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UK mine plan pits enthusiasts against environmentalists
UK mine plan pits enthusiasts against environmentalists
Business and Economy
by  AFP

In the 37 years since the last coal pit closed in Whitehaven, the once-proud mining town on northwest England's remote Cumbrian coast has hit on hard times. "There are very few families around the Whitehaven area that wouldn't have had somebody that's been down the pits, even though the last one closed nearly 40 years ago."

Lufthansa returns to annual profit after Covid losses
Lufthansa returns to annual profit after Covid losses
Business and Economy
by  AFP

German airline giant Lufthansa said Friday it returned to annual profit in 2022 after two years of losses, its fortunes lifted by rebounding demand as economies reopened after Covid shutdowns. When the coronavirus brought global air travel to a halt, Lufthansa suffered massive losses and had to be bailed out by the German government in 2020.

China to unveil lowest growth goal in years: analysts
China to unveil lowest growth goal in years: analysts
Business and Economy
by  AFP

China will likely set one of the country's lowest growth goals in decades at the annual National People's Congress next week, experts told AFP, hit by long-running property woes, a sluggish global economy and geopolitical tensions. And economists surveyed by AFP predicted goals for 2023 will be conservative, expecting policymakers to aim for 5.3 percent, one of the lowest targets in decades.

Asian markets rise with Wall St on lower rate hopes
Asian markets rise with Wall St on lower rate hopes
Business and Economy
by  AFP

Asian markets on Friday tracked a Wall Street rally after a top Federal Reserve official said he would back a small interest-rate hike at its next meeting but hinted at a possible summer pause to see how tighter policy has impacted inflation. That would allow the bank to pause its tightening in the summer.

Greek train tragedy sheds light on chronic state failures
Greek train tragedy sheds light on chronic state failures
Business and Economy
by  AFP

The train tragedy that unfolded in Greece this week, claiming dozens of lives in the country's worst rail disaster, has exposed chronic failures by successive administrations, insiders say. But he also admitted "delays" in installing safety safeguards on the route where the accident took place, a result of "chronic malaise and decades of failure" in state management.

Britain's fresh produce shortages serve up blame game
Britain's fresh produce shortages serve up blame game
Business and Economy
by  AFP

Shortages of fruit and vegetables -- from broccoli, cucumbers and lettuce, to tomatoes, peppers and raspberries -- have served up a blame game in Britain. Experts meanwhile believe the problem runs deeper than merely bad growing conditions in key fruit and vegetable producers Spain and Morocco.