Business and Economy
Oil edges back up, shares steady after US-Iran talks postponed
AFP - 28m ago
Oil prices edged back up and stock markets stabilised Friday after postponement of US-Iran peace deal talks.
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Russia signals slower rate cuts amid high Ukraine war spending
AFP - 3h ago
Russia's central bank on Friday cut its benchmark interest rate to 14.25 percent from 14.5 percent, less than analysts …
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Oil prices, shares steady after US-Iran talks postponed
AFP - 5h ago
Oil prices and stock markets stabilised Friday after postponement of Mideast peace deal talks and following big …
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European robotics start-ups go up against Chinese heavyweights
AFP - 7h ago
Humanoid robots able to perform tasks from grape harvesting to welcoming visitors were front and centre at France's …
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Stocks rally falters, oil rises as US-Iran talks postponed
AFP - 3h ago
Stock markets were mixed on Friday and oil prices rose after Switzerland said planned talks following up on the US-Iran …
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Seoul record leads most Asian markets higher, crude extends losses
AFP - 4h ago
Tech firms powered Seoul's Kospi index to another record on Friday, while oil prices extended losses after traffic began …
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US Vice President Vance postpones trip to Switzerland for Iran talks
AFP - 9h ago
US Vice President JD Vance postponed a trip to Switzerland for talks that were originally slated for Friday to discuss …
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From private enterprise to property: Cuba's reforms unpacked
AFP - 16h ago
Cuban lawmakers on Thursday adopted nearly 200 free-market reforms in a desperate bid to end a severe crisis and secure …
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Brazilian police probe senator close to Lula
Jun 18 2026
Brazilian police investigating a banking scandal carried out raids Thursday against targets including a senator allied …
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US stocks resume upward climb as dollar advances again after Fed outlook
Jun 18 2026
Wall Street stocks bounced Thursday, pivoting back to buying mode after the pullback in the prior session prompted by a …
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Iran's supreme leader says approved deal as US lifts ports blockade
Jun 18 2026
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Thursday that he had approved despite reservations a deal signed …
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Europe risks 'total irrelevance' without sovereign tech: Cohere chief
Jun 18 2026
Europe risks "total technological irrelevance" if it fails to develop sovereign capabilities, the head of Canadian AI …
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EU wrestles over tackling China export flood
Jun 18 2026
EU leaders debated on Thursday whether the bloc needs new beefed-up trade defences to curb a surge of Chinese exports …
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US lifts Iran ports blockade as uncertainty clouds Swiss Iran talks
Jun 18 2026
The US on Thursday lifted a blockade of Iranian ports imposed during the Middle East war after President Donald Trump …
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Oil sinks on Mideast deal, but Fed outlook knocks equities
Jun 18 2026
Oil prices dropped further Thursday after US President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart signed off on a deal to …
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Oil tankers pass Hormuz Strait after war deal: tracker
Jun 18 2026
Three big Saudi oil tankers left the Gulf through the Hormuz Strait on Thursday, maritime trackers said, after leaders …
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Five things to know about the blockbuster GTA games
Jun 18 2026
Pre-orders for "Grand Theft Auto VI," one of the most anticipated entertainment releases in years, will open on June 25, …
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Oil falls further on Mideast deal, but Fed outlook knocks equities
Jun 18 2026
Oil prices dropped further on Thursday after US President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart signed off on a deal …
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Swiss central bank holds interest rates, with eye on currency risks
Jun 18 2026
Switzerland's central bank left interest rates unchanged at zero percent on Thursday, a move widely expected by …
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Trump defends Iran deal from critics he calls 'fools'
Jun 18 2026
US President Donald Trump lashed out at critics of his agreement with Iran on Thursday, calling those who accused him of …
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Bank of England follows Fed in holding interest rate
Jun 18 2026
The Bank of England held its benchmark interest rate at 3.75 percent Thursday, opting against an increase despite …
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German chemical company to cut 3,200 jobs as crisis worsens
Jun 18 2026
German chemical company Evonik said Thursday that it would cut 3,200 jobs, or around 10 percent of its workforce, by …
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Innovations on show at Paris Vivatech fest
Jun 18 2026
Around 15,000 startups from around Europe and beyond are showing off their wares at the Vivatech trade show in Paris …
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Oil prices sink further as Trump signs deal to reopen Hormuz
Jun 18 2026
Oil prices tumbled again Thursday after US President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart signed off on a deal to …
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Ukraine hopes renewables can Russia-proof power grid
Jun 18 2026
Quick to build and able to power a small city, the Oriv wind farm in western Ukraine is exactly the kind of project Kyiv …
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Drastic restrictions on public transport take effect in Cuba
Jun 18 2026
