Business and Economy



Bugatti CEO to stop leaving keys inside cars after Chiron theft

AFP - 9m ago

The Croatian CEO of Bugatti vowed on Thursday to stop leaving keys inside cars after his multi-million-dollar Chiron was …

US economy posts strong growth, inflation stubbornly high in challenge to Trump

AFP - 46m ago

The United States posted strong economic growth in the third quarter, but the Fed's preferred inflation gauge also …

French court rules Meta must negotiate over rights payments

AFP - 1h ago

A French appeals court rejected on Thursday an attempt by Meta to overturn an order to negotiate in good faith with …

Google drags down Wall Street stocks

AFP - 30m ago

Wall Street's main stock indices flashed red Thursday as investors dropped shares in the parent company of Google …

ECB says has tools to calm markets as French debt worries rise

AFP - 2h ago

The European Central Bank on Thursday said it had crisis-fighting tools to deal with "disorderly" markets, seeking to …

IMF says engaging with Iraq on preparing new bailout program

AFP - 3h ago

The International Monetary Fund on Thursday said it was engaging with Iraqi authorities as it prepares a new bailout …

ECB chief Lagarde to step down early, triggering succession race

AFP - 3h ago

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde will step down in February, months before her term ends, officials …

Tech jitters pull down Wall Street stocks

AFP - 2h ago

Wall Street's main stock indices flashed red Thursday as investors dropped shares in the parent company of Google …

ECB holds rates steady after Lagarde says to quit early

AFP - 2h ago

The European Central Bank on Thursday held interest rates steady despite rising inflation fuelled by the Iran war energy …

Afghanistan opium poppy cultivation surges despite Taliban govt ban: UN

AFP - 5h ago

Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan more than quadrupled in 2026 despite a Taliban government ban, the United Nations …

VW says 'no time to lose' to slash costs after 5.8 billion euro loss

AFP - 6h ago

German carmaker Volkswagen said Thursday that it needed to redouble cost-cutting efforts after its quarterly loss …

Stock markets diverge on corporate earnings, tech jitters

AFP - 2h ago

Stock markets diverged Thursday as investors weighed a fresh batch of corporate earnings against growing concerns over …

Oil majors reap bumper profits as Mideast war drives prices

AFP - 7h ago

Oil and gas giants Shell and TotalEnergies on Thursday reported soaring quarterly net profits as the Middle East war …

Christine Lagarde: unifying ECB chief in turbulent times

AFP - 7h ago

Christine Lagarde, who will step down in February 2027 as president of the European Central Bank, has been seen as a …

ECB President Christine Lagarde to step down in February 2027

AFP - 7h ago

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde will step down in February 2027, months before her term expires in …

Asian stock markets fluctuate after mixed tech results

AFP - 3h ago

Tech firms diverged on Thursday with a mixed bag of results for some of the AI sector's big beasts tempering the recent …

TotalEnergies profit hits record on high oil prices

AFP - 10h ago

French oil and gas giant TotalEnergies said Thursday that its net profit hit a new record in the third quarter as the …

Samsung logs record quarterly profits despite investor AI jitters

AFP - 12h ago

Massive demand for AI chips delivered record quarterly profits to South Korea's Samsung Electronics on Thursday, but …

Putin hails Elon Musk as 'truly a genius'

AFP - 13h ago

US tech tycoon Elon Musk is "truly a genius" for deploying thousands of satellites into orbit, President Vladimir Putin …

Microsoft beats expectations fueled by Azure cloud business

Oct 28 2026

Microsoft shares popped more than five percent Wednesday afternoon after it reported better than expected revenue and …

Shares in Google owner Alphabet plummet on profit miss, ad slowdown

Oct 28 2026

Shares in Google parent Alphabet fell more than 10 percent in after-hours trading Wednesday as the company reported …

Shares in Google owner Alphabet sink on profit miss, ad slowdown

Oct 28 2026

Shares in Google parent Alphabet fell more than seven percent in after-hours trading Wednesday as the company reported …

US stocks eye big tech earnings as Fed holds rates steady

Oct 28 2026

Wall Street stocks finished higher Wednesday after a choppy session, digesting a status quo Federal Reserve decision as …

US Fed holds interest rates steady despite 'too high' inflation

Oct 28 2026

The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday held interest rates steady, even as its Chairman Kevin Warsh said inflation remained …

Airbus aims for record deliveries despite disappointing quarter

Oct 28 2026

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus said Wednesday its third quarter revenues dipped as it finished fewer planes, but …

US Fed holds interest rates steady despite surging inflation

Oct 28 2026

The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday held interest rates steady, in line with market expectations, days ahead of crucial …

