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Tunisian startup takes on e-waste challenge
Tunisian startup takes on e-waste challenge
by  AFP

Engineer turned social entrepreneur Sabri Cheriha hunches over a washing machine at a small depot in a suburb of Tunisia's capital, the unassuming home of a startup he launched to tackle the country's mounting electronic waste problem.

Bordeaux wine harvest drops to lowest level since 1991
Bordeaux wine harvest drops to lowest level since 1991
by  AFP

Cold weather, disease and capacity cuts pushed wine production in France's Bordeaux region last year to a low not seen in three-and-a-half decades, the local industry body said Friday. Unfavourable weather, especially episodes of frost, weighed on production, while a high level of rainfall in the spring favoured the spread of disease, notably mildew.

Alibaba shares soar on reports of potential Xi meeting with Jack Ma
Alibaba shares soar on reports of potential Xi meeting with Jack Ma
by  AFP

Alibaba shares soared by more than six percent on Friday following reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping was poised to meet with the tech juggernaut's co-founder Jack Ma. Alibaba, which has already surged more than 40 percent in 2025, piled on 6.3 percent after also being given an extra leg-up Thursday when its chairman said it would supply AI technology to power Apple's iPhones in China.

Japan to release emergency rice reserves to fight runaway inflation
Japan to release emergency rice reserves to fight runaway inflation
by  AFP

The Japanese government said Friday it will release a fifth of its emergency rice stockpile after hot weather, poor harvests and panic buying over a "megaquake" warning nearly doubled prices over a year. To prevent the distorting effect, the government is required to buy back the same amount of rice it released within a year.

Most Asian stocks rise as US tariffs give breathing space
Most Asian stocks rise as US tariffs give breathing space
by  AFP

Asian markets mostly rose Friday in line with a rally on Wall Street as traders were buoyed by news that Donald Trump's latest, sweeping reciprocal tariffs would not likely be implemented until April, giving time for negotiations.