Drastic restrictions on cross-country travel took effect Thursday in cash-strapped Cuba, with spaces on ever scarcer …
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Robots pour cocktails and run marathons, but still can't multitask
Jun 18 2026
They can mix cocktails, run marathons and fold laundry. But humanoid robots are still a long way from doing lots of …
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EU wrestles over how to tackle China export flood
Jun 18 2026
EU leaders will grapple on Thursday over whether the bloc needs new beefed-up trade defences to curb the surge of …
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Recovery of ship traffic in Hormuz limited, but signs emerge
Jun 18 2026
Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz remains at levels before the Iran-US agreement, says the Kpler maritime …
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W marks the X-spot: European social network takes on Musk
Jun 18 2026
As Europe pushes for more tech sovereignty, social network W believes it has the X-factor to win users away from other …
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Qantas to launch non-stop Sydney-London flights in October 2027
Jun 18 2026
Australian airline Qantas announced it will launch the world's first non-stop flights between London and Sydney in …
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Brazil cuts benchmark rate again despite inflation pressure
Jun 17 2026
Brazil's central bank cut its benchmark interest rate Wednesday for a third straight time, shrugging off inflationary …
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US Fed chair Warsh vows reforms as central bank signals rate hikes on horizon
Jun 17 2026
US Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh on Wednesday vowed wide-ranging reforms at the central bank, as its rate-setting …
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US stocks fall, dollar rallies as Fed raises inflation forecast
Jun 17 2026
Wall Street stocks finished decisively lower Wednesday while the dollar rallied after the Federal Reserve raised its …
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US Federal Reserve holds rates steady, raises inflation expectations
Jun 17 2026
The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday held interest rates steady as expected at Kevin Warsh's first meeting in charge of …
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Ex-OPEC president Diezani Alison-Madueke cleared of bribery in UK trial
Jun 17 2026
The first woman president of OPEC and Nigeria's former oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, was cleared of bribery …
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Paris and Berlin bet on digital sovereignty at Vivatech, G7
Jun 17 2026
France and Germany on Wednesday affirmed their will to work together to secure digital independence, as Europe's largest …
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Oil higher, stocks steady as US-Iran peace talks approach
Jun 17 2026
Investors were cautious Wednesday ahead of a Federal Reserve rate decision and the start of US-Iran peace talks, with …
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What happens when the Strait of Hormuz re-opens?
Jun 17 2026
The vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane is expected to re-open on Friday after nearly four months, following the …
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Oil and stocks both steady as US-Iran peace talks approach
Jun 17 2026
Markets were giving little away on Wednesday, with small gains and losses across the main stocks and moderate increases …
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US retail sales beat expectations in May as energy costs stay high
Jun 17 2026
US retail sales surged past expectations in May, government data showed Wednesday, boosted by higher spending at gas …
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US Fed set to hold rates steady at Warsh's first meeting in charge
Jun 17 2026
The US Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady on Wednesday at Kevin Warsh's first meeting in charge …
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Sovereignty fears dog AI enthusiasm at France's Vivatech
Jun 17 2026
Europe's biggest tech trade fair Vivatech opened its doors Wednesday in Paris, putting American billionaire Jeff Bezos …
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Oil steadies, stocks rise as US-Iran peace talks approach
Jun 17 2026
Oil prices steadied as major stock markets mostly rose Wednesday, with attention on upcoming US-Iran peace talks and a …
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Adidas runs out of letter 'V' as German fans snap up World Cup shirts
Jun 17 2026
Replica World Cup shirts of several German players were temporarily unavailable due to a shortage of the letter "V" …
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German grid connection deal to boost North Sea wind power
Jun 17 2026
A German electricity grid operator said Wednesday that it had awarded a major contract to two energy companies to …
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Japan puts the heat on suspected ice cream cartel
Jun 17 2026
Summer is coming, a boom time for ice cream makers, but Japanese authorities have raided six major firms on suspicion of …
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Sovereignty fears to dog AI enthusiasm at France's Vivatech
Jun 17 2026
Europe's biggest tech trade fair Vivatech opens Wednesday in Paris for a 10th-anniversary edition where enthusiasm for …
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Stuffed toys and surfboards: Japan used goods market booms overseas
Jun 17 2026
Under a scorching sun in a Bangkok suburb, a whistle blows and shouts fill the air as dozens of shoppers rush into a …
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Iranian tankers exit US blockade zone ahead of peace talks
Jun 17 2026
The first tankers carrying Iranian oil exited a US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, a tracking website said on …
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Cuba's historic homes teeter on brink as economy collapses
Jun 17 2026
In Havana's old town, to walk on the pavement rather than the middle of the street is to take your life into your hands.
