Business and Economy



UK inflation drops ahead of expected war-fuelled jump

AFP - 24m ago

Britain's annual inflation rate fell more than expected in April, largely due to a drop in energy prices in the months …

Oil retreats, stocks rise on cautious Mideast war hopes

AFP - 1h ago

Oil prices slid and European stock markets advanced Wednesday after a South Korean tanker passed through the Strait of …

War in Middle East: latest developments

AFP - 1h ago

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:

EU agrees to implement US trade pact after Trump threats

AFP - 2h ago

The EU reached a deal Wednesday to implement its side of a nearly year-old trade pact with the United States, in a major …

Iran Guards warn of war beyond Mideast as Trump repeats threats

AFP - 2h ago

Iran warned on Wednesday that the Middle East war would spread far beyond the region if the United States and Israel …

Samsung, union resume negotiations with minister mediating

AFP - 3h ago

Samsung Electronics and its workers' union resumed talks Wednesday with South Korea's labour minister mediating, in a …

Stellantis signs Europe joint venture with China's Dongfeng

AFP - 3h ago

Jeep and Fiat owner Stellantis said Wednesday that it had formed a joint venture with China's Dongfeng to share …

Putin, Xi hail 'unyielding' ties in talks after Trump visit

AFP - 3h ago

President Xi Jinping hailed China and Russia's "unyielding" ties in talks with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, as the pair …

Asia stocks slide on inflation fears as yields surge

AFP - 3h ago

Asian markets extended their losses Wednesday as surging bond yields and stubborn inflation concerns knocked investor …

Indonesia's Prabowo announces export controls for coal, palm oil

AFP - 4h ago

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday announced commodity export controls to boost tax revenues as the …

Japan to sell eels bred in captivity in 'world first'

AFP - 5h ago

Eels bred in captivity will be sold in Japanese shops for the first time, in a move that could ease eventually pressure …

Union calls strike at South Korea chip giant Samsung Electronics

AFP - 2h ago

A planned strike at South Korean chip giant Samsung Electronics will go ahead from Thursday, its union said, after talks …

Union calls strike at S. Korea chip giant Samsung Electronics

AFP - 1h ago

The labour union at South Korean chip giant Samsung Electronics said Wednesday it would launch a planned strike after …

Putin, Xi to underscore alliance strength after Trump visit

AFP - 2h ago

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday, seeking to underline their …

Under Trump pressure, EU agrees to implement US trade pact

AFP - 3h ago

EU lawmakers and member states reached a deal in the early hours of Wednesday to implement the bloc's nearly year-old …

Musk's empire as SpaceX counts down to Wall Street liftoff

AFP - 10h ago

Elon Musk defines himself as an engineer trying to save humanity, while his critics call him a far-right showman who …

SpaceX's IPO moonshot draws some doubters on Wall Street

AFP - 10h ago

Elon Musk wants to take SpaceX public -- and he's asking investors to believe the rocket and AI company is worth almost …

From graduation boos to voter unease: AI anxiety grows in the US

AFP - 10h ago

Speakers promoting AI are getting booed at universities, voters are rebelling against data centers, and even AI-friendly …

New York art auctions roar back with blockbuster sales

May 19 2026

With record prices for Jackson Pollock, Constantin Brancusi and Mark Rothko, New York's spring auctions are soaring, …

Google wants its search bar to act on your behalf in AI revamp

May 19 2026

Google on Tuesday showed off new plans to turn its famous search bar into an AI assistant that can book restaurants, …

Oil dips, stocks mixed after Trump holds off on Iran attack

May 19 2026

Oil prices eased and stocks wavered on Tuesday, with investors tracking a potential deal between the United States and …

Under Trump pressure, EU seeks deal to end trade standoff

May 19 2026

The EU headed into late-night talks Tuesday seeking a deal towards implementing its nearly year-old trade pact with the …

Mango scion released on bail after arrest over father's death

May 19 2026

The eldest son of Spanish clothing empire Mango's founder Isak Andic was released on Tuesday after posting one million …

Airbus seeks to cut peripheral expenses due to Mideast war

May 19 2026

European aviation giant Airbus has asked its teams to cut "non-essential expenses" by 10 percent due to turbulence …

UK trade minister hopes Britain will rejoin EU 'in my lifetime'

May 19 2026

British trade minister Chris Bryant said Tuesday he hopes to one day see his country rejoin the European Union, in a …

