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Race for rare minerals brings boom to Tajikistan's mines
Race for rare minerals brings boom to Tajikistan's mines
by  AFP

In a labyrinth of tunnels running beneath 4,000-metre peaks, Tajik miners are scrabbling to secure antimony, one of the metals at the centre of a worldwide race for rare minerals. The miners drill sample holes 50 metres (165 feet) long to check for minerals and can dig a 54-metre tunnel for extraction in half a day, said underground site manager Kholmakhmad Khakimzoda.

Iran's carpet industry unravelling under sanctions
Iran's carpet industry unravelling under sanctions
by  AFP

Once a symbol of cultural prestige, Iran's handmade rugs are no longer selling as fast as they once did, as sanctions weigh on an already troubled economy and buyers' tastes change. Nabizadeh moreover says that even the tourists who come "might not be interested in our work as consumer tastes have changed" and "the price tags are quite high".

Asia markets waver after Wall St retreats from record
Asia markets waver after Wall St retreats from record
by  AFP

Equities wavered Wednesday following a down day on Wall Street, where worries about high valuations were compounded by mixed messaging from the Federal Reserve on its plans for interest rates. Investors have enjoyed a months-long rally that has pushed some markets to record highs but the run-up took a pause Tuesday amid talk that the gains may have gone too far.

In just one year, Google turns AI setbacks into dominance
In just one year, Google turns AI setbacks into dominance
by  AFP

Caught off guard by ChatGPT and mocked for early blunders with its own generative artificial intelligence efforts, Google has pulled off a dramatic turnaround in just one year, becoming a major player in consumer-facing AI. "The market had written off Alphabet in the AI race," Matt Britzman, analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said of Google's parent company.

New York's finance sector faces risks from Trump visa crackdown
New York's finance sector faces risks from Trump visa crackdown
by  AFP

On a bright September morning, employees stream through the turnstiles and vast lobby of Goldman Sachs’ headquarters in the sunlit Battery Park City neighborhood of Manhattan. - Concentration in New York In the first two quarters of 2025, Goldman Sachs was the biggest recipient of H-1B visas in New York City.

'We're gonna help': Trump to the rescue of struggling Argentina
'We're gonna help': Trump to the rescue of struggling Argentina
by  AFP

US President Donald Trump promised financial "help" for struggling Argentina in a meeting with close ally Javier Milei, who is seeking a US loan to calm markets ahead of crucial mid-terms elections. Budget-slashing libertarian Milei has sought to halt on the peso following a provincial election trouncing for his party that was seen as a litmus test for next month's national mid-terms.

Powell warns of inflation risks if US Fed cuts rates 'too aggressively'
Powell warns of inflation risks if US Fed cuts rates 'too aggressively'
by  AFP

US Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell warned Tuesday that slashing interest rates too quickly could allow inflation to remain elevated, but stressed that the central bank faces dual challenges moving forward. The reduction came while the independent central bank faced intensifying pressure from Donald Trump.