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Thai authorities probe collapse at quake-hit construction site
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France's Le Pen convicted in fake jobs trial
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Chinese tech giant Huawei says profits fell 28% last year
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Trump says confident of TikTok deal before deadline
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Myanmar declares week of mourning as hopes fade for quake survivors
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Japan's Nikkei leads hefty market losses, gold hits record
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Tears in Taiwan for relatives hit by Myanmar quake
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Venezuela says US revoked transnational oil, gas company licenses
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'Devastated': Relatives await news from Bangkok building collapse
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Arsenal, Tottenham to play pre-season North London derby in Hong Kong
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Japan's Nikkei leads hefty equity market losses; gold hits record
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Israel's Netanyahu picks new security chief, defying legal challenge
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Trump says US tariffs to hit 'all countries'
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Prayers and tears for Eid in quake-hit Mandalay
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After flops, movie industry targets fresh start at CinemaCon
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Tsunoda targets podium finish in Japan after 'unreal' Red Bull move
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French chefs await new Michelin guide
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UK imposes travel permit on Europeans from Wednesday
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At his academy, Romanian legend Hagi shapes future champions
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Referee's lunch break saved Miami winner Mensik from early exit
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Djokovic refuses to discuss eye ailment after shock Miami loss
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Mitchell magic as Cavs bag 60th win, Pistons and T'Wolves brawl
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Mensik shocks Djokovic to win Miami Open
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Duterte lawyer: 'compelling' grounds to throw case out
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What happens on Trump's 'Liberation Day' and beyond?
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Clock ticks on Trump's reciprocal tariffs as countries seek reprieve
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Japan-Australia flagship hydrogen project stumbles
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Musk deploys wealth in bid to swing Wisconsin court vote
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Mensik upsets Djokovic to win Miami Open
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China manufacturing activity grows at highest rate in a year
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'Waited for death': Ex-detainees recount horrors of Sudan's RSF prisons
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Japan's Nikkei leads big losses in Asian markets as gold hits record
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Rescue hopes fading three days after deadly Myanmar quake
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'Basketbrawl' as seven ejected in Pistons-Wolves clash
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Four men loom large in Microsoft history
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Computer pioneer Microsoft turns 50 in the age of AI
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Trump calls out both Putin and Zelensky over ceasefire talks
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Kim Hyo-joo tops Vu in playoff to win LPGA Ford Championship
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Economy and especially Trump: Canadians' thoughts on campaigns
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Liberal PM Carney takes lead four weeks before Canada vote
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SpaceX to launch private astronauts on first crewed polar orbit
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Australia open door for Kerr's return as Matildas captain
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The Premier League's unlikely pretenders to Champions League riches
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PureCycle and Landbell Group Collaborate to Advance Polypropylene Plastic Recycling in Europe
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Battery X Metals Closes Acquisition of All Remaining Shares of Lithium-Ion Battery Diagnostics and Rebalancing Technology Company
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Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals PLC Announces Total Voting Rights
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Helium One Global Ltd Announces Jackson-29 Spud at Galactica Project
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Helium One Global Ltd Announces Southern Rukwa Mining Licence - Formal Acceptance
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Gaming Realms PLC Announces Share Buyback Programme
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Gaming Realms PLC Announces Annual Results 2024

Stock markets drop as autos suffer more tariff-fuelled losses
Auto companies bore the brunt of stock market losses again on Friday after President Donald Trump announced steep tariffs on vehicle imports to accompany a wave of US levies next week.
The mood on trading floors has soured in recent weeks as the White House presses ahead with its hardball policy approach that has fuelled recession fears.
"The losses seen throughout Asia and Europe highlight the growing fears as auto tariffs are set to be accompanied by retaliatory measures on the so-called 'Liberation Day' next week," said Joshua Mahony, chief market analyst at Scope Markets.
Paris and Frankfurt stocks dropped, with automakers Volkswagen, Renault and Stellantis, whose brands include Jeep, Peugeot and Fiat, faring particularly badly.
Tokyo's stock market sank 1.8 percent as the world's biggest carmaker Toyota fell, along with Honda, Nissan and Mazda.
Seoul was off 1.9 percent as Hyundai gave up 2.6 percent.
Governments around the world have hit out at Trump's latest tariffs, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney saying the "old relationship" of deep economic, security and military ties with Washington "is over".
Warnings of retaliation have stoked fears of a long-running global trade war and a reignition of inflation that could force central banks to rethink plans to cut interest rates.
Investors will be looking to US personal consumption expenditures data -- the Federal Reserve's preferred gauge of inflation -- later in the day.
News that the US economy expanded at a slightly faster pace than estimated in the final three months of last year did little to stir excitement.
Uncertainty over Trump's plans and long-term intentions has led investors to rush into safe havens such as gold, which hit a new record high of $3,085.96 an ounce on Friday.
Tariff worries also saw Hong Kong and Shanghai stock markets fall.
Bangkok was in the red when trading was suspended as the Thai capital was shaken by a powerful earthquake in neighbouring Myanmar.
London edged up after data showed that the UK economy expanded more than intially estimated last year and retail sales rose.
In Spain, inflation eased in March as rainy weather boosted hydro power production and drove down electricity prices.
Investors also kept tabs on Beijing, where Chinese leader Xi Jinping met leading business leaders pledging the country's door would "open wider and wider".
"China is firmly committed to advancing reform and opening up," Xi told the executives, including hedge fund boss Ray Dalio and Samsung Electronics chief Lee Jae-yong.
He also warned the world trading system was facing "severe challenges".
On currency markets, the yen strengthened against the dollar after a report showing inflation in Tokyo rose more than expected in March, boosting bets on another central bank rate hike.
- Key figures around 1045 GMT -
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 8,676.52 points
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.4 percent at 7,960.02
Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.4 percent at 22,589.84
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.8 percent at 37,120.33 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.7 percent at 23,426.60 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.7 percent at 3,351.31 (close)
New York - Dow: DOWN 0.4 percent at 42,299.70 (close)
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0780 from $1.0796 on Thursday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2944 from $1.2947
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 150.69 yen from 151.04 yen
Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.29 pence from 83.38 pence
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.2 percent at $69.79 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.2 percent at $73.20 per barrel
F.Dubois--AMWN