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China mulls economy-boosting measures to counter 'severe situation'
China mulls economy-boosting measures to counter 'severe situation'
by  AFP

China is prepared to take measures and has a "plentiful" toolbox to avoid an economic slump in the second half of the year, its commerce minister said Friday as he admitted it faced a "very severe and complex situation". "We are still facing a very severe and complex situation.

Asian markets on course to end week on a positive note
Asian markets on course to end week on a positive note
by  AFP

Asian markets headed into the weekend on a broadly positive note Friday, as investors took up New York's latest record highs sparked by healthy US retail data and upbeat earnings from some of Wall Street's big names. "Cost-of-living concerns have dominated the campaign for this weekend's upper house election," wrote Stefan Angrick, head of Japan and frontier markets economics at Moody's Analytics.

Japan's SMEs ready to adapt to Trump tariffs
Japan's SMEs ready to adapt to Trump tariffs
by  AFP

Small and medium-sized firms like Mitsuwa Electric that form the backbone of Japan's economy have weathered many storms over the decades, and company president Yuji Miyazaki is hopeful they will also withstand Donald Trump. With 100 employees, Mitsuwa Electric is not a household name.

Brazil's Lula calls Trump's tariff threat 'unacceptable blackmail'
Brazil's Lula calls Trump's tariff threat 'unacceptable blackmail'
by  AFP

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday slammed Donald Trump's threat to impose 50 percent tariffs on Latin America's largest economy as "unacceptable blackmail." In his speech, leftist leader Lula slammed Brazilian politicians who back Trump's policies as "traitors to the homeland."

Gulf Air orders 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners
Gulf Air orders 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners
by  AFP

US aviation giant Boeing on Thursday signed a contract valued at $7 billion to sell 12 787 Dreamliners, with options for six more, to Gulf Air, as the Bahrain-based carrier looks to expand its global network.

Japan rice prices double, raising pressure on PM
Japan rice prices double, raising pressure on PM
by  AFP

Rice prices in Japan soared 99.2 percent in June year-on-year, official data showed Friday, piling further pressure on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ahead of elections this weekend. Overall, Japan's core inflation rate slowed to 3.3 percent in June from 3.7 percent in May, the data from the internal affairs ministry showed.

US House passes landmark crypto measures in win for Trump
US House passes landmark crypto measures in win for Trump
by  AFP

The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed three landmark cryptocurrency bills, fulfilling the Trump administration's commitment to the once-controversial industry. House legislators also readily passed the GENIUS Act, which codifies the use of stablecoins -- cryptocurrencies pegged to stable assets like the US dollar or US bonds.