Business and Economy
Tim Cook's time as Apple chief marked by profit absent awe
AFP - 21m ago
An Alabama-born engineer seen as a supply-chain savant, Tim Cook took on the daunting challenge of succeeding Apple's …
Full Story »
Trump's Fed chair pick to face lawmakers at key confirmation hearing
AFP - 1h ago
Kevin Warsh, US President Donald Trump's choice to lead the Federal Reserve, will vow to protect central bank …
Full Story »
Amazon invests another $5 bn in Anthropic
AFP - 2h ago
Amazon on Monday said it pumped another $5 billion into Anthropic as it ramps up its collaboration with the startup …
Full Story »
Apple's Tim Cook to step down as CEO in September
Apr 20 2026
Apple on Monday announced that Tim Cook will step down as the tech giant's chief executive officer in September, handing …
Full Story »
Oil jumps on Hormuz tensions, stocks mostly retreat
Apr 20 2026
US and European stocks reversed Monday as oil prices surged over fears hostilities could resume in the weeks-long Middle …
Full Story »
Colombian environmental activist honored amid threats and exile
Apr 20 2026
Afro-Colombian woman Yuvelis Morales, a 25-year-old who has spent most of her adult life working to block the world's …
Full Story »
Trump Fed chair pick to vow interest rate independence at key hearing
Apr 20 2026
Kevin Warsh, US President Donald Trump's choice to lead the Federal Reserve, will stress his dedication to central bank …
Full Story »
Blue Origin probing rocket's failure to deliver satellite
Apr 20 2026
The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it is requiring Blue Origin to conduct a "mishap investigation" after …
Full Story »
UniCredit woos Commerzbank shareholders in takeover battle
Apr 20 2026
Italian bank UniCredit wooed shareholders in Germany's Commerzbank with promises of higher returns on Monday in moves …
Full Story »
Tit-for-tat blockades once again cripple traffic in Hormuz
Apr 20 2026
Traffic once again seized up in the Strait of Hormuz as both Tehran and Washington imposed separate blockades, with …
Full Story »
Branded pop-up events take center stage at Coachella
Apr 20 2026
With a multitude of promotional events almost as long and diverse as its artist lineup, Coachella, one of the biggest …
Full Story »
Oil jumps on Hormuz tensions, stocks retreat
Apr 20 2026
US and European stocks reversed Monday as oil prices surged over fears hostilities could resume in the weeks-long Middle …
Full Story »
Elon Musk snubs Paris prosecutors' summons over X and Grok
Apr 20 2026
Elon Musk did not appear Monday for a voluntary interview with Paris prosecutors, who had summoned the American tech …
Full Story »
European stocks slide as oil jumps on Hormuz tensions
Apr 20 2026
European stocks fell Monday as oil prices surged over fears hostilities could resume in the weeks-long Middle East war, …
Full Story »
Elon Musk summoned over French X deepfake probe but presence unclear
Apr 20 2026
Billionaire Elon Musk has been summoned for a voluntary interview in Paris on Monday as part of a French probe into his …
Full Story »
Anthropic says will put AI risks 'on the table' with Mythos model
Apr 20 2026
American AI developer Anthropic plans to "lay the risks out on the table" even as it restricts deployment of a new model …
Full Story »
Iran says no plan for US peace talks
Apr 20 2026
Iran insisted it has no plan to attend a new round of negotiations with the United States on Monday, as uncertainty …
Full Story »
Oil prices jump on Iran war escalation but stocks up on peace hope
Apr 20 2026
Oil prices surged Monday on a re-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East war after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz …
Full Story »
War in the Middle East: latest developments
Apr 20 2026
The latest developments in the Middle East war:
Full Story »
France summons Elon Musk over X probe
Apr 20 2026
Billionaire Elon Musk has been summoned for a voluntary interview in Paris on Monday as part of a French probe into his …
Full Story »
Oil prices bounce back on Iran war escalation
Apr 20 2026
Oil prices surged Monday on a re-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East war after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz …
