Business and Economy
UBS first-quarter profits jump 80% on investment banking
AFP - 35m ago
Swiss banking giant UBS on Wednesday reported that net profit rose a better-than-expected 80 percent to $3 billion in …
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European stocks fall with eyes on earnings, US Fed
AFP - 1h ago
European stocks slipped as oil prices surged Wednesday, with investors digesting a wave of corporate earnings and …
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TotalEnergies first-quarter profits surge amid Middle East war
AFP - 1h ago
French oil and gas giant TotalEnergies said Wednesday net profit rose 51 percent in the first quarter to $5.8 billion, …
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Mercedes warns longer Mideast war could cause shortages
AFP - 2h ago
German premium automaker Mercedes-Benz warned Wednesday that a drawn-out conflict in the Middle East could cause …
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Finnish lift maker Kone acquires German rival TKE, creating giant
AFP - 2h ago
Finnish lift maker Kone on Wednesday announced the acquisition of its German rival TKE in a huge share-and-cash deal …
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Oil rises further with Iran war peace talks stalled
AFP - 1h ago
Oil prices rose Wednesday as talks to end the Iran war appeared to be at a standstill and the crucial Strait of Hormuz …
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EU finds Meta failing to keep under-13s off Facebook, Instagram
AFP - 3h ago
The EU said on Wednesday Meta is failing to prevent children under 13 using Facebook and Instagram, potentially exposing …
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Adidas reports higher profits but warns of 'volatile' climate
AFP - 4h ago
German sportswear giant Adidas on Wednesday reported strong growth in quarterly profits as sales rose in key markets, …
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Mercedes-Benz profit slides amid cutthroat Chinese market
AFP - 4h ago
German premium automaker Mercedes-Benz said Wednesday its first-quarter profit fell by almost a fifth as cutthroat …
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Cheaper, cleaner electric trucks overhaul China's logistics
AFP - 8h ago
At a dusty lot an hour outside Beijing, a steady stream of vehicles come and go for a quick battery charge -- just one …
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An experimental cafe run by AI opens in Stockholm
AFP - 9h ago
The avocado toasts and baristas making foamy lattes make it look like any other cafe, except at this one, located in a …
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Stocks swing, oil edges up with Iran war peace talks stalled
AFP - 4h ago
Asian stocks fluctuated Wednesday while oil prices swung as talks to end the Iran war appeared to be at a standstill and …
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Europe climate report signals rising extremes
AFP - 9h ago
Europe endured a historic heatwave across Nordic countries, shrinking glaciers and record sea temperatures in 2025 as …
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Jerome Powell: Fed chair who stood up to Trump set to finish tenure on top
AFP - 10h ago
US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, a soft-spoken central banker who chooses his words carefully, is perhaps an …
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All eyes on Powell with US Fed expected to hold rates steady
AFP - 10h ago
The US Federal Reserve is widely expected to hold interest rates steady on Wednesday after a key policy meeting, likely …
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Pentagon makes deal to expand use of Google AI: reports
AFP - 8h ago
The Pentagon has arranged a deal to increase its use of Google's artificial intelligence in classified operations, US …
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France unveils plan to ditch all fossil fuels by 2050
AFP - 6h ago
France on Tuesday announced a "first of its kind" plan to phase out coal by 2030, oil by 2045 and gas by 2050 during a …
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War in the Middle East: latest developments
AFP - 1h ago
The latest developments in the Middle East war:
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Crude back above $110 on Strait stalemate as US stocks retreat
Apr 28 2026
Oil prices jumped on Tuesday to their highest level since the US-Iran ceasefire, pressuring US stocks as lack of …
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US Supreme Court hears Cisco bid to halt Falun Gong suit
Apr 28 2026
The US Supreme Court heard a bid by Cisco on Tuesday to toss out a lawsuit that alleges the US tech giant should be held …
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Panama's Copa Airlines orders 60 more Boeing 737 MAX for $13.5 bn
Apr 28 2026
Panama's flagship carrier Copa Airlines signed a $13.5 billion deal Tuesday to purchase 60 Boeing 737 MAX planes, adding …
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Airbus profits slide as deliveries drop
Apr 28 2026
Airbus said Tuesday its first-quarter profit fell as it delivered fewer planes to customers, falling behind rival Boeing …
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Billion-dollar energy deals signal US push into Balkans
Apr 28 2026
Balkan nations signed major energy deals involving US firms on Tuesday, as Washington hailed an increased push into a …
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New pirate group behind latest Somali hijacking: officials
Apr 28 2026
A pirate attack off Somalia is the work of a new group of "opportunistic criminals", security officials said on Tuesday, …
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UAE pulls out of OPEC oil cartels citing 'national interests'
Apr 28 2026
The United Arab Emirates will withdraw from the OPEC and OPEC+ oil cartels to focus on "national interests", it …
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Crude back above $110 on Strait stalemate fears
Apr 28 2026
Oil prices jumped on Tuesday, climbing back above $110 per barrel, amid a lack of progress in re-opening the key Strait …
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Will fuel shortages ruin summer vacations?
