Business and Economy



US strikes deal with Taiwan to cut tariffs, boost chip investment

AFP - 1h ago

Taiwan vowed Friday to remain the world's "most important" AI chipmaker, after reaching a trade deal with the United …

China's 2025 economic growth likely slowest in decades: analysts

AFP - 2h ago

China's economy likely grew last year at its weakest rate in three decades, outside of the pandemic, according to an AFP …

Asian stocks mixed after bumper TSMC results

AFP - 3h ago

Asian markets were mixed Friday after Taiwanese chipmaking titan TSMC posted a big profit jump, bolstering confidence in …

US says reached deal with Taiwan to lower tariffs, boost investments

AFP - 2h ago

The United States said Thursday that it has signed a deal with Taiwan to reduce tariffs on goods from the democratic …

'Was hoping for more': Trump support slips one year in

AFP - 4h ago

Michelle Sims hesitated when asked if she still backed Donald Trump one year into his presidency. "Yeah -- to a certain …

Venezuela's Machado says she 'presented' Trump with Nobel medal

AFP - 4h ago

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said Thursday she "presented" her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Donald …

One year on, it's all about Trump. But for how long?

AFP - 5h ago

On a sunny January morning in Florida, Donald Trump went shopping for marble and onyx for his new White House ballroom. …

Venezuelan interim leader vows oil sector reform after Maduro ouster

Jan 15 2026

Venezuela's interim president on Thursday announced pending legal reforms to the country's critical fossil fuel sector, …

US court clears Norway's Equinor to resume wind project halted by Trump

Jan 15 2026

A US judge on Thursday authorized work to resume on a New York offshore wind project that had been suspended under an …

Oil prices slump after Trump eases concerns over Iran

Jan 15 2026

Oil prices tumbled Thursday after US President Donald Trump moderated his rhetoric on Iran, while US stocks bounced back …

Long-awaited EU-Mercosur trade pact set for signing

Jan 15 2026

The European Union and South American bloc Mercosur are set to sign an agreement Saturday, more than 25 years in the …

Fury over Grok sexualized images despite new restrictions

Jan 15 2026

Global outrage persisted Thursday over sexualized deepfakes created by Elon Musk's AI tool Grok, even after his social …

Niger faces dilemma over uranium shipment stuck at airport

Jan 15 2026

A huge uranium shipment that left northern Niger in late November has been stuck for weeks at Niamey airport.

Goldman Sachs' profits jump on hot merger market

Jan 15 2026

Goldman Sachs' quarterly profits jumped on robust merger activity as clients seize a "window" of opportunity during the …

Pressure piles on Musk's X to curb sexualised deepfakes

Jan 15 2026

More governments vowed crackdowns Thursday to prevent Grok, the AI chatbot on Elon Musk's X platform, from undressing or …

Spain hosted record 97 mn foreign tourists in 2025

Jan 15 2026

A record 97 million foreign tourists visited Spain in 2025 as the economically vital sector set a new benchmark for the …

German economy returns to growth, but headwinds fierce

Jan 15 2026

Germany's economy eked out meagre growth in 2025 and dodged a third straight year of recession, data showed Thursday, …

Oil plunges after Trump's Iran comments, Asian markets mixed

Jan 15 2026

Oil slid Thursday after US President Donald Trump appeared to dial down threats of imminent military action on Iran, …

Taiwan's TSMC logs net profit jump on AI boom

Jan 15 2026

Taiwanese chipmaking titan TSMC announced Thursday a forecast-busting net profit for the fourth quarter in a sign of …

China's top diplomat calls Carney visit 'turning point' in ties

Jan 15 2026

China's top diplomat said Thursday that a visit by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to Beijing marked a "turning …

New Zealand warned Pacific neighbour over oil smuggling 'shadow fleet'

Jan 15 2026

A "shadow fleet" of 19 tankers suspected of smuggling oil for Russia and Iran was flagged by New Zealand with Cook …

Asia markets mixed, oil falls after Trump's Iran comments

Jan 15 2026

Oil and precious metals slid Thursday after US President Donald Trump appeared to dial down threats of imminent military …

Canada's Carney in Beijing for trade talks with Chinese leaders

Jan 15 2026

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is meeting with top Chinese leaders in Beijing on Thursday, hoping to repair a long …

US stocks fall again as Iran worries lift oil prices

Jan 14 2026

Wall Street stocks fell again Wednesday as investors shrugged off solid bank earnings and US data while oil prices …

Russian captain tried to avoid North Sea crash: court

Jan 14 2026

The Russian captain of a cargo ship that hit an anchored oil tanker in the North Sea had tried to change course to avoid …

