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UniCredit says needs a year to decide Commerzbank deal
UniCredit says needs a year to decide Commerzbank deal
by  AFP

The chief executive of Italy's UniCredit bank said Wednesday there would be no decision on a possible takeover of German rival Commerzbank for at least a year. Italy's second-biggest lender surprised markets in September by building up a stake of about 21 percent in its German rival, fuelling speculation that it could be gearing up to mount a takeover effort.

Dutch court upholds e-cigarette flavour ban
Dutch court upholds e-cigarette flavour ban
by  AFP

A Dutch court on Wednesday upheld a government ban on sweet flavours for e-cigarettes, arguing they encouraged young people to smoke. "The harmfulness of the e-cigarette and the attractive effect of the sweet flavours on young people have been sufficiently established," it added.

Tesla shares soar pre-market as Trump hails 'genius' Musk
Tesla shares soar pre-market as Trump hails 'genius' Musk
by  AFP

Shares in Tesla soared in pre-market trading Wednesday after Donald Trump claimed victory in the US presidential election and hailed the electric car company's boss Elon Musk as a "genius". Musk shared a photo on his social media platform X showing him with Trump at an election watch party in Florida, and the Republican candidate singled him out during a celebratory speech.

PlayStation 5 Pro goes on sale, will gamers pay hefty price to play?
PlayStation 5 Pro goes on sale, will gamers pay hefty price to play?
by  AFP

The PlayStation 5 Pro hits shops on Thursday with a price tag that has raised eyebrows among gamers, but growing sticker shocks in the tech industry have yet to deter consumers. With the release of the PlayStation 5 dating to 2020, the Pro version gives Sony a chance to integrate improvements that allow games to run faster and with better graphics.

Obesity drug maker Novo Nordisk posts strong profit
Obesity drug maker Novo Nordisk posts strong profit
by  AFP

Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, maker of the blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, posted Wednesday strong third-quarter earnings despite being held back by production constraints. Novo Nordisk has a hold on 74 percent of the market for weight-loss treatments.

Afghanistan poppy cultivation grows 19 percent despite ban: UN
Afghanistan poppy cultivation grows 19 percent despite ban: UN
by  AFP

Opium cultivation rose by 19 percent in Afghanistan this year, the UN reported Wednesday, despite a Taliban government ban that almost eradicated the crop. The 19 percent increase year-on-year remains far below the 232,000 hectares cultivated when Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada banned the crop in April 2022, nearly a year after the Taliban returned to power, UNODC added.