Business and Economy
French champagne makers face prison in human trafficking trial
AFP - 57m ago
French prosecutors have requested two years behind bars for an employer in the champagne sector accused of human …
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Oil drops, European stocks climb as Trump delays Iran move
AFP - 1h ago
The price of Brent oil, the world's main international contract, slid Friday while Europe's major stock markets …
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Russian government, central bank spar over economic downturn
AFP - 3h ago
Russian officials sparred publicly on Friday over how to boost the economy, as growth slows more than three years into …
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Crude sinks as Trump delays decision on Iran strike
AFP - 3h ago
Oil prices tumbled Friday and equity traders fought to end a volatile week on a positive note after Donald Trump said he …
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EU bars Chinese firms from major state medical equipment contracts
AFP - 4h ago
The European Union on Friday banned Chinese firms from government medical device purchases worth more than five million …
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Monsters and memes: Labubu dolls ride China soft-power wave
AFP - 5h ago
Small, fuzzy and baring sharp teeth, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart's Labubu monster dolls have taken over the world, drawing …
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'Turkish salmon': the Black Sea's new rose-coloured gold
AFP - 7h ago
Sitting in his spacious office with a view of the Black Sea, Tayfun Denizer smiles: his rainbow trout, raised in …
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Rice prices double in Japan as inflation accelerates
AFP - 7h ago
The price of rice doubled in Japan in the 12 months to May, data showed Friday, as an acceleration in inflation piled …
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Europe's lithium quest hampered by China and lack of cash
AFP - 8h ago
Europe's ambition to be a world player in decarbonised transportation arguably depends on sourcing lithium abroad, …
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Trump extends deadline for TikTok sale by 90 days
Jun 19 2025
President Donald Trump announced Thursday he had given social media platform TikTok another 90 days to find a …
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SpaceX Starship explodes on Texas launch pad
Jun 19 2025
A SpaceX Starship rocket exploded during a routine ground test in Texas late Wednesday, the company said, in the latest …
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France softens restrictions for Telegram founder Durov
Jun 19 2025
Telegram founder Pavel Durov's judicial control has been relaxed, with the Russian-born entrepreneur now allowed to live …
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French state leads capital increase for satellite operator Eutelsat
Jun 19 2025
The French state will become the biggest investor in European satellite operator and Starlink competitor Eutelsat, …
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France softens restrictions for Telegram founder Durov: judicial source
Jun 19 2025
Telegram founder Pavel Durov's judicial control has been relaxed, with the Russian-born entrepreneur now allowed to live …
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Stocks drop, oil gains as Mideast unrest fuels inflation fears
Jun 19 2025
Stock markets mostly fell Thursday while oil prices rose as the Israel-Iran conflict added to fears over a renewed spike …
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How Trumponomics has shaken global markets
Jun 19 2025
US President Donald Trump has taken just a few months since his election to upend global financial markets with his …
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SpaceX Starship explodes during routine test
Jun 19 2025
One of Elon Musk's SpaceX Starships exploded during a routine test in Texas late Wednesday, law enforcement officials …
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Swiss central bank cuts interest rates to zero percent
Jun 19 2025
The Swiss National Bank cut interest rates to zero percent on Thursday as inflation cools and the franc strengthens, …
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Stocks drop after Fed comments as Mideast fears lift crude
Jun 19 2025
Equities fell Thursday after the Federal Reserve warned Donald Trump's trade war could reignite US inflation and dampen …
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Nippon Steel closes US Steel acquisition under strict conditions
Jun 19 2025
Nippon Steel completed its multi-billion-dollar acquisition of US Steel on Wednesday, granting rare veto-like power over …
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Shortages hit Nigeria's drive towards natural gas-fuelled cars
Jun 19 2025
Motorists in Nigerian cities are spending hours, or even days, queuing for natural gas to power their cars after the …
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US Fed keeps interest rates unchanged in face of Trump criticism
Jun 19 2025
The US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady for a fourth consecutive meeting Wednesday, forecasting higher …
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Asian stocks drop after Fed warning, oil dips with Mideast in focus
Jun 19 2025
Asian stocks fell Thursday after the Federal Reserve warned Donald Trump's trade war would likely reignite US inflation …
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Bolivia risks debt default without new funding: president to AFP
Jun 19 2025
Bolivia, battling an economic crisis that has plunged it into social unrest, risks defaulting on its loan payments if it …
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Nippon, US Steel complete partnership deal
Jun 19 2025
Nippon Steel and US Steel said Wednesday they had completed a long-debated transaction granting the US government a …
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US approves Gilead's twice-yearly injection to prevent HIV
Jun 19 2025
