Business and Economy
Stocks mostly drop after Wall Street slide
AFP - 11m ago
European and Asian stock markets mostly fell Friday following another tech-led plunge on Wall Street as investors …
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China's fireworks heartland faces fizzling Lunar New Year sales
AFP - 1h ago
A fiery crack of red and gold explodes above a village in China's pyrotechnics hub of Liuyang, where residents are …
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L'Oreal shares sink as sales miss forecasts
AFP - 40m ago
L'Oreal shares fell heavily on the Paris stock market on Friday after the cosmetics giant posted sales that fell short …
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Asian stocks track Wall St down as traders rethink tech bets
AFP - 3h ago
Asian stock markets fell on Friday following another tech-led plunge on Wall Street as investors reassess their vast AI …
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Tourists empty out of Cuba as US fuel blockade bites
AFP - 7h ago
With rolling power cuts, hotel closures, and flight routes suspended for lack of fuel, tourists are gradually emptying …
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Asian stocks track Wall St down but AI shift tempers losses
AFP - 4h ago
Most Asian stock markets fell Friday following another tech-led plunge on Wall Street as investors reassess their vast …
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Tech shares pull back ahead of US inflation data
Feb 12 2026
Wall Street stocks tumbled Thursday following another pullback in tech shares as markets look ahead to a key inflation …
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US lawmaker moves to shield oil companies from climate cases
Feb 12 2026
A US lawmaker is drafting legislation to block a wave of state and local climate-damage lawsuits against fossil fuel …
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'Avatar' and 'Assassin's Creed' shore up troubled Ubisoft
Feb 12 2026
Strong performances from major franchises including an "Avatar" tie-in game and juggernaut "Assassin's Creed" buttressed …
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Stocks diverge as all eyes on corporate earnings
Feb 12 2026
Stock markets diverged Thursday as traders digested a string of company earnings that mostly suggested economic …
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Judge sets Feb 2027 date for Trump's $10bn lawsuit against BBC
Feb 12 2026
A federal judge in Florida on Thursday set a February 2027 trial date for US President Donald Trump's $10 billion …
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Russia is cracking down on WhatsApp and Telegram. Here's what we know
Feb 12 2026
Russia announced Thursday it had blocked WhatsApp over its alleged failure to comply with Russian legislation, days …
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Stocks rise as all eyes on corporate earnings
Feb 12 2026
Stock markets advanced Thursday as traders digested a string of company earnings that mostly suggested economic …
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Turkey's central bank lifts 2026 inflation forecasts
Feb 12 2026
Turkey's central bank on Thursday increased its estimates for inflation as officials try to rein in soaring price …
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Belgian police raid EU commission in real estate probe
Feb 12 2026
Police raided the premises of the European Commission in Brussels Thursday in a probe into a 2024 real estate deal done …
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UK economy struggles for growth in fresh blow to government
Feb 12 2026
Britain's economy grew less than expected in the final quarter of 2025, according to official data Thursday, dealing a …
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EU vows swift reforms to confront challenge from China, US
Feb 12 2026
EU leaders Thursday vowed to act boldly to bolster Europe's economy faced with twin threats from China and the United …
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Mercedes-Benz net profit nearly halves amid China, US woes
Feb 12 2026
German carmaker Mercedes-Benz reported Thursday its lowest annual profit since the Covid pandemic, as it counted the …
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European stocks rise tracking earnings, US jobs
Feb 12 2026
European stock markets rose Thursday as traders digested a string of company earnings and a stronger-than-expected US …
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Hermes sales rise despite US tariffs, currency headwinds
Feb 12 2026
French luxury house Hermes reported Thursday an increase in 2025 sales even though it faced steep US tariffs and a weak …
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Russia confirms ban on WhatsApp, says it failed to abide by law
Feb 12 2026
Russia has blocked the popular messaging service WhatsApp over its failure to comply with local legislation, the Kremlin …
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Sanofi says board has removed CEO Paul Hudson
Feb 12 2026
French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi has removed Paul Hudson as chief executive, thanking him Thursday for "valuable …
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Struggling Nissan forecasts $4.2 bn full-year net loss
Feb 12 2026
Japanese automaker Nissan said on Thursday it expected to suffer a net loss of 650 billion yen ($4.2 billion) in its …
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Samsung starts mass production of next-gen AI memory chip
Feb 12 2026
Samsung Electronics announced Thursday it had started mass production of next-generation memory chips to power …
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Taiwan leader wants greater defence cooperation with Europe: AFP interview
Feb 12 2026
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te called for greater defence and AI cooperation between Taiwan and Europe, as the …
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Markets mostly rise as stong US jobs data ease economy worries
Feb 12 2026
Equities mostly rose on Thursday as investors cheered a bumper US jobs report that eased concerns about the state of the …