EU vows help for farmers hit by Iran war fertiliser price hikes

May 19 2026

The European Union will release emergency funds to help farmers deal with soaring fertiliser costs caused by the Iran …

French govt slams 'disproportionate' Canal+ riposte to anti-Bollore petition

May 19 2026

France's government Tuesday waded into a row that has sent shockwaves through the domestic cinema industry after the …

Race to find vaccines, treatments for Ebola strain behind outbreak

May 19 2026

An escalating outbreak of a rare Ebola strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo has kicked off a race to find vaccines …

G7 finance ministers vow cooperation to face 'heightened risks'

May 19 2026

Leading global economies on Tuesday vowed multilateral cooperation to address mounting challenges to economic stability …

Power of Siberia 2: The giant gas pipeline Russia wants to build to China

May 19 2026

Russia has been pushing for years to build a new pipeline to China to deliver billions of dollars' worth of natural gas …

Mango founder's son arrested in Spain over father's death

May 19 2026

Spanish police said Tuesday they have arrested the eldest son of Mango clothing empire founder Isak Andic over his …

France says G7 finance talks 'frank, sometimes difficult'

May 19 2026

France's finance minister acknowledged Tuesday that two days of talks among leading global economies were "sometimes …

Stocks rise, oil dips after Trump holds off on Iran attack

May 19 2026

Stock markets mostly rose Tuesday as investors tracked easing oil prices and cautious optimism over a potential deal …

Germany starts sale of bailed-out energy firm Uniper

May 19 2026

Germany had started the process to sell most of its stake in energy giant Uniper, the government said Tuesday, more than …

Beijing says China, US should work together to promote AI governance

May 19 2026

China and the United States "should work together to promote the development and governance of AI", Chinese foreign …

Tech stocks retreat, oil dips after Trump holds off on Iran attack

May 19 2026

Asian markets wavered Tuesday, with tech stocks leading losses as investors tracked easing oil prices and cautious …

Germany starts sales process for bailed-out energy firm Uniper

May 19 2026

Germany had started the process to sell most of its stake in energy giant Uniper, the government said Tuesday, more than …

Stellantis joins race to build mini-EVs for Europe

May 19 2026

Stellantis, owner of the Jeep and Fiat brands, announced Tuesday that it would start building smaller, low-cost electric …

Under Trump pressure, EU eyes deal to end trade standoff

May 19 2026

The EU hopes Tuesday to strike a deal towards implementing its nearly year-old trade pact with the United States -- with …

Hanoi hits the brakes on petrol bike ban

May 19 2026

Millions of exhaust-belching motorbikes zip through Hanoi's narrow streets every day fuelling its chronic air pollution, …

Japan economy grows faster than expected in first quarter

May 19 2026

Japanese economic growth surpassed expectations at the start of 2026, official data showed on Tuesday, but Prime …

China market for Nvidia AI chips to open 'over time': Huang

May 19 2026

Nvidia boss Jensen Huang expects China to eventually open its market to high-end US chips that can train and run …

Asian markets cautious, oil dips after Trump holds off on Iran attack

May 19 2026

Asian markets were mixed Tuesday as oil prices eased on hopes of a US-Iran deal, though elevated crude levels capped …

Musk loses blockbuster OpenAI suit as jury says too late

May 19 2026

A federal jury ruled Monday that billionaire Elon Musk waited too long to sue OpenAI and its co-founders, delivering a …

India's Adani to pay $275 mn settlement to US over alleged Iran sanctions violations

May 18 2026

One of Indian billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani's companies will pay the United States $275 million to settle a …

Oil rises, global stocks mixed as markets track Iran developments

May 18 2026

Global stock markets were mixed Monday and oil prices rose while investors digested shifting developments in the Middle …

First attack on Arab nuclear site sends warning to Gulf, US

May 18 2026

The first attack targeting an Arab nuclear site has sent a symbolic warning to the United Arab Emirates and its allies, …

Hormuz tanker traffic edges higher after wartime low

May 18 2026

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was slightly higher last week, returning to levels in line with the average …

Oil rises, bond yields weigh on stocks

May 18 2026

Stock markets diverged Monday as investors worried about borrowing costs, while oil prices rose as US President Donald …

Middle East tourism pain is Europe's gain

May 18 2026

Europeans are choosing to vacation closer to home as the war in the Middle East has amplified security concerns and made …

Oil prices dip on report of US sanctions relief for Iran during talks

May 18 2026

Oil prices turned lower in afternoon trading Monday and stock markets advanced after an Iranian media report said US …

