Business and Economy



EU accuses four porn platforms of letting children access adult content

AFP - 5m ago

The European Union accused four pornographic platforms on Thursday of allowing children to access adult content in …

Oil climbs, stocks slide on uncertainty over US-Iran talks

AFP - 20m ago

Oil prices jumped and equities slid Thursday as hopes for a peace deal between the US and Iran wavered after Tehran …

US flexes 'new order' trade policy as WTO meet kicks off

AFP - 1h ago

US trade policy is a "corrective response" to the unbalanced rules of the World Trade Organization, US Trade …

Bab al-Mandeb Strait: another key shipping route under threat

AFP - 1h ago

Here are facts and figures about the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a crucial passage into the Red Sea that Iran has threatened …

Africa sets out stall for cotton at the WTO

AFP - 2h ago

African countries are taking a stand at the World Trade Organization to bolster their cotton sector, launching a …

WTO mulls future of global trading under cloud of Mideast war

AFP - 3h ago

The World Trade Organization's ministerial conference opened Thursday against a backdrop of heightened trade tensions …

EU parliament backs Trump tariff deal -- with conditions

AFP - 3h ago

European Union lawmakers on Thursday gave a green light -- with conditions -- to the bloc's tariff deal with US …

Oil jumps, stocks drop on uncertainty over US-Iran talks

AFP - 2m ago

Oil prices jumped and equities slid Thursday as hopes for a peace deal between the US and Iran wavered after Tehran …

Germany unveils rescue plan for struggling chemical sector

AFP - 3h ago

The German government and the country's chemical industry on Thursday presented a sweeping plan to help the ailing …

UK PM 'very keen' to curb addictive social media after US ruling

AFP - 2h ago

UK leader Keir Starmer said Thursday he was "very keen" to tackle addictive features on social media following a …

Trump says Iran 'better get serious' in Mideast war talks

AFP - 1h ago

US President Donald Trump warned Iran on Thursday to engage in talks to end the Middle East war "before it is too late", …

Iran may believe it has the upper hand as Trump seeks talks

AFP - 1h ago

Iran's decision to rebuff a 15-point peace proposal from US President Donald Trump and outline its own conditions for a …

EU urged to broadly restrict 'forever chemicals'

AFP - 4h ago

"Forever chemicals" pose a growing risk to health and the environment and should be broadly banned across the European …

Global trading system hit by 'worst disruptions in the past 80 years': WTO chief

AFP - 1h ago

The global trading system is experiencing the "worst disruptions in the past 80 years", World Trade Organization chief …

War in the Middle East: latest developments

AFP - 5h ago

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:

Cathay Pacific raises fuel surcharge on all flights by 34%

AFP - 5h ago

Hong Kong aviation giant Cathay Pacific announced Thursday it was raising fuel surcharges on all flights by 34 percent …

EU probes Snapchat over suspected child protection failings

AFP - 5h ago

The European Union launched an investigation on Thursday into Snapchat over suspicions the platform is not doing enough …

Oil climbs and equities sink amid mixed messages on 'talks'

AFP - 3h ago

Oil prices jumped and equities fell Thursday as investors tracked developments in the Middle East amid hopes that US and …

Oil rises and equities mixed amid mixed messages on 'talks'

AFP - 59m ago

Oil prices rose and equities fell Thursday as investors tracked developments in the Middle East amid hopes that US and …

EU to vote on Trump tariff deal -- but eyes rest of world

AFP - 3h ago

European Union lawmakers are on track to give a green light -- with conditions -- Thursday to the bloc's tariff deal …

Venezuela oil reserves both entice and repel energy giants

AFP - 5h ago

President Donald Trump's administration is pushing to open Venezuela's untapped natural resources to US investment

Israel strikes Iran as Trump says Tehran wants deal to end war

AFP - 6h ago

Israel launched strikes across Iran on Thursday, hours after US President Donald Trump said Tehran wanted a deal to end …

Middle East war: global economic fallout

AFP - 2h ago

Here are the latest economic events in the Middle East war:

Zimbabwe lithium export ban triggers crackdown, concerns

AFP - 9h ago

A month after banning raw lithium exports, Zimbabwe is tightening its regulations and ramping up its crackdown on …

Oil edges up and equities mixed amid mixed messages on 'talks'

AFP - 4h ago

Oil prices rose and equities were mixed Thursday as investors tracked developments in the Middle East war

WTO mulls future of global trade under cloud of Mideast war

AFP - 11h ago

The World Trade Organization's 166 members appeared deeply divided as ministers gathered in the Cameroonian capital for …