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Iran and US to embark on two months of peace talks Friday
Jun 17 2026
The United States and Iran are to launch talks on a final settlement to their conflict on Friday in Switzerland, …
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After three sessions, SpaceX already among world's most valuable companies
Jun 16 2026
SpaceX shares surged again Tuesday, lifting Elon Musk's rocket company into the world's top five in market value for …
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Oil drops below $80 on US-Iran deal
Jun 16 2026
Oil prices dropped below $80 a barrel Tuesday on optimism over the promised reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, easing …
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Surging SpaceX overtakes Amazon to become 5th biggest company
Jun 16 2026
SpaceX shares surged again Tuesday, lifting Elon Musk's rocket company above Amazon into fifth place in market value as …
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Paris store to part ways with Shein after ownership change
Jun 16 2026
French department store BHV Marais will end its partnership with Shein after its operating company said Tuesday it was …
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How can France-UK mission help reopen Strait of Hormuz?
Jun 16 2026
A military mission set up by France and Britain to help re-open the Strait of Hormuz is ready to deploy, following the …
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EU admits it can't save discontinued video games
Jun 16 2026
It's game over for fans of discontinued video games after the EU admitted defeat on Tuesday and said it cannot stop …
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BMW downgrades 2026 targets on Mideast war, China woes
Jun 16 2026
German carmaker BMW downgraded its 2026 targets Tuesday due to turmoil from the Middle East war and worsening business …
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G7 finds 'unity' on upping Russia pressure to end Ukraine war
Jun 16 2026
G7 leaders agreed on Tuesday to intensify pressure on Russia to end more than four years of war against Ukraine, with US …
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Iran says talks on final US deal to begin this week
Jun 16 2026
Iran on Tuesday said talks with the United States on its nuclear programme and sanctions relief would likely begin later …
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US Federal Reserve kicks off first meeting with Warsh as chair
Jun 16 2026
US Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh kicked off his first meeting in charge of the central bank's rate-setting …
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French spies drop AI giant Palantir over US overreliance fears
Jun 16 2026
France's government took a new step Tuesday in search of "strategic autonomy" for its intelligence services, announcing …
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EU clears major hurdle on US tariff deal
Jun 16 2026
The European Parliament gave final approval Tuesday to a tariff deal with the United States as the EU seeks to close a …
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EU to ban plant-based 'steaks' but veggie 'burgers' sizzle on
Jun 16 2026
The EU parliament Tuesday passed a ban on marketing plant-based foods as "steak" or "bacon" -- though veggie "burgers" …
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G7 powers push Russia to end Ukraine war
Jun 16 2026
G7 leaders agreed on Tuesday to intensify pressure on Russia to end more than four years of war against Ukraine, with US …
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Energy firms brace for 'new era' despite Hormuz deal
Jun 16 2026
Oil and gas majors have high hopes for a quick reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, but they have few illusions about a …
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European stocks extend gains, oil falls on US-Iran deal
Jun 16 2026
European stock markets extended gains and oil prices fell further on Tuesday, buoyed by the US-Iran peace deal and the …
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Russian oil producer rations fuel as Ukraine attacks bite
Jun 16 2026
Russian oil producer Tatneft has introduced fuel rationing at hundreds of petrol stations across the country, AFP learnt …
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Mideast war peace deal boosts German investor morale
Jun 16 2026
German investor confidence jumped sharply in June, a key survey showed Tuesday, as the outlook improves for Europe's …
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Deadline looms for UniCredit's hostile bid for Commerzbank
Jun 16 2026
Tuesday marks the final day for UniCredit's hostile and highly political takeover offer for Commerzbank, as Italy's …
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Stocks extend rally, oil falls further as peace optimism builds
Jun 16 2026
Equities extended their rally and oil prices fell further on Tuesday, fuelled by the US-Iran peace deal and as tech …
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Bank of Japan hikes interest rate to 31-year high
Jun 16 2026
The Bank of Japan hiked interest rates to a 31-year high on Tuesday as it battles inflation caused by the Middle East …
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G7 powers in push with Zelensky to end war against Ukraine
Jun 16 2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday joined a summit of the G7 group of leading powers seeking to up …
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Stocks extend rally, oil flat as peace optimism builds
Jun 16 2026
Tokyo topped 70,000 and Seoul piled on more than two percent as equities extended their rally on Tuesday fuelled by the …
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Bank of Japan hikes rate to 31-year high
Jun 16 2026
The Bank of Japan hiked interest rates to a 31-year high on Tuesday as it battles inflation caused by the Middle East …
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India eyes biofertilisers after Mideast war stoked supply fears
Jun 16 2026
