Business and Economy



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

AFP - 16m ago

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

AFP - 1h ago

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

AFP - 1h ago

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

AFP - 1h ago

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

War in the Middle East: latest developments

AFP - 53m ago

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:

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

AFP - 2h ago

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

Middle East war: global economic fallout

AFP - 3h ago

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

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

AFP - 3h ago

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

AFP - 23m ago

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

AFP - 6h ago

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

AFP - 7h ago

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

AFP - 8h ago

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

AFP - 5h ago

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

AFP - 9h ago

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 …

Pilot, co-pilot killed in runway collision at New York airport

Mar 23 2026

A plane carrying dozens of people collided with a fire truck late Sunday on a runway at New York's LaGuardia airport, …

Asian stocks tumble, oil jumps on Trump's Iran ultimatum

Mar 23 2026

Stocks tumbled Monday and oil prices jumped after Donald Trump and Iranian leaders traded threats over the key Strait of …

Plane, fire truck collide on runway at New York's LaGuardia Airport

Mar 23 2026

A plane carrying dozens of people collided with a fire truck late Sunday on a runway at New York's LaGuardia airport, …

EU chief in Australia with eyes on trade deal

Mar 23 2026

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Australia on Monday, with hopes a free trade deal can be struck after years of …

Global economy under 'major threat' from Strait of Hormuz crisis: IEA chief

Mar 23 2026

The global economy is under "major threat" from the energy crisis caused by the Middle East war and "no country will be …

Asian stocks tumble as Trump gives Iran 48-hour ultimatum

Mar 23 2026

Stocks tumbled Monday and oil prices rose after Donald Trump and Iranian leaders traded threats over the key Strait of …

Middle East war to dominate Houston's 'Davos of Energy'

Mar 23 2026

Energy industry leaders will converge on Texas this week for an annual conference dominated by oil and gas supply …

China's premier vows to expand global 'trade pie': state media

Mar 22 2026

China's number two leader Li Qiang said Sunday that his country was willing to help expand the global "trade pie" by …

Sri Lanka raises fuel prices by 25 percent as war bites

Mar 22 2026

Sri Lanka raised fuel prices by 25 percent on Sunday, the second increase in two weeks, as the country prepared for more …

US-China 'Board of Trade' may help ties but experts flag market worries

Mar 22 2026

As Washington and Beijing mull a new mechanism to adjust trade between the world's two largest economies, some analysts …

Kenya, Uganda double down on rail extension burdened by Chinese debt

Mar 21 2026

The presidents of Kenya and Uganda met near their shared border Saturday to mark the multi-billion-dollar, long-delayed …

Kenya, Uganda open rail extension burdened by Chinese debt

Mar 21 2026

The presidents of Kenya and Uganda met near their shared border Saturday to mark the multi-billion-dollar, long-delayed …

K-pop kings BTS stun Seoul in '2.0' comeback concert

Mar 21 2026

South Korean megastars BTS performed their first show in nearly four years on Saturday in front of enormous crowds in …

K-pop kings BTS rock Seoul in comeback concert

Mar 21 2026

South Korean megastars BTS reunited Saturday for their first show in nearly four years, blowing away enormous crowds in …

BTS fans take over central Seoul for K-pop kings' comeback

Mar 21 2026

South Korean megastars BTS reunite Saturday for their first show in nearly four years, with an expected 260,000 fans …

US jury finds Elon Musk misled Twitter shareholders

Mar 21 2026

A federal jury in California found Friday that tech tycoon Elon Musk misled Twitter shareholders, driving down the …

After Cuba beckons, Miami entrepreneurs are mostly reluctant to invest in the island

Mar 21 2026

Havana announced this week that it would allow Cuban emigrants to invest to address the communist island's severe …

BTS takes over central Seoul for comeback concert

Mar 21 2026

South Korean megastars BTS will reunite Saturday for their first show in nearly four years, taking over central Seoul …

Trump says considering 'winding down' Iran war but rules out ceasefire

Mar 20 2026

President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States was considering "winding down" military operations against …

