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UK inflation eases from 40-year high
UK inflation eases from 40-year high
Business and Economy
by  AFP

UK inflation has eased on lower motor fuel costs but remains close to 40-year peaks, official data showed Wednesday as the nation faces more strikes over a cost-of-living crisis. Although motor fuel prices dropped last month, they remain historically very high, while average food prices rocketed more than 13 percent in August.

Xi lands in Kazakhstan in first trip abroad since pandemic
Xi lands in Kazakhstan in first trip abroad since pandemic
World
by  AFP

China's President Xi Jinping arrived in ex-Soviet Kazakhstan Wednesday in the Chinese leader's first trip abroad since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. Xi, in an article for Chinese state media ahead of the trip, said Beijing was prepared to work with Kazakhstan to "deepen cooperation in law enforcement, security and defence".

US sets up fund for Afghan money after Taliban talks flop
US sets up fund for Afghan money after Taliban talks flop
World
by  AFP

The United States said Wednesday it was setting up an outside, professionally-run fund to manage $3.5 billion in Afghanistan's reserves, concluding it cannot trust the Taliban leadership with the country's money. The United States expects the bulk of the reserves to be preserved and "responsibly managed" until the situation changes, a senior official said.

Lufthansa back in private hands as govt sells rescue stake
Lufthansa back in private hands as govt sells rescue stake
Business and Economy
by  AFP

Lufthansa said Wednesday the German state had sold the stake it took in the airline as part of a rescue package at the peak of the Covid pandemic, and booked a healthy profit in the process. To save Lufthansa from bankruptcy, the German government took a 20-percent stake in the group under a nine-billion-euro (dollar) state aid package.

Europe's battle with Big Tech: billions in fines and tough laws
Europe's battle with Big Tech: billions in fines and tough laws
Business and Economy
by  AFP

The European Union is on a mission to rein in US tech giants, which have been accused of tax avoidance, stifling competition, raking in billions from news without paying for it and spreading misinformation. - Paying for news – Google and other online platforms are also accused of making billions from news without sharing the revenue with those who gather it.