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Off leash: China's pet industry shines in ailing economy
Off leash: China's pet industry shines in ailing economy
by  AFP

Patterned poop bags, frilly dog dresses and exotic animals including wombats and meerkats were on display at a bustling pet expo in Beijing, where the industry continues to thrive despite a sluggish economy. While the broader economy "isn't great at the moment", people are willing to spend on the things they love, including pets, said Guo, who works in the agri-livestock industry.

Nigerians displaced as rents double in inflation-hit Lagos
Nigerians displaced as rents double in inflation-hit Lagos
by  AFP

Nigeria's economic crisis is hitting renters in Lagos hard as landlords pass down the costs of spiralling inflation -- pushing residents further out, upending children's education and adding to workers' already infamous commutes. With leases typically paid up front for anywhere between one and three years, both landlords and renters try to negotiate a good deal to hedge against inflation.

Meta fires employees for leaks amid Zuckerberg's Trump pivot
Meta fires employees for leaks amid Zuckerberg's Trump pivot
by  AFP

Meta on Thursday said it had laid off 20 workers for leaking information to the media, as the social media giant faces pressure over the recent political shift of its boss Mark Zuckerberg towards US President Donald Trump. His longtime political affairs boss was also replaced by a prominent Republican, and he named Trump ally Dana White to his board after the US election.

Trading halted in troubled Australian casino firm
Trading halted in troubled Australian casino firm
by  AFP

Trading in troubled Australian casino operator Star Entertainment was paused on Friday as the company sought to free up enough cash to keep afloat. The Australian Securities Exchange said trading in Star had been "temporarily paused" just minutes before the stock market opened.

Meta plans stand-alone AI app: report
Meta plans stand-alone AI app: report
by  AFP

Meta plans to add an artificial intelligence app to its stable of stand-alone offerings including Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, according to a report Thursday by CNBC. Meta is battling rivals including Amazon, OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft when it comes to models for powering AI, and has been incrementally weaving the technology into its platforms since launching its own AI chatbot in 2023.

What now for Venezuela with Chevron's oil permit in peril?
What now for Venezuela with Chevron's oil permit in peril?
by  AFP

US President Donald Trump's threat to strip oil giant Chevron of a license to operate in Venezuela could plunge the troubled South American nation into deeper economic and social turmoil, experts say. So what are the implications of Trump's decision to revoke Chevron's license to operate in Venezuela?

Trump says US, Britain working on 'great' trade deal
Trump says US, Britain working on 'great' trade deal
by  AFP

US President Donald Trump held out the prospect of a "great" post-Brexit trade deal that could avoid tariffs on Britain Thursday -- as he hailed Prime Minister Keir Starmer as a tough negotiator. "You're a very tough negotiator -- I'm not sure I like that, but that's ok," Trump joked.