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China to unveil lowest growth goal in years: analysts
China to unveil lowest growth goal in years: analysts
Business and Economy
by  AFP

China will likely set one of the country's lowest growth goals in decades at the annual National People's Congress next week, experts told AFP, hit by long-running property woes, a sluggish global economy and geopolitical tensions. And economists surveyed by AFP predicted goals for 2023 will be conservative, expecting policymakers to aim for 5.3 percent, one of the lowest targets in decades.

Asian markets rise with Wall St on lower rate hopes
Asian markets rise with Wall St on lower rate hopes
Business and Economy
by  AFP

Asian markets on Friday tracked a Wall Street rally after a top Federal Reserve official said he would back a small interest-rate hike at its next meeting but hinted at a possible summer pause to see how tighter policy has impacted inflation. That would allow the bank to pause its tightening in the summer.

Greek train tragedy sheds light on chronic state failures
Greek train tragedy sheds light on chronic state failures
Business and Economy
by  AFP

The train tragedy that unfolded in Greece this week, claiming dozens of lives in the country's worst rail disaster, has exposed chronic failures by successive administrations, insiders say. But he also admitted "delays" in installing safety safeguards on the route where the accident took place, a result of "chronic malaise and decades of failure" in state management.

Britain's fresh produce shortages serve up blame game
Britain's fresh produce shortages serve up blame game
Business and Economy
by  AFP

Shortages of fruit and vegetables -- from broccoli, cucumbers and lettuce, to tomatoes, peppers and raspberries -- have served up a blame game in Britain. Experts meanwhile believe the problem runs deeper than merely bad growing conditions in key fruit and vegetable producers Spain and Morocco.

Petrobras posts record profits for 2022
Petrobras posts record profits for 2022
Business and Economy
by  AFP

Brazil's state oil company Petrobras has reported record profits of 188 billion reais (about $36 billion) in 2022, due mainly to the global rise in fuel prices. In the fourth quarter of 2022, Petrobras posted net profit of 43.3 billion reais, down six percent from the previous quarter.