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Brazil's Lula threatens 'reciprocity' in US steel tariff row
Brazil's Lula threatens 'reciprocity' in US steel tariff row
by  AFP

Brazil's President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday vowed "reciprocity" in response to a 25-percent levy on steel imports announced by US President Donald Trump. He has signed executive orders for 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports starting March 12.

Russian central bank sharply raises inflation forecast
Russian central bank sharply raises inflation forecast
by  AFP

Russia's central bank sharply raised its inflation forecast for 2025 on Friday, warning there was no sign rocketing price increases would go into reverse. Prices are now expected to go up between seven to eight percent this year, compared with an earlier forecast for 2025 of between 4.5 to five percent, the central bank said in a statement.

Tunisian startup takes on e-waste challenge
Tunisian startup takes on e-waste challenge
by  AFP

Engineer turned social entrepreneur Sabri Cheriha hunches over a washing machine at a small depot in a suburb of Tunisia's capital, the unassuming home of a startup he launched to tackle the country's mounting electronic waste problem.

Bordeaux wine harvest drops to lowest level since 1991
Bordeaux wine harvest drops to lowest level since 1991
by  AFP

Cold weather, disease and capacity cuts pushed wine production in France's Bordeaux region last year to a low not seen in three-and-a-half decades, the local industry body said Friday. Unfavourable weather, especially episodes of frost, weighed on production, while a high level of rainfall in the spring favoured the spread of disease, notably mildew.

Alibaba shares soar on reports of potential Xi meeting with Jack Ma
Alibaba shares soar on reports of potential Xi meeting with Jack Ma
by  AFP

Alibaba shares soared by more than six percent on Friday following reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping was poised to meet with the tech juggernaut's co-founder Jack Ma. Alibaba, which has already surged more than 40 percent in 2025, piled on 6.3 percent after also being given an extra leg-up Thursday when its chairman said it would supply AI technology to power Apple's iPhones in China.

Japan to release emergency rice reserves to fight runaway inflation
Japan to release emergency rice reserves to fight runaway inflation
by  AFP

The Japanese government said Friday it will release a fifth of its emergency rice stockpile after hot weather, poor harvests and panic buying over a "megaquake" warning nearly doubled prices over a year. To prevent the distorting effect, the government is required to buy back the same amount of rice it released within a year.