Full Story »
Money, lobbyists, inertia: why fossil fuels are so hard to quit
Apr 20 2026
When the international community agreed to transition away from fossil fuels at the 2023 COP28 global climate summit, …
Full Story »
Rat poison found in baby food jar in Austria as products recalled
Apr 19 2026
Austrian police have found rat poison in a baby food jar in a probe that has seen the company HiPP recall the line over …
Full Story »
French billionaire shrugs off mass exodus at hallowed French publisher
Apr 19 2026
Conservative billionaire Vincent Bollore unapologetically vowed Sunday to find new authors for one of France's most …
Full Story »
Iran says final deal still far off as Hormuz Strait shuttered
Apr 19 2026
The strategic Strait of Hormuz was again closed on Sunday in the stand-off between Iran and the United States, with …
Full Story »
AI 'agent' fever comes with lurking security threats
Apr 19 2026
Artificial intelligence "agents" promise to save users time and energy by automating tasks, but the growing power of …
Full Story »
How France fell for reimagined 19th-century workers' canteens
Apr 19 2026
So-called bouillon restaurants are mushrooming all over France, reviving a traditional low-cost Gallic meal concept that …
Full Story »
Strait of Hormuz to stay closed until port blockade lifts, Iran says
Apr 19 2026
The crucial Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until the United States lifts its naval blockade on Iranian ports, Tehran …
Full Story »
Iran closes Hormuz Strait again, as Trump warns against 'blackmail'
Apr 18 2026
Iran's military declared the Strait of Hormuz closed again on Saturday, prompting ships to abandon attempts to transit …
Full Story »
US extends sanctions waiver on purchases of Russian oil
Apr 18 2026
US President Donald Trump's administration on Friday issued a month-long sanctions waiver allowing the sale of Russian …
Full Story »
Paramount's CinemaCon charm offensive gets lukewarm reception
Apr 18 2026
Paramount Skydance was on a charm offensive at CinemaCon this week, trying to convince theater owners that its megabucks …
Full Story »
China sex toy makers cautiously embrace AI wave
Apr 18 2026
Erotic chatbots, video-synced and voice-activated devices mesmerised visitors at a sex toy expo in Shanghai this …
Full Story »
Trade ships hit in Hormuz as Iran recloses strait
Apr 18 2026
Commercial ships came under fire and threats from Iran's military as they tried to cross the Strait of Hormuz on …
Full Story »
Trade ships hit in Hormuz as Iran reopening falters
Apr 18 2026
A handful of oil and gas tankers crossed the Hormuz Strait Saturday during a brief reopening, tracking data showed, but …
Full Story »
No date set for next round of Iran-US talks: Iran deputy FM
Apr 18 2026
No date has been set for the next round of Iran–US peace talks brokered by Pakistan following the failure of an initial …
Full Story »
Iran closes Hormuz Strait again over US blockade, ships reverse course
Apr 18 2026
Iran's military declared the Strait of Hormuz closed again on Saturday, its military command said, hours after reopening …
Full Story »
Iran closes Hormuz Strait again over US blockade with ships mid-transit
Apr 18 2026
Iran's military declared the Strait of Hormuz closed again on Saturday, its military command said, hours after reopening …
Full Story »
Oil plunges, stocks jump as Iran declares Hormuz open
Apr 17 2026
Oil prices tumbled Friday after Iranian officials said they would allow commercial traffic to resume in the Strait of …
Full Story »
US Supreme Court sides with Chevron in environmental case
Apr 17 2026
The US Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of oil giant Chevron on Friday in a case that could impact environmental …
Full Story »
Trump tells AFP Iran deal close, 'no sticking points' left
Apr 17 2026
US President Donald Trump signaled Friday that an Iran peace deal was all but done, telling AFP there were "no sticking …
Full Story »
Shippers eye Iran Hormuz reopening with wariness
Apr 17 2026
Shipping industry figures gave a cautious welcome Friday to Iran's announcement that it was reopening the crucial Strait …
Full Story »
France, UK to lead 'defensive' force for Hormuz
Apr 17 2026