UK budget lifts bank tax to offset surging energy bills

Oct 28 2026

Britain's Labour government will increase a tax on profits earned by banks to help reduce soaring energy bills for …

Investors turn cautious ahead of tech results, Fed update on rates

Oct 28 2026

A tech rally ran out of steam on Wednesday as investors turned cautious ahead of the latest batch of earnings results …

'Cruise for life' strands passengers in Cambodia as operator goes bust

Oct 28 2026

Around 200 passengers who paid to live on a cruise ship while travelling the world were abruptly left in Cambodia after …

French firm Safran helps build aircraft wings of the future in UK factory

Oct 28 2026

For the French aerospace company Safran the future runs through a century-old factory in Britain where it aims to …

Canada hikes rates to contain oil price surge caused by Iran war

Oct 28 2026

Canada's central bank raised its key interest rate to 2.5 percent Wednesday, as it tries to prevent an oil price surge …

World Bank warns of worsening food insecurity as commodity prices soar

Oct 28 2026

The World Bank on Wednesday warned that global commodity prices were set to increase by 23 percent by the end of 2026, …

Tech optimism lifts stocks ahead of Fed update on rates

Oct 28 2026

Share prices of technology firms surged Wednesday in Asia after blockbuster earnings from the South Korean chip giant SK …

US Fed expected to hold rates steady ahead of key midterm elections

Oct 28 2026

The US Federal Reserve will announce a decision on setting interest rates on Wednesday, with markets expecting the …

Denmark mulls banning turbo chickens

Oct 28 2026

Denmark's animal welfare minister said Wednesday that he wants to introduce a ban on the farming of fast-growing "turbo …

Real Madrid apologise to China over Mbappe comments

Oct 28 2026

Real Madrid apologised to China on Wednesday for Kylian Mbappe's comments poking fun at Mao Zedong, after the star …

Billionaire Ambani's Jio soars in market debut after India's biggest IPO

Oct 28 2026

Shares in India's Jio Platforms surged nearly 27 percent on its market debut Wednesday, after raising more than $3 …

'Eat the rich': Indonesians protest against graft, wildfires

Oct 28 2026

Thousands of Indonesians protested in Jakarta and other cities Wednesday against economic hardship, graft and the …

China says takes Mbappe apology 'seriously' after Mao remark

Oct 28 2026

China said Wednesday it took "seriously" an apology from Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe after comments he made …

Tech stocks soar as SK hynix adds to rising AI confidence

Oct 28 2026

Technology firms surged in Asia on Wednesday after blockbuster earnings from chip giant SK hynix helped boost optimism …

AI chip giant SK hynix posts seven-fold surge in quarterly operating profit

Oct 28 2026

South Korean chip giant SK hynix on Wednesday reported a 632 percent surge in third-quarter operating profit, fuelled by …

Two hundred 'Cruise for life' passengers stranded in Cambodia

Oct 28 2026

Around 200 passengers who paid to live on a cruise ship while travelling the world were abruptly left in a Cambodian …

S.African activists push back on data centre rush

Oct 28 2026

A little boy balanced a large bottle of water on his shoulder as he returned from a communal tap near land acquired by a …

Mbappe furore rages on in China, but Mao comments censored

Oct 28 2026

Kylian Mbappe struggled to dissipate anger on Chinese social media on Wednesday despite apologising for his comments on …

Billionaire Ambani's Jio jumps 21% in market debut after record India IPO

Oct 28 2026

Shares in India's Jio Platforms surged more than 21 percent on its market debut Wednesday, after raising more than $3 …

Anthropic's record IPO faces some big questions

Oct 28 2026

No startup has ever grown so fast. In five years, Anthropic has become an AI giant valued at $1 trillion, and it is now …

Billionaire Ambani's Jio to debut after record India IPO

Oct 28 2026

India's Jio Platforms makes its stock market debut on Wednesday after a record-breaking IPO, capping billionaire owner …

UK set for cautious budget as borrowing costs climb

Oct 28 2026

Britain's finance minister John Healey will unveil his first budget Wednesday, as he juggles commitments to defence …

Meta, Snap head to trial in another case about social media's harms

Oct 28 2026

Jury selection is expected to begin on Wednesday in Los Angeles for another landmark trial about the alleged harms of …

Tuvalu has 'limited' power to halt its fossil fuel investments: NZ govt papers seen by AFP

Oct 28 2026

A low-lying Pacific nation urging drastic climate action has "limited ability" to halt its own government investments in …

Trump drastically loosens oil and gas methane rules

Oct 28 2026

US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday a sweeping rollback of rules that stop oil and gas producers from emitting …