The US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved Gilead Sciences' twice-yearly injection to prevent HIV -- a …
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Lakers to be sold in record-breaking $10 billion deal: ESPN
Jun 18 2025
The Los Angeles Lakers are being sold in a record-breaking $10 billion deal that makes the iconic franchise the …
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Waymo looks to test its self-driving cars in New York
Jun 18 2025
Google-owned Waymo on Wednesday said it has applied for a permit to start testing its self-driving cars in New York …
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US stocks flat as Fed keeps rates steady, oil prices gyrate
Jun 18 2025
Wall Street stocks treaded water Wednesday after the Federal Reserve met expectations and kept interest rates steady …
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Brazil says free of bird flu, will resume poultry exports
Jun 18 2025
Brazil said Wednesday it was free of bird flu, paving the way for it to resume chicken exports to China and 20 other …
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Nippon, US Steel say they have completed partnership deal
Jun 18 2025
Nippon Steel and US Steel announced Wednesday they have completed a long-debated transaction granting the US government …
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Oil prices drop following Trump's Iran comments, US stocks rise
Jun 18 2025
Oil prices dropped Wednesday as comments by President Donald Trump trimmed concerns about an imminent US intervention in …
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Musk's X sues to block New York social media transparency law
Jun 18 2025
Elon Musk's X Corp. has filed a lawsuit challenging a New York state law that requires social media companies to report …
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Putin T-shirts, robots and the Taliban -- but few Westerners at Russia's Davos
Jun 18 2025
Russia's flagship economic forum kicked off Wednesday with stalls selling Vladimir Putin-themed merchandise and humanoid …
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US Fed set to hold rates steady as it guards against inflation
Jun 18 2025
The US central bank is expected to hold interest rates steady Wednesday after its key policy meeting, as officials gauge …
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New rules may not change dirty and deadly ship recycling business
Jun 18 2025
Mizan Hossain fell 10 metres (33-foot) from the top of a ship he was cutting up on Chittagong beach in Bangladesh -- …
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China's AliExpress risks fine for breaching EU illegal product rules
Jun 18 2025
Chinese online giant AliExpress must do more to protect consumers from illegal product sales, the European Commission …
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Oil rises, stocks mixed as investors watch rates, conflict
Jun 18 2025
Oil prices rose and stock markets diverged Wednesday as investors tracked the Israel-Iran conflict and a looming US …
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Iranians buying supplies in Iraq tell of fear, shortages back home
Jun 18 2025
Near the once-bustling Iraqi border crossing of Bashmakh, Iranian driver Fatah stocked up on rice, sugar and tea, …
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Oil prices dip, stocks mixed tracking Mideast unrest
Jun 18 2025
Oil prices eased and stock markets diverged Wednesday as traders kept a close watch over the Israel-Iran conflict ahead …
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Oil edges down, stocks mixed but Mideast war fears elevated
Jun 18 2025
Oil prices slipped Wednesday following the previous day's surge but investors remained on edge fearing a US intervention …
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UK inflation dips less than expected in May
Jun 18 2025
British inflation eased less than expected in May after surging in April, official data showed Wednesday, fuelling …
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Meta offered $100 mn bonuses to poach OpenAI employees: CEO Altman
Jun 18 2025
Meta offered $100 million bonuses to OpenAI employees in an unsuccessful bid to poach the ChatGPT maker's talent and …
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Spain pushes back against mooted 5% NATO spending goal
Jun 18 2025
Spain is resisting US President Donald Trump's demands to hike defence spending to five percent of national output, …
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Energy transition: how coal mines could go solar
Jun 18 2025
Disused coal mines could be refashioned to place vast fields of solar panels, a new report suggests, providing an …
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Taiwan's entrepreneurs in China feel heat from cross-Strait tensions
Jun 18 2025
Bustling Taipei-style shopping streets, majestic temples to the island's deities and thriving factories dot the eastern …
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Bali flights cancelled after Indonesia volcano eruption
Jun 18 2025
Dozens of flights to and from Indonesia's resort island of Bali were cancelled on Wednesday, according to authorities …
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Oil stabilises after surge, stocks drop as Mideast crisis fuels jitters
Jun 18 2025
Oil prices stabilised Wednesday after surging the previous day on fears of a US intervention in the Israel-Iran conflict …
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Made in Vietnam: Hanoi cracks down on fake goods as US tariffs loom
Jun 18 2025
Since the United States accused Vietnam of being a hub for counterfeit goods, Tran Le Chi has found it increasingly hard …
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Trump extends TikTok deadline for third time
Jun 18 2025
US President Donald Trump will this week give TikTok a fresh 90-day extension to find a non-Chinese buyer, the White …
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Oil prices jump, stocks drop as traders track Israel-Iran crisis
Jun 17 2025
Oil prices jumped and stocks mostly fell Tuesday after President Donald Trump abruptly departed G7 talks and concerns …
