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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.

Toyota maintains net profit forecast despite drop in first half
Toyota maintains net profit forecast despite drop in first half
by  AFP

Japanese auto giant Toyota kept its annual net profit forecast unchanged on Wednesday, despite logging a 26 percent drop for the first half of this financial year. Although its second-quarter earnings were far lower than analyst expectations, the company still forecasts full-year net profit of 3.57 trillion yen.

Asian markets rise with dollar, bitcoin as ealy US results roll in
Asian markets rise with dollar, bitcoin as ealy US results roll in
by  AFP

Most Asian markets rose with the dollar and bitcoin on Wednesday as traders await the outcome of the knife-edge US presidential election, with bets increasing on a Donald Trump victory as early results rolled in. In early trade, markets in Tokyo, Sydney, Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, Wellington and Taipei rose, though there were losses in Hong Kong.

US writes off over $1 billion of Somalia debt
US writes off over $1 billion of Somalia debt
by  AFP

The United States and Somalia reached an agreement on Tuesday for Washington to cancel more than $1 billion debt owed by the troubled Horn of Africa nation. In March, Mogadishu secured an agreement with international creditors to cancel more than $2 billion in debt, the Paris Club of creditor nations said.

US September trade deficit widest in over two years
US September trade deficit widest in over two years
by  AFP

The US trade deficit expanded in September to its widest since early 2022 as imports increased while companies stocked up ahead of possible disruptions like a dockworkers' strike, according to government data released Tuesday. The rise in imports came ahead of the year-end holiday season, and may be due to companies stocking up in anticipation of a dockworkers' strike.

'Black day': French workers protest Michelin plans to close two plants
'Black day': French workers protest Michelin plans to close two plants
by  AFP

Michelin factory workers burnt tyres in western France on Tuesday and vowed to stage a strike after the tyre company said it would close two plants by early 2026 over collapsing sales. Michelin had already closed its La-Roche-sur-Yon site in western France in 2020, and is preparing to close two plants in Germany by 2025.

Dutch, French authorities raid Netflix offices in tax probe
Dutch, French authorities raid Netflix offices in tax probe
by  AFP

French and Dutch authorities raided streaming giant Netflix's offices in Paris and Amsterdam Tuesday as part of a tax fraud probe, a judicial source told AFP. The search of "various locations" in France by specialist financial investigators relates to suspicions of "covering up serious tax fraud and off-the-books work" and is part of a probe opened in November 2022, the source said.

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