Oil prices extend gains on Iran worries

Jan 14 2026

Oil prices rose further Wednesday on the political instability in major crude producer Iran and the possibility of a US …

Battle over Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia rages in Dutch court

Jan 14 2026

A Dutch court held hearings Wednesday to weigh whether to order an investigation into Nexperia, a Chinese-owned chip …

Italian influencer Ferragni acquitted in Christmas cake fraud trial

Jan 14 2026

Italian fashion influencer Chiara Ferragni was acquitted Wednesday of aggravated fraud over charity endorsement deals in …

Ryanair hits out at 'stupid' Belgium over aviation taxes

Jan 14 2026

Low-cost airline Ryanair on Wednesday announced it is mulling a cut to flights in Belgium, especially at its major …

African manufacturers welcome US trade deal, call to finalise it

Jan 14 2026

African manufacturers on Wednesday welcomed US lawmakers' approval for renewing their duty-free access but called for …

Oil prices extend gains on Iran unrest

Jan 14 2026

Oil prices rose further Wednesday on the political instability in major crude producer Iran, which also helped push …

Hydrogen planes 'more for the 22nd century': France's Safran

Jan 14 2026

Hydrogen-powered airplanes, touted by some as a way to slash carbon emissions from flying, are unlikely to prove a …

Every cent you take: Sting, ex-Police band mates in royalty battle

Jan 14 2026

London's High Court on Wednesday began hearing a lawsuit brought against the singer Sting by his former Police bandmates …

Dutch court hears battle over Nexperia

Jan 14 2026

A Dutch court held hearings Wednesday to weigh whether to order an investigation into Nexperia, a Chinese-owned chip …

Luxury retailer Saks Global files for bankruptcy

Jan 14 2026

US luxury retail group Saks Global, the heavily indebted parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf …

Asian markets mostly up with politics bump for Tokyo

Jan 14 2026

Asian markets largely rose on Wednesday as speculation about a snap election in Japan pushed up Tokyo shares, and oil …

China's trade surplus hit record $1.2 trillion in 2025

Jan 14 2026

China reported strong trade numbers for 2025 on Wednesday, as its surplus rose year-on-year to a record $1.2 trillion …

US allows Nvidia to send advanced AI chips to China with restrictions

Jan 14 2026

The US Commerce Department on Tuesday opened the door for Nvidia to sell advanced artificial intelligence chips in China …

Asian markets mixed, Tokyo up on election speculation

Jan 14 2026

Asian markets were mixed Wednesday, with Japan election speculation pushing Tokyo shares to a record high, while oil …

WHO says sugary drinks, alcohol getting cheaper, should be taxed more

Jan 14 2026

Sugary drinks and alcohol are getting relatively cheaper, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, urging countries …

Davos braces for Trump's 'America First' onslaught

Jan 14 2026

All eyes will be on Donald Trump next week as politicians and business leaders head to the World Economic Forum, …

Boeing annual orders top Airbus for first time since 2018

Jan 14 2026

Boeing secured orders for nearly 1,200 commercial planes last year, topping European rival Airbus for the first time …

JPMorgan Chase reports mixed results as Dimon defends Fed chief

Jan 13 2026

JPMorgan Chase reported lower fourth-quarter profits Tuesday as CEO Jamie Dimon endorsed Federal Reserve independence …

US stocks retreat from records as oil prices jump

Jan 13 2026

Wall Street stocks retreated from records on Tuesday as markets weighed muted US inflation data, mixed bank earnings and …

Central bank chiefs voice 'full solidarity' with US Fed, Powell

Jan 13 2026

The heads of major central banks have thrown their support behind the US Federal Reserve and its chairman Jerome Powell, …

Oil prices surge following Trump's Iran tariff threat

Jan 13 2026

The price of oil surged around three percent on Tuesday as US President Donald Trump announced steep tariffs on anyone …

'We choose Denmark,' says Greenland ahead of W. House talks

Jan 13 2026

Greenland would choose to remain Danish over a US takeover, its leader said Tuesday, ahead of crunch White House talks …

US consumer inflation holds steady as affordability worries linger

Jan 13 2026

US consumer inflation was steady in December as analysts expected, government data showed Tuesday, capping a year in …

Davos elite, devotees of multilateralism, brace for Trump

Jan 13 2026

All eyes will be on Donald Trump next week as politicians and business leaders head to the World Economic Forum, …

France climate goals off track as emissions cuts slow again

Jan 13 2026

France's cuts to greenhouse gas emissions slowed for a second straight year in 2025 and remain well off track to meeting …

