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Vietnam farmers struggle for fresh water as drought brings salinisation
Vietnam farmers struggle for fresh water as drought brings salinisation
Economy
by  AFP

Every day, farmer Nguyen Hoai Thuong prays in vain for rain to fall on the cracked dry earth of her garden in Vietnam's Mekong Delta -- the country's "rice bowl" agricultural heartland. I have to change to raising cows instead," 31-year-old farmer Thuong told AFP from her burning hot village, where ground that should be lush wet rice paddy stands cracked and dry.

Crisis-hit Playmobil eyes a Swift boost as it turns 50
Crisis-hit Playmobil eyes a Swift boost as it turns 50
Economy
by  AFP

As Playmobil turns 50, the German company behind the popular plastic figures is hoping that pop megastar Taylor Swift can help it shake off a slump in fortunes. As well as tie-ups with popular figures like Swift, the company is targeting nostalgic adults and so-called "kidults" -- grown-ups who still enjoy playing with toys.

Asian markets swing as traders await Fed policy decision
Asian markets swing as traders await Fed policy decision
Economy
by  AFP

Asian markets fluctuated Wednesday as traders struggled to track another record day on Wall Street, with focus squarely on the Federal Reserve's policy meeting. Still, Wall Street investors remained upbeat, pushing all three main indexes higher on the back of a tech rally, with the S&P 500 chalking up another record.