Business and Economy



US consumer inflation hits three-year high fuelled by Iran war

AFP - 7m ago

Consumer inflation in the United States hit a three-year high in April, with the economic fallout of US President Donald …

Kevin Warsh returns to Federal Reserve with 'regime change' agenda

AFP - 57m ago

Kevin Warsh, the incoming chair of the US Federal Reserve, will return to the central bank with an ambitious reform …

US Senate confirms Trump-nominee Warsh to Federal Reserve board

AFP - 1h ago

The US Senate on Tuesday confirmed Kevin Warsh as a governor on the board of the Federal Reserve, clearing the way for …

French court convicts VW for 'consumer harm' in 'Dieselgate' scandal

AFP - 1h ago

A French court has ordered Volkswagen to pay 100,000 euros ($117,000) on charges of "consumer harm" over the Dieselgate …

Singaporean, Indian firms face criminal charges over Maryland bridge crash

AFP - 2h ago

A Singapore-based company and another in India have been indicted on multiple criminal charges over a 2024 ship crash …

Oil prices advance, stocks retreat on US-Iran deadlock

AFP - 1h ago

Oil prices rallied and stock markets fell Tuesday as investors braced for further volatility after talks appeared to …

Sam Altman to testify at California tech titan trial

AFP - 3h ago

OpenAI founder Sam Altman was expected to take the stand Tuesday in the blockbuster civil trial in California triggered …

Oil prices jump, stocks retreat on US-Iran deadlock

AFP - 2h ago

Oil prices rallied and stock markets fell Tuesday as investors braced for further volatility after talks appeared to …

War in the Middle East: latest developments

AFP - 1h ago

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:

South Korea official floats AI profit social tax as tech giants boom

AFP - 6h ago

A top South Korean official has proposed a tax on AI profits to be redistributed among society as a semiconductor boom …

Vodafone sees signs of recovery amid turnaround plan

AFP - 7h ago

British mobile phone giant Vodafone said Tuesday that it sharply reduced its annual losses as it undergoes major …

Australia's economy 'hostage' to Mideast war: treasurer

AFP - 7h ago

Australia will avoid recession even if a prolonged Middle East war pushes the oil price to $200 a barrel, Treasurer Jim …

Bayer profit up but glyphosate sales struggle

AFP - 8h ago

German agrichemical and pharmaceutical giant Bayer reported Tuesday a bump in first-quarter profit, driven by its …

Japan crisp packs to go colourless due to Iran war crunch

AFP - 9h ago

Japan's leading potato chip maker is feeling the crunch from shortages linked to the Iran war, swapping its signature …

US-Iran deadlock pushes oil higher, Seoul falls on calls for AI social tax

AFP - 2h ago

Oil prices climbed on Tuesday as US-Iran talks stalled, while South Korean calls for a social tax on AI profits dragged …

Thyssenkrupp cuts sales outlook on Mideast war

AFP - 6h ago

German industrial giant Thyssenkrupp cut it sales forecast Tuesday, warning that the war in the Middle East would weigh …

Oil climbs on US-Iran deadlock, Seoul falls on calls for AI social tax

AFP - 1h ago

Oil prices climbed on Tuesday as US-Iran talks stalled, while South Korean calls for a social tax on AI profits dragged …

Bayer profit up on seed business but glyphosate sales struggle

AFP - 2h ago

German agrichemical and pharmaceutical giant Bayer reported a bump in first-quarter profit on Tuesday, driven by its …

New Zealand moves to halt lawsuits over climate damage

AFP - 12h ago

New Zealand will change the law to prevent lawsuits that seek to hold companies liable for "climate change damage" …

South Korea floats AI profit social tax as tech giants boom

AFP - 5h ago

A top South Korean official has proposed a tax on AI profits to be redistributed among society as a semiconductor boom …

Trump warns Mideast truce on 'life support', Iran says ready for any aggression

AFP - 2h ago

President Donald Trump warned the ceasefire in the Middle East war was on "life support" Monday after rejecting the …

Oil climbs but markets shrug off US-Iran deadlock

AFP - 4h ago

Oil prices climbed on Tuesday as US-Iran talks stalled, while markets were mixed as traders appeared to shrug off …

Dua Lipa sues Samsung in US over use of her likeness on TV box

AFP - 11h ago

Pop star Dua Lipa is suing Samsung over trademark infringement, alleging the South Korean conglomerate illegally used a …

MD-11, aircraft in fatal crash, cleared for US flight once more

May 11 2026

The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 -- a jetliner involved in a fatal crash in November -- has been cleared to return to flight, …