Trump's Iran tariff threat pushes oil price higher

Jan 13 2026

The price of oil rose on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump announced steep tariffs on anyone trading with Iran, …

Denmark, Greenland set for high-stake talks at White House

Jan 13 2026

Danish and Greenlandic officials will hold high-stake talks about Greenland's future on Wednesday at the White House …

Cold winter and AI boom pushed US emissions increase in 2025

Jan 13 2026

Greenhouse gas emissions in the United States rose last year, snapping a two-year streak of declines as cold winter …

Freezing rain hampers transport in Central Europe

Jan 13 2026

Freezing rain led to travel disruptions in Central Europe on Tuesday, including flights being temporarily suspended at …

Nuuk, Copenhagen cautiously mull Greenland independence

Jan 13 2026

Denmark's self-governing territory Greenland hopes to cut all ties with Copenhagen but leaders are proceeding cautiously …

Iran worries push up oil price as world stocks diverge

Jan 13 2026

European and Asian stock markets diverged Tuesday as investors awaited key US inflation data while concerns about Iran …

Volvo Cars pauses battery factory after fruitless partner search

Jan 13 2026

Swedish automaker Volvo Cars said Tuesday that it was pausing operations at a battery factory under construction, …

Greece airspace shutdown exposes badly outdated systems

Jan 13 2026

A deeply embarrassing systems failure which forced Greece to close its airspace for several hours with pilots unable to …

Boeing sells 50 737 MAX jets to leasing group ACG

Jan 13 2026

Boeing said Tuesday that it had secured a firm order from the leasing firm Aviation Capital Group for 50 of its 737 MAX …

Freezing rain paralyses transport in Central Europe

Jan 13 2026

Freezing rain led to flights being suspended at Vienna airport on Tuesday, while neighbouring Slovakia, Czech Republic …

Is China a threat to Greenland as Trump argues?

Jan 13 2026

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to take Greenland by force from NATO ally Denmark in order to keep …

Asian markets rise, Iran worries push up oil

Jan 13 2026

Asian markets mostly rose on Tuesday with Tokyo closing at a record high on speculation over a snap election, while …

Tractors in Paris to protest EU's trade deal with S. America

Jan 13 2026

Dozens of tractors rolled into Paris early Tuesday as French farmers protest against the trade deal the European Union …

Disaster losses drop in 2025, picture still 'alarming': Munich Re

Jan 13 2026

Natural disaster losses worldwide dropped sharply to $224 billion in 2025, reinsurer Munich Re said Tuesday, but warned …

French museum fare hikes for non-European tourists spark outcry

Jan 13 2026

Should foreign tourists pay more for state-funded galleries than locals, or should art be accessible to all, without …

Trump announces tariffs on Iran trade partners as protest toll rises

Jan 13 2026

US President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on any country doing business with Iran, ramping up pressure as …

AI helps fuel new era of medical self-testing

Jan 13 2026

Beyond smart watches and rings, artificial intelligence is being used to make self-testing for major diseases more …

Ex-Fed chiefs, lawmakers slam US probe into Jerome Powell

Jan 13 2026

Former Federal Reserve chiefs on Monday sharply criticized a US criminal probe into current chair Jerome Powell, calling …

US stocks at records despite early losses on Fed independence angst

Jan 12 2026

Wall Street stocks finished at new records Monday, shrugging off worries about a US criminal probe of the Federal …

Jerome Powell: The careful Fed chair standing firm against Trump

Jan 12 2026

US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has generally avoided escalation in the face of Donald Trump's relentless …

US 'screwed' if Supreme Court rules against tariffs: Trump

Jan 12 2026

President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States would be "screwed" if the Supreme Court rules that some of his …

Paramount sues in hostile bid to buy Warner Bros Discover

Jan 12 2026

Paramount Skydance said Monday that it filed a lawsuit against Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD) as it presses an …

Airbus delivers more planes in 2025

Jan 12 2026

Airbus said Monday it delivered 793 commercial aircraft in 2025, a slight increase from the previous year but falling …

UK regulator opens probe into X over sexualised AI imagery

Jan 12 2026

UK media regulator Ofcom on Monday launched a formal investigation into Elon Musk's X over its AI chatbot Grok's image …

US prosecutors open probe of Fed chief, escalating Trump-Powell clash

Jan 12 2026

US prosecutors have opened an inquiry into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, prompting his rare rebuke against …

Gold hits record high, dollar slides as US targets Fed

Jan 12 2026

The dollar mostly fell and gold hit a record high on Monday as investors digested news that the US Justice Department is …