AI chip giant SK hynix says quarterly operating profit soars 630%

Oct 28 2026

South Korean chip giant SK hynix said Wednesday its third-quarter operating profit soared 632 percent on-year, largely …

'Faerie' nights: 'ACOTAR' fans finally get their book

Oct 27 2026

Thousands of costumed fans lined up for Tuesday's release of the sixth novel in Sarah J. Maas's hit "A Court of Thorns …

Boeing shares tumble after it releases cautious growth forecast

Oct 27 2026

Boeing shares plunged Tuesday as the company's cautious production growth timeframe surprised Wall Street, deepening …

Tech firms gain ahead of Fed decision, results from AI giants

Oct 27 2026

Wall Street stocks rose for a second straight session Tuesday behind renewed enthusiasm for artificial …

Trump set to drastically loosen oil and gas sector's methane rules

Oct 27 2026

President Donald Trump is set to announce Tuesday a sweeping rollback of rules that stop oil and gas producers from …

Storied Paris department store seeks bankruptcy protection

Oct 27 2026

Paris department store BHV Marais, which courted controversy last year with a partnership with Asian fast-fashion giant …

Mercedes-Benz cuts 2026 profit outlook on tough China market

Oct 27 2026

Mercedes-Benz on Tuesday became the third big German carmaker to cut its outlook for the year on tough conditions in …

Lula's re-election revives Brazil-US tensions

Oct 27 2026

US President Donald Trump risks further straining an already tense relationship with Brazil after he branded elections …

Tech firms gain on Anthropic IPO optimism; HSBC slumps in London

Oct 27 2026

Tech firms rose Tuesday for a second day as AI titan Anthropic's IPO filing revived optimism over the sector.

Boeing releases cautious growth plan as shares fall sharply

Oct 27 2026

Boeing shares slumped around nine percent Tuesday as the company's cautious production growth timeframe surprised Wall …

Boeing reports smaller loss as it aims for stable output growth

Oct 27 2026

Boeing on Tuesday reported a smaller quarterly loss compared with the same period last year -- when plane certification …

Dangote, Nigeria's oil tycoon rewriting Africa's story

Oct 27 2026

After going from hawking sweets to his primary schoolmates to becoming Africa's richest man, Nigerian billionaire Aliko …

Tech firms track Wall St rally on mixed day for stock markets

Oct 27 2026

Tech firms rallied Tuesday following a healthy run-up on Wall Street as traders welcomed AI titan Anthropic's IPO filing …

Norway media take legal action to block Meta from using content

Oct 27 2026

Norway's main media organisations said Tuesday they had taken legal action to block Meta from enforcing new user terms …

HSBC profit jumps on higher rates, lower costs

Oct 27 2026

HSBC profits jumped in the third quarter thanks to higher interest rates and lower costs, the bank giant said Tuesday, …

Germany, EU, stable investment stops despite upheaval: Merz

Oct 27 2026

Europe remained a stable destination for investment despite political turbulence at home and elsewhere, German …

Tech firms track Wall St rally on mixed day for Asian markets

Oct 27 2026

Tech firms rallied Tuesday following a healthy run-up on Wall Street as traders welcomed AI titan Anthropic's IPO filing …

South Korea's chip boom fuels forecast-beating third-quarter growth

Oct 27 2026

South Korea's economy grew more than three times faster than expected in the third quarter, driven by booming …

NBA inks deal with Kalshi and Polymarket, citing safeguards

Oct 27 2026

The NBA on Monday announced commercial partnerships with Kalshi and Polymarket that the basketball league said will help …

South Korea economy grows three times faster than expected in Q3

Oct 27 2026

South Korea's economy grew more than three times faster than expected in the third quarter, driven by booming …

Lula win rattles Brazil markets over spending spree fears

Oct 26 2026

The reelection of Brazilian leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva rattled markets on Monday as investors, who had expected a …

Brazil markets battered after Lula win, AI in focus elsewhere

Oct 26 2026

Brazilian markets took a battering Monday following the shock reelection of leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, …

Anthropic points to AI dangers, soaring sales in IPO filing

Oct 26 2026

Anthropic, one of the world's leading artificial intelligence companies, on Monday made public its plans to sell shares …

Microsoft offers voluntary exit packages to 60,000 staff

Oct 26 2026

Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees, the company said on Monday, roughly a quarter of its …

Brazil markets battered, tech in focus elsewhere

Oct 26 2026

Brazilian markets took a battering Monday following the shock re-election of leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da …