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Asia markets mixed as stong US jobs data temper rate expectations
Feb 12 2026
Stocks were mixed on Thursday as investors weighed a bumper US jobs report that eased concerns about the state of the …
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Non-alcoholic wine: a booming business searching for quality
Feb 12 2026
Bertrand Degat, vineyard manager for French zero-alcohol wine producer French Bloom, winces visibly when recalling some …
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Greece's Cycladic islands swept up in concrete fever
Feb 12 2026
On the sloping shoreline of the Greek Aegean island of Milos, a vast construction site has left a gaping wound into the …
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EU leaders push to rescue European economy challenged by China, US
Feb 12 2026
EU leaders will converge on a Belgian castle on Thursday as the bloc seeks ways to punch its economic weight on the …
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China carbon emissions 'flat or falling' in 2025: analysis
Feb 12 2026
China's emissions of planet-warming carbon dioxide were "flat or falling" in 2025, analysis showed Thursday, but …
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'China shock': Germany struggles as key market turns business rival
Feb 12 2026
China was long a lucrative market for Germany Inc, but the Asian giant's rise in high-tech fields has put the heat on …
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Most Asia markets rise as traders welcome US jobs
Feb 12 2026
Most equities rose Thursday as investors cheered a bumper US jobs report that eased concerns about the state of the …
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US pushes for 'dramatic increase' in Venezuela oil output
Feb 11 2026
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright vowed Wednesday to power a "dramatic increase" in Venezuelan oil output as part of a …
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Milei labor law reforms spark clashes in Buenos Aires
Feb 11 2026
Argentine protesters angry over a labor reform bill clashed with police Wednesday outside Congress, as lawmakers debated …
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US stocks move sideways after January job growth tops estimates
Feb 11 2026
Wall Street stocks moved sideways Wednesday following solid US jobs data that boosted sentiment about the economy but …
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US top official in Venezuela for oil talks after leader's ouster
Feb 11 2026
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright was in Venezuela on Wednesday for talks with acting president Delcy Rodriguez and oil …
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TotalEnergies can do without Russian gas: CEO
Feb 11 2026
French fossil fuels giant TotalEnergies said Wednesday it will abide by a European ban on imports of Russian liquefied …
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EU leaders push rival fixes to reverse bloc's 'decline'
Feb 11 2026
EU leaders told industry executives on Wednesday they were committed to transforming the bloc's lagging economy into a …
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BMW recalls hundreds of thousands of cars over fire risk
Feb 11 2026
German carmaker BMW is to recall hundreds of thousands of cars worldwide over a potential risk of engine starters …
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Stocks spin wheels despite upbeat US jobs data
Feb 11 2026
Optimism over better-than-expected jobs data in the United States proved short lived with stocks failing to hold onto …
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xAI sees key staff exits, Musk promises moon factories
Feb 11 2026
Half of the original founding team at Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup xAI has now departed after two …
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US hiring soars past expectations as unemployment edges down
Feb 11 2026
US job growth beat expectations in January while unemployment crept down, official data showed Wednesday, defying …
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Stock markets rise as US jobs data beats expectations
Feb 11 2026
World stock markets mostly rose on Wednesday as data showed US job growth beat expectations in January, reassuring …
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WTO must reform, 'status quo is not an option': chief
Feb 11 2026
At a time of growing geopolitical tensions, the World Trade Organization must urgently reform itself, its chief said …
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Tractors hit Madrid to protest EU's trade deal with South America
Feb 11 2026
Hundreds of honking tractors rolled into Madrid on Wednesday as Spanish farmers staged a protest against the European …
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Dutch court orders investigation into China-owned Nexperia
Feb 11 2026
A Dutch court on Wednesday ordered a formal investigation into alleged mismanagement at Nexperia, a Chinese-owned chip …
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Stock markets mixed, dollar dips before US jobs data
Feb 11 2026
World stock markets diverged and the dollar slipped Wednesday ahead of US jobs data as investors weighed the outlook for …
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French AI firm Mistral to build data centres in Sweden
Feb 11 2026
French AI developer Mistral said Wednesday that it would build data centres in Sweden, its first outside France, as it …
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Siemens Energy trebles profit as AI boosts power demand
Feb 11 2026
German turbine maker Siemens Energy said Wednesday that its quarterly profits had almost tripled as the firm gains from …
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European airlines warn of 'severe disruption' from new border checks
Feb 11 2026
European airlines warned Wednesday that the new entry system for travellers into the Schengen open-borders zone will …
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Struggling brewer Heineken to cut up to 6,000 jobs
Feb 11 2026