France and Britain said Friday they will lead a multinational mission to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of …
Full Story »
Trump signals Iran deal near, hails 'brilliant day for world'
Apr 17 2026
US President Donald Trump signaled Friday that an Iran peace deal was all but done, trumpeting agreements on the Strait …
Full Story »
France, UK to lead multinational Hormuz mission
Apr 17 2026
France and Britain said Friday they will lead a multinational mission ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of …
Full Story »
Stranded seafarers endure costly path home from Gulf
Apr 17 2026
When seaman Rex Pereira saw missiles flying above his vessel in the Gulf, it sparked in him one desperate wish: to get …
Full Story »
Trump say Iran blockade continues despite Hormuz reopening
Apr 17 2026
President Donald Trump on Friday welcomed Iran's announcement that the crucial Strait of Hormuz will reopen to shipping, …
Full Story »
Oil plunges, stocks jumps as Iran declares Hormuz open
Apr 17 2026
Oil prices plunged more than 10 percent on Friday after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would be "completely open" for …
Full Story »
First loaded Iranian oil tankers exit Gulf since US blockade: Kpler
Apr 17 2026
Three Iranian oil tankers carrying a total of five million barrels of crude have become the first such loaded vessels to …
Full Story »
Oil drops, stocks mixed amid US-Iran peace hopes
Apr 17 2026
Stock markets diverged and oil prices fell Friday as investors awaited news of a possible extension to the Iran-US …
Full Story »
Video game voice star Troy Baker says 'only humans' can make art
Apr 17 2026
Millions of gamers around the world may not know Troy Baker's face but would recognise his voice -- perhaps as the …
Full Story »
Stocks reverse as investors await news on US-Iran peace talks
Apr 17 2026
Stock markets fell Friday as investors awaited news of an extension to the Iran-US ceasefire, while crude prices edged …
Full Story »
Venezuela, IMF, World Bank restore relations, paving way for investment
Apr 17 2026
The IMF and World Bank said Thursday they are restoring relations with Venezuela, further legitimizing the interim …
Full Story »
Venzuela, IMF, World Bank restore relations, paving way for investment
Apr 17 2026
The IMF and World Bank said Thursday they are restoring relations with Venezuela, further legitimizing the interim …
Full Story »
Netflix shares dive as co-founder Reed Hastings steps away
Apr 17 2026
Netflix shares plummeted more than nine percent Thursday as the TV streaming titan's quarterly earnings failed to …
Full Story »
IMF, World Bank say restoring relations with Venezuela, recognizing interim government
Apr 17 2026
The IMF and World Bank said Thursday they are restoring relations with Venezuela, further legitimizing the interim …
Full Story »
IMF warns of war's human impact far from Middle East
Apr 16 2026
IMF economists warned Thursday that the war in Iran could have “very, certainly severe” consequences far outside the …
Full Story »
France finance minister says Hormuz must open, G7 ready to mitigate war fallout
Apr 16 2026
French Finance Minister Roland Lescure told reporters Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz needs to reopen "but not at any …
Full Story »
Netflix shares dive as revenue barely beats expectations
Apr 16 2026
Netflix shares plummeted more than 8 percent on Thursday as the TV streaming titan reported quarterly revenue of $12.25 …
Full Story »
Stocks rise as optimism over Mideast war takes hold
Apr 16 2026
Wall Street stocks climbed higher Thursday, adding to records as investors greeted optimistic comments from US President …
Full Story »
Spain VP says IMF could recognize Venezuela soon, hastening reengagement
Apr 16 2026
Spain's Vice President Carlos Cuerpo said Thursday that the resumption of relations between the International Monetary …
Full Story »
Australian tycoon battles Meta over fake ads
Apr 16 2026
Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest is asking a US federal court in Silicon Valley to hold Meta accountable for …
Full Story »
EU aims to start disbursing new Ukraine loan in second quarter
Apr 16 2026