Stocks drop, oil jumps as Mideast war persists

Mar 20 2026

Stocks tumbled while oil prices pushed higher Friday at the end of a turbulent week in which attacks on Gulf energy …

Supreme leader says Iran dealt enemies 'dizzying blow'

Mar 20 2026

Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Friday the country had dealt its enemies a "dizzying blow" in the war …

Souped-up VPNs play 'cat and mouse' game with Iran censors

Mar 20 2026

Iranians are managing to get online during the current war with the US and Israel despite drastic censorship and …

Stocks drop, as oil rises as Mideast war persists

Mar 20 2026

Stocks fell while oil prices pushed higher Friday at the end of a turbulent week in which attacks on Gulf energy …

Far from war, global fuel frustrations mount

Mar 20 2026

Far from the Middle East war, fallout from oil disruptions is reverberating across the world, unsettling lives from …

Ship crews ration food in Iran blockade: seafarers

Mar 20 2026

Seafarers stuck in the Gulf say they are rationing food and water and anxiously hoping supplies will get through Iran's …

German auto exports to China plunged a third in 2025: study

Mar 20 2026

German auto industry exports to China plunged by a third last year as the country's manufacturers face fierce local …

Mistral chief calls for European AI levy to pay creatives

Mar 20 2026

Companies selling artificial intelligence models in Europe should pay a "levy" to support cultural industries, the head …

Stocks dip, oil calmer as Mideast war persists

Mar 20 2026

Stocks dipped and oil prices steadied Friday, at the end of a turbulent week in which attacks on Gulf energy …

Kuwait refinery hit as Iran marks New Year under shadow of war

Mar 20 2026

Firefighters battled another blaze at a Kuwait oil refinery on Friday after a fresh drone attack from Iran where …

Mideast war exposing Europe's reliance on Gulf flights, airlines warn

Mar 20 2026

The war in the Middle East has exposed Europe's reliance on Gulf companies for flights to Asia, Europe's airlines said …

New BTS album drops ahead of comeback mega-gig

Mar 20 2026

K-pop megastars BTS released a new album Friday, as buzz built ahead of their open-air comeback concert in Seoul that …

Crude down as Netanyahu looks to reassure on war

Mar 20 2026

Crude prices dipped Friday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran was being "decimated" and that the …

Kuwait refinery hit as Iran says missile production 'no concern'

Mar 20 2026

Firefighters battled a blaze at a giant oil refinery in Kuwait on Friday after a fresh drone attack as Iran kept up a …

Trump's Mideast muddle could play into Xi's hands at planned summit

Mar 20 2026

China will be in a stronger position to extract concessions from Donald Trump when the US president finally visits …

Weakened WTO set for high-level meet under cloud of Mideast war

Mar 20 2026

A weakened World Trade Organization will gather ministers in Yaounde next week as it seeks a road to reform, amid …

New BTS album to drop ahead of comeback mega-gig

Mar 20 2026

K-pop megastars BTS release an album Friday billed as reflecting the maturing boy band's Korean roots and identity, as …

Trump gets approval for gold coin in his likeness

Mar 20 2026

An advisory commission hand-picked by President Donald Trump has approved the design of a commemorative gold coin …

'The Bachelorette' canned after star's violent video emerges

Mar 20 2026

"The Bachelorette," one of America's highest profile reality TV shows, was cancelled Thursday just days before the new …

Crude sinks after Netanyahu tries to reassure on Iran war

Mar 20 2026

Crude prices fell more than two percent Friday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran was being …

Three charged with sneaking Nvidia AI chips from US into China

Mar 20 2026

Employees of a US computer company raked in billions of dollars diverting Nvidia artificial intelligence chips to China …

Netanyahu says Iran 'decimated,' Tehran targets Gulf petro-facilities

Mar 20 2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Iran is being "decimated" and it is unclear who is in …

Japan PM placates Trump on Iran, but faces Pearl Harbor surprise

Mar 20 2026

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sailed smoothly past a potential clash with Donald Trump over Iran on Thursday, …

BTS to drop new album ahead of comeback mega-gig

Mar 20 2026

K-pop megastars BTS release a new album Friday a day ahead of a huge comeback concert in Seoul, a record billed as …