Zuckerberg names banker, ex-Trump advisor as Meta president

Jan 12 2026

Meta on Monday appointed banker Dina Powell McCormick as president and vice chairman, tapping a former member of the …

Gold hits record high, dollar falls as US targets Fed

Jan 12 2026

The dollar mostly weakened and gold hit a record high Monday as investors digested news that the US Justice Department …

Heathrow airport sees record high annual passenger numbers

Jan 12 2026

Heathrow Airport said Monday it welcomed more than 84 million travellers last year, a record high amount for the London …

India and Germany seek to boost defence industry ties

Jan 12 2026

India and Germany are looking to boost defence industry cooperation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday after …

US Fed chief warns of 'intimidation' after criminal subpoenas

Jan 12 2026

US prosecutors have opened an inquiry threatening a "criminal indictment" against the Federal Reserve, its chairman …

India and Germany eye defence industry boost to ties

Jan 12 2026

India and Germany are looking to boost defence industry cooperation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday after …

US prosecutors open criminal probe into Federal Reserve

Jan 12 2026

US prosecutors have opened an inquiry threatening a "criminal indictment" against the Federal Reserve, its chairman …

Asian equities, precious metals surge as US Justice Dept targets Fed

Jan 12 2026

Asian equities gained on Monday and precious metals set records as investors digested news that the US Justice …

Fed chair Powell says targeted by federal probe

Jan 12 2026

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Sunday that US prosecutors have opened a probe into his comments to …

Japan aims to dig deep-sea rare earths to reduce China dependence

Jan 12 2026

A Japanese research vessel on Monday began a historic voyage to attempt to dig deep-sea rare earths at a depth of 6,000 …

Asian equities edge up, dollar slides as US Fed Reserve subpoenaed

Jan 12 2026

Asian equities posted gains Monday while the dollar dipped as investors digested news that the US Justice Department …

Powell says Federal Reserve subpoenaed by US Justice Department

Jan 12 2026

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Sunday that the central bank had been subpoenaed by the US Justice …

Maduro's fall raises Venezuelans' hopes for economic bounty

Jan 12 2026

After the US raid that deposed Nicolas Maduro as Venezuela's leader, citizens hope the ensuing talks on selling its oil …

Meta urges Australia to change teen social media ban

Jan 11 2026

Tech giant Meta urged Australia on Monday to rethink its world-first social media ban for under-16s, while reporting …

Chinese villagers struggle for heat as gas subsidies fade

Jan 11 2026

Almost a decade after China began curbing coal burning to stop thick winter smog, villagers in northern Hebei province …

New York's Chrysler Building, an art deco jewel, seeks new owner

Jan 11 2026

The future of the Chrysler Building, a unique monument to art deco architecture on the Manhattan skyline, remains in …

AI toys look for bright side after troubled start

Jan 11 2026

Toy makers at the Consumer Electronics Show were adamant about being careful to ensure that their fun creations infused …

AI pendants back in vogue at tech show after early setback

Jan 11 2026

Pendants and brooches packed with artificial intelligence abounded at the Consumer Electronics show, using cameras and …

Thousands of Irish, French farmers protest EU-Mercosur trade deal

Jan 10 2026

Thousands of farmers in Ireland and France protested Saturday against the European Union's trade deal with the South …

Thousands of Irish farmers protest EU-Mercosur trade deal

Jan 10 2026

Thousands of Irish farmers protested Saturday against the European Union's trade deal with the South American bloc …

Venezuela says in talks with US to restore diplomatic ties

Jan 10 2026

Venezuela was set to hold talks on Saturday with US envoys in Caracas on restoring diplomatic ties, days after US forces …

Trump pitches Venezuela oil to US majors -- and hits skepticism

Jan 09 2026

US President Donald Trump pressed top oil executives Friday to invest in Venezuela's vast reserves, but was met with a …

Trump pitches Venezuela oil to US majors - and hits skepticism

Jan 09 2026

US President Donald Trump pressed top oil executives Friday to invest in Venezuela's vast reserves, but was met with a …

Stocks shrug off mixed US jobs data to advance

Jan 09 2026

Stock markets advanced Friday despite mixed US jobs data, while the Supreme Court held off from a widely-anticipated …

US December hiring misses expectations, capping weak 2025

Jan 09 2026

The United States added fewer jobs than expected in December, government data showed Friday, capping the labor market's …

Brew, smell, and serve: AI steals the show at CES 2026

Jan 09 2026

AI took over CES 2026, powering coffee machines to brew the perfect espresso, a device to create your perfect scent, and …