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Asian markets mixed ahead of US data, expected Fed rate cut
Asian markets mixed ahead of US data, expected Fed rate cut
by  AFP

Asian markets struggled into the weekend on Friday following a bland lead from Wall Street as a mixed bag of US data did little to move the needle on expectations the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next week. And while figures Thursday on jobless claims and layoffs came in slightly better than expected, markets have priced the chances of a rate cut Wednesday at around 90 percent.

French almond makers revive traditions to counter US dominance
French almond makers revive traditions to counter US dominance
by  AFP

The scent of marzipan wafts through the air as confectioners from a century-old company in southern France prepare calissons, one of Provence's famed sweets made of candied melon and crushed almonds. - 'Virtuous agricultural practices' - The company now cultivates 230 hectares of groves in southern France.

Facebook 'supreme court' admits 'frustrations' in 5 years of work
Facebook 'supreme court' admits 'frustrations' in 5 years of work
by  AFP

An oversight board created by Facebook to review content-moderation decisions trumpeted improved transparency and respect for people's rights in a survey of their first five years of work on Thursday, while acknowledging "frustrations" to their arm's-length role.

Microsoft faces complaint in EU over Israeli surveillance data
Microsoft faces complaint in EU over Israeli surveillance data
by  AFP

Microsoft is facing a complaint in the European Union filed by a non-profit organisation alleging it illegally stored data on Palestinians used for Israeli military surveillance. "Microsoft unlawfully processed personal data belonging to Palestinians and EU citizens, enabling surveillance, targeting, and occupation by the Israeli military," it said a statement.

Senegal baskets are hot, but women weavers ask where's the money?
Senegal baskets are hot, but women weavers ask where's the money?
by  AFP

Under the shade of a large mango tree in her sandy courtyard in a village in northwest Senegal, Khady Sene rhythmically threads together reeds, the beginning of a new basket. A speciality of a constellation of Wolof villages in the country's northwest, the baskets consist of coiled reeds bound by colourful plastic strips, which in the olden days were palm fibres.

EU hits Meta with antitrust probe over WhatsApp AI features
EU hits Meta with antitrust probe over WhatsApp AI features
by  AFP

The EU said Thursday it has opened an antitrust probe to determine if the way Meta is rolling out AI features in WhatsApp breaches the bloc's competition rules. The EU probe covers the European Economic Area, made up of the bloc's 27 states, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway -- with the exception of Italy, which opened a separate investigation into Meta in July.