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Luxury sector undaunted by Covid, soaring inflation
The pandemic and soaring inflation have done nothing to take the shine off luxury brands, from Louis Vuitton to Gucci and Cartier, as the sector hiked prices to notch up stellar profits.
Lebanon's 'zombie banks' downsize to weather crisis
Once the economy's crown jewel, Lebanon's banks are shutting branches and laying off employees in droves, resizing to the bleak reality of a crisis they are widely blamed for.
Once-taboo ketamine booms for US at-home mental care
Americans are paying to get a star of the psychedelic medicine movement –- ketamine -– shipped to them for at-home mental health treatments that are being called both a breakthrough and a gamble.
Epstein ally found dead in French prison: prosecutors
French model agent Jean-Luc Brunel, a close associate of disgraced US billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, has been found dead in his Paris prison cell, prosecutors said Saturday, in an echo of the jail suicide of his friend.
Ethiopia to start generating power from Nile dam Sunday
Ethiopia will start generating power from its controversial mega-dam on the Blue Nile on Sunday, government officials told AFP.
Purdue Pharma owners up opioid settlement offer to $6 bn
The owners of Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin, have offered to pay up to $6 billion to victims of the US opioid crisis to settle an avalanche of litigation, according to a report filed Friday by a federal mediator.
Rescue efforts resume for 12 missing in Greece ferry fire
Rescuers picked up the search for 12 missing people at the break of dawn on Saturday with the Italian-flagged ferry still burning on the Ionian Sea off Corfu.
War fears mount as Putin to oversee drills, Zelensky to meet allies
Russia's leader will oversee major military drills along Ukraine's borders on Saturday, further escalating tensions after Washington said Moscow would invade within days, and Ukraine's president headed to Europe to drum up support.
Musk donates satellite gear to reconnect Tonga
Tonga says space entrepreneur and Tesla founder Elon Musk has donated 50 satellite terminals to help the volcano-damaged Pacific island reconnect with the world.
American Airlines cuts summer flights due to Boeing 787 delays
American Airlines on Friday said it would cut more international flights over the summer than originally planned as it deals with delays in deliveries of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner long-haul jet.
US resumes avocado imports from Mexico
Avocado imports from the western Mexican state of Michoacan have resumed following a week-long suspension after steps were taken to ensure the safety of American inspectors, the US government said Friday.
Street styles, neon kick off London Fashion Week
Fashionistas braved gale-force winds in London on Friday to attend the first Fashion Week shows, with a schedule dominated by up-and-coming young designers.
NY Fed president sees no need for 'big' rate hike in March
With high inflation hitting the US economy, it is time for the central bank to raise the benchmark borrowing rate, but there is no reason for a "big" early move, a top Federal Reserve official said Friday.
Street styles, neon centre stage at London Fashion Week
Fashionistas braved gale-force winds in London on Friday to attend the first Fashion Week shows, with a schedule dominated by up-and-coming young designers.
US existing home sales shot up 6.7% in January: report
Existing homes have become harder to find than ever, but Americans kept buying in January, pushing the pace of sales up much more than expected, according to industry data released Friday.
Stocks buckle as Ukraine fears linger
Stock markets retreated on Friday at the end of a highly volatile week rocked by twists and turns in the Ukraine crisis and concerns about interest rate hikes.
11 missing after Greece ferry fire
Eleven people were missing and two remained trapped after an Italian-flagged ferry caught fire overnight on the Ionian Sea, Greek officials said as emergency crews raced against the clock to put out the blaze and locate survivors before dark.
European stocks steady, oil extends losses
European stock markets steadied on Friday, the end of a highly volatile week for equities as traders focus on the Ukraine crisis and inflation pressures.
Boy trapped for three days in Afghan well dies after rescue
A five-year-old boy trapped for three days down a remote Afghan village well died minutes after being pulled out on Friday, following a rescue effort the country's new Taliban rulers said showed they would spare nothing for their citizens.
Six African nations to get own mRNA jab production
Six African countries have been chosen to establish their own mRNA vaccine production, the World Health Organization said Friday, with the continent largely shut out of access to Covid jabs.
