Business and Economy



Stock markets track Wall St down with Nvidia, US jobs in view

AFP - 1h ago

Tokyo and Seoul led equity losses on Tuesday, while bitcoin fell below $90,000 as investors grow increasingly worried …

TotalEnergies accused of Mozambique war crimes 'complicity'

AFP - 1h ago

An NGO said Tuesday it had filed a legal complaint against TotalEnergies, accusing the French energy multinational of …

Asian markets track Wall St down with Nvidia, US jobs in view

AFP - 1h ago

Tokyo and Seoul led Asian equity losses Tuesday, while bitcoin extended its latest swoon as investors grow increasingly …

Merz, Macron to push for European digital 'sovereignty'

AFP - 3h ago

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron will join forces Tuesday to push for greater …

Haitian gangs getting rich off murky market for baby eels

AFP - 4h ago

Gangs in Haiti are profiting from a lucrative trade in baby eels caught in the crime-ridden country's rivers and …

Shares in 'Baby Shark' studio jump on market debut

AFP - 5h ago

Shares in the South Korean studio behind the ultra-catchy "Baby Shark" -- YouTube's most-viewed video -- surged as much …

Carney's Liberals pass budget, avoiding snap Canada election

AFP - 8h ago

Canada's government survived a confidence vote on Monday as parliament narrowly passed a budget Prime Minister Mark …

Stocks gloomy on earnings and tech jitters, US rate worries

Nov 17 2025

Global stock markets pulled back Monday as traders awaited key earnings reports, notably from chip giant Nvidia, amid …

Fate of Canada government hinges on tight budget vote

Nov 17 2025

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal government faced potential collapse on Monday, with parliament set to vote …

Stocks tepid on uncertainty over earnings, tech rally, US rates

Nov 17 2025

Global stock markets marked time Monday as traders awaited key earnings reports, notably from chip giant Nvidia, amid …

Stocks lower on uncertainty over earnings, tech rally, US rates

Nov 17 2025

Global stock markets fell back Monday as traders awaited key earnings reports notably from chip giant Nvidia and amid …

Trade tensions force EU to cut 2026 eurozone growth forecast

Nov 17 2025

The eurozone economy will grow less than expected next year, the EU executive predicted on Monday, as risks from …

France makes 'historic' accord to sell Ukraine 100 warplanes

Nov 17 2025

France's President Emmanuel Macron and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday signed an accord for Kyiv …

Emirates orders 65 more Boeing 777X planes despite delays

Nov 17 2025

Emirates, the Middle East's biggest airline, topped up its order of Boeing 777X planes on Monday despite years of …

Stocks lower on uncertainty over tech rally, US rates

Nov 17 2025

Stock markets struggled on Monday on concerns the US Federal Reserve could hold off on further rate cuts this year and …

Macron, Zelensky sign accord for Ukraine to buy French fighter jets

Nov 17 2025

France's President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky Monday signed an accord for Kyiv to …

EU predicts less eurozone 2026 growth due to trade tensions

Nov 17 2025

The EU on Monday cut its eurozone growth forecast for 2026 as risks from international trade and geopolitical tensions …

Japan-China spat over Taiwan comments sinks tourism stocks

Nov 17 2025

Japanese tourism and retail shares dived on Monday after China warned its citizens to avoid the tourist hotspot in a …

Swiss growth suffered from US tariffs in Q3: data

Nov 17 2025

Switzerland's economy contracted in the third quarter of the year, suffering from high US tariffs which abruptly …

Asian markets struggle as fears build over tech rally, US rates

Nov 17 2025

Asian markets were mixed Monday amid simmering concerns that the Federal Reserve will not cut interest rates as hoped …

Japan-China spat sinks tourism stocks

Nov 17 2025

Japanese tourism and retail shares fell sharply on Monday after China warned its citizens to avoid travelling to the …

Zelensky in Paris to seek air defence help for Ukraine

Nov 17 2025

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky visits Paris on Monday in a new bid to secure weaponry to defend his country …

Greenpeace says French uranium being sent to Russia

Nov 17 2025

The Greenpeace environment group said Sunday that France was sending reprocessed uranium to Russia for treatment so it …

Serbia avoiding 'confiscation' of Russian shares in oil firm NIS

Nov 16 2025

Serbia's president on Sunday said he wanted to avoid the "confiscation" of Russian shares in Serbian oil company NIS "at …

Luxury houses eye India, but barriers remain

Nov 16 2025

The globe's biggest luxury brands have dreamt of India's vast consumer base for decades, but navigating the market has …

