Business and Economy



Oil steady, stocks mixed with all eyes on Mideast war prospects

AFP - 47m ago

Oil prices wavered and stocks were mixed on Tuesday as investors weighed the chances for a peace agreement between the …

Anthropic expands access to powerful Mythos AI model

AFP - 1h ago

Anthropic on Tuesday gave approximately 150 organizations around the world access to Mythos, its powerful new AI model …

Chilli price drives Indonesia's monthly inflation

AFP - 1h ago

Monthly inflation in Indonesia doubled in May, driven by food prices and particularly chilli in the hot sauce-addicted …

Oil falls, stocks rise as traders bet on Mideast progress

AFP - 2h ago

Oil prices retreated and stock markets largely gained Tuesday as investors assessed the chances of a Middle East peace …

Most stocks rise, oil drops as traders assess outlook for Mideast deal

AFP - 2h ago

Equities mostly rose and oil fell Tuesday as investors assessed the chances of a Middle East peace agreement, while tech …

Most stocks rise as traders assess outlook for Mideast deal

AFP - 1h ago

Equities mostly rose Tuesday as investors assessed the chances of a Middle East peace agreement, though Donald Trump and …

Pay workers 'as much as possible', Nvidia's Huang says

AFP - 8h ago

Companies should pay workers "as much as possible", Nvidia boss Jensen Huang said Tuesday ahead of a trip to South …

Bollywood divided over bid to cap punishing work hours

AFP - 11h ago

Bollywood's long-entrenched culture of gruelling work schedules is facing rare scrutiny, as top actors and filmmakers …

Asian stocks swing on mixed signals over Middle East

AFP - 4h ago

Equities fluctuated Tuesday as investors assessed the likelihood of a Middle East peace agreement as US-Iran talks …

Hanoi curbs kerb culture as city clamps down on pavement vendors

AFP - 12h ago

The pavements of Hanoi's wide boulevards and narrow lanes have long been clogged with bustling food stalls, weaving …

Trump says Iran talks moving fast despite threat to widen war

Jun 01 2026

US President Donald Trump said Monday that talks with Iran were moving at a "rapid pace", even as Tehran threatened to …

Oil prices jump as Iran suspends peace talks

Jun 01 2026

Oil prices jumped and equities were mixed Monday as Middle East peace talks stumbled, while Lebanese authorities said …

Florida sues OpenAI, CEO Altman over ChatGPT harm to minors

Jun 01 2026

Florida's attorney general on Monday sued OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, accusing the company's ChatGPT chatbot of …

AI giant Anthropic confidentially files for IPO

Jun 01 2026

AI giant Anthropic, the maker of the Claude chatbot, announced Monday that it had filed confidentially for an initial …

Macron announces 93 bn euros in 'Choose France' foreign investments

Jun 01 2026

President Emmanuel Macron announced "record" foreign investments of 93 billion euros ($108 billion) at an international …

Trump says Iran truce talks moving at 'rapid pace' after Tehran threats

Jun 01 2026

US President Donald Trump said Iran talks were moving at a "rapid pace" despite the negotiations to end the Mideast war …

Iran truce on the rocks as Guards threaten 'new fronts'

Jun 01 2026

Negotiations to end the Mideast war appeared in deep trouble on Monday, with Iran's Revolutionary Guards threatening to …

New York Times publisher slams AI companies' 'brazen theft' from news outlets

Jun 01 2026

The New York Times publisher on Monday slammed artificial intelligence companies for "brazen theft of intellectual …

Macron announces 93 bn euros in 'Choose France' investments

Jun 01 2026

President Emmanuel Macron said he was expecting "record" foreign investment amounting to 93 billion euros ($108 billion) …

After the AI binge, companies balk at soaring bills

Jun 01 2026

Artificial intelligence is getting expensive -- and companies are starting to rethink their embrace of the disruptive …

Nvidia PC chip hailed as 'game changer' in race for AI device

Jun 01 2026

Laptop chipmakers such as Intel and AMD should be worried about their new rival Nvidia, experts say, after the US …

Oil prices jump as US-Iran talks stall

Jun 01 2026

Oil prices jumped and equity markets diverged Monday as Middle East peace talks stalled and investors continued to pour …

Huge state subsidies give China unfair edge over foreign rivals: OECD

Jun 01 2026

Chinese companies in 15 key industrial sectors received vastly more state support than their international competitors …

Nvidia launches Windows laptop chip for AI era

Jun 01 2026

Nvidia unveiled a powerful laptop chip for Windows machines on Monday, staking its claim in the market for …

Nvidia launches Windows laptop chip in consumer PC push

Jun 01 2026

Nvidia unveiled a powerful laptop chip for Windows machines on Monday, staking its claim in the market for …

Asian equities ahead, oil rises as uncertainty surrounds US-Iran talks

Jun 01 2026

Oil rose while Asian equities firmed Monday as a surge in artificial intelligence-linked stocks helped offset …

