Business and Economy



France, Germany plan 'roadmap' to tackle China trade imbalances

AFP - 3m ago

Paris and Berlin want to come up with a joint "roadmap" by September to tackle China's unfair trade practices, French …

Tech share selloff rolls on, oil prices climb on Mideast clashes

AFP - 3m ago

Tokyo and Taipei stock markets led a fresh selloff of technology shares Friday, as concerns that the sector had been …

France blocks access to Polymarket

AFP - 46m ago

France said Friday it was blocking access to the online prediction market Polymarket, as punters continued to make bets …

Stocks slide, oil prices jump as tech, Mideast war in focus

AFP - 2h ago

Tokyo and Taipei stock markets led a fresh selloff for technology shares Friday, as concerns that the sector had been …

Italian authorities dole out fines for Olympic ambush marketing

AFP - 2h ago

Italy's Competition Authority (AGCM) said Friday it had fined six companies a total of 2.5 million euros ($2.86 million) …

Horror film 'Obsession' is exploding cinema profit records

AFP - 4h ago

Low-cost horror movie "Obsession" from first-time director Curry Barker is on track to become one of the most profitable …

EU reforms carbon market under pressure from industry

AFP - 5h ago

The European Union on Friday proposed easing its carbon trading scheme for companies, as it unveiled reforms to one of …

Tokyo, Taipei lead losses as Asian markets suffer fresh tech rout

AFP - 2h ago

Tokyo and Taipei led heavy losses on a glum day for Asian markets Friday, with tech firms once again in the crosshairs …

Volvo Cars sees declining sales in 'challenging' environment

AFP - 8h ago

Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars on Friday reported a drop in sales in the second quarter, noting a "very challenging …

With climate ambitions in question, EU reforms carbon market

AFP - 4h ago

The European Union on Friday unveils reforms of its carbon market, after fierce wrangling between countries, industry …

From coal pits to wind turbines, Polish miners rise to the occasion

AFP - 10h ago

From the top of a wind turbine nearly 100 metres above the ground, Grzegorz Witek, a coal miner, gazes at the horizon.

Startups bet on AI -- and a leaner future

AFP - 10h ago

When Eric Lauer needs to hire at Giftory, the online gift-giving platform he runs, he's no longer looking for eager …

SpaceX abruptly scrubs Starship test flight

AFP - 10h ago

SpaceX on scrubbed on Thursday what was to be its first Starship flight since the company went public, abruptly calling …

Tokyo, Taipei lead heavy losses as Asian markets suffer fresh tech rout

AFP - 2h ago

Tokyo and Taipei led losses on a glum day for Asian markets Friday, with tech firms once again in the crosshairs as …

India's space sector takes off as private rocket readies launch

AFP - 13h ago

India has sent spacecraft to Mars and the Moon, put hundreds of satellites into orbit and will in the coming days launch …

Taiwan lawmakers to remove legal hurdles for Starlink to operate

AFP - 13h ago

Lawmakers in Taiwan are set to approve changes to a law that will open the door for Starlink to operate its satellite …

India's private space industry shoots for the stars

AFP - 13h ago

Private companies are reshaping India's space ambitions, building rockets and satellites as the country pushes to …

Tokyo, Taipei lead tech losses as Asian markets suffer again

AFP - 2h ago

Tokyo and Taipei led losses on a glum day for Asian markets Friday, with tech firms once again in the crosshairs as …

Stocks drop on tech sell-off, oil yo-yos on Mideast

Jul 16 2026

Major stock markets mostly retreated Thursday as semiconductor shares extended falls, while oil prices wobbled as the …

New science report could boost climate suits against oil giants

Jul 16 2026

Climate lawsuits seeking massive damages from fossil fuel companies increasingly hinge on this question: how reliably …

Farnborough to survey the state of Boeing's comeback

Jul 16 2026

Fresh off last week's launch of new production capacity in Washington state, Boeing plans a splashy display of new …

US unveils 25% tariff on certain goods from Brazil, drawing rebuke

Jul 16 2026

An incoming US tariff targeting various imports from Brazil has drawn a sharp rebuke from the Latin American giant, as …

Germany and France seek 'new dynamic' on defence after fighter jet failure

Jul 16 2026

France and Germany will seek to move on from the failure of a tortured fighter jet project and bolster other joint …

Germany and France seek to 'bounce back' from fighter jet failure

Jul 16 2026

France and Germany will seek to move on from the failure of a tortured fighter jet project and bolster other joint …

Italy court finds 32 people guilty over deadly Genoa bridge collapse

Jul 16 2026

An Italian court sentenced 32 defendants on Thursday, including the former head of motorway operator Autostrade, for …

