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Asian markets mostly down as China sets 5% growth goal
Asian markets largely fell on Tuesday after China set a five percent annual growth target and Wall Street shares dropped ahead of the release of key US economic indicators.
China sets ambitious 5 percent growth target for 2024
China set on Tuesday a growth target of around five percent for 2024, an ambitious objective analysts said would be a challenge to meet given the severe headwinds battering the world's second-largest economy.
'Powerful and free': Black figure skaters take to the ice in New York
One by one, a line of young African American and biracial women dressed in ball gowns took to the ice in New York's Central Park to the soundtracks of "Barbie" and "Wonder Woman."
China's leaders set five percent growth goal, raise military budget in 2024
China will on Tuesday set a goal of five percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth and raise the military budget by over seven percent in 2024, an official copy of a government work report seen by AFP showed.
American Airlines orders 260 jets from Airbus, Boeing, Embraer
American Airlines unveiled a large order on Monday of narrow-body planes from European giant Airbus, Brazil's Embraer and Boeing, including a model from the US giant that has yet to be certified.
China's leaders to set growth goals as economic woes mount
China is set to unveil some of its lowest growth targets in decades when top Communist Party officials begin an annual meeting Tuesday, as the world's second largest economy faces dire headwinds.
France enshrines abortion as constitutional right in world first
The French parliament on Monday voted to anchor the right to abortion in the country's constitution, making France the first country in the world to offer explicit protection for terminating a pregnancy in its basic law.
Stock markets waver after Tokyo record
Global stock markets wavered on Monday even as Tokyo closed at an all-time high, while oil prices rose slightly before retreating after a decision by major crude producers to extend output cuts.
Germany braces for fresh rail, air travel strikes
Germany braced for more travel misery after unions on Monday called for renewed walkouts at Lufthansa and rail operator Deutsche Bahn, amid escalating rows over inflation-busting pay rises.
JetBlue, Spirit Airlines cancel merger after blocked by US court
JetBlue and Spirit Airlines formally pulled the plug Monday on their merger, about six weeks after a federal judge ruled it violated US antitrust law.
Stock markets waver, oil prices edge up
Global stock markets wavered on Monday but Tokyo closed at an all-time high, while oil prices rose slightly after a decision by major crude producers to extend output cuts.
Apple hit with 1.8-bn-euro EU fine for music streaming restrictions
The EU on Monday hit Apple with a 1.8 billion-euro-fine ($1.9 billion) for violating the bloc's laws by preventing music streaming services from informing users about subscription options outside of its App Store.
Tokyo stock market hits high; oil prices dip
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stocks index closed above 40,000 points for the first time Monday, while oil prices dipped after major crude producers agreed to cut output for a while longer, as expected.
UK awaits voter-friendly budget before election
Britain's Conservative government unveils a pre-election budget Wednesday that could feature voter-friendly measures as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's party badly trails main opposition Labour in polls.
ECB to hold rates again, awaiting clearer signs on inflation
The European Central Bank is expected to freeze interest rates again this week, with officials wary of starting to cut before they see more evidence that recent falls in inflation will be sustained.
Asian stocks rise on US gains ahead of key China policy meeting
Asian markets mostly rose Monday following US gains and ahead of a Chinese legislative session where Beijing's annual growth target and other key policies will be announced.
AI bot 'Jennifer' calling California voters for Congress hopeful
Jennifer spent her weekend calling California voters, urging them to cast their ballot in Tuesday's primary election for Democrat Peter Dixon.
Investor group raises bid for US retailer Macy's to $6.6 bn
An investor group that offered to buy the struggling US department store chain Macy's in December and was turned down said Sunday it has sweetened its bid.
Swiss voters approve boost to pension payments
Swiss voters on Sunday overwhelmingly backed a proposal to increase pension payments, a move hailed as "historic" by backers at a time when the country's ageing population faces surging living expenses.