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EU chief says pressure off for lower Russia oil price cap
Jun 17 2025
EU Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday said surging energy prices have reduced the urgency to slash the …
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Brazil sells rights to oil blocks near Amazon river mouth
Jun 17 2025
Brazil sold extraction rights to 19 oil and gas blocks near the mouth of the Amazon river Tuesday, at an auction slammed …
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Spain says 'overvoltage' caused huge April blackout
Jun 17 2025
A major power outage that paralysed the Iberian Peninsula in April was caused by "overvoltage" on the grid that …
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Trump says EU not offering 'fair deal' on trade
Jun 17 2025
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the European Union had yet to offer a "fair deal" on trade, as Washington …
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Brazil sells exploration rights to oil blocks near Amazon river mouth
Jun 17 2025
Brazil sold exploration rights to 19 oil and gas blocks near the mouth of the Amazon river Tuesday, at the start of an …
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Swiss insurers estimate glacier damage at $393 mn
Jun 17 2025
Swiss insurers on Tuesday put the damage caused by last month's glacier collapse, which largely destroyed the Alpine …
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US retail sales slip more than expected after rush to beat tariffs
Jun 17 2025
US retail sales declined more than expected in May, government data showed Tuesday, dragged by a slowdown in auto sales …
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UK startup looks to cut shipping's carbon emissions
Jun 17 2025
In a small London workshop, a prototype mimics the process of capturing carbon emissions from a cargo ship's engine.
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Oil prices rally, stocks slide as traders track Israel-Iran crisis
Jun 17 2025
Oil prices jumped and stocks mostly fell Tuesday after US President Donald Trump abruptly departed G7 talks to monitor …
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UK automakers cheer US trade deal, as steel tariffs left in limbo
Jun 17 2025
Britain's auto sector on Tuesday welcomed news that the United States and UK have agreed to implement key parts of their …
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Global oil demand to dip in 2030, first drop since Covid: IEA
Jun 17 2025
Global oil demand will fall slightly in 2030, its first drop since the 2020 Covid pandemic, the International Energy …
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Poll finds public turning to AI bots for news updates
Jun 17 2025
People are increasingly turning to generative artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT to follow day-to-day news, a …
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Why stablecoins are gaining popularity
Jun 17 2025
Stablecoins -- a form of cryptocurrency backed by traditional assets -- are gaining traction, with the US Senate set to …
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Taiwan tests sea drones as China keeps up military pressure
Jun 17 2025
A Taiwanese-made sea drone capable of carrying bombs skimmed across waters off the island Tuesday in a display of …
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Oil prices rally, stocks mixed as traders track Israel-Iran crisis
Jun 17 2025
Oil prices jumped and equities fluctuated Tuesday as investors weighed Donald Trump called for Tehran residents to …
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Bank of Japan holds rates, will slow bond purchase taper
Jun 17 2025
The Bank of Japan kept interest rates unchanged Tuesday and said it would taper its purchase of government bonds at a …
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Oil prices swing with stocks as traders keep tabs on Israel-Iran crisis
Jun 17 2025
Oil prices and equities fluctuated Tuesday as investors weighed Donald Trump called for Tehran residents to evacuate and …
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Bank of Japan holds rates, says to slow bond purchase taper
Jun 17 2025
The Bank of Japan kept interest rates unchanged Tuesday and said it would taper its purchase of government bonds at a …
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Venezuela's El Dorado, where gold is currency of the poor
Jun 17 2025
In the Venezuelan mining community of El Dorado, the majority of residents carry around gold instead of cards or cash to …
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Soft power: BTS fans rally behind Korean international adoptees
Jun 17 2025
K-pop megaband BTS is back from military service, and their international fandom -- long known for its progressive …
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Oil prices jump after Trump's warning, stocks extend gains
Jun 17 2025
Oil prices rallied Tuesday after Donald Trump urged Tehran residents to evacuate, stoking fresh fears of all-out war as …
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Yen slides ahead of Bank of Japan policy decision
Jun 17 2025
The yen fell against the dollar ahead of a Bank of Japan decision Tuesday, with officials expected to hold interest …
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Ecuador pipeline burst stops flow of crude
Jun 17 2025
Ecuador's state energy company said it stopped pumping oil through the country's main pipeline Monday due to a rupture …
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Despite law, US TikTok ban likely to remain on hold
Jun 17 2025
US President Donald Trump is widely expected to extend the Thursday deadline for TikTok to find a non-Chinese buyer or …
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OpenAI wins $200 mn contract with US military
Jun 17 2025
The US Department of Defense on Monday awarded OpenAI a $200 million contract to put generative artificial intelligence …
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G7 leaders urge Trump to ease off trade war
Jun 17 2025