Iran says 'no negotiations' as US warns to accept 15-point deal

AFP - 3h ago

US President Donald Trump is ready to "unleash hell" if Iran does not accept a deal to end the nearly four-week Middle …

UN pushes fuel solution for Cuba aid work amid US talks

AFP - 12h ago

The United Nations has proposed an emergency plan for crisis-hit Cuba, including tracking fuel use, amid talks with the …

Day of reckoning arrives for social media after US court loss

Mar 25 2026

A Los Angeles jury's ruling that Meta and YouTube contributed to a teenage girl's depression marks a potential turning …

US jury finds Meta, YouTube liable in social media addiction trial

Mar 25 2026

A Los Angeles jury on Wednesday found Meta and YouTube liable for harming a young woman because of an addictive design …

Oil prices slip, stocks rally as Washington, Tehran bicker over talks

Mar 25 2026

Oil prices fell and stock markets rallied Wednesday on reports of a US plan to end the war with Iran -- which promptly …

Trump's Beijing trip rescheduled for May, after Iran delay

Mar 25 2026

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing in May after …

California jury finds Meta, YouTube liable in social media addiction trial

Mar 25 2026

A Los Angeles jury on Wednesday found Meta and YouTube liable for harming a young woman through the addictive design of …

US EPA issues waiver for E15 fuel to address oil supply issues

Mar 25 2026

The US Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday issued a temporary emergency waiver to allow countrywide sales of …

Grieving families hail court victory against Instagram, YouTube

Mar 25 2026

Hearing the news that Instagram and YouTube had been found liable Wednesday for contributing to a young American woman's …

Internet providers not liable for music piracy by users: top US court

Mar 25 2026

The US Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday in a landmark copyright case that internet service providers (ISPs) are not …

Oil prices slip, stocks rally on Mideast peace hopes

Mar 25 2026

Oil prices tumbled and stock markets rallied Wednesday on reports of a US plan to end the war with Iran -- which …

Iran Hormuz 'toll booth': legally risky route for shippers

Mar 25 2026

Here are the latest facts about Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial trade waterway virtually closed off by …

Study links major polluters to big climate damages bill

Mar 25 2026

The economic cost of carbon emissions is far higher than previously estimated, said a new study Wednesday that links big …

Hungary says will phase out gas deliveries to Ukraine

Mar 25 2026

Hungary's prime minister said Wednesday that Budapest would phase out gas deliveries to Ukraine, the latest salvo in the …

Mideast war sparks long queues at Kinshasa petrol stations

Mar 25 2026

Long queues of cars and motorcycles have built up at petrol stations in DR Congo's sprawling capital Kinshasa over fears …

Oil prices tumble, stocks rally on Mideast peace hopes

Mar 25 2026

Oil prices tumbled and stock markets rallied Wednesday on reports that the United States had sent a peace plan to Iran.

Aviation, tourism, agriculture... the economic sectors hit by the war

Mar 25 2026

The war in the Middle East is impacting numerous economic sectors and not only in the region, both by direct disruptions …

AI making cyber attacks costlier and more effective: Munich Re

Mar 25 2026

Artificial intelligence is making cyberattacks increasingly sophisticated and costlier for businesses, reinsurer Munich …

War-linked power crunch pushes Sri Lanka to four-day week

Mar 25 2026

Millions of Sri Lankans enjoyed a government-ordered extra day off on Wednesday as the island nation battles an energy …

IEA chief says 'ready' to release more oil reserves if needed

Mar 25 2026

The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Wednesday that he was "ready" to approve the release of more oil …

German business morale falls as war puts recovery on ice: survey

Mar 25 2026

German business morale fell in March as the war in the Middle East puts hopes of a recovery in Europe's struggling top …

Labubu maker Pop Mart's shares fall 23% despite surging earnings

Mar 25 2026

Chinese toymaker Pop Mart's shares tumbled more than 20 percent on Wednesday, despite strong annual earnings, as …

ECB won't be 'paralysed' in face of energy shock: Lagarde

Mar 25 2026

The European Central Bank has several options for dealing with the Middle East war energy shock, its chief Christine …

Crude tumbles, stocks rally on hopes for Iran war de-escalation

Mar 25 2026

Oil prices tumbled and stocks rose Wednesday after reports that Washington sent a peace plan to Iran, while Tehran …

Japan PM asks IEA to prepare additional 'coordinated release' of oil

Mar 25 2026

The head of the International Energy Agency said Wednesday he was "ready to move forward" with an additional release of …