Under-pressure Dutch brewer Heineken said Wednesday that it would scrap up to 6,000 jobs as it faces what it called …
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Stock markets rise, dollar dips as traders await US jobs
Feb 11 2026
Asian and European stock markets rose Wednesday while the dollar slipped as investors weighed weak US consumer data that …
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Asian stock markets rise, dollar dips as traders await US jobs
Feb 11 2026
Asian stock markets rose Wednesday while the dollar slipped as investors weighed weak US consumer data that boosted the …
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UK's crumbling canals threatened with collapse
Feb 11 2026
On a misty winter's day in the English midlands, engineers struggled to drag stranded narrowboats from a waterless, …
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Asian stock markets mixed as traders weigh US data, await jobs
Feb 11 2026
Asian stock markets fluctuated Wednesday after a strong start to the week as investors weighed weak US consumer data …
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Instagram boss to testify at social media addiction trial
Feb 11 2026
Instagram chief Adam Mosseri is to be called to testify Wednesday in a Los Angeles courtroom by lawyers out to prove …
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YouTube says it is not social media in landmark addiction trial
Feb 10 2026
A lawyer for YouTube insisted Tuesday that the Google-owned video platform was neither intentionally addictive nor …
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Britney Spears sells rights to her music catalog: US media
Feb 10 2026
US singer Britney Spears has become the latest musician to sell the rights to her catalog that includes hits like …
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Stocks mixed as muted US retail sales spur caution
Feb 10 2026
Global stocks moved without direction Tuesday as traders assessed mixed company earnings and the outlook for the tech …
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Ford results dented by tariffs, supplier outage
Feb 10 2026
Ford reported lower than anticipated fourth-quarter operating results Tuesday on an unexpectedly large tariff hit and …
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YouTube rejects addiction claims in landmark social media trial
Feb 10 2026
YouTube's legal team insisted Tuesday that the Google-owned video platform was not intentionally addictive or even …
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Macron wants more EU joint borrowing: Could it happen?
Feb 10 2026
French President Emmanuel Macron has revived the idea of joint EU borrowing that has long been divisive in the European …
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Europe's Ariane 6 to launch Amazon constellation satellites into orbit
Feb 10 2026
An enhanced version of Europe's Ariane 6 rocket will blast off Thursday to launch 32 satellites into orbit, forming part …
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Could the digital euro get a green light in 2026?
Feb 10 2026
The push for a digital euro has gained greater urgency as Europe seeks to bolster its financial sovereignty, with hopes …
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Spain's Telefonica sells Chile unit in Latin America pullout
Feb 10 2026
Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica announced the sale of its Chilean unit for $1.2 billion on Tuesday in its push to …
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Stocks rise but lacklustre US retail sales spur caution
Feb 10 2026
Stock markets posted modest gains Tuesday as traders assessed mixed company earnings and the outlook for the tech sector …
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US retail sales flat in December as consumers pull back
Feb 10 2026
US retail sales showed no growth in December, according to delayed government data released Tuesday, missing analysts' …
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ArcelorMittal confirms long-stalled French steel plant revamp
Feb 10 2026
ArcelorMittal said Tuesday that it would build a low-carbon electric furnace at its steel mill in northern France, after …
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Bumper potato harvests spell crisis for European farmers
Feb 10 2026
Farmers across Europe are protesting amid one of the most plentiful potato harvests in years, as the unintended …
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Unions rip American Airlines CEO on performance
Feb 10 2026
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom is facing pressure from labor unions frustrated with the carrier's financial …
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EU lawmakers back plans for digital euro
Feb 10 2026
EU lawmakers backed plans Tuesday for a digital euro, a project that has split the bloc but has gained greater urgency …
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Spotify says active users up 11 percent in fourth quarter to 751 mn
Feb 10 2026
Music streaming giant Spotify said Tuesday that its number of monthly active users reached 751 million at the end of its …
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AstraZeneca profit jumps as cancer drug sales grow
Feb 10 2026
British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said Tuesday that its net profit jumped 45 percent last year on strong sales of …
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Stocks mostly rise tracking tech, earnings
Feb 10 2026
Stock markets mostly rose Tuesday as traders assessed company earnings and the outlook for the tech sector, ahead of key …
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BP profits slide awaiting new CEO
Feb 10 2026
British oil giant BP announced Tuesday an 86 percent slide in annual net profit, hit by lower crude prices and a huge …
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Trump tariffs hurt French wine and spirits exports
Feb 10 2026
US tariffs hit French wine and spirits shipments hard last year, playing a major role in the overall drop of eight …
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Gucci owner Kering sees profit plunge but sales stabilise
Feb 10 2026
