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Tension as France's snap election campaign comes to a climax
Tensions were running high Friday as France's election campaign came to an end ahead of a one-day pause and then a historic run-off vote that could paralyse government or see the far right sweep to power.
Flights slowly resume at Sicily's Catania airport as volcano erupts
Sicily's Catania airport began gradually reopening for flights Friday after they were temporarily suspended following an eruption from Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano.
US jobs market sees gradual cooldown in June
US job gains eased slightly in June while unemployment edged up, government data showed Friday, in a sign that the world's biggest economy is cooling steadily.
US hiring cools in June, unemployment up slightly: govt
US job gains eased slightly in June while unemployment edged up, government data showed Friday, in the latest sign that the world's biggest economy is cooling as policymakers hope.
UK stocks, pound climb after Labour election win
The London stock market advanced Friday after Britain's centre-left Labour Party clinched an expected landslide election victory to end 14 years of right-wing Conservative rule.
Flights suspended in Sicily's Catania as volcano erupts
Catania airport on the Italian island of Sicily was closed on Friday after Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe, erupted and spewed ash into the sky, disrupting air travel.
Reformist faces ultraconservative as Iran votes for president
Iranians voted on Friday in a presidential runoff election where the choice is between a reformist advocating improved ties with the West and an ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator.
Asian markets down as traders await US jobs report
Asian markets were largely down on Friday, a day after Tokyo's indexes hit record highs, with traders preparing for a key US jobs report.
Chinese AI market optimistic despite scrutiny from West
China's AI sector showed confidence this week at a major fair in Shanghai that it would overcome restrictions imposed by the West, with companies rolling out cutting-edge products developed by a growing pool of young talent.
Kinshasa, a megacity of traffic jams, potholes, transit chaos
Cable car, urban rail link or ring road -- Kinshasa has big plans for alleviating its traffic chaos but for now, travelling into the megacity remains a daily headache for millions of people.
Asian markets down as traders eye US jobs report
Japanese markets started higher before seeing early gains erased on Friday with Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index briefly hitting a record high, as traders prepared for a key US jobs report.
Samsung Electronics forecasts major Q2 profit jump
Samsung Electronics said Friday it expects second-quarter operating profits to rise more than 15-fold on-year as chip prices bounce back and demand for generative AI continues to grow.
Switzerland tries to flatten out peaks of Alpine visitors
Switzerland's tourism agency said Thursday that it was trying to even out the flow of holidaymakers throughout the year to protect the Alpine country from the risks of excessive tourism.
EU slaps Chinese electric cars with tariffs of up to 38%
The European Union on Thursday slapped extra provisional duties of up to 38 percent on Chinese electric car imports because of "unfair" state subsidies, despite Beijing's warnings the move would unleash a trade war.
Markets extend gains, dollar dips as US data fans rate cut hopes
Equities rose and the dollar slipped further on Thursday as investors welcomed more data pointing to a softening labour market that gives the Federal Reserve room to cut interest rates, with another key jobs report due later in the day.
Decade since Ebola, Sierra Leone fights another deadly fever
Rummaging in the darkness of a tiny mud and thatch home in eastern Sierra Leone, ecologist James Koninga plucks a metal rat trap from under a collapsed bedframe.
Verdict due over deadly Oslo Pride attack
A Norwegian court is set to deliver its verdict Thursday on a shooter who killed two people hours before Oslo's 2022 Pride festival, shocking the placid country and leading to the cancellation of the parade.
China's BYD opens EV plant in Thailand despite slowdown, tariff row
China's electric vehicle giant BYD opened a factory in Thailand on Thursday, continuing its international expansion despite a market slowdown and hours before the European Union was due to impose swingeing tariffs on Chinese EV firms.
Philippines says US mid-range missile system to be pulled out
A US mid-range missile system deployed in the Philippines for annual joint military exercises -- to the annoyance of China -- will be pulled out of the country, a Philippine Army spokesman said Thursday.
Bass beats bring Shanghai's deaf and hearing clubbers together
Crowds bopped to bass-heavy electronic music at a weekend party in Shanghai that brought together deaf and hearing clubbers, with staff taking food and drink orders through sign language.
A station a day on Tokyo's teeming Yamanote Line
In service since 1885, the Yamanote is Tokyo's most important and most famous train line, with millions cramming into the 35-kilometre (22-mile) route's distinctive green carriages every day.
US Fed officials stressed 'patience' on rate cuts: minutes
Members of the US Federal Reserve's rate-setting committee said last month that the bank's employment and inflation goals were moving into "better balance," with some calling for "patience" on interest rate cuts, according to minutes of the meeting published Wednesday.
New lithium plant inaugurated in Argentina
French mining group Eramet and China's Tsingshan on Wednesday inaugurated a lithium production plant in Argentina to supply the booming electric car industry.
EU gives conditional nod to Lufthansa's proposed ITA Airways stake
The EU on Wednesday announced its conditional approval for German airline Lufthansa's proposed stake in ITA Airways, a deal that Italy called a "big European success".
US trade deficit expands less than expected in May: govt
The US trade gap grew slightly less than expected in May, to the widest level since late 2022, government data showed on Wednesday, as exports and imports both slipped.
US private hiring eases unexpectedly in June: ADP
Private sector employment cooled unexpectedly in June, payroll firm ADP said Wednesday, with job creation slowing for a third month.
Paris bars to open 24h for Olympics opening ceremony
Bars and cafes in the French capital will be allowed to stay open round-the-clock for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Paris Olympics, a city decree said Wednesday.
Microsoft to invest 2.2 bn euros in Spain data centres
Microsoft is to invest 2.2 billion euros ($2.4 billion) in a huge data centre project in northeastern Spain, regional authorities said Wednesday as the area seeks to establish itself as a cloud storage hotspot.
European stocks jump on French election hopes
Eurozone stock markets rallied Wednesday and the euro rose on hopes France could avoid a far-right majority in looming polls, while London also gained ground on the eve of its general election.
EU clears Lufthansa's proposed ITA Airways stake, with conditions
The EU's powerful competition regulator on Wednesday announced it has conditionally approved German airline Lufthansa's proposed stake in Italy's ITA Airways.
120,000 'stolen' babies: Georgia's trafficking scandal
Georgian student Elene Deisadze was browsing TikTok in 2022 when she stumbled across the profile of a girl, Anna Panchulidze, who looked exactly like her.
Indonesia launches first EV battery plant
Indonesia launched its first electric vehicle battery plant on Wednesday, President Joko Widodo said, as Southeast Asian countries move to gain a foothold in the emerging industry.