German union slams Audi boss's appearance at Trump rally

Oct 26 2026

The head of a major German trade union on Monday blasted the boss of carmaker Audi for his appearance at an election …

Part of London's Oxford Street pedestrianised 'forever'

Oct 26 2026

A stretch of London's iconic Oxford Street was made traffic-free "forever" from Monday, as pedestrians took over the …

Anthropic unveils IPO filing, showing soaring sales and AI risks

Oct 26 2026

Anthropic, one of the world’s leading artificial intelligence companies, on Monday made public its plans to sell shares …

New levy on non-EU parcels kicks in Sunday

Oct 26 2026

The European Union will from Sunday slap a two-euro ($2.25) handling fee on packages from outside the 27-nation bloc in …

Stocks climb ahead of tech earnings, central bank calls

Oct 26 2026

The world's main stock markets mostly climbed Monday as investors geared up for the week's crucial run of central bank …

Stocks mostly rise before tech earnings, central bank calls

Oct 26 2026

The world's main stock markets mostly climbed Monday as investors geared up for the week's crucial run of central bank …

UK set for 'limited' budget giveaways as borrowing costs surge

Oct 26 2026

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham's new government unveils its first budget Wednesday, testing a commitment to ease …

Stock markets mixed ahead of tech earnings, central bank decisions

Oct 26 2026

Equity markets were mixed on Monday as investors geared up for a crucial run of central bank decisions and tech …

Stocks sink as traders brace for tech earnings, central bank decisions

Oct 26 2026

Asian stocks were mixed on Monday as investors geared up for a crucial run of central bank decisions and tech earnings, …

Canada-EU summit seeks deepened alliance as US ties fray

Oct 26 2026

Canadian and European Union leaders meet in Montreal this week for a summit aimed at deepening their alliance as both …

New levy on non-EU parcels kicks in November 1

Oct 26 2026

The European Union will from November 1 slap a two-euro ($2.25) handling fee on packages from outside the 27-nation bloc …

Trump says Canada trade deal coming 'soon'

Oct 26 2026

A trade agreement between the United States and Canada would be reached "pretty soon," President Donald Trump told a …

France's debt woes in focus as ECB meets

Oct 26 2026

France's deteriorating public finances will take centre stage when the European Central Bank meets this week, but …

First international flight takes off from new Sydney airport

Oct 26 2026

The first international flight took off Monday from a new, multi-billion-dollar airport in the fast-growing western …

Maine logging, cross-border ties whipsawed by US-Canada tariff war

Oct 26 2026

In the heat of US midterm elections, President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada -- and Ottawa's retaliation -- have …

From Carnegie to Claude: AI wealth could reshape philanthropy

Oct 26 2026

A wave of American wealth created by artificial intelligence companies could produce some of the largest charitable sums …

Sri Lanka seeks faster green energy shift after oil shocks

Oct 25 2026

Sri Lanka is determined to accelerate its transition to renewable energy spurred by soaring oil prices, but faces major …

Sri Lankan turbine project fuels anger as fish hauls plunge

Oct 25 2026

Beneath rotating wind turbines on Sri Lanka's Mannar peninsula, a fishing net is hauled up the beach by tractor winches …

'Tech debt coming due': AI-found flaw signals chaos ahead

Oct 25 2026

Companies and government agencies rushed this week to patch two critical flaws in PHP, the programming language that …

Fed expected to hold rates steady days ahead of US midterms

Oct 25 2026

The US Federal Reserve appears set to hold interest rates steady at its meeting next week, analysts say, despite …

Trapped: Soaring fuel costs hurt Maine lobster industry before midterms

Oct 24 2026

Lobsterman Steve Train starts every workday before dawn about $1,000 in the hole, a hike in expenses driven by soaring …

Oil tops $116 with stocks mixed on earnings, AI

Oct 23 2026

Oil prices rose to their highest levels since late April on Friday, with benchmark crude contract Brent North Sea …

Oil hits $116 with stocks mixed on earnings, AI

Oct 23 2026

Oil prices traded at five-month highs on Friday, with benchmark crude contract Brent North Sea rising above $116 a …

China's first AI film hits cinemas, but ticket sales lag

Oct 23 2026

China's first fully AI-generated feature film opens in cinemas on Friday in what promises to be a tough box-office test …

Oil hits $115 with stocks mixed on earnings, AI

Oct 23 2026

Oil prices traded at five-month highs on Friday, with benchmark crude contract Brent North Sea rising above $115 a …

Tanker with Russian diesel heads to New York under Trump deal

Oct 23 2026

A tanker filled with Russian diesel is headed for New York, maritime trackers and the Kremlin confirmed Friday, after …