Transport protests hit Kenya over rising fuel prices

May 18 2026

Kenya's public transport system was paralysed on Monday, when protesters barricaded roads over fuel price hikes …

Ex-Google exec takes reins at under-fire BBC

May 18 2026

A former Google executive took over as the BBC's new director-general on Monday amid proposed job cuts and a $10-billion …

Ex-Google man takes reins at under-fire BBC

May 18 2026

A former Google executive took over as the BBC's new director-general on Monday amid proposed job cuts and a $10-billion …

Swatch blames shopping centres for 'problems' with star product launch

May 18 2026

Swiss watch giant Swatch said Monday insufficient organisation by shopping centres contributed to scuffles at around 20 …

Stocks drop, oil climbs after fresh Trump warning to Iran

May 18 2026

Stock markets mostly retreated and oil prices gained Monday after US President Donald Trump issued a new warning to …

Spanish court orders 55 mn euro tax refund to Shakira 

May 18 2026

A Spanish court has ordered the tax authority to refund Colombian pop star Shakira more than 55 million euros ($64 …

Ikea to cut 850 jobs at parent company

May 18 2026

Inter Ikea Group, the holding company that oversees Ikea, announced Monday that it was cutting 850 jobs, saying its …

Ryanair flags Iran war uncertainty as annual profit jumps

May 18 2026

Irish no-frills carrier Ryanair reported Monday a sharply higher annual profit but warned that the Middle East war has …

G7 finance chiefs meet to seek common stance on unstable ground

May 18 2026

Finance chiefs from the G7 industrialised nations gathered in Paris on Monday for two days of talks aimed at forging a …

Asian stocks sink, oil rises on US-Iran deadlock

May 18 2026

Asian markets lost ground on Monday, extending slides in global markets as the impasse in the war in the Middle East …

India's strategic $9 bn megaport plan for pristine island

May 18 2026

On a remote island in the Andaman Sea, bulldozers are tearing into pristine forests that are home to one of Earth's most …

China's April consumption, factory output growth slowest in years

May 18 2026

China's consumer spending and factory output grew at their slowest pace in years last month, official data showed …

Four takeaways from Musk vs OpenAI trial

May 18 2026

After three weeks of intense hearings,

Jury to decide fate of Musk's blockbuster suit against OpenAI

May 18 2026

Deliberations begin Monday in the blockbuster trial pitting Elon Musk against AI giant OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, …

Shock threat by billionaire Bollore's Canal+ group rocks French cinema

May 17 2026

The head of France's biggest film producer, Canal+, said Sunday that the group would no longer work with 600 industry …

Gucci takes over New York's Times Square for fashion show

May 17 2026

Famed Italian fashion house Gucci took over New York's iconic Times Square on Saturday for its second runway show led by …

German 'chemical town' fears impact of industrial decline

May 17 2026

Germany's industrial decline is taking a painful toll on communities that have long relied on local manufacturing titans …

India scrambles to steady rupee as oil shock bites

May 17 2026

India is scrambling to salvage a sinking rupee as surging oil prices linked to the Middle East conflict threaten to …

Musk wants SpaceX to go public. Here's how it works

May 17 2026

Hundreds of companies raised a combined $70 billion by selling shares to the public in the United States last year.

Big risks and rewards in upcoming IPOs at SpaceX, OpenAI, Anthropic

May 17 2026

Wall Street is licking its chops over an unprecedented slate of massive IPOs set to arrive in the coming months, …

Scuffles from Europe to NYC as Swatch sale descends into chaos

May 16 2026

The launch of limited edition Swatch watches descended into chaos Saturday in several European cities and New York, with …

Modi oversees semi-conductor deal on Dutch trip

May 16 2026

Dutch tech giant ASML signed a deal with Tata Electronics Saturday to help build and scale up a semi-conductor plant in …

Modi oversees semiconductor deal on Dutch trip

May 16 2026

Dutch tech giant ASML signed a deal with Tata Electronics Saturday to help build and scale up a semi-conductor plant in …

Mercedes Benz mulls diversification into defence

May 16 2026

The CEO of German automaking giant Mercedes-Benz has said he has not ruled out entering the defence industry.

