of a toll for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz looks set to be a key point of contention at …
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Strait of Hormuz traffic remains becalmed despite ceasefire
Apr 09 2026
Just 10 vessels have passed through Strait of Hormuz since the Middle East war ceasefire took effect, according to …
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American Airlines targets April 30 return to Venezuela
Apr 09 2026
American Airlines said Thursday it will restore service to Venezuela as soon as April 30, making it the first US airline …
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Oil prices jump back toward $100 on Mideast ceasefire doubts
Apr 09 2026
Oil prices jumped and most stock markets fell Thursday as investors weighed the prospects of a shaky Middle East …
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US envoy warns EU won't win AI race 'bringing others down'
Apr 09 2026
The European Union will not be able to compete in the global artificial intelligence race by hurting companies in other …
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IMF expects to provide vulnerable economies hit by Iran war up to $50 bn
Apr 09 2026
The International Monetary Fund expects to have to provide up to $50 billion in immediate financial assistance to …
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EU lawmakers want to tax Big Tech to fund budget
Apr 09 2026
EU lawmakers on Thursday demanded a European Union-wide tax on the world's biggest tech companies and online gambling …
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Oil prices jump, stocks drop on Mideast ceasefire doubts
Apr 09 2026
Oil prices jumped and most stock markets fell Thursday on investor concerns over the Middle East ceasefire holding and …
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Despite Middle East truce, airlines fear long-term disruptions
Apr 09 2026
Buffeted by six weeks of war in the Middle East, airlines have scrambled to trim routes and costs as fuel bills explode …
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Crude rises, stocks fall on fears over nascent Iran ceasefire
Apr 09 2026
Oil prices climbed and most stocks fell Thursday on fears over the nascent US-Iran ceasefire after Tehran threatened to …
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Ukraine lets firms deploy air defences against Russian attacks
Apr 09 2026
Facing daily barrages of Russian drones and missiles, Ukraine has invited private companies to get their own air-defence …
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Waiting for DeepSeek: new model to test China's AI ambitions
Apr 09 2026
For weeks now, the global tech industry has been waiting for a major artificial intelligence launch from DeepSeek, seen …
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War in the Middle East: latest developments
Apr 09 2026
The latest developments in the Middle East war:
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Oil prices plunge, stocks surge on US-Iran ceasefire
Apr 08 2026
Oil and gas prices plunged, stock markets soared and the dollar retreated Wednesday after the United States and Iran …
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