Samsung plans $310 bn investment to power AI expansion

Nov 16 2025

South Korean conglomerate Samsung unveiled on Sunday a plan to invest $310 billion over the next five years mostly in …

Budget coffee start-up leaves bitter taste in Berlin

Nov 16 2025

Instantly recognisable by their electric blue shop fronts, branches of LAP Coffee have become a common sight in Berlin's …

Zelensky vows overhaul of Ukraine's scandal-hit energy firms

Nov 15 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday announced an overhaul of state-owned energy companies, after a …

BBC caught in crossfire of polarised political and media landscape

Nov 15 2025

Accused of being biased by some, defended as a champion of impartiality by others, the BBC is once again the subject of …

Purdue Pharma to be dissolved as US judge says to approve bankruptcy

Nov 15 2025

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, blamed for helping to fuel a deadly opioid crisis, said Friday that a US bankruptcy judge …

UN regulator says shipping still wants to decarbonize -- despite US threats

Nov 15 2025

Threats, intimidation, harassment -- the tactics deployed by US negotiators to stall a global deal on shipping pollution …

Trump signs order to lower tariffs on beef, coffee, other goods

Nov 14 2025

President Donald Trump signed an order Friday to lower US tariffs on agricultural imports such as beef, bananas, coffee …

Stocks struggle on US rates, tech rally fears

Nov 14 2025

Global stock markets struggled for momentum Friday as doubts built over whether the US Federal Reserve would cut …

BHP liable for 2015 Brazil mine disaster: UK court

Nov 14 2025

A British court ruled Friday that Australian mining giant BHP is liable for one of Brazil's worst environmental …

Return to bad days of hyperinflation looms in Venezuela

Nov 14 2025

Venezuelans are grappling with political and economic chaos, a mass population exodus and fears of a US military attack. …

US airspace recovers as budget shutdown ends

Nov 14 2025

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Thursday that US air travel is recovering after the disruptions caused by the …

US, Switzerland say deal reached on trade and tariffs

Nov 14 2025

The United States and Switzerland said Friday that they have reached an agreement to sharply lower tariffs imposed by …

Bulgaria names manager to take over Russia's Lukoil refinery after US sanctions

Nov 14 2025

Bulgaria on Friday nominated a senior government official to take control of a major Lukoil refinery in the east of the …

At COP30, senator warns US 'deliberately losing' clean tech race with China

Nov 14 2025

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, one of only a handful of senior US political leaders attending this year's UN climate …

Fossil fuel lobbyists out in force at Amazon climate talks: NGOs

Nov 14 2025

Lobbyists tied to the fossil fuel industry have turned up in strength at the UN climate talks in the Brazilian Amazon, …

A rare oil CEO shows up at COP30, spars with activists

Nov 14 2025

The head of France's TotalEnergies, one of the few oil executives to attend UN climate talks in Brazil, jousted Friday …

US, Switzerland say reached deal on trade and tariffs

Nov 14 2025

The United States and Switzerland reached an agreement Friday to sharply lower tariffs imposed by President Donald …

Water shortage pushes Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan into energy crisis

Nov 14 2025

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are facing an energy crisis as water levels have plummeted at the reservoirs powering their …

Stocks sink on fears over tech rally, US rates

Nov 14 2025

Global stock markets slumped further Friday as doubts built over whether the US Federal Reserve would cut interest rates …

'Time is running out': Serbia eyes winter energy crisis

Nov 14 2025

Serbia's diplomatic balancing act has left it teetering on the brink of a winter energy crisis, analysts warn, as US …

Germany unveils debt-laden budget, relief measures

Nov 14 2025

The German parliament's budget committee has approved revised 2026 spending plans that include even higher debts than …

Cartier owner sales lifted by jewellery, improving Asia

Nov 14 2025

Swiss luxury group Richemont, owner of Cartier and other iconic luxury brands, on Friday reported sales ahead of …

Markets sink on concerns over tech rally, Fed rates

Nov 14 2025

Markets sank Friday, tracking a selloff on Wall Street as doubts built over next month's Federal Reserve interest rate …

Over 500 economists, top experts call for G20 inequality panel

Nov 14 2025

More than 500 economists and other leading experts, including a Nobel laureate and a former United States treasury …

Asian markets sink on concerns over tech rally, Fed rates

Nov 14 2025

Asian markets sank Friday, tracking a selloff on Wall Street as doubts built over next month's Federal Reserve interest …

China retail sales grew at slowest pace in over a year

Nov 14 2025

Retail sales in China grew last month at the slowest pace in over a year, official data showed Friday, highlighting the …