Wordle heads to primetime as media seek puzzle reinvention

May 16 2026

News organizations are racing to add puzzles and games to their digital offerings, hoping to replicate the success of a …

Boeing confirms China commitment to buy 200 aircraft

May 15 2026

Aerospace giant Boeing on Friday confirmed that China had committed to purchasing 200 aircraft during a visit to Beijing …

Trump warns against Taiwan independence after China visit

May 15 2026

US President Donald Trump on Friday warned Taiwan against declaring formal independence after concluding his visit to …

Stocks tumble as US-Iran impasse fuels inflation fears

May 15 2026

Global stocks slumped and oil prices rose Friday with worries about sustained inflation driving up bond yields with no …

Canada takes key step towards new oil pipeline

May 15 2026

Prime Minister Mark Carney and the leader of Canada's oil‑rich Alberta province took a major step Friday toward building …

Democrats accuse Trump of stock trade corruption

May 15 2026

Democrats accused US President Donald Trump of corruption on Friday after the disclosure of major stock market …

Xi, Trump eke small wins from talks but no major deals: analysts

May 15 2026

Chinese and US leaders Xi Jinping and Donald Trump concluded a summit in Beijing with some symbolic wins that made for …

French-German tank maker KNDS to push ahead with IPO

May 15 2026

KNDS said Friday that it planned to push ahead with plans for a public offering of its shares, despite reports Berlin is …

Trump says made 'fantastic trade deals' with Xi, but details scarce

May 15 2026

US President Donald Trump said he had made "fantastic trade deals" and settled "a lot of different problems" in his …

Beckham becomes first British billionaire sportsman

May 15 2026

Former Manchester United and England star David Beckham has become Britain's first billionaire sportsman, according to …

Energy-hungry German industries in decline since Ukraine war: data

May 15 2026

Germany's energy-hungry industries have suffered sharp falls in output since the start of the Ukraine war, data showed …

LVMH sells Marc Jacobs to WHP Global, which will form partnership with G-III

May 15 2026

French luxury giant LVMH will sell its Marc Jacobs brand to US brand firm WHP Global, the two companies said Thursday.

Trump says made 'fantastic trade deals' with Xi

May 15 2026

President Donald Trump said Friday he had made "fantastic trade deals" with China's Xi Jinping, as the pair ended a …

Indian magnate Adani agrees multi-million-dollar penalty in US court case

May 15 2026

Indian billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani has agreed to pay a multi-million-dollar settlement in a US civil court …

Mines 'draining Turkey's water sources', environmentalists warn

May 15 2026

Guney was once a water-rich village fed by 50 springs in Turkey's western Usak province, but since a gold mine opened 20 …

Zimbabwe tobacco hits new highs under smallholder contracts

May 15 2026

Rows of green tobacco plants stretched towards the bush in a vast field of a crop that has rebounded to record levels in …

India hikes fuel prices as Middle East war strains supplies

May 15 2026

India's state-run oil companies raised petrol and diesel prices by more than three percent on Friday as disruption to …

Markets wait on Trump-Xi summit, Seoul hits record

May 15 2026

Oil inched higher and Asian markets traded in a narrow range Friday as investors awaited tangible results from US …

Trump to seek tangible trade wins in Xi summit

May 15 2026

US President Donald Trump is seeking trade wins when he meets Xi Jinping on Friday for the last day of a superpower …

Trump traded hundreds of millions in US securities in 2026

May 15 2026

US President Donald Trump was involved in buying and selling securities linked to American companies in transactions …

Canada's Cohere embraces 'low drama' amid AI giant tumult

May 15 2026

In an industry that runs on hype and grand gestures, Canadian AI firm Cohere is charting a different course from Silicon …

Egypt farmers hit by Iran war price surge

May 15 2026

Egyptian smallholders have seen their lives upended by the war in Iran, with soaring fertiliser and energy prices …

Closing arguments in blockbuster trial pitting Musk against OpenAI

May 14 2026

Lawyers for Elon Musk and OpenAI presented closing arguments Thursday in a blockbuster trial where the verdict could …

Tech stocks rally rolls on as US-China talks underway

May 14 2026

European and US stock markets climbed Thursday with Wall Street indices notching fresh records as a tech-fueled rally …

Xi warns Trump on Taiwan at Beijing summit

May 14 2026

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned his US counterpart Donald Trump that missteps on Taiwan could push their two …

US tariffs, cyberattack drive Jaguar Land Rover into loss

May 14 2026

US import tariffs and a debilitating cyberattack pushed Jaguar Land Rover into an annual loss, figures published …

IMF sees risks to global growth forecast over sustained Iran war

May 14 2026

The International Monetary Fund warned on Thursday that continuing disruptions due to the Iran war meant its global …