US retail sales lose steam in June as consumers spend less on gasoline

Jul 16 2026

US consumers slowed their spending in June while energy costs fell, government data showed Thursday, cooling retail …

Stocks drop on tech sell-off, oil rises on Mideast unrest

Jul 16 2026

Major stock markets mostly retreated as technology shares extended falls, while oil prices climbed after the United …

US unveils new 25% tariff on certain imports from Brazil

Jul 16 2026

The United States has announced on a new 25 percent tariff on various imports from Brazil, accusing the Latin American …

'No rest': Indonesians overworked and abused on foreign fishing vessels

Jul 16 2026

Lured by promises of good money working aboard a foreign fishing vessel, Akhmad left Indonesia and headed out to sea, …

Young British hackers jailed for London transport cyberattack

Jul 16 2026

A UK court on Thursday jailed two young men for a 2024 cyberattack on London's public transport operator that exposed …

EU tells Google to share search data, open Android to AI rivals

Jul 16 2026

The European Union demanded Thursday that Google share data with other search engines and open up its Android system to …

Uber to gobble up Delivery Hero in latest food delivery deal

Jul 16 2026

US ride-hailing giant Uber has struck a 12.7-billion-euro ($14.6-billion) deal to take over German food delivery …

US still world's biggest air transport market, but growth slows: data

Jul 16 2026

The United States remained the world's largest air passenger market in 2025, but it recorded the slowest growth among …

UK nationalises struggling British Steel

Jul 16 2026

The British government said Thursday it had taken British Steel into full public ownership to "protect the future of …

Stocks drop, oil steadies tracking tech sell-off, Mideast unrest

Jul 16 2026

Major stock markets mostly retreated and oil prices steadied Thursday as technology shares extended falls and the United …

Ukraine state energy boss Koretsky becomes new PM

Jul 16 2026

Ukraine's parliament on Thursday approved the appointment of Naftogaz state energy boss Sergiy Koretsky as the new prime …

Asian stocks mostly sink as AI worries hammer tech

Jul 16 2026

Most Asian stocks sank on Thursday as tech firms came under renewed pressure from worries over the AI boom, with Seoul …

Germany's Delivery Hero agrees 12.7-bn-euro takeover by Uber

Jul 16 2026

German food delivery group Delivery Hero said Thursday it has agreed to be taken over by US ride-hailing giant Uber in a …

Taiwan chipmaker TSMC to invest another US$100 bn in Arizona fabs

Jul 16 2026

Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC will invest an additional US$100 billion in the US state of Arizona, the company said Thursday, …

Taiwan chipmaker TSMC to invest another $100bn in Arizona fabs

Jul 16 2026

Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC will invest an additional $100 billion in the US state of Arizona, the company said Thursday, …

Taiwan chipmaker TSMC reports record quarterly profit

Jul 16 2026

Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC reported a record net profit for the second quarter on Thursday, fuelled by massive demand for …

Tractors out, oxen in for fuel-starved Cuban farms

Jul 16 2026

Alexander Quesada was gifted a tractor for turning a Cuban rubbish dump into a model farm, but these days he is using …

US stocks gain after reassuring inflation data, tech giants advance

Jul 15 2026

Wall Street stocks advanced Wednesday following another benign US inflation report as oil prices edged higher following …

US Fed official says 'prepared to act' to curb inflation

Jul 15 2026

A key US central bank official expressed her readiness Wednesday to take action against inflation if price increases …

Amazon to launch S.Africa satellite internet as Starlink awaits licence

Jul 15 2026

Amazon said Wednesday it will launch satellite internet services in South Africa, entering a market where rival Elon …

OpenAI fails to trademark name in EU

Jul 15 2026

OpenAI, the owner the ChatGPT chatbot, lost Wednesday its appeal against the EU's refusal to register its name as a …

Canada central bank holds key rate steady, says economy improving

Jul 15 2026

Canada's central bank held its key lending rate at 2.25 percent on Wednesday, citing signs of economic improvement with …

Tech stocks wobble, oil prices slip back

Jul 15 2026

Tech stocks initially led gains but turned lower in mixed equity markets on Wednesday while oil prices slipped back from …

US reports 'wave of strikes' on Iran as war returns

Jul 15 2026

The United States launched a wave of strikes against Iran on Wednesday, after it reimposed a naval blockade in a return …

AI demand powers forecast hike, profit gains at tech giant ASML

Jul 15 2026

Strong demand for AI systems pushed up sales forecasts and drove a gain in second-quarter profits Wednesday at Dutch …