The European Union expects to start releasing a new 90-billion-euro loan to Ukraine in the second quarter, the bloc's …
Full Story »
Saudi wealth fund sells football club Al-Hilal
Apr 16 2026
Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund announced Thursday the sale of its majority stake in Saudi Pro League football club …
Full Story »
Luxury group Kering seeks to make flagging Gucci 'unmissable' again
Apr 16 2026
French luxury group Kering promised Thursday to make its flagship Gucci brand once again "unmissable" and boost …
Full Story »
Mideast war an 'unprecedented' blow for region: IMF to AFP
Apr 16 2026
The Middle East war has created an "unprecedented shock" for the region's economies with no guarantee of a quick …
Full Story »
Vessels cross Hormuz destined for Iran despite US blockade
Apr 16 2026
Two sanctioned cargo vessels have crossed the Strait of Hormuz, apparently bound for Iranian ports despite Washington's …
Full Story »
Iran's shadow oil trade endures near Singapore despite war
Apr 16 2026
Near Singapore, thousands of miles from the Strait of Hormuz, ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil have continued …
Full Story »
Lufthansa accelerates cost cuts, closing subsidiary, as fuel prices surge
Apr 16 2026
Lufthansa said Thursday that it was accelerating savings plans by closing a regional subsidiary as the German aviation …
Full Story »
Pernod says Brown-Forman talks 'ongoing' after reported rival offer
Apr 16 2026
French drinks giant Pernod Ricard said Thursday that talks to buy Brown-Forman, the US owner of Jack Daniel's whiskey, …
Full Story »
Commodities exports through Strait of Hormuz collapse, except for Iran
Apr 16 2026
Iran was the top exporter of commodities through the Strait of Hormuz in March, as shipments from other countries fell …
Full Story »
Tokyo stocks hit record high as Iran peace hopes grow
Apr 16 2026
The Tokyo stock market reached a record high Thursday on heightened optimism that the United States and Iran would …
Full Story »
Leading economists call for windfall profit taxes on energy firms
Apr 16 2026
Prominent economists called Thursday for governments to introduce windfall profit taxes on energy companies who are set …
Full Story »
French billionaire Bollore sparks turmoil at top publisher Grasset
Apr 16 2026
French conservative billionaire Vincent Bollore came under attack from dozens of authors on Thursday at one of his …
Full Story »
Repsol taking back control of Venezuelan oil assets
Apr 16 2026
Spanish energy group Repsol said on Thursday it has reached an agreement with the Venezuelan government to regain …
Full Story »
TotalEnergies says was able to maintain production despite war
Apr 16 2026
French oil and gas giant TotalEnergies said Thursday its production in the first quarter of the year was expected to …
Full Story »
Tokyo record leads stocks higher as Iran peace hopes grow
Apr 16 2026
Japanese stocks hit a record high as most equity markets rose Thursday on heightened optimism the United States and Iran …
Full Story »
UK supermarket Tesco says Mideast war hits profit outlook
Apr 16 2026
Britain's biggest supermarket chain Tesco warned Thursday that its profits could be impacted by the Mideast war lifting …
Full Story »
EasyJet says first-half loss to deepen on Mideast war
Apr 16 2026
British no-frills airline EasyJet on Thursday said it expects to post a deeper first-half loss compared with one year …
Full Story »
Kering seeks to 'reignite desirability' with Gucci reset
Apr 16 2026
French luxury group Kering vowed Thursday to "reignite desirability" of its flagging Gucci label, once the jet set's …
Full Story »
AI demand drives chipmaker TSMC's net profit to fresh record
Apr 16 2026
Taiwanese chip maker TSMC said Thursday its net profit surged to a fresh record in the first quarter, fuelled by the …
Full Story »
Fuel supply fears after blaze tears through crucial Australian refinery
Apr 16 2026
Columns of fire engulfed a crucial Australian oil refinery after a chain of explosions, authorities said Thursday, as …
Full Story »
Threat of grounded planes nears as jet fuel supplies dwindle
Apr 16 2026
Could planes soon be stuck on the ground due to a lack of fuel? The risk of jet fuel shortages is growing each day the …