'Who will call me mother?': Gazan woman mourns twin babies killed in strike
As men searched for survivors beneath a Gaza home pummelled by an air strike, Rania Abu Anza gazed down on Sunday at two children who did not survive: her infant twins.
Swiss voters set to accept pension payment boost, maintain retirement age
Swiss voters on Sunday appeared set to accept a proposal to boost pension payments while snubbing a push to hike the retirement age, at a time when the country's ageing population faces ever-swelling living expenses.
Gaza civilian deaths test Israel's AI precision claims
The Israeli military has said AI helps it more accurately target militants in its five-month war against Hamas, but as Gaza deaths rise, experts are questioning how effective algorithms can really be.
India navy to open strategic base near Maldives
India's navy has said it is bolstering forces on "strategically important" islands close to the Maldives, with a new base set to open just days before Male starts sending home Indian forces.
French police arrest eight activists targeting chemicals site
Environmental activists broke into a French chemicals site Saturday to denounce the production of so-called "forever chemicals" -- PFAS compounds -- leading to eight arrests, local officials said.
Food or medicine? Stark choice for sick Argentines
In pharmacies in crisis-riddled Argentina, people look at the prices on medicine containers, then put them down again.
WTO talks end with no major win, throwing trade body into 'crisis'
A high-level WTO conference ended Saturday with a temporary extension of an e-commerce moratorium but no deals on agriculture and fisheries, throwing into doubt the effectiveness of the multilateral trade body.
Stocks end week at fresh records as Nvidia tops $2 tn
Wall Street stocks finished the week with a flourish Friday behind continued momentum for equities tied to artificial intelligence, especially Nvidia, which finished wih a valuation above $2 trillion for the first time.
Muted outcome of WTO talks throws trade body into 'crisis'
A high-level WTO conference ended Saturday with the extension of an e-commerce moratorium but no deals on agriculture and fisheries, throwing into doubt the effectiveness of the multilateral trade body.
WTO talks risk train wreck finish as deadline looms
A high-level WTO conference is likely to end Friday with no major wins, throwing into doubt the effectiveness of the multilateral trade body, according to sources close to the talks.
Spirit Aerosystems shares surge on report of possible Boeing buy
Shares of Spirit AeroSystems surged Friday following a report it could be bought by Boeing as the aviation giant seeks to right itself amid its latest safety crisis.
Universal-TikTok feud ramps up as more songs come down
Universal Music Group has lambasted TikTok's approach to AI as the feud between the two companies over song royalties escalates and popular music is expunged from the social media platform.
Stocks rally rolls on into March
Stocks markets continued to push into record territory across the globe on Friday as investor excitement over artificial intelligence fed a months-long rally.
Eurozone inflation dips further in February
Eurozone inflation continued to ease in February, data showed Friday, but economists warned it was unlikely to push the European Central Bank to cut interest rates next month.
Ancelotti says Real 'must not forget' Vinicius racist abuse on Valencia return
Carlo Ancelotti insisted Real Madrid 'must not forget what happened' as the La Liga leaders return to Valencia Saturday where forward Vinicius Jr was racially abused last season.
European stock markets climb as eurozone inflation eases
Europe's stock markets climbed Friday as investors welcomed a slowdown in eurozone inflation, while Wall Street opened mixed after setting new records.
'Difficult discussions' as WTO talks run beyond deadline
The world's trade ministers were locked in deadlocked negotiations Friday following overnight talks as a major WTO conference postponed its closing session for a fourth time with no deals in sight.
European stock markets mostly climb as eurozone inflation eases
Europe's stock markets mostly climbed Friday as investors digested news of a smaller-than-expected slowdown in eurozone inflation.
World resource extraction could surge 60% by 2060, UN warns
Extraction of Earth's natural resources could surge 60 percent by 2060, imperilling climate goals and economic prosperity, the UN said Friday, calling for dramatic changes in energy, food, transport and housing.
'Difficult discussions' as WTO talks extended for third time
The world's trade ministers entered a last stretch of talks on Friday following overnight negotiations as a major World Trade Organization conference postponed its closing session for a third time.