Microsoft boss 'proud' of profit-making OpenAI investment

May 11 2026

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said Monday he was "very proud" of his company's profitable early investment in OpenAI, as …

Oil rises, stocks mostly higher on US-Iran deadlock

May 11 2026

Global stock markets mostly rose Monday while oil prices climbed after US President Donald Trump rejected Iran's terms …

Trump says Mideast truce on 'life support' after rejecting Iran stance

May 11 2026

President Donald Trump said the ceasefire in the Middle East war was on "life support" Monday after rejecting Iran's …

Trump to suspend US gas tax as Iran war spikes prices

May 11 2026

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he plans to suspend a federal gasoline tax as consumers deal with surging …

Macron announces 23 bn euros of investment at Africa summit

May 11 2026

French President Emmanuel Macron announced 23 billion euros ($27 billion) of investment for Africa during a major summit …

No end to war in sight as Iran and US reject talks terms

May 11 2026

Iran said Monday it had demanded the release of its frozen assets and the end of a US blockade of its ports, after …

Oil rises, stocks mixed on US-Iran deadlock

May 11 2026

Global stock markets diverged while oil prices rose on Monday after US President Donald Trump rejected Iran's terms for …

Oil rises, stocks diverge on US-Iran deadlock

May 11 2026

Global stock markets diverged and oil prices rose on Monday after US President Donald Trump rejected Iran's terms for …

No end to deadlock as Iran, US reject talks terms

May 11 2026

Iran said Monday it had demanded the release of its frozen assets and the end of a US blockade of its ports, after …

Oil soars as Trump rejects Iran's terms

May 11 2026

Oil prices rose on Monday after US President Donald Trump rejected Iran's terms for ending the war in the Middle East, …

Climate risks fuel insurance costs, squeezing US households even inland

May 11 2026

After Tony Dunn lost his home in a California wildfire, he moved to mountainous North Carolina to avoid more climate …

Microsoft boss to testify on his role in OpenAI's founding

May 11 2026

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is expected to take the stand Monday in Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI, to explain …

Macron arrives in Kenya ahead of Africa summit

May 10 2026

President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday met his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto in Nairobi as part of an African visit aimed …

Oil giant Saudi Aramco says quarterly profits up as crude prices surge

May 10 2026

Saudi oil giant Aramco said Sunday its net profit rose by 25.5 percent in the first quarter compared to the same period …

Soaring energy profits reignite calls for windfall tax

May 10 2026

European oil and gas companies who posted huge profits in the first quarter on soaring prices caused by the war in the …

UK's Starmer vows to 'listen to voters' after election drubbing

May 09 2026

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised on Saturday he would "listen to voters" after his Labour party received a …

Spirit exit likely to lead to higher US airfares, experts say

May 09 2026

The demise of ultra low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines is expected to add further upward pressure to US fares, according …

Global stocks diverge, oil rises as fresh US-Iran clashes hit peace hopes

May 08 2026

Global stock markets diverged and oil prices rose Friday as fresh US-Iran clashes in the Strait of Hormuz jolted hopes …

Stocks diverge, oil rises as fresh US-Iran clashes hit peace hopes

May 08 2026

Stock markets diverged and oil prices rose Friday as fresh US-Iran clashes in the Strait of Hormuz jolted hopes for a …

Selling factories to Chinese partners: risky road for European carmakers

May 08 2026

Carmaker Stellantis announced Friday it is considering selling an underutilised factory in Spain to its Chinese joint …

US job growth beats expectations but consumer confidence at all-time low

May 08 2026

US employment rose more than expected in April, alleviating some concerns about the health of the world's largest …

German sports car maker Porsche to cut 500 jobs

May 08 2026

Porsche said Friday it will close three subsidiaries, including an EV battery developer, with the loss of more than 500 …

US job growth consolidates gains, beating expectations in April

May 08 2026

US employment rose more than expected in April while the unemployment rate remained steady, according to government data …

Stocks diverge, oil steady as fresh US-Iran clashes hit peace hopes

May 08 2026

Stock markets diverged and oil prices steadied Friday as US-Iran clashes in the Strait of Hormuz jolted hopes for a deal …

EU opens door to using US jet fuel as shortages loom

May 08 2026

How big is the jet fuel threat to Europe's summer holidays? The EU says it is not facing shortages yet, but it is …

US adds 115,000 jobs in April, beating expectations

May 08 2026

US employment rose more than expected in April, while the unemployment rate remained steady, government data showed, …

Rubio says expecting Iran response to US proposal on Friday

May 08 2026

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was expecting a response from Iran on Friday to US proposals for a …