Japan PM asks IEA chief to prepare additional 'coordinated release' of oil

Mar 25 2026

The head of the International Energy Agency said Wednesday he was "ready to move forward" with an additional release of …

BTS concert drew 18.4 million viewers, says Netflix

Mar 25 2026

The comeback concert by K-pop megastars BTS drew an estimated 18.4 million viewers worldwide, streaming giant Netflix …

Top WTO official sounds fertiliser warning over Middle East war

Mar 25 2026

Disruptions to fertiliser supplies caused by the Middle East war pose a double threat to global food security through …

Dirty diapers born again in Japan recycling breakthrough

Mar 25 2026

Billions of dirty diapers end up buried or burned every year in Japan -- more from seniors than babies -- but a …

OpenAI kills Sora video app in pivot toward business tools

Mar 25 2026

OpenAI said Tuesday that it would shut down its artificial intelligence video generation app Sora barely six months …

New Mexico jury finds Meta liable for endangering children

Mar 25 2026

A New Mexico jury on Tuesday found social media giant Meta liable for endangering children by making them vulnerable to …

Oil, stock trading spiked before Trump's Iran remarks

Mar 24 2026

Thousands of oil contracts -- a far higher volume than normal -- were traded 15 minutes before US President Donald Trump …

Oil prices jump as Trump's Iran claims raise doubts

Mar 24 2026

Oil prices jumped Tuesday as traders turned cautious over the prospect of a negotiated agreement between the United …

Data canary shows economy already suffering from Middle East war

Mar 24 2026

Soaring fuel prices due to the Middle East war and snarled supply chains are already hurting businesses, business survey …

ConocoPhillips chief seeks extra US protection of Mideast assets

Mar 24 2026

US oil giant ConocoPhillips has been urging President Donald Trump's administration to provide extra protection around …

Iran, Israel trade strikes despite Trump talk of negotiations

Mar 24 2026

Iran and Israel traded strikes on Tuesday, as the Middle East war showed no sign of de-escalation after US President …

Meta awaits verdict in New Mexico child safety trial

Mar 24 2026

A New Mexico jury began its first full day of deliberations on Tuesday in a trial where social media giant Meta is …

Oil prices jump, stocks slip as Trump's Iran claims raise doubts

Mar 24 2026

European and US stocks resumed sliding and oil prices jumped on Tuesday as traders turned cautious over the prospect of …

Xiaomi quarterly profit slumps despite annual EV gains

Mar 24 2026

Chinese electronics giant Xiaomi announced a dip in quarterly profit on Tuesday after slower smartphone sales, while …

Oil prices jump, stocks waver after Trump's Iran claim

Mar 24 2026

European stock markets steadied, oil prices jumped and the dollar rebounded on Tuesday as traders turned cautious over …

Iran strikes Israel, denies Trump talks

Mar 24 2026

Iran fired a fresh broadside of missiles at Israel Tuesday, causing damage and injuries in Tel Aviv, as uncertainty …

Australia, EU agree sweeping new trade pact eight years in the works

Mar 24 2026

The European Union and Australia struck a long-awaited free-trade deal on Tuesday, while also agreeing to boost defence …

Gas shortages push India's poor back to wood and coal

Mar 24 2026

Soaring black-market prices of cooking gas in India's capital are pushing poorer families back to wood and coal, raising …

'Plundered': Senegal fishers feel sting of illegal, industrial vessels

Mar 24 2026

Ibrahima Mar first lost his livelihood then lost his son when the fish off Senegal's coast began to disappear, rupturing …

Iran hits Israel with missiles after denying Trump talks

Mar 24 2026

Iran fired a fresh broadside of missiles at Israel Tuesday, causing damage and injuries in Tel Aviv, as uncertainty …

Stocks rise on Trump U-turn but unease sees oil bounce

Mar 24 2026

Stocks rose Tuesday after Donald Trump delayed strikes on Iranian energy sites and hailed "very good" talks with Tehran …

Asian stocks rise on Trump U-turn but unease sees oil bounce

Mar 24 2026

Asian stocks rose Tuesday after Donald Trump delayed strikes on Iranian energy sites and hailed "very good" talks with …

Back to black: facing energy shock, Asia turns to coal

Mar 24 2026

Asian countries are ramping up use of polluting coal to tackle energy shortages and price spikes linked to the Iran war, …

'Perfect Japan' posts spark Gen Z social media backlash

Mar 24 2026

Take an everyday video on any suburban transport network, add anime-style music and a rosy filter, and it's suddenly a …

Australia, EU agree to sweeping new trade pact after eight years

Mar 24 2026

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese struck a long-awaited free …