Under a shed in north India, women scoop cow dung, lumps of unrefined sugar and flour to produce biofertiliser -- part …
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Most stocks rise, oil flat following peace deal-fuelled rally
Jun 16 2026
Equities mostly rose Tuesday and oil prices held losses following the previous day's euphoric rally sparked by the …
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With Zelensky present, G7 seeks to 'do something' on Ukraine
Jun 16 2026
The G7 group of leading powers will hold talks on Tuesday with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Ukraine with US leader …
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EU nears finish line on US tariff deal
Jun 16 2026
The European Parliament is set on Tuesday to give a final sign off to implement a tariff deal with the United States as …
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US says Hormuz to be toll-free under Iran deal
Jun 16 2026
The United States said Monday that ships will move toll-free through the Strait of Hormuz under an Iran peace deal …
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Social networks, online video outweigh traditional media in 2026
Jun 16 2026
News consumers around the world are now turning more to social media and video platforms than traditional outlets for …
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World Cup venues scrub branding, get new names for tournament
Jun 15 2026
Fans tuning in for the first 2026 World Cup game on US soil Friday night might be a bit confused: why had they never …
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US won't need 'much help' on Hormuz, Trump says at G7
Jun 15 2026
President Donald Trump on Monday told allies the US would not need "much help" in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, as he …
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'Start your engines'? Shippers wary on Hormuz reopening
Jun 15 2026
Shipping groups warned Monday it was too soon to safely resume sailing through the Strait of Hormuz following US and …
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US-Iran deal met with hope, scepticism in Mideast
Jun 15 2026
The deal between the United States and Iran to end their war, negotiated in secret and still not revealed in detail, was …
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Murdochs' Fox to acquire US streaming giant Roku
Jun 15 2026
Fox Corporation will acquire streaming platform provider Roku in a cash and stock deal worth $22 billion, the companies …
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Argentine mining threatens scarce water resources in the Andes
Jun 15 2026
San Juan's once-sparkling rivers have shriveled due to drought, and residents in the rugged, western Argentine province …
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Timeline of Trump-linked resort project in Albania
Jun 15 2026
Protests have swept Albania for more than two weeks over plans for a luxury hotel project linked to US President Donald …
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Oil plunges, stocks jump on US-Iran peace deal
Jun 15 2026
Oil prices dropped towards $80 a barrel and stocks rallied on Monday after Washington and Iran reached a framework deal …
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IMF chief warns energy recovery to take time after US-Iran ceasefire
Jun 15 2026
The International Monetary Fund chief on Monday welcomed the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, but …
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Trump faces G7 as questions swirl on Iran accord
Jun 15 2026
US President Donald Trump on Monday arrived to attend a G7 summit in France, with allies hoping his outline deal with …
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France shuts down dozen Israeli stands at defence trade show
Jun 15 2026
A dozen Israeli company stands were shut down Monday at a major international defence and security exhibition held …
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Trump threatens 100% tariff on French wines over digital tax
Jun 15 2026
US President Donald Trump threatened to set a 100 percent tariff on French wine and champagne unless Paris removes a …
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'Start your engines'? Shipping groups wary on Hormuz reopening
Jun 15 2026
Shipping groups warned Monday that it was too soon to start sailing through the Strait of Hormuz following US and …
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German working-age population to shrink dramatically: study
Jun 15 2026
Germany's working-age population will shrink by 4.3 million by 2036 as people retire, the birth rate drops and tougher …
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Crude prices plunge, stocks surge on US-Iran peace deal
Jun 15 2026
Oil prices tumbled and stocks soared Monday after the United States and Iran said they had reached a deal to end their …
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Starbucks Korea to close outlets for history lesson after 'Tank Day' fiasco
Jun 15 2026
Starbucks stores across South Korea will shutter for half a day next week for staff to attend a history lesson following …
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Starbucks Korea to shutter outlets for history lessons after 'Tank Day' fiasco
Jun 15 2026
Starbucks stores across South Korea will shutter for half a day next week for staff to attend a history lesson following …
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Middle East war: peace deal reactions
Jun 15 2026
The United States and Iran agreed to a peace deal and an end to military operations on all fronts, signalling the …
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US order cutting access to Anthropic's AI models sparks criticism
Jun 15 2026
The US government's order for Anthropic to withdraw its most powerful artificial intelligence models has sparked a wave …
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Swiss reject divisive anti-immigration proposal
Jun 14 2026
Swiss authorities and economic players breathed a sigh of relief Sunday after voters narrowly rejected a divisive …
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