Chinese food delivery giant slumps on new fee-cut measures
Shares of Chinese food delivery giant Meituan slumped Friday as Beijing released new guidelines instructing internet platforms to lower fees for struggling eateries.
Six African countries to get own mRNA jab production
Six African countries have been chosen to establish their own mRNA vaccine production, the World Health Organization said Friday, with the continent largely shut out of access to Covid jabs.
Asian markets mixed as Ukraine fears return, oil extends losses
Asian markets were mixed Friday following a steep drop on Wall Street fuelled by renewed fears that Russia will soon invade Ukraine, adding to long-running angst about the Federal Reserve's plans to hike interest rates.
Why crypto creators want to stay anonymous
The two lifelong friends from Florida never sought the limelight, but then they built a multi-million-dollar empire selling digital art and people wanted to know who they were.
Rescuers near boy trapped in Afghan well, but rock blocks progress
Rescuers worked through the night to try to reach a five-year-old boy trapped for three days in an Afghan well, but an official said Friday a large rock was blocking their final access to the shaft.
Sustainable designs to take centre stage at London fashion
Emerging and sustainable designers will get a chance to shine at London Fashion Week from Friday with major brands such as Burberry, Victoria Beckham and Vivienne Westwood either absent or sticking to digital formats for the five-day catwalk extravaganza.
First US drug injection center aims to lead way on overdoses
"This site saves lives," reads an inscription on the wall of America's first drug injection center in New York, which aims to serve as a model in a country blighted by record overdoses.
LGBT identification hits US high of 7.1% as Gen Z comes of age
The proportion of US adults identifying as LGBT has increased to a high of 7.1 percent, double the figure from 2012 when Gallup first started measuring it, reflecting a generational shift, the polling firm said Thursday.
'Coca' pits indigenous Colombians against soft drink giant
Indigenous Colombians are going head to head with the world's biggest soft drink company over the commercial use of the word "coca" -- the name of an indigenous South American plant.
Billionaire Icahn blasts McDonald's on animal welfare
Asserting that McDonald's had not lived up to prior commitments on animal welfare, billionaire investor Carl Icahn said he planned to offer alternative candidates for the company's board of directors.
Stocks slide as traders track Ukraine crisis
Stock markets moved lower Thursday as investors assessed the latest twists in the Ukraine crisis, while oil prices retreated on further signs of a breakthrough in Iran nuclear talks, analysts said.
Witnesses reel after Ukraine kindergarten shelling
Kindergarten worker Natalia Slesareva's ears were ringing after she was thrown against a door by a shell blast during an attack that has sent tensions soaring, amid fears that Russia will invade Ukraine.
Nestle cautious on 2022 targets, given rising costs
Swiss food giant Nestle was cautious Thursday about its 2022 targets in the face of rising costs, despite robust results thanks to its shift towards the booming vegetarian market.
Top US air safety regulator to step down in March
Steve Dickson, the top US air safety regulator, whose tenure overlapped a period of extreme upheaval in aviation, will step down next month, citing family reasons, authorities said Thursday.
Walmart reports solid Q4 profits on strong US consumer
Walmart reported better-than-expected quarterly profits Thursday as strong consumer demand during the festive season offset the hit from higher costs.
Air France-KLM slashes losses by half in 2021
French-Dutch aviation giant Air France-KLM on Thursday said its net loss narrowed by more than half last year but would need more capital strengthening measures due to the pandemic.
G20 warned of Ukraine threat to global recovery
The crisis in Ukraine is a serious threat to the global economy's post-pandemic recovery, Indonesia's leader on Thursday warned a meeting of finance chiefs from the G20 nations.
Mozambique's ex-president Guebuza to testify in debt scandal
Ex-president Armando Guebuza was on Thursday expected to testify in Mozambique's biggest corruption scandal, an affair concerning secret loans contracted under his tenure that triggered an economic crisis.
'No basis': Beijing dismisses US's WTO criticism
Beijing on Thursday dismissed the United States' assessment of China's World Trade Organization membership, saying its criticism had "no basis in international economic and trade rules".