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economy

Rare houseplants become must-have items as Americans embrace plant life

Rare houseplants leave specialty greenhouses and return to everyday American homes as indoor gardening draws stronger interest. Buyers now treat these uncommon finds as collectible pieces that indicate taste and commitment within the plant community. As winter sales climb, rare houseplants shift from background decor to bold focal points, filling

Hong Kong finance chief tips up to 3.5% growth this year

Hong Kong finance chief tips up to 3.5% growth this year

Hong Kong's finance chief tipped another year of economic growth in 2026 as he unveiled his annual budget on Wednesday with plans for investment in innovation zones and AI training. The Chinese finance hub's "buoyant" economy expanded a forecast-beating 3.5 percent last

Germany's Merz meets Xi, announces Chinese Airbus order

Germany's Merz meets Xi, announces Chinese Airbus order

China will buy up to 120 aircraft from European aviation giant Airbus, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said following talks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday. Merz's visit comes as Berlin and Beijing seek to build on their decades-old economic ties to weather global uncertainty sparked

Guinness maker Diageo cuts outlook on weak US, China demand

Guinness maker Diageo cuts outlook on weak US, China demand

Diageo, the maker of Guinness stout and Smirnoff vodka, cut its sales outlook and slashed shareholder payouts Wednesday, as its new chief executive seeks to revive the struggling drinks group. The British company said it expects full-year net sales to fall two to three percent in its fiscal year

Starved of fuel, Cubans scramble to make ends meet

Starved of fuel, Cubans scramble to make ends meet

The US-imposed oil blockade on Cuba is upending the lives of everyday workers, who are switching jobs and ditching their cars to make do amid rolling blackouts and fuel shortages. Yixander Diaz jettisoned both his ride and his work when the father of two, a taxi driver, turned to

Aston Martin slashes staff as US tariffs hit carmakers

Aston Martin slashes staff as US tariffs hit carmakers

British luxury carmaker Aston Martin Lagonda on Wednesday announced plans to cut up to 20 percent of its workforce after widening annual losses on US tariffs and weak Chinese demand. The job losses total around 600, with Aston Martin employing some 3,000 people, mostly in the UK. The carmaker,

South Korea birth rate jumps but still under key fertility threshold

South Korea birth rate jumps but still under key fertility threshold

South Korea has recorded its biggest annual birth rate bump in 15 years, official figures showed Wednesday, but still far below the threshold needed to stop its population shrinking. The country has one of the lowest birth rates in the world, pouring billions of dollars into efforts to encourage citizens