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Birkenstock sandals are not art, German court rules
Birkenstock sandals are not art, German court rules
by  AFP

They may be the trendy footwear of choice for Hollywood A-listers and pop stars, but Birkenstock sandals are not works of art, Germany's top court ruled Thursday. But the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe sided with the judgement of a lower court, ruling that Birkenstock's sandals could not be considered "copyrighted works of applied art".

Airbus profit climbs in 2024, aims to accelerate output
Airbus profit climbs in 2024, aims to accelerate output
by  AFP

European aircraft maker Airbus said Thursday net profits rose in 2024 as it boosted plane deliveries and set a goal of accelerating them further. Net profit rose 12 percent to 4.2 billion euros ($4.4 billion), overcoming a massive writedown in the value of its space business earlier in the year.

Airbus proft climbs in 2024, aims to accelerate output
Airbus proft climbs in 2024, aims to accelerate output
by  AFP

European aircraft maker Airbus said Thursday net profits rose in 2024 as it boosted plane deliveries and set a goal of accelerating them further. Net profit rose 12 percent to 4.2 billion euros ($4.4 billion), overcoming a massive writedown in the value of its space business earlier in the year.

Trump says trade deal with China 'possible' 
Trump says trade deal with China 'possible' 
by  AFP

US President Donald Trump suggested on Wednesday that a trade deal was "possible" with China -- a key target in the US leader's tariffs policy. In 2020, the United States had already agreed to "a great trade deal with China" and a new deal was "possible," Trump told reporters.

Mercedes-Benz profits plunge as German carmakers reel
Mercedes-Benz profits plunge as German carmakers reel
by  AFP

Mercedes-Benz said Thursday it planned hefty cost cuts after its 2024 profits plunged by almost a third amid a slump in China and weak electric car sales, as Germany's auto sector reels. German manufacturers all invested heavily in China in recent decades and came to rely on the world's biggest auto market for a hefty chunk of their sales and profits.

Renault revs up profitability in 2024
Renault revs up profitability in 2024
by  AFP

Renault confirmed on Thursday it defied headwinds in the car industry by boosting revenue and attaining record profitability in 2024 thanks to the success of its new line up of vehicles, although net profit sank as it scaled back its partnership with Nissan. However net profit sank to 800 million euros due to a 1.5-billion-euro loss it booked on the sale of Nissan shares.