Full Story »
China's economy beats forecasts, but war darkens outlook
Apr 16 2026
China's economy expanded more than expected in the first three months of the year, with official data Thursday …
Full Story »
Luxury giant Kering to chart path for Gucci turnaround
Apr 16 2026
When executives from luxury giant Kering sit down for an investors' day in Florence on Thursday, the troubled Italian …
Full Story »
Tokyo record leads Asia stocks higher as Iran peace hopes grow
Apr 16 2026
Japanese stocks hit a record high as Asian equities extended the week's rally Thursday on heightened optimism the United …
Full Story »
Mexican farmers raise alarm over Sheinbaum's fracking proposal
Apr 16 2026
Over the two decades since fracking started near their lands, farmers in the Mexican state of Veracruz have watched …
Full Story »
US announces new sanctions against Iran oil sector
Apr 15 2026
The United States announced Wednesday it is tightening sanctions against Iran's oil industry as Tehran keeps up its …
Full Story »
Jury finds Ticketmaster owner ran illegal monopoly
Apr 15 2026
A US jury on Wednesday found that entertainment giant Live Nation wielded monopoly power at its Ticketmaster business, …
Full Story »
IMF chief warns of 'tough times' if oil prices stay high
Apr 15 2026
IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva warned Wednesday of difficult times ahead for the global economy if war in the Middle …
Full Story »
S&P 500, Nasdaq end at records as markets bet on US-Iran accord
Apr 15 2026
Major Wall Street stock indices finished at records Wednesday, extending an upward climb on optimism about an accord in …
Full Story »
IMF and Argentina agree deal unlocking $1 bn in assistance
Apr 15 2026
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Wednesday it had reached an agreement with the highly indebted Argentine …
Full Story »
World Bank chief economist warns of hunger risk from war in Iran
Apr 15 2026
The conflict in the Middle East could push millions more towards hunger as its economic fallout reverberates further …
Full Story »
Trump says will fire Fed chair if he stays beyond mandate
Apr 15 2026
President Donald Trump renewed pressure Wednesday on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, with the US leader threatening …
Full Story »
BBC to cut up to 2,000 jobs under 'financial pressures'
Apr 15 2026
The BBC said on Wednesday that the British broadcasting corporation is set to cut up to 2,000 jobs amid a challenging …
Full Story »
Hormuz shipping muted as US blockade takes hold: tracking data
Apr 15 2026
A trickle of ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz Tuesday and Wednesday as a US blockade appeared to further curb traffic …
Full Story »
Swiss watchmakers say time will tell on effects of Mideast conflict
Apr 15 2026
The Middle East war has plunged Swiss watchmakers into uncertainty, testing the resilience of an iconic national …
Full Story »
World Bank announces water security plan covering one billion people
Apr 15 2026
The World Bank announced a plan Wednesday that aims to improve secure water access for a billion people within the next …
Full Story »
Oil rises, stocks mixed as investors eye chances for end of Mideast war
Apr 15 2026
Crude prices climbed Wednesday while stocks diverged as investors digested mixed signals about talks to end the war in …
Full Story »
Merz praises Lufthansa on centenary as strikes ruin party
Apr 15 2026
Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday praised "the strategic importance" of Lufthansa as the German airline giant …
Full Story »
Bosnia approves gas project by Trump-linked investors
Apr 15 2026
Bosnia approved Wednesday a $1.5 billion energy project led by investors close to US President Donald Trump that aims to …
Full Story »
EU says age-check app 'ready' in push to protect children online
Apr 15 2026
European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday that an EU-developed age verification app was ready to go, as …
Full Story »
Stocks edge higher as investors eye chances for end of Mideast war
Apr 15 2026
Stock markets were mostly higher Wednesday on signs that talks were continuing to end the war in the Middle East, …
Full Story »