World leaders at the Group of Seven summit in Canada on Monday pushed US President Donald Trump to back away from his …
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Oil prices drop, stocks climb as Iran-Israel war fears ease
Jun 16 2025
Stocks rose and oil prices retreated Monday as fears of a wider Middle East conflict eased even as Israel and Iran …
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France shuts Israeli weapons booths at Paris Air Show
Jun 16 2025
Geopolitical tensions roiled the opening of the Paris Air Show on Monday as French authorities sealed off Israeli …
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Struggling Gucci owner names new CEO
Jun 16 2025
French luxury group Kering announced Monday that it had appointed Luca de Meo, who helped drive automaker Renault out of …
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Oil prices fall, stocks rise as Iran-Israel war fears ease
Jun 16 2025
Stocks rose and oil prices retreated Monday as fears of a wider Middle East conflict eased even as Israel and Iran …
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Fighter jets, refuelling aircraft, frigate: UK assets in Mideast
Jun 16 2025
Britain is deploying extra fighter jets and other assets to the Middle East amid the escalating conflict between Israel …
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Struggling Gucci owner's shares soar over new CEO reports
Jun 16 2025
Shares in Gucci owner Kering jumped Monday over reports that the outgoing boss of French automaker Renault would take …
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Oil prices fall even as Israel-Iran strikes extend into fourth day
Jun 16 2025
Stocks rose and oil prices pulled back on Monday as fears of a wider Middle East conflict eased even as Israel and Iran …
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Oil prices rise further as Israel-Iran extends into fourth day
Jun 16 2025
Oil prices extended gains Monday as Israel and Iran pounded each other with missiles for a fourth day and threatened …
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China factory output slows but consumption offers bright spot
Jun 16 2025
Growth in China's factory output hit a six-month low last month as trade war pressures bit, official data showed Monday, …
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China factory output slumps but consumption offers bright spot
Jun 16 2025
China's factory output grew slower than expected last month as trade war pressures bit, official data showed Monday, …
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Renault boss Luca de Meo to step down, company says
Jun 15 2025
The head of French carmarker Renault, Luca de Meo, is to quit "to take on new challenges outside the automobile sector", …
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Sober clubbing brews fresh beat for Singapore Gen Z
Jun 15 2025
Swaying to dance music and TikTok-fuelled pop under a disco ball, young punters are packed shoulder to shoulder while …
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US Fed set to hold rates steady in the face of Trump pressure
Jun 15 2025
The US central bank is expected to keep interest rates unchanged for a fourth straight policy meeting this week, despite …
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Big tech on a quest for ideal AI device
Jun 15 2025
ChatGPT-maker OpenAI has enlisted the legendary designer behind the iPhone to create an irresistible gadget for using …
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US Steel, Nippon partnership proceeds with security deal, 'golden share'
Jun 14 2025
The partnership between US Steel and Nippon Steel has reached a new phase, with an agreement on US national security …
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Trump approves US Steel, Nippon Steel partnership
Jun 14 2025
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday approving a partnership between US Steel and Nippon Steel after …
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Google turns internet queries into conversations
Jun 13 2025
Google on Friday began letting people turn online searches into conversations, with generative artificial intelligence …
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Oil prices soar, stocks slide after Israel strikes Iran
Jun 13 2025
Oil prices soared and stocks sank Friday after Israel launched strikes on Iran, prompting retaliation from Tehran and …
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War, trade and Air India crash cast cloud over Paris Air Show
Jun 13 2025
War, tariffs and the Air India crash will cast a shadow over the Paris Air Show as the aerospace industry's biggest …
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Airlines halt many Middle East flights after Israel hits Iran
Jun 13 2025
Global airlines on Friday cancelled flights to Tel Aviv, Tehran and other Middle East destinations, or rerouted planes, …
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Spain economy minister urges fair, balanced EU-US tariff deal
Jun 13 2025
Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said a tariff pact between the EU and Washington should be "fair and balanced," …
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Startups show off ocean-preserving tech at Paris trade fair
Jun 13 2025
Harnessing ocean currents to boost fuel efficiency of vessels, or tracking whales using sensor data and AI -- startups …
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Oil surges, stocks fall on Middle East fears as Israel strikes Iran
Jun 13 2025
Oil prices soared and stocks sank Friday after Israel launched strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites and warned …
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As Trump mulls sanctions, Russia's military economy slows
Jun 13 2025
After three years of doom-defying growth, Russia's heavily militarised economy is slowing, facing a widening budget …
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Anthropic says looking to power European tech with hiring push
Jun 13 2025
American AI giant Anthropic aims to boost the European tech ecosystem as it expands on the continent, product chief Mike …
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