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Apple and Amazon 'committed' to big screen, says theaters boss
Movie theater owners are confident that previously streaming-focused tech giants Apple and Amazon are now "committed" to putting their films on the big screen -- even if Netflix still declines to -- their trade body's new president told AFP.
First Republic bank in limbo as shares fall further
Shares of First Republic fell further into an abyss Friday amid mounting speculation over the US regional bank's way forward after it reported a big fall in deposits.
Qatar's Sheikh Jassim makes final bid to buy Man Utd: sources
Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has made a third and final offer to buy Manchester United, sources told AFP on Friday.
Global stocks mostly up as yen tumbles after Bank of Japan decision
Global stock markets mostly rose Friday following modestly positive economic data in Europe and the United States, while the yen tumbled after the Bank of Japan maintained its easing policies.
US Fed calls for tougher bank rules after SVB collapse
The US Federal Reserve called for greater banking oversight while admitting to its own failures in a widely-anticipated report published Friday into the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) last month.
Stocks hold up as eurozone economy ekes out growth
Global stock markets were mixed Friday as data confirmed weak-but-positive eurozone growth and a US inflation gauge slowed.
Taliban say ban on women working for UN 'internal social matter'
The decision to ban Afghan women from working for the United Nations was an "internal social matter", the country's Taliban authorities said Friday, a day after the UN Security Council demanded they overturn the ruling.
ExxonMobil, Chevron report higher profits despite oil price dip
US oil giants ExxonMobil and Chevron reported another quarter of heady profits Friday as both companies continued to direct large cash payments to shareholders.
HMV returning to site of flagship London music store
British music retailer HMV said Friday it will return to the site of its once-flagship store on London's Oxford Street after a turnaround in fortunes for the emblematic company.
'Smart mines' show coal deeply embedded in China's future
One hundred metres underground inside a pit in northern China, miners extract lumps of coal with the flick of a finger on a smartphone, as the country tries to drag the traditionally dangerous and dirty work into the digital era.
European stocks retreat as eurozone economy ekes out growth
European stock markets retreated Friday as official data confirmed the eurozone is struggling to grow.
ExxonMobil reports that Q1 profits double to $11.4 bn
ExxonMobil reported Friday that first-quarter profits more than doubled to $11.4 billion, as the US oil giant returned over $8 billion to shareholders during the period.
BBC boss quits over Boris Johnson loan
The BBC's chairman on Friday announced his resignation after his involvement in a loan for then UK prime minister Boris Johnson raised questions about the broadcaster's vaunted impartiality.
Taliban leader says UN Security Council 'pressure' won't work
A senior Taliban leader warned the United Nations Security Council Friday to give up its "failed policy of pressure" after members adopted a resolution condemning Kabul's growing restrictions on women.
German economy stagnates, teeters on brink of recession
Germany teetered on the brink of recession Friday after official data showed the economy stagnated in the first quarter despite expectations for a slight rebound, as the energy crisis weighed on Europe's top economy.
Eurozone GDP grows 0.1% in first three months of 2023
The eurozone economy lumbered forward in the first quarter, official data showed Friday, expanding just 0.1 percent over the previous quarter as high inflation and interest rates weigh on activity.
BBC chairman resigns over loan to Boris Johnson
BBC chairman Richard Sharp on Friday announced his resignation after an inquiry found he had breached rules for failing to declare his involvement in arranging a loan for then prime minister Boris Johnson.
Asian stocks rise on renewed confidence, strong earnings
Asian stocks enjoyed solid gains on Friday after a big finish on Wall Street, with renewed investor confidence and strong earnings by major industry players driving shares up.
Top-end models drive Mercedes profit growth
Mercedes-Benz said Friday its net profits rose by 12 percent in the first quarter to 4.0 billion euros, buoyed by demand for its vans and priciest premium cars.
Argentina VP Kirchner vows not to seek presidency again
Argentina's Vice President and former leader Cristina Kirchner has vowed not to seek a return to the highest office as the country gears up for the October election.
Bank of Japan maintains monetary easing but plans review
The Bank of Japan announced a review of its longstanding monetary easing measures on Friday, but said it would maintain them for the time being in the first policy decision under new governor Kazuo Ueda.
Bank of Japan to review, but maintain, easing measures
The Bank of Japan announced a review of its longstanding monetary easing measures on Friday, but said it would maintain them for the time being in the first policy decision under new governor Kazuo Ueda.
Libya green group battles to save remaining forests
War-ravaged Libya is better known for its oil wealth than its forests, but environmentalists hope to save its remaining green spaces from logging, development and the impacts of climate change.
China rehabilitation scheme makes morticians of murderers
Once jailed for murder, Cao Yongsheng now makes a living caring for the dead, benefitting from a bold rehabilitation scheme that's giving some of China's most serious criminals a second life as funeral workers.
Women take on Japan's political gender gap for 'true democracy'
Women are a rare sight in Japanese politics, but 20-year-old Rinka Saito is determined to run for office one day because "you can't have true democracy without diversity".
Quack 'aphrodisiac' from lizard a hit in Pakistan
In a clamorous bazaar, hot-blooded Pakistani men seek a cold-blooded cure for their sexual ills -- freshly rendered lizard fat, marinated in scorpion oil and garnished with filaments of a fiery red spice.
Amazon cloud and ad revenue grows as shoppers remain cautious
Online retail titan Amazon on Thursday reported that its cloud and ads units helped it beat earnings expectations in the first quarter of this year despite shoppers and businesses being more careful about spending.
DiCaprio and Scorsese talk 'Killers' as Rihanna hits CinemaCon
Martin Scorsese unveiled the first footage from his film "Killers of the Flower Moon" Thursday at CinemaCon, where his lead actor Leonardo DiCaprio and pop superstar Rihanna were among the surprise guests.
Relief rally on Wall Street after better-than-feared earnings
Wall Street stocks shook off recent weakness and powered higher on Thursday following strong results from Facebook parent Meta Platforms and mixed US economic data.
Amazon shares surge as earnings beat expectations
Shares in Amazon leapt on Thursday after the online retail colossus reported it made a lot more money than expected in the first quarter of 2023.
US to review migrants abroad, toughen penalties in revamp
The United States on Thursday revamped its policy on migrants by setting up processing centers overseas and toughening penalties for unlawful entry, anticipating a surge of arrivals as Covid-era rules expire next month.
UN, NGOs, warn of rising hunger deaths in Africa
Deaths from hunger are on the rise in Africa because of droughts worsened by climate change and conflict, UN officials and non-governmental organisations said Thursday.