Poland signs 44-bn-euro EU defence loan deal to modernise military

May 08 2026

Poland on Friday became the first country to sign a loan agreement with the European Commission to fund the …

Airlines banned from adding fuel charges after ticket purchase: EU

May 08 2026

Airlines must not charge customers extra fuel fees after they have already bought tickets, the EU warned on Friday, as …

Macron seeks to cement Africa legacy with Kenya summit

May 08 2026

President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday embarks on a visit to Africa aimed at renewing France's engagement with the …

Stocks fall, oil steady as fresh US-Iran clashes hit peace hopes

May 08 2026

Stock markets slid and oil prices steadied Friday as US-Iran clashes in the Strait of Hormuz jolted hopes for a deal to …

Myanmar says massive 11,000-carat ruby discovered

May 08 2026

A huge 11,000-carat ruby has been discovered in Myanmar, state media reported Friday, one of the largest ever found in …

Myanmar says massive 11,000-carat ruby discovered in Mandalay

May 08 2026

Myanmar said Friday it had discovered a massive 11,000-carat ruby, one of the largest ever found in the country renowned …

Stocks fall as US-Iran clashes spark peace talks fears

May 08 2026

Stocks sank Friday as US-Iran clashes in the Strait of Hormuz jolted hopes for a deal to end the war and reopen the …

Toyota sees profit drop as US tariffs, Mideast bite

May 08 2026

Japanese auto giant Toyota forecast Friday a 22-percent fall in net profit in the year to next March, as it struggles …

Malaysia plans cloud seeding for drought-hit 'rice bowl'

May 08 2026

Malaysia is resorting to cloud seeding to bring much-needed rain to the country's "rice bowl" north, where a drought has …

Oil jumps, stocks fall as US-Iran clashes spark peace talks fears

May 08 2026

Stocks sank and oil prices jumped Friday as US-Iran clashes in the Strait of Hormuz jolted hopes for a deal to end the …

Where are the flash points in next week's Trump-Xi talks?

May 08 2026

Donald Trump is poised to be the first US president visiting China in almost a decade, but an uneasy trade truce and …

Trump heads for Xi summit overshadowed by Iran war

May 08 2026

US President Donald Trump heads for a superpower summit with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping next week hoping the Iran …

Trump gives EU until July 4 to ratify deal or face tariff hike

May 07 2026

President Donald Trump on Thursday said the European Union must ratify its trade deal with the United States by July 4 …

US targets Cuban military, mine in new sanctions

May 07 2026

The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on a Cuban military conglomerate that controls nearly 40 percent of the …

Google faces new UK lawsuit over online display ads

May 07 2026

Google faces a fresh UK lawsuit accusing it of abusing its dominance in online display advertising, the claimants …

New Israel-Lebanon talks planned as US awaits Iran response to peace deal

May 07 2026

Israeli and Lebanese envoys will sit down for a fresh round of peace talks in Washington next week, even as Israel …

IMF warns of 'inevitable' AI-powered threats to global financial system

May 07 2026

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned on Thursday of the risks to global financial stability posed by …

Oil prices drop awaiting Mideast peace progress

May 07 2026

Oil prices fell and global stock markets traded mixed Thursday awaiting an update on a US plan to end the Middle East …

Germany warns tax revenues to be hit by Iran war

May 07 2026

Germany will generate less tax revenue in the coming years, in large part due to the "irresponsible" Middle East war …

US awaits Iran response to latest deal offer

May 07 2026

The United States was waiting on Thursday for Iran to respond to its latest proposed deal to end the war in the Middle …

AI use surges globally but rich-poor divide widens, Microsoft says

May 07 2026

Generative artificial intelligence is being used by 17.8 percent of the world's working-age population, but the gap …

Defence giant Rheinmetall makes offer for further shipyard

May 07 2026

German arms maker Rheinmetall said Thursday it had made an offer for a further shipyard as the influential defence giant …

Oil sinks, Tokyo leads Asia stock surge on growing Mideast peace hopes

May 07 2026

Oil sank again Thursday and Tokyo's Nikkei index led another strong rally across Asia stocks, fuelled by growing …

AirAsia signs $19bn deal for 150 Airbus A220 jets

May 07 2026

Southeast Asia's AirAsia signed a $19 billion deal to buy 150 Canadian-made Airbus A220-300 jets, the two companies …

Shell profit jumps as Mideast war fuels oil prices

May 07 2026

British energy giant Shell announced Thursday rising net profits for the first quarter as the Middle East war sent oil …

