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US hiring beats expectations with solid showing in February
US hiring beats expectations with solid showing in February
by  AFP

Hiring in the United States was robust in February although unemployment crept up, government data showed Friday, a potentially encouraging sign for policymakers hoping to cool the economy without tipping it into a downturn. In another encouraging sign that the economy is cooling, wage growth edged down, from 0.5 percent in January to 0.1 percent in February on a monthly basis.

El Nino raises food security risk in southern Africa: FAO
El Nino raises food security risk in southern Africa: FAO
by  AFP

The El Nino weather phenomenon, coupled with widespread drought, is posing an increasing risk to food security in southern Africa, a UN agency warned Friday. El Nino is a natural weather phenomenon, corresponding to a warming of a large part of the tropical Pacific.

German federal prosecutors to probe Tesla plant sabotage
German federal prosecutors to probe Tesla plant sabotage
by  AFP

German federal prosecutors said Friday they had taken over investigations into a suspected arson attack this week that caused a power outage and forced Tesla to halt production at its plant near Berlin. An outfit going by the same name claimed an arson attack on the power supply of the Tesla plant in 2021, according to a report from domestic intelligence services that same year.

UK lawmakers demand action on finance sector misogyny
UK lawmakers demand action on finance sector misogyny
by  AFP

Efforts to tackle sexism in the UK financial sector, known as the City, are "at a snail's pace", lawmakers concluded Friday, as they demanded "urgent action" be taken over misogyny. "That's why it's so frustrating that efforts to tackle sexism in the city are moving at a snail's pace," she added.

Nigeria targets cryptocurrency in bid to end naira freefall
Nigeria targets cryptocurrency in bid to end naira freefall
by  AFP

The world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange Binance is halting operations in Nigeria's naira currency as the government puts cryptobusinesses under increasing scrutiny. The decision came after authorities in Africa’s biggest economy imposed restrictions on cryptocurrency exchanges as part of attempts to halt the sliding value of the local currency.

Asian markets join rally after Wall St, European records
Asian markets join rally after Wall St, European records
by  AFP

Asian markets on Friday tracked a record-breaking day in New York and Europe as traders grew increasingly optimistic for a series of US interest rate cuts this year, with attention now on crucial jobs data due later in the day. Focus is now on the US non-farm payrolls figures due later in the day, which analysts said will have a big bearing on markets.

Rupert Murdoch is engaged once again -- at 92
Rupert Murdoch is engaged once again -- at 92
by  AFP

Media magnate Rupert Murdoch is not giving up on love -- even at age 92. Murdoch handed over control of his global media empire to son Lachlan last November, shifting to an emeritus status. tjj/acb

Swiss look at using Russian assets for Ukraine reparations
Swiss look at using Russian assets for Ukraine reparations
by  AFP

Swiss lawmakers on Thursday narrowly backed moves towards allowing the use of frozen Russian state assets to fund war reparations in Ukraine. It would be aimed at allowing frozen funds from an aggressor's central bank, or assets of its state-owned companies, to be legally transferred to an attacked state.