Rise of the robots: the promise of physical AI

Nov 14 2025

A pair of swivelling, human-like robotic arms, built for physical artificial intelligence research, mirror the motions …

Trump eyes $2,000 checks, 50-year mortgages as economic fears loom

Nov 14 2025

Is it still the economy, stupid? US President Donald Trump has floated a string of sometimes outlandish policy ideas as …

Fight over fossil fuels drawdown looms at UN climate summit

Nov 13 2025

Two years after nations agreed to transition away from fossil fuels, dozens are pushing to go even further at the COP30 …

US says trade talks with Swiss 'very positive'

Nov 13 2025

A senior US official sounded a positive note Thursday about trade talks with Switzerland, as the Alpine nation's economy …

Stocks slide despite end of US government shutdown

Nov 13 2025

Global stocks slid back sharply on Thursday, dashing hopes that US President Donald Trump's signing of a spending bill …

BBC says sorry to Trump, but rejects defamation claim

Nov 13 2025

The BBC said Thursday that its chairman had sent a letter to US President Donald Trump apologising for a misleading edit …

Strong first-half profits keep Alstom firmly on rails

Nov 13 2025

French rail manufacturer Alstom reported Thursday a strong first half of its 2025-2026 fiscal year, as sales and net …

Pfizer completes Metsera acquisition in deal worth up to $10 bn

Nov 13 2025

US drugmaker Pfizer said Thursday that it has completed its acquisition of biotech firm Metsera, closing a deal worth up …

Boeing union votes to end strike, accept new contract

Nov 13 2025

More than 3,000 striking Boeing defense workers on Thursday voted to end a strike over wage increases and retirement …

Starbucks baristas launch strike on chain's 'Red Cup Day'

Nov 13 2025

Hundreds of unionized Starbucks baristas kicked off an indefinite strike Thursday in cities across the United States, …

Stocks on the slide despite end of US shutdown

Nov 13 2025

Global stocks slid back sharply on Thursday, dashing hopes that President Donald Trump's signing of a spending bill to …

Mexican car industry fears higher tariffs on China will drive its demise

Nov 13 2025

Mexico's car assembly industry, one of the biggest in the world, fears US President Donald Trump's tariff war will …

Stocks sluggish as US government shutdown ends

Nov 13 2025

Stock markets were sluggish on Thursday after President Donald Trump signed a spending bill to end a record-long US …

EU backs small parcel duties to tackle China import flood

Nov 13 2025

EU states on Thursday agreed to scrap a bloc-wide duty exemption on low-value orders from the likes of retail giants …

Amazon robotics lead casts doubt on eye-catching humanoids

Nov 13 2025

Flashy humanoid robots that have awed attendees at Web Summit in Lisbon this week are still far from revolutionising …

Swiss economy minister back in Washington for tariff talks

Nov 13 2025

Switzerland's economy minister Guy Parmelin was back in Washington for talks on Thursday, for the third time since the …

Race for first private space station heats up as NASA set to retire ISS

Nov 13 2025

With NASA's International Space Station set to come out of service in 2030, American aerospace firm Vast has stepped …

World oil market 'lopsided' as supply outpaces demand: IEA

Nov 13 2025

The world's oil market is experiencing a period of imbalance as growing supply outstrips demand despite stronger …

Stocks waver as US government shutdown ends

Nov 13 2025

Stock markets wavered on Thursday after President Donald Trump signed a spending bill to end a record-long US government …

Google to pay millions to South African news outlets: watchdog

Nov 13 2025

Google will pay more than $40 million to support South African news media, many of them floundering in a digital age, …

Burberry narrows first half loss on turnaround plan

Nov 13 2025

Burberry narrowed losses in its first half, the British luxury fashion label said Thursday, thanks to sizeable …

Asian stocks rise with focus on Fed, tech as US government reopens

Nov 13 2025

Asian markets rose on Thursday after Donald Trump signed a spending bill to end a record US government shutdown, while …

UK economic gloom deepens before budget

Nov 13 2025

Britain's economy slowed in the third quarter, official data showed Thursday, dealing another blow to the Labour …

Stocks rise with focus on Fed, tech as US government reopens

Nov 13 2025

Asian markets rose on Thursday after Donald Trump signed a spending bill to end a record US government shutdown, while …

In Kyrgyzstan, world's largest natural walnut forest thins away

Nov 13 2025

Rustling through fallen golden leaves, locals in a forest outside Arslanbob in the Kyrgyz mountains were scurrying for …

TV soaps and diplomacy as Bangladesh and Turkey grow closer

Nov 13 2025

In a recording studio in Dhaka, voiceover artist Rubaiya Matin Gity dubs the latest Turkish soap opera to become a …

