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Germany unveils debt-laden budget, relief measures
Germany unveils debt-laden budget, relief measures
by  AFP

The German parliament's budget committee has approved revised 2026 spending plans that include even higher debts than originally thought, lawmakers said Friday, as the government gears up for an investment splurge.

Cartier owner sales lifted by jewellery, improving Asia
Cartier owner sales lifted by jewellery, improving Asia
by  AFP

Swiss luxury group Richemont, owner of Cartier and other iconic luxury brands, on Friday reported sales ahead of analysts' forecasts notably thanks to strength in its jewellery division. Strong demand for jewellery boosted the sales of brands Buccellati, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Vhernier by six percent in the reporting period, with momentum accelerating in the second quarter.

China retail sales grew at slowest pace in over a year
China retail sales grew at slowest pace in over a year
by  AFP

Retail sales in China grew last month at the slowest pace in over a year, official data showed Friday, highlighting the battle facing authorities' efforts to counteract persistent consumer malaise. Retail sales rose 2.9 percent on-year last month, data from the NBS showed, slightly lower than the three percent increase recorded in September.

Rise of the robots: the promise of physical AI
Rise of the robots: the promise of physical AI
by  AFP

A pair of swivelling, human-like robotic arms, built for physical artificial intelligence research, mirror the motions of an operator in a VR headset twirling his hands like a magician. Nevertheless, big deals are being struck, even as booming investment in artificial intelligence feeds fears of a stock market bubble.

Asian markets sink on concerns over tech rally, Fed rates
Asian markets sink on concerns over tech rally, Fed rates
by  AFP

Asian markets sank Friday, tracking a selloff on Wall Street as worries over next month's Federal Reserve interest rate decision and persistent speculation about a tech bubble dampened sentiment. The dimmer outlook for rates compounded worries that the tech sector may be overpriced after an AI-fuelled surge this year that has sent markets to records.

Fight over fossil fuels drawdown looms at UN climate summit
Fight over fossil fuels drawdown looms at UN climate summit
by  AFP

Two years after nations agreed to transition away from fossil fuels, dozens are pushing to go even further at the COP30 climate summit, setting up a showdown with oil powers. It was the first time a decision by all nations at a climate summit had explicitly mentioned a global move away from fossil fuels, the main driver of climate change.