Orban's ex-FM quits Hungary parliament for China's BYD

Jul 15 2026

Hungary's former foreign minister Peter Szijjarto, an ally of nationalist ex-leader Viktor Orban, announced his …

Tech stocks lead gains, oil prices rise

Jul 15 2026

Tech stocks led gains in mixed equity markets on Wednesday while oil prices rose as the US launched another wave of …

German leader not opposed to Chinese taking over car plants

Jul 15 2026

Chancellor Friedrich Merz signalled Wednesday he was not opposed to Chinese carmakers taking over struggling German auto …

Germany's BASF lifts forecasts but Mideast war casts shadow

Jul 15 2026

German chemical giant BASF raised its earnings forecast for the year Wednesday after hiking prices for some products …

European stocks drop as oil prices rise

Jul 15 2026

European stock markets retreated Wednesday as oil prices built on recent strong gains, with traders focused firmly on …

UN says Sudan resources fuel civil war

Jul 15 2026

Sudan's rival factions are profiting from control over the country's resources and the "war economy" was sustaining the …

Meta employees allege discriminatory AI-driven layoffs

Jul 15 2026

Twenty-six Meta employees have filed a lawsuit accusing the tech giant of using artificial intelligence to select …

Seoul leads Asian stocks higher as US inflation eases rate fears

Jul 15 2026

Seoul led gains across Asian equity markets Wednesday as tech firms bounced back following a softer-than-expected US …

Empty skyscrapers: China's property slump still throttling growth

Jul 15 2026

The world's tallest unoccupied skyscraper was meant to boast a rooftop pool and a luxury hotel after completion, but …

'We don't have time': Montenegro's bird haven fading

Jul 15 2026

Every year, tens of thousands of birds glide over the rusting remains of one of the Mediterranean's largest saltworks, …

Australian PM says to enact laws to govern AI

Jul 15 2026

Australia will enact laws to regulate how artificial intelligence data centres use power and water, and to protect …

Dutch tech giant ASML posts gain in second-quarter profits

Jul 15 2026

Dutch tech giant ASML, which makes cutting-edge machines to manufacture semiconductor chips, Wednesday posted a gain in …

US renews blockade, trades strikes with Iran over Hormuz strait

Jul 15 2026

US forces struck Iran and reimposed a naval blockade on its ports as Tehran hit Washington's Gulf allies on Wednesday, …

China's economic growth hits slowest pace in more than three years

Jul 15 2026

China's economy grew at its weakest pace in more than three years during the second quarter, data showed Wednesday, …

AI ignites 'ignored sector' for Japan chipmaker Kioxia

Jul 15 2026

Robotic transporters carrying silicon wafers whizz by on overhead rails at a new factory that Kioxia, one of Japan's …

Writers union sues to block US Paramount deal

Jul 15 2026

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) filed a lawsuit Tuesday to block Paramount Skydance's proposed takeover of Hollywood …

IBM shares plunge 25% as AI spending boom disrupts business

Jul 14 2026

IBM shares plunged 25 percent Tuesday after the US tech giant released disappointing preliminary second-quarter results, …

Nasdaq rebounds as cooling US inflation weighs on dollar

Jul 14 2026

Wall Street stocks rose following strong earnings from large US banks and an unexpectedly benign inflation report that …

IBM shares plunge as AI spending boom disrupts business

Jul 14 2026

Shares in IBM plunged 24 percent on Tuesday after the US tech giant released disappointing preliminary second-quarter …

US inflation cools in June before renewed Mideast fighting

Jul 14 2026

US consumer inflation cooled more than expected in June as energy costs fell on a temporary easing of the US-Iran war, …

Trump backtracks on plan to toll Hormuz ships

Jul 14 2026

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday abruptly scrapped a planned 20 percent levy on ships transiting the Strait of …

Dollar slides as rate hike prospects ease, oil gains moderate

Jul 14 2026

The dollar slid Tuesday after a drop in US inflation dented expectations of an interest rate hike later this month.

Why does Brazil's PIX payment system bother Donald Trump?

Jul 14 2026

Whether buying a chilled coconut at the beach or paying rent, Brazil's free PIX system has become the dominant way of …

Ticking time bomb? Europe's ageing population brings challenges

Jul 14 2026

The population of the 27-nation European Union will peak in 2029 before falling in the coming decades, according to a …

Oil gains on fresh attacks, dollar slides as inflation slows

Jul 14 2026

Oil prices surged on Tuesday after fresh US strikes against Iran, fuelling fears for the future of Middle East peace …

Dangote's mega oil project threatens fragile Kenyan ecosystem: Greenpeace

Jul 14 2026

Climate rights group Greenpeace Africa called on Tuesday for a halt to a proposed mega oil refinery project by Africa's …