Apr 28 2026
Concerns are growing that shortages of diesel and jet fuel due to supply problems caused by war between Iran and the …
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US Fed expected to keep rates steady as Iran war effects ripple
Apr 28 2026
The US Federal Reserve opened its two-day meeting on Tuesday with policymakers expected to keep interest rates steady, …
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Croatia, Bosnia sign major gas pipeline deal
Apr 28 2026
Croatia and Bosnia on Tuesday signed a deal to build a major gas pipeline backed by investors close to US President …
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EU lawmakers back blockbuster long-term budget
Apr 28 2026
The European Parliament on Tuesday threw its weight behind a more ambitious and bigger long-term EU budget, demanding …
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BP reports huge profit rise in first quarter
Apr 28 2026
British energy giant BP on Tuesday reported a sharp increase in profits in the first quarter as crude oil prices soared …
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Crude extends gains on Iran talks, stocks diverge on central bank meetings
Apr 28 2026
Oil prices jumped Tuesday on lack of progress towards re-opening the Strait of Hormuz while stocks diverged as attention …
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Crude extends gains, stocks drop as Trump considers latest Iran proposal
Apr 28 2026
Oil prices jumped and stocks sank Tuesday as Donald Trump weighed an Iranian proposal that would reportedly re-open the …
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How China block of AI deal could stop 'Singapore-washing'
Apr 28 2026
When is a Chinese AI startup not a Chinese AI startup? When it's based in Singapore, or elsewhere, to distance itself …
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New York restaurant's $40 half chicken fuels cost of dining debate
Apr 28 2026
Hugo Hivernat's restaurant was only open for a few days before he got dragged into New York's cost of living row for …
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Australia aims to tax tech giants unless they pay news outlets
Apr 28 2026
Australia unveiled draft laws on Tuesday that would tax tech giants Meta, Google and TikTok unless they voluntarily …
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Budget airlines first to cut flights as jet fuel prices soar
Apr 28 2026
Ryanair, Transavia, Volotea and other low-cost airlines are feeling the financial pain from high jet fuel prices as a …
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S. Korea probes syringe hoarding as war hits plastic makers
Apr 28 2026
South Korean police said on Tuesday they were investigating firms suspected of hoarding medical syringes, as the Middle …
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Nations to kick off world-first fossil fuel exit talks
Apr 28 2026
More than 50 governments meet in Colombia on Tuesday against the backdrop of the Iran war and a global energy crunch for …
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Crude extends gains as Trump considers latest Iran proposal
Apr 28 2026
Oil prices edged up and stocks wavered Tuesday as Donald Trump weighed an Iranian proposal that would reportedly re-open …
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Opening remarks Tuesday in Elon Musk versus OpenAI
Apr 28 2026
Opening remarks are set for Tuesday in a courtroom showdown between billionaire Elon Musk and OpenAI over whether the …
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Jury in place for Elon Musk's legal battle with OpenAI
Apr 27 2026
Elon Musk's courtroom showdown with Sam Altman got underway here Monday with the selection of jurors entrusted to decide …
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Oil rises, stocks mixed as US-Iran peace talk hopes dim
Apr 27 2026
Oil prices rose and stock markets moved unevenly on Monday as the prospect of Iran peace talks remained stalled, ahead …
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Jury selection starts in Elon Musk's legal battle with OpenAI
Apr 27 2026
Elon Musk's courtroom showdown with Sam Altman got underway here Monday with the start of jury selection in a trial over …
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Tourism plummets in US-blockaded Cuba
Apr 27 2026
Tourist trips to Cuba almost halved since the beginning of the year, Havana's statistics office said Monday, as a US …
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EU tells Google to open Android to AI rivals
Apr 27 2026
The EU on Monday laid out measures it wants Google to take to open up its operating system to rival AI services, in a …
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UN maritime agency rejects Hormuz tolls
Apr 27 2026
The head of the UN's maritime agency said Monday there was "no legal basis" for imposing any fees for ships to pass …
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Oil rises, stocks slip as US-Iran peace talk hopes dim
Apr 27 2026
Oil prices rose and stock markets mostly retreated on Monday as peace talks between the United States and Iran stalled, …
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Iran FM blames US for failure of talks as he meets with Putin
Apr 27 2026
Iran's top diplomat blamed Washington on Monday for the failure of Middle East peace talks during a visit to Russia, …
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Carney launches $18 billion Canada sovereign wealth fund
Apr 27 2026
Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday announced the creation of Canada's first-ever sovereign wealth fund, beginning with …
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Iran FM blames US for failure of talks before meeting with Putin
Apr 27 2026
Iran's top diplomat blamed Washington on Monday for the failure of Middle East peace talks during a visit to Russia, …
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Oil rises, stocks steady as US-Iran peace talk hopes wobble
Apr 27 2026
