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Google to invest $2 bn in Malaysia: government
Google to invest $2 bn in Malaysia: government
Economy
by  AFP

Google will invest $2 billion in Malaysia to house the firm's first data centre in the country, the government said Thursday, making it the latest tech titan to pump cash into the region in search of growth opportunities. "When operational, Malaysia will join the 11 countries where Google has built and currently operates data centres to serve users around the world," the statement said.

Iran iPhone users signal dismay over new models ban
Iran iPhone users signal dismay over new models ban
Technology
by  AFP

At a Tehran cafe, Hamid waves his mobile around hoping to latch onto a faint signal and thus bypass Iran's stringent ban on the latest models of iPhone. Under last year's ban, users of the latest iPhone models are no longer allowed to register their devices in the country.

India's onion farmers cry foul at politicians' price recipe
India's onion farmers cry foul at politicians' price recipe
Economy
by  AFP

Almost every Indian meal requires an onion -- one of the cooking essentials along with sugar and lentils that sweet-talking politicians use to curry favour with their voters by lowering costs. But the slump in wholesale prices meant that was not passed on to the consumer -- or voter, from the politicians' viewpoint.

EU seeks roadblocks for Chinese EVs without sparking trade war
EU seeks roadblocks for Chinese EVs without sparking trade war
Economy
by  AFP

The EU faces a delicate balancing act as it prepares to rev up taxes on Chinese electric cars to protect European industry, while steering clear of a US-style showdown with Beijing that could spark a trade war. The EU wants many more Europeans driving electric cars as it prepares to outlaw the sale of new fossil fuel-powered cars from 2035.

Boeing set to deliver plan to regulators on upgrading safety
Boeing set to deliver plan to regulators on upgrading safety
Economy
by  AFP

Boeing is expected to deliver on Thursday a "comprehensive action plan" required by US air safety regulators after a near-catastrophic incident in January. At that time, the FAA gave Boeing 90 days to produce "a comprehensive action plan to address its systemic quality-control issues to meet FAA's non-negotiable safety standards."

Asian markets extend losses with Wall St as rate hopes dim
Asian markets extend losses with Wall St as rate hopes dim
Economy
by  AFP

Asian markets fell Thursday, with traders tracking losses on Wall Street fuelled by concerns over rising Treasury yields and fading hopes for US interest rate cuts. A second straight day of weak demand in a Treasuries auction forced yields -- a proxy for interest rates -- to extend a recent advance.

Nobel winner Yunus brings 'social business' mantra to Olympics
Nobel winner Yunus brings 'social business' mantra to Olympics
Economy
by  AFP

Since the early days of Paris's bid for the 2024 Olympics, the city has been receiving advice from a prestigious counsel: Nobel peace prize winner and social business guru Mohammed Yunus. Having visited the village built for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro -- a high-rise complex outside the city, with poor public transport links -- Yunus knew the pitfalls.