US consumer inflation cools in June on lower energy costs

Jul 14 2026

US consumer inflation cooled more than expected in June, government data showed Tuesday, as energy prices fell on a …

Swiss probe Google dropping search choice on Android phones

Jul 14 2026

The Swiss competition authority announced Tuesday it had opened a preliminary investigation into Google's removal of the …

Oil extends gains after fresh US strikes

Jul 14 2026

Oil prices surged on Tuesday after fresh US strikes against Iran, fuelling fears over their already fragile truce and …

Turn off addictive features on social media for children, say EU lawmakers

Jul 14 2026

There should be a "youth mode" for children on social media platforms in which addictive features and targeted …

Oil extends gains after fresh US strikes, stocks mostly rise

Jul 14 2026

Oil prices jumped again on Tuesday after fresh US strikes against Iran that marked an escalation in hostilities, …

Oil extends gains after latest US strikes, tech suffers more losses

Jul 14 2026

Oil prices jumped and stocks fell again Tuesday after fresh US strikes against Iran that marked a new escalation in …

Oil prices surge on US-Iran attacks; tech shares fall

Jul 13 2026

World oil prices surged Monday as a fresh flare-up between the United States and Iran rattled investors, while a selloff …

Twelve US states sue to block Paramount's Warner Bros. takeover

Jul 13 2026

California and 11 other US states on Monday sued to block Paramount Skydance's $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. …

Volkswagen confirms weighing up to 50,000 more job cuts

Jul 13 2026

Volkswagen's CEO told employees Monday a further 50,000 jobs could go at the struggling auto giant, according to an …

Oil prices surge on US-Iran attacks; tech shares tank

Jul 13 2026

World oil prices surged Monday as a fresh flare-up between the United States and Iran rattled investors, while a selloff …

EU sanctions target Russian state-backed messaging app

Jul 13 2026

The European Union on Monday announced sanctions against the company behind Russia's state-backed messaging app Max, …

Switzerland, Britain conclude 'modernised' free trade deal talks

Jul 13 2026

Switzerland and Britain have concluded negotiations on an upgraded free trade agreement, Bern said Monday, saying the …

Nigeria oil output hits six-year high, above OPEC target

Jul 13 2026

Nigeria's crude production reached a 74-month high last month, authorities said over the weekend, hitting an average of …

Oil prices surge on US-Iran attacks

Jul 13 2026

World oil prices surged Monday as a fresh flare-up between the United States and Iran rattled investors, while a selloff …

De Beers to pause work at S.Africa's largest diamond mine

Jul 13 2026

De Beers announced Monday it will pause production at South Africa's largest diamond mine for two years to reduce costs …

Oil prices spike on fresh US-Iran attacks, tech hammers on stocks again

Jul 13 2026

Oil prices jumped more than four percent on Monday after another flare-up between the United States and Iran that …

Oil prices spike on fresh US-Iran attacks, tech weighs on stocks again

Jul 13 2026

Oil prices jumped more than four percent Monday after another flare-up between the United States and Iran that …

'Indispensable' Xiaohongshu app fuels Chinese tourism

Jul 13 2026

Competition is fierce for professional photographers at Beijing's tourist hotspots, including a scenic lake where women …

Car crisis takes toll on Germany's young engineers

Jul 12 2026

Despite a year of searching, previous stints at big automotive suppliers and sending out about 50 applications, German …

West Afghanistan female dress-code crackdown hits businesses

Jul 12 2026

Businesses in Afghanistan's western city of Herat have suffered from a downturn in female customers opting to stay home …

Economic uncertainty looms over Venezuela quake zone

Jul 11 2026

Economic woes have joined the long list of worries facing Venezuelans living in the coastal region that suffered …

Boeing unveils new 737 MAX production line as aviation giant charts comeback

Jul 11 2026

Boeing marked another step in a marathon comeback Friday when it celebrated expanded production of the 737 MAX, now an …

Apple sues OpenAI for stealing trade secrets

Jul 11 2026

Apple on Friday sued OpenAI, accusing the artificial intelligence company of orchestrating a campaign to steal the …

Wall Street gets small boost from SK hynix debut

Jul 10 2026

Global stock markets rose slightly on Friday as investors digested a wave of corporate announcements, while the Nasdaq …

SK hynix surges on first day of trading on Wall Street

Jul 10 2026

South Korean chip giant SK hynix soared 13 percent on its first day of trading on Wall Street on Friday, capping one of …

Man nearly sucked out of 'detached' window on Ryanair flight

Jul 10 2026

A man was nearly sucked out the window of a Ryanair flight when it "detached" mid-air en route to Germany, with other …