Tokyo leads Asia stock surge on growing Mideast peace hopes

May 07 2026

Tokyo's Nikkei index soared Thursday to lead another strong rally across Asia stocks, fuelled by growing optimism the …

EU weighs options as summer jet fuel threat looms

May 07 2026

How big is the jet fuel threat to Europe's summer holidays? The EU says it is not facing shortages yet, but it is …

Lobito Corridor: Africa's mega-project facing delivery test

May 07 2026

The Lobito Corridor mega-project linking three African countries is shifting from blueprint to proving ground in the …

Africa's Lobito Corridor chief tells AFP business, not geopolitics, drives strategy

May 07 2026

The chief executive of the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) project to link southern African mines to an Angolan export …

Victim's lawyer alleges Boeing was 'negligent' in 2019 Ethiopian crash

May 06 2026

US aviation giant Boeing was "negligent" in the 2019 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 aircraft, the lawyer for …

Trump says Iran deal 'very possible' but threatens strikes if talks fail

May 06 2026

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he believed a deal with Iran was "very possible" but threatened to again bomb …

Musk's SpaceX strikes data center deal with Anthropic

May 06 2026

AI startup Anthropic announced Wednesday it has agreed to a major computing partnership with Elon Musk's SpaceX, …

Oil prices tumble, stocks rally on Mideast peace hopes

May 06 2026

World oil prices dived Wednesday and stock markets rallied on fresh hopes for an end to the Iran war.

Trump says Iran deal 'very possible', but threatens strikes if not

May 06 2026

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he believed a deal with Iran was "very possible", but threatened to resume his …

Pioneering CNN founder Ted Turner dead at 87

May 06 2026

Ted Turner, the flamboyant US entrepreneur who transformed television news with the creation of CNN in 1980 before …

French aircraft carrier pre-positions for possible Hormuz mission

May 06 2026

France's aircraft carrier the Charles de Gaulle was on Wednesday heading towards the southern Red Sea to pre‑position …

Trump sees 'very good chance' of Iran deal, but threatens strikes if not

May 06 2026

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he believed there was "a very good chance" of sealing a peace deal with Iran, …

Europe's first commercial robotaxi service rolls out in Croatia

May 06 2026

For nearly a month, a Croatian company has been rolling out what it says is Europe's first robotaxi service on the …

EU risks financial hit if Chinese suppliers forced out: trade group

May 06 2026

A group representing Chinese companies warned Wednesday the EU would suffer hundreds of billions of euros in losses if …

G7 decries 'economic coercion' in swipe at China

May 06 2026

The trade ministers of the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations Wednesday criticised "economic coercion" by …

CNN founder Ted Turner: 20th century media giant

May 06 2026

Ted Turner created CNN in 1980, revolutionizing the way America, and the world, got their news, and then went on to …

Trump threatens new Iran strikes, piling on pressure for peace deal

May 06 2026

US President Donald Trump threatened Iran on Wednesday with renewed bombing if it did not agree to a peace deal, piling …

Disney shares jump after results top expectations

May 06 2026

Disney shares jumped in pre-market trading Wednesday as the entertainment giant reported better than expected revenues …

Ryanair's O'Leary urges pre-flight morning booze ban

May 06 2026

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has urged a ban on serving alcohol in airport bars before morning flights in an …

Hopes rise for Iran deal as US halts guiding ships in Hormuz

May 06 2026

The United States and a key mediator in the Middle East war expressed new hope of talks leading to a peace deal with …

Cambodian PM's cousin says owned 30% of scam-linked firm

May 06 2026

A cousin of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Wednesday he had owned a 30 percent stake in a digital payments …

US pauses guiding ships through Hormuz, cites Iran deal hopes

May 06 2026

President Donald Trump said he was pausing the US military operation to guide stranded commercial ships through the …

Oil tumbles and stocks rally on peace hopes, Samsung tops $1 trillion

May 06 2026

Oil prices dived again Wednesday on fresh hopes for an end to the Iran war, while Samsung blasted past the $1 trillion …

Oil sinks and stocks rally on peace hopes, Samsung tops $1 trillion

May 06 2026

Oil prices extended losses Wednesday on fresh hopes for an end to the Iran war, while Samsung blasted past the $1 …

US pauses Hormuz escorts, Trump says progress on Iran deal

May 06 2026

The United States will pause escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz barely a day after it began doing …

Fresh UAE attacks blamed on Iran draw new reality in the Gulf

May 06 2026

Hours after the UAE's top oil executive said the country had "emerged stronger" from war and as thousands attended an …