'AI simply can't replicate it': Japan embraces zine trend

Jun 01 2026

Through the noise of rushing papers and whirring belts at a print factory in Kyoto, two creators watch their photo essay …

Outgoing chair Powell delivers defense of Fed independence

Jun 01 2026

Outgoing US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell on Sunday delivered a staunch defense of the need for the central bank …

Europe's green jet fuels see upside in Iran war

May 31 2026

At a plant near Frankfurt, in Germany, hydrogen and CO2 sourced from a chlorine factory and a biogas facility nearby are …

Energy crunch fuels car pool growth

May 31 2026

Rising fuel prices triggered by the Middle East war are driving a sharp increase in carpooling, with a ride-sharing …

Mining turns India's heat-shield hills to dust

May 31 2026

Dizzyingly deep pits from large-scale mining scar India's ancient Aravalli mountains, threatening the future of a …

SoftBank to spend $87.5bn on AI centres in France: Son

May 30 2026

Japanese tech investor SoftBank will spend 75 billion euros ($87.5 billion) on artificial intelligence infrastructure in …

Trump insists on red lines as Iran deal remains elusive

May 30 2026

US President Donald Trump will only make a peace deal with Iran if it meets all of his conditions, a White House …

Blue Origin rocket explosion is bad news for both Bezos and NASA

May 29 2026

Space exploration is filled with setbacks, but the spectacular explosion of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket on Thursday …

Oil falls, stocks mixed on US-Iran truce prospects

May 29 2026

Stock markets were mixed while oil prices fell again on Friday on investor optimism that the United States and Iran …

Trump says making final decision on Iran deal

May 29 2026

US President Donald Trump said Friday that he was making his decision on a potential deal with Iran, though Tehran …

Universal Music rejects takeover bid from Pershing Square

May 29 2026

Entertainment giant Universal Music Group (UMG) on Friday rejected an investment and restructuring proposal from US …

Trump says making final decision on proposed Iran deal

May 29 2026

US President Donald Trump said he was making his final decision on a potential deal with Iran on Friday, as Tehran …

Iran says no trust in US 'words', waiting for Washington to act

May 29 2026

Iran's top negotiator said Friday that Tehran would only trust Washington's actions, not its words, after US Vice …

Oil falls further, stocks mixed on US-Iran truce prospects

May 29 2026

Stock markets were mixed while oil prices fell again on Friday on investor optimism that the United States and Iran …

EU wants 'robust' defence against China trade imbalance

May 29 2026

The European Union must act more forcefully to rebalance its trade relationship with China, the bloc's executive said …

Vance says progress made as US-Iran deal awaits Trump green light

May 29 2026

US Vice President JD Vance said Washington and Tehran are close to agreeing a deal to extend their ceasefire in the …

German ex-minister faces perjury charges over failed car toll plan

May 29 2026

A former German transport minister faces a perjury trial related to a failed scheme to charge foreign motorists highway …

Stocks rise, oil eases on hopes of US-Iran truce deal

May 29 2026

Stock markets mostly rose and oil prices fell Friday on optimism that the United States and Iran would reach a deal to …

French GDP slips 0.1% in first quarter, raising spectre of recession

May 29 2026

French GDP shrank 0.1 percent in the first quarter, official data showed Friday, a downward revision from previous …

'Biggest circus in town' the World Cup set for betting frenzy

May 29 2026

Global betting revenue for the upcoming World Cup is likely to be "in excess of $50 billion", betting expert Darren …

New gold rush threatens indigenous havens in Brazil's Amazon

May 29 2026

Indigenous chief Bepdjo Mekragnotire is once again preparing to lead a group of warriors to chase wildcat gold miners …

Asia stocks surge, oil falls on hopes of US-Iran truce deal

May 29 2026

Asian stock markets surged and oil prices receded on Friday, boosted by optimism that the United States and Iran will …

EU looks to bolster defences as China threatens key sectors

May 29 2026

The EU executive is set for much-heralded talks Friday on ramping up Europe's trade defences to shield critical …

Oil, stocks mixed as US-Iran deal awaits Trump approval

May 28 2026

Oil prices diverged and global stock markets were mixed Thursday as a ceasefire extension deal between United States and …

AI giant Anthropic reaches near-trillion dollar valuation

May 28 2026

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic said Thursday it had raised $65 billion in a new funding round that values the …

US revises first quarter growth down while inflation climbs

May 28 2026

The US economy expanded less than initially estimated in the first quarter, government data showed Thursday, while a key …

AI giant Anthropic raises $65 bn at near-trillion dollar valuation

May 28 2026

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic said Thursday it had raised $65 billion in a new funding round that values the …

Trump's face could appear on US $250 bill

May 28 2026

President Donald Trump could soon appear on a new $250 bill, in the Republican's latest move to shatter US traditions by …

Canada PM backs 'fortress North America' ahead of US trade talks

May 28 2026

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stressed his country's importance to the US economy on Thursday, urging closer …

Musk defends AI ambitions as IPO reveals trouble

May