French luxury group Kering reported Tuesday a steep fall in net profit but forecast a return to growth as sales declines …
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Asian markets extend gains as Tokyo enjoys another record day
Feb 10 2026
Asian shares extended gains Tuesday following a Wall Street rally, with Tokyo's Nikkei jumping more than two percent to …
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Solar, wind capacity growth slowed last year, analysis shows
Feb 10 2026
Planned or under-construction solar and wind projects slowed last year, analysis showed Tuesday, casting doubts on …
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Back to black: Philips posts first annual profit since 2021
Feb 10 2026
Dutch electronics and medical device manufacturer Philips said Tuesday that it had bounced back into the black in 2025, …
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New York seeks rights for beloved but illegal 'bodega cats'
Feb 10 2026
Simba, a large cat with thick ginger and white fur, is one of thousands of felines that live in New York's corner shops …
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Emergency measures hobble Cuba as fuel supplies dwindle under US pressure
Feb 10 2026
Havana's streets were eerily quiet Monday as emergency measures kicked in to conserve Cuba's fast-dwindling fuel stocks …
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Five employees of Canadian mining company confirmed dead in Mexico
Feb 09 2026
Mexican prosecutors on Monday confirmed the deaths of five of 10 employees of a Canadian mining company who were …
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YouTube star MrBeast buys youth-focused banking app
Feb 09 2026
MrBeast, the world's most popular YouTuber, has purchased a Gen Z-focused banking app, he said Monday, marking another …
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Tokyo stocks strike record high after Japanese premier wins vote
Feb 09 2026
Japanese stocks surged to a record high Monday as investors cheered Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's victory in a snap …
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Three missing employees of Canadian miner found dead in Mexico
Feb 09 2026
Three of the 10 employees of a Canadian mining company who were kidnapped two weeks ago in Mexico's violence-plagued …
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Discord adopts facial recognition in child safety crackdown
Feb 09 2026
Messaging platform Discord announced Monday it will implement enhanced safety features for teenage users globally, …
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EU chief backs Made-in-Europe push for 'strategic' sectors
Feb 09 2026
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Monday backed a push to favour European firms over foreign rivals in "strategic" …
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EU warns Meta it must open up WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots
Feb 09 2026
The EU executive told Meta on Monday that it must let rival AI chatbots use its WhatsApp platform, after an antitrust …
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Macron backs ripping up vines as French wine sales dive
Feb 09 2026
French President Emmanuel Macron insisted Monday that ripping up unprofitable grape vines was a necessary part of …
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Bank of France governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau to step down in June
Feb 09 2026
Bank of France governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau, who is also a member of the European Central Bank's rate-setting …
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Tokyo stocks hit record high after Japanese premier wins vote
Feb 09 2026
Japanese stocks surged to a record high Monday as investors cheered Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's victory in a snap …
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Stocks track Wall St rally as Tokyo hits record on Takaichi win
Feb 09 2026
Japanese stocks surged to a record high Monday following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's election win, while healthy …
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Asian stocks track Wall St rally as Tokyo hits record on Takaichi win
Feb 09 2026
Japanese stocks surged to a record high Monday following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's election win, while healthy …
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Japan's Takaichi may struggle to soothe voters and markets
Feb 09 2026
Japanese stocks soared to record highs Monday after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's election triumph, but experts warned …
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French police arrest six over crypto-linked magistrate kidnapping
Feb 08 2026
French authorities have arrested six suspects, including a minor, after a magistrate and her mother were held captive …
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French police arrest five over crypto-linked magistrate kidnapping
Feb 08 2026
French authorities have arrested five suspects after a magistrate and her mother were held captive last week for around …
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De Beers sale drags in diamond doldrums
Feb 08 2026
Even with its legendary image of glitz and glamour, diamond icon De Beers has struggled to attract a buyer after nearly …
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What's at stake for Indian agriculture in Trump's trade deal?
Feb 08 2026
Indian farmers have expressed concern that New Delhi has made too many concessions to Washington after the two countries …
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Washington Post CEO out after sweeping job cuts
Feb 08 2026
The Washington Post said Saturday its CEO and publisher Will Lewis was leaving effective immediately, just days after …
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Chile's climate summit chief to lead plastic pollution treaty talks
Feb 07 2026
Countries on Saturday elected Chile's COP climate summit chief negotiator to revive stalled talks on striking a landmark …
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