Oil prices rose and stock markets were mostly lower Monday as peace talks between the US and Iran stalled, ahead of a …
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Iran FM blames US for failure of talks after landing in Russia
Apr 27 2026
Iran's top diplomat blamed Washington on Monday for the failure of talks after landing in Russia as part of a whirlwind …
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China blocks Meta's acquisition of AI firm Manus
Apr 27 2026
China has blocked Meta's acquisition of AI startup Manus, the top economic planning body said Monday, after a regulatory …
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Oil rises, stocks swing as peace talk hopes wobble
Apr 27 2026
Oil prices rose Monday while stocks were mixed with the United States and Iran no closer to ending their eight-week-old …
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'Joint venture in reverse': foreign carmakers seek edge with China partners
Apr 27 2026
In a sprawling office in Hefei, the eastern Chinese electric vehicle hub, hundreds of employees and several robotic arms …
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ECB set to hold rates steady with eye on Iran crisis
Apr 27 2026
The European Central Bank is expected to hold interest rates steady again this week as it waits to see if the inflation …
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Stage set for Elon Musk's court battle with OpenAI
Apr 27 2026
Elon Musk's lawsuit accusing high-profile artificial intelligence company OpenAI of betraying its non-profit mission …
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Michael Jackson biopic debuts atop N. America box office
Apr 26 2026
"Michael," the much-anticipated biopic about late superstar Michael Jackson, debuted atop the North American box office …
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US Fed set to hold rates steady again on cost hikes from Mideast war
Apr 26 2026
The US central bank is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged at its policy meeting next week, as energy …
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Key US senator lifts block on Fed chair nominee
Apr 26 2026
Republican US Senator Thom Tillis said Sunday that he would support Kevin Warsh's nomination as Federal Reserve chairman …
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India plugs oil gap as Middle East supplies sink
Apr 26 2026
India has ramped up purchases of Russian oil and revived alternate supplies from Africa, Iran and Venezuela to blunt a …
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Japan inflation cools demand for vending machine drinks
Apr 26 2026
From post offices and parks to stations and even the summit of Mount Fuji, Japan's vending machines are ubiquitous. But …
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TotalEnergies refinery working full tilt to keep France fuelled
Apr 26 2026
A maze of over 40,000 kilometres (25,000 miles) of pipes located at the mouth of the Seine where it spills into the …
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What is Signal and is it secure?
Apr 25 2026
Signal, an end-to-end encrypted messaging app long considered one of the most secure in the world, has recently faced …
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AI firms flex lobbying muscle on both side of Atlantic
Apr 25 2026
AI developers are ramping up efforts to win over the hearts and minds of officials in Europe and the United States, …
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US envoys heading to Pakistan for uncertain Iran talks
Apr 25 2026
US envoys headed to the Pakistani capital Saturday in a bid to kickstart a new round of peace negotiations with Iran …
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Billionaire Elon Musk enters courtroom showdown with OpenAI
Apr 25 2026
Jury selection is to begin Monday in a high-profile legal battle between billionaire Elon Musk and artificial …
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Under blackout threat, Wikimedia reaches compromise with Indonesia
Apr 25 2026
The Wikimedia Foundation said Saturday it has found a compromise with the Indonesian government, which had threatened to …
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US hopes for progress, but Iran says not direct talks
Apr 24 2026
Iran's foreign minister arrived in Islamabad on Friday and US envoys headed to the Pakistani capital in a bid to …
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S&P 500, Nasdaq end at records as Intel shares surge
Apr 24 2026
Major Wall Street indices closed at fresh records as markets cheered the latest batch of earnings reports and US and …
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EU, US sign critical minerals plan to counter China reliance
Apr 24 2026
The European Union and United States signed an agreement Friday to coordinate on the supply of critical minerals needed …
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Court removes US businessman from managing his Brazilian football team
Apr 24 2026
An arbitration court in Brazil has removed US businessman John Textor from managing Botafogo football team, which he …
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EU trade chief seeks 'positive traction' on US steel tariffs
Apr 24 2026
The EU is seeking more progress in easing the effects of US steel tariffs, its trade chief Maros Sefcovic said Friday, …
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Anthropic says Google to pump $40 bn into AI startup
Apr 24 2026
Google is planning to invest up to $40 billion in Anthropic, the artificial intelligence firm confirmed Friday, …
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Envoys from Iran, US expected in Pakistan for new talks
Apr 24 2026
Iran's foreign minister and envoys of US President Donald Trump were heading to Pakistan, their respective governments …
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Justice Dept ends criminal probe into US Fed chair Powell
Apr 24 2026
The US Justice Department said Friday it is dropping a criminal probe on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, paving the …