Striking Boeing defense workers to vote on latest contract

Nov 13 2025

More than 3,000 striking Boeing defense workers will vote Thursday on a revised contract proposal that comes closer to …

EU lawmakers to vote on unpicking green business rules

Nov 13 2025

European lawmakers are expected on Thursday to back weakening a set of EU environmental and human rights rules, as part …

Stocks stutter with focus on Fed, tech after US reopen vote

Nov 13 2025

Asian markets trod water Thursday as euphoria over the end of a record US government shutdown petered, with focus back …

US presses final penny after more than 230 years

Nov 13 2025

The United States pressed its final circulating penny on Wednesday, in a move made to save money as the one-cent coin …

Brazil tribal chief ready to give Lula a 'talking-to'

Nov 13 2025

A renowned Brazilian tribal chief was among Indigenous activists on the sidelines of UN climate talks when he said …

World's fossil fuel emissions to hit new record in 2025: study

Nov 13 2025

Global fossil fuel emissions are set to hit a new high in 2025, according to research published Thursday that also warns …

US jury: Boeing owes $28 mn to family of Ethiopian Airlines crash victim

Nov 12 2025

A US jury in the first civil trial over a fatal Boeing 737 MAX crash determined Wednesday that the aircraft …

Dow ends at record on hopes US government will reopen

Nov 12 2025

Wall Street stocks finished mostly higher Wednesday with the Dow climbing to a fresh record on hopes a US government …

Ukraine ministers resign over major corruption scandals

Nov 12 2025

Ukraine's energy and justice ministers resigned on Wednesday, the government said, over their alleged involvement in a …

Big platforms chart gradual path to self-driving at Web Summit

Nov 12 2025

Major Western ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Lyft sketched a gradual path towards introducing self-driving cars at …

Hopes of US shutdown deal fail to sustain market rally

Nov 12 2025

Stock markets fluctuated Wednesday as optimism that the US government shutdown was nearing an end and another Federal …

Stocks mostly rise on hopes of US shutdown deal, rate cut

Nov 12 2025

World stock markets mostly rose Wednesday on optimism the US government shutdown was nearing an end and on hopes of …

Back on track: Belgian-Dutch firm rescues Berlin to Paris sleeper train

Nov 12 2025

Railway fans devastated by the scrapping of a much-heralded Berlin to Paris night train can breathe again after a …

German experts slam spending plans, cut GDP forecast

Nov 12 2025

Germany is using a massive fund for the wrong purposes and it risks providing just a minor boost to the struggling …

Bayer beats forecasts but weedkiller woes still weigh

Nov 12 2025

Germany's Bayer said Wednesday it had set aside more money to deal with long-running legal woes related to weedkillers, …

Bayer narrows loss, upbeat on weedkiller legal woes

Nov 12 2025

Germany's Bayer said Wednesday it was confident of "significantly" containing long-running legal woes related to a …

Five things to know about the first G20 held in Africa

Nov 12 2025

Leaders of the world's largest economies meet in Johannesburg on November 22 and 23 for the G20 summit, being held for …

World wine output set for modest 2025 recovery: industry body

Nov 12 2025

Global wine production is on course for a modest recovery in 2025 after suffering a sharp downturn last year, the …

Asian markets rise on hopes over shutdown deal, rate cut

Nov 12 2025

Equities rose in Asia on Wednesday as the US shutdown nears an end and after fresh jobs data boosted the chances of a …

Asian markets up on hopes over shutdown deal, rate cut

Nov 12 2025

Equities rose in Asia on Wednesday as the US shutdown nears an end and after fresh jobs data boosted the chances of a …

Renewables outpace fossil fuels despite US policy shift: IEA

Nov 12 2025

Renewable energy is still expanding faster than fossil fuels around the world despite policy changes in the United …

Cambodia's Prince Group denies link to scams after asset seizures

Nov 12 2025

A Cambodian conglomerate whose founder has had more than $15 billion of allegedly ill-gotten assets seized said it …

Bangladesh's liquor industry a surprising success

Nov 12 2025

Syrupy aromas drift across the guarded compound of Bangladesh's only licensed distillery, a state-owned producer posting …

US stocks end mostly higher despite drop in Nvidia

Nov 11 2025

Wall Street stocks mostly rose Tuesday as optimism over a likely end to the US government shutdown offset weakness in …

Google unveils $6.4 bn investment in Germany

Nov 11 2025

Google unveiled its biggest-ever investment in Germany on Tuesday, pledging 5.5 billion euros ($6.4 billion) for a new …