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Report: Moonves obstructed sexual misconduct investigation

NEW YORK (AP) — An internal investigation of former CBS chief Les Moonves has turned up more evidence of sexual misconduct as well as lying and destruction of evidence, throwing into jeopardy his $120 million severance package.

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Documents show Facebook used user data as competitive weapon

Internal Facebook documents released by a U.K. parliamentary committee offer the clearest evidence yet that the social network has used its enormous trove of user data as a competitive weapon, often in ways designed to keep its users in the dark. The document cache shows Facebook considered charging developers for data access and restricting others it considered a threat. The committee seized the documents from an app developer that sued Facebook over its policies.

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Trump’s push for tariffs squeezes a weakening global economy

NEW YORK (AP) — The global economy was already girding for a slowdown when a flurry of tweets by President Donald Trump about his love of tariffs sent a chill through financial markets. Trump’s rattling of the global economy came at a precarious moment, with the economic outlook for 2019 dimming and concerns about a potential recession — if not next year then soon thereafter — rising.

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China promises action on US trade deal but gives no details

BEIJING (AP) — There is still confusion about what President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, committed to when they met in Argentina, even though China has now promised to carry out a trade agreement with Washington. China’s Commerce Ministry said the two sides have a “clear timetable and road map” for talks, but gave no details. China has yet to confirm Trump’s claim that Beijing committed to cut auto tariffs and buy more American farm exports.

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White House intensifies confusion and fear on US-China deal

WASHINGTON (AP) — The disarray surrounding the China deal coincides with a global economy that faces other challenges: Britain is struggling to negotiate its exit from the European Union. Italy’s government is seeking to spend and borrow more, which could elevate interest rates and stifle growth.

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Toyota US chief says car sales are close to bottoming out

DETROIT (AP) — Toyota’s top U.S. executive says car sales nationwide have nearly bottomed out and his company will keep making them despite a dramatic shift to trucks and SUVs. U.S. CEO Jim Lentz tells the Detroit Economic Club Wednesday that car sales fell below 30 percent of sales last month, and he thinks that’s close to the bottom. He says Toyota will remain in the market and should pick up sales as other companies get out of selling car models.

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French unions join protests, piling new pressure on Macron

PARIS (AP) — French trade unions and farmers are pledging to join nationwide demonstrations against French President Emmanuel Macron, as concessions by the government are failing to stem the momentum of the most violent protests France has seen in a decade. The “yellow vest” protests began over a plan to raise fuel taxes, after three weeks of violence protesters are demanding much more economic relief. The government on Tuesday suspended the new gas tax.

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Hong Kong businessman guilty of bribery in African oil deal

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal jury in Manhattan has convicted a Hong Kong businessman of bribing the presidents of Chad and Uganda to secure oil rights for a Chinese energy conglomerate. Dr. Chi Ping Patrick Ho was found guilty of seven of eight counts of conspiracy, money laundering and violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Ho’s attorneys acknowledged he made the cash payments but insisted they were donations intended to foster goodwill.

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