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AI united Altman and Musk, then drove them apart
Apr 24 2026
Elon Musk and Sam Altman bonded over artificial intelligence in a project that became OpenAI, but a clash of visions …
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Havana property market stirs as investors bet on political change
Apr 24 2026
Havana's real estate market is showing glimmers of revival as investors bet that a political and economic revolution is …
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Battle lines drawn over EU's next big budget
Apr 24 2026
EU leaders had their swords already drawn when they plunged into intense discussions Friday over the 27-country bloc's …
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Renewed hopes of Iran peace talks keep oil under $100 per barrel
Apr 24 2026
Oil prices fell on Friday after it appeared a second round of Middle East talks was back on, bolstering prospects for an …
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Lebanon truce extended as Pakistan bids to revive US-Iran talks
Apr 24 2026
Israel and Lebanon extended their shaky ceasefire by three weeks on Friday, as Iran's foreign minister prepared for …
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Oil prices fall on hopes of fresh Iran peace talks
Apr 24 2026
Oil prices fell on Friday after it appeared a second round of Middle East talks was back on, bolstering prospects for an …
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Ryanair says to cut Berlin flights, blaming taxes
Apr 24 2026
Budget airline Ryanair said Friday that it would reduce flights to and from Berlin starting in October and relocate …
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From sun to subsoil, how countries are moving away from fossil fuels
Apr 24 2026
Heating with geothermal energy, lighting with solar panels, cooking with biodegradable waste: how can we live with less …
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Porsche exits sports car maker Bugatti Rimac
Apr 24 2026
German carmaker Porsche announced on Friday the sale of its stakes in sports car manufacturer Bugatti Rimac to a …
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Israel, Lebanon extend ceasefire as Iran peace talks stall
Apr 24 2026
Israel and Lebanon extended their shaky ceasefire by three weeks on Friday, President Donald Trump said, as the United …
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Oil extends gains, stocks drop as peace talk hopes fade
Apr 24 2026
Oil prices extended gains Friday and stock markets largely declined as investors worried about a lack of progress in …
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Chinese EVs, flying cars take centre stage at world's biggest auto show
Apr 24 2026
Thousands squeezed into the world's biggest car show Friday, snapping selfies beside Chinese electric vehicles as …
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Macron says still sees France, Germany developing European fighter jet
Apr 24 2026
French President Emmanuel Macron denied Friday that a troubled fighter jet programme with Germany was dead, telling …
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Tesla starts 'robotaxi' production: Musk
Apr 24 2026
Tesla's much-touted autonomous "robotaxi", called the Cybercab, has started production, CEO Elon Musk said on Friday, …
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Mideast war drives up condom, rubber glove prices: manufacturers
Apr 24 2026
Prices of rubber products have shot up due to supply chain disruptions stemming from the Middle East war, the world's …
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Gulf states in limbo as US-Iran crisis drags on
Apr 24 2026
After weathering unprecedented attacks from Iran, the wealthy Gulf states are now stuck between war and peace as talks …
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Musk says Tesla has started 'robotaxi' production
Apr 24 2026
Tesla's much-touted autonomous "robotaxi", called the Cybercab, has started production, CEO Elon Musk said on Friday, …
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Five things to know about Chinese AI startup DeepSeek
Apr 24 2026
As DeepSeek releases its first major new artificial intelligence model in over a year -- DeepSeek-V4 -- here are five …
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China's DeepSeek releases long-awaited new AI model
Apr 24 2026
Chinese startup DeepSeek released a new artificial intelligence model with "drastically reduced" costs Friday, more than …
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Oil extends gains, stocks sink as peace talk hopes fade
Apr 24 2026
Oil prices extended gains Friday and stocks struggled as investors worried about a lack of progress in ending the Middle …
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Chinese EV makers take centre stage at world's biggest auto show
Apr 24 2026
Thousands snapped selfies beside sleek Chinese electric vehicles on Friday at the world's biggest car show in Beijing, …
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China's top AI players
Apr 24 2026
China's artificial intelligence boom is in full swing, with the release of a new large language model (LLM) by top …
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Possible Trump rescue of Spirit Airlines spurs debate
Apr 24 2026
Bargain US carrier Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy in 2025 for the second time in a year, could be spared by …
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China's DeepSeek says releases long-awaited new AI model
Apr 24 2026
Chinese startup DeepSeek released a new artificial intelligence model with "drastically reduced" costs Friday, more than …
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US soldier allegedly bet on Maduro operation using intel
Apr 24 2026
A US soldier faces charges for using classified information to bet on online prediction markets related to the US …
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