Australia, EU agree sweeping new trade pact

Mar 24 2026

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese struck a long-awaited free …

US social media addiction trial jury struggles for consensus

Mar 24 2026

Jurors resume deliberations on Tuesday in a landmark social media trial after signaling that they were having trouble …

US deploys immigration agents to airports amid shutdown chaos

Mar 24 2026

The US immigration agency at the center of a firestorm over heavy-handed enforcement tactics began deploying Monday to …

EU chief meets Australian PM as trade talks enter 'last mile'

Mar 23 2026

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday as talks to strike a …

EU chief to meet Australian PM as trade talks enter 'last mile'

Mar 23 2026

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen will meet Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday as talks to …

Jury at US social media addiction trial reports 'difficulty' in finding consensus

Mar 23 2026

The jurors in a landmark social media trial signaled Monday that they could not reach a consensus against one of the two …

Venezuela protesters demand end to 'hunger' level wages

Mar 23 2026

Hundreds of Venezuelan workers and pensioners marched Monday for an increase in "hunger" wages as well as pensions …

Runway collision kills two pilots at New York airport

Mar 23 2026

Two pilots were killed and dozens of people injured after an Air Canada plane collided with a fire truck on a runway at …

Oil slides, stocks rebound on Trump's Iran remarks

Mar 23 2026

Oil prices tumbled and stock markets rebounded Monday after US President Donald Trump suddenly ordered a halt to strikes …

Trump administration seeks to ease oil fears but industry wary

Mar 23 2026

A top US official in President Donald Trump's government sought to reassure fears about the oil market Monday as war …

Bosnian truckers blocked EU freight terminals for a day over visa rules

Mar 23 2026

Bosnian truck drivers blockaded two freight terminals on the border with EU member Croatia on Monday in a one-day …

What cargo ships are passing Hormuz strait?

Mar 23 2026

Just a trickle of cargo ships and tankers -- most of them Iranian -- have made it through the Strait of Hormuz since …

Runway collision kills two pilots, shutters New York airport

Mar 23 2026

Two pilots were killed and dozens of people injured after an Air Canada plane collided with a fire truck on a runway at …

Oil prices slide, European stocks rebound on Trump's Iran remarks

Mar 23 2026

Oil prices tumbled and stock markets rebounded Monday as US President Donald Trump suddenly ordered a halt to strikes on …

Namibia rejects Starlink licence request

Mar 23 2026

Namibia said Monday it had rejected a request for billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink to operate its satellite internet …

US, TotalEnergies reach 'nearly $1 bn' deal to end offshore wind projects

Mar 23 2026

The United States and TotalEnergies on Monday signed an agreement to end the French company's offshore US wind farm …

Countries act to limit fuel price rise, cut consumption

Mar 23 2026

The surge in fuel prices triggered by the war in the Middle East has prompted countries to take measures to limit the …

Trump calls off Iran strikes and announces 'very good' talks

Mar 23 2026

President Donald Trump shelved plans on Monday to attack Iran's power plants in a stunning about-turn sparked by what he …

Russia, Vietnam advance plans for first nuclear power plant

Mar 23 2026

Russia and Vietnam on Monday signed a cooperation agreement on the construction of Vietnam's first nuclear power plant, …

EU chief in Australia as trade talks enter 'last mile'

Mar 23 2026

EU-Australia talks to strike a trade pact were in their "last mile" Monday, Brussels said as European Union chief Ursula …

Trump announces 'very good' talks with Iran on ending war

Mar 23 2026

President Donald Trump said Monday the United States and Iran had held "very good" talks towards ending the three-week …

German court rejects landmark climate case against BMW, Mercedes

Mar 23 2026

A German top court on Monday rejected a landmark climate case brought by environmentalists that had aimed to force auto …

Trump lifts Iran threat after 'very good' talks on ending war

Mar 23 2026

President Donald Trump said Monday the United States and Iran had held "very good" talks towards ending the three-week …

Stocks tumble, oil jumps on Trump's Iran ultimatum

Mar 23 2026

Stock markets tumbled as oil prices and the dollar jumped Monday after US President Donald Trump and Iranian leaders …

Iran defies Trump Hormuz ultimatum with naval mine threat

Mar 23 2026

Iran threatened Monday to deploy naval mines in the Gulf and target power plants across the region as it defied US …

Mideast war threatens energy crisis worse than 1970s oil shocks

Mar 23 2026

The world faces an energy crisis worse than both 1970s oil shocks combined if the Middle East war drags on, the head of …