Articles by AFP
Amazon launches AI models to challenge rivals
loading... - Business
Amazon on Tuesday unveiled a suite of artificial intelligence models in its boldest move yet to compete with tech giant rivals in the fast-growing generative AI sector. The launch of its own line of foundation models marks Amazon's latest push to strengthen its position against forerunners Microsoft, Google, Meta and OpenAI, the creator of...
Chinese plus-size influencer spreads body positivity through fashion
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Surrounded by racks of colourful dresses and blazers in China's manufacturing hub of Guangzhou, plus-size clothing brand owner and influencer Amanda Yao is on a mission to promote body positivity. She is part of a small but growing number of women in China challenging restrictive beauty standards, including thinness, pale skin and childlike...
'Black Friday' deals target inflation-weary US consumers
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The annual Black Friday shopping day has always been about finding the best deals, but this year retailers are preparing for a US consumer more zealously fixated than ever on getting value for their money. Inflation has stabilized after dramatic price spikes during the Covid pandemic years, but consumers are still feeling the pinch -- meaning...
French luxury mogul Arnault defiant at ex-spy chief trial
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Paris - France's richest man, LVMH chief Bernard Arnault, testified Thursday in the influence-peddling trial of the former head of France's domestic intelligence agency, denying any knowledge of an alleged scheme to protect the luxury group. Bernard Squarcini, the former head of the DCRI security service (since renamed the DGSI), is one of 10...
Birkenstock loses lawsuit against Aldi over sandal design
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Shoe manufacturer Birkenstock has lost an appeal in its dispute with Aldi over the design of a sandal from the supermarket chain's range. The Bavarian Supreme Court in Munich today confirmed the lower court's earlier verdict, a spokesman said. The case involved a sandal with a large buckle, for which Birkenstock's complaint was dismissed. The...
Primark boss defends practices as budget fashion brand eyes expansion
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Ireland-based budget fashion chain Primark has been criticised for its record on workers' rights and the effect of its low-cost, high-volume model on the environment. But its chief executive Paul Marchant does not agree. "I don't buy the story that we can't be ethical buying from Asia," he told AFP in an interview in Dublin. In the world of...
Amazon Japan raided over alleged anti-monopoly violation
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Amazon Japan's offices were raided by authorities Tuesday over an alleged anti-monopoly law violation, a source said, with the e-commerce giant accused of abusing its industry dominance to drive down prices. The Japan Fair Trade Commission conducted an on-site inspection of Amazon's Japanese subsidiary in Tokyo, reportedly its third probe into...
Chanel family matriarch dies aged 99: company
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Eliane Heilbronn, mother of the secretive owners of luxury group Chanel, has died aged 99, the company said on Monday. The brand is famed for its creative director Karl Lagerfeld, perfumes such as Chanel No 5 and its distinctive quilted handbags. Its owners Alain Wertheimer and his brother Gerard are the grandsons of the label's co-founder...
Sports goods manufacturer Le Coq Sportif placed under bankruptcy administration
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The sports equipment manufacturer Le Coq Sportif has been placed under judicial restructuring proceedings by the Paris Commercial Court. "Le Coq Sportif is relying on this procedure to respond to the challenges facing the brand while protecting its 330 employees and hundreds of indirect jobs," parent company Airesis said on Friday. The troubled...
Chinese tech giant Alibaba posts 5 percent quarterly revenue growth
loading... - Management
Chinese tech and e-commerce giant Alibaba on Friday reported moderate revenue growth of five percent in its latest quarter, as Beijing works to stimulate domestic spending. The Hangzhou-based firm operates some of China's most widely used online shopping platforms, making its performance a bellwether for consumer sentiment. Alibaba's revenue...