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London designers call upon Shakespeare, nature for inspiration

London's fashion designers on Sunday drew inspiration ranging from nature to William Shakespeare, presenting oversized coats and embellished dresses while reassessing how to sell clothes faster to a new generation of online consumers.

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Philippines sees opportunity in wealthy neighbors' golden years

Japanese housewife Noriko Iwamoto is clear on the reasons that led her to retire in the tropical Philippines, leaving behind a stagnant economy, deflation and a rigid Japanese workforce: it's cheap, and you can work.

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Uber losing $1 billion a year to compete in China

Uber Technologies Inc is burning through more than a billion dollars a year in China as it wages a fierce price war against local rival Didi Kuaidi, its chief executive said.

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In a rare move, Japan's Panasonic gives corporate blessing to same-sex marriages

Japan's electronics maker Panasonic Corp said on Thursday it plans to change its company rules to recognize same-sex marriages, joining a growing trend toward acceptance in a country where being openly gay largely remains taboo.

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Apple Pay takes on China's internet kings in mobile payments

Greater China is Apple's second-largest market by revenue, and the world's biggest smartphone market.

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Thailand's January tourist arrivals up 15 percent over last year

International tourist arrivals in Thailand rose 15 percent in January from a year earlier, government data showed, as the industry continued to expand in a sluggish domestic economy.

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New York City to get streetcar line after more than 50 years

New York City has plans to build its first streetcar line in more than 50 years, and it will run along the Brooklyn and Queens waterfront where public transportation is not easily accessible.

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Taylor Swift subtly disses Kanye in Grammys speech

Taylor Swift wants Kanye West to know that it wasn’t him who made her Famous.

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Cast of Rodin's 'The Kiss' sells for $2.5 million at Paris auction

A bronze cast of French 19th century sculptor Auguste Rodin's famous "The Kiss" was bought by a U.S. collector for 2.2 million euros ($2.5 million) at a Paris auction on Tuesday.

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Microsoft's secret weapon for growth in the cloud: email

In reporting better-than-expected fiscal second-quarter earnings on Thursday, Microsoft Corp. CEO Satya Nadella touted his company's success in the cloud.

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Obama calls for rapid Zika research as virus seen spreading

President Barack Obama on Tuesday called for the rapid development of tests, vaccines and treatments to fight the mosquito-transmitted Zika virus

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Pope overturns tradition to allow women in Lenten foot-washing rite

Pope Francis on Thursday overturned centuries of tradition that banned women from a foot-washing service during Lent, upsetting conservatives and delighting women's rights activists.

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Weibo, beating twitter to the punch, lengthens its 140-character limit

Weibo’s move comes a couple weeks after the revelation that Twitter intends to get rid of its trademark cap as well.

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A two-year wait for next Star Wars movie, as Disney pushes release date back

Fans of the blockbuster Star Wars: The Force Awakens will have to wait two more years for the next installment as Walt Disney on Wednesday pushed back the release of Star Wars: Episode VIII by seven months.

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S.Korea sees gas demand falling 5 percent by 2029

South Korea expects its demand for natural gas to fall by 5 percent over the next 15 years, as increased use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by households and industry only partly offsets a steep fall in its demand for power generation.

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Fight against palm snares unexpected users: New Zealand dairy farmers

The world's biggest dairy exporter, New Zealand's Fonterra, has found itself caught in the crossfire of an unexpected new controversy: a global environmental campaign against the destruction of rainforests.

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South Korean 'superdads' on paternity leave break with tradition

It's a weekday morning and Chung Sang-hoon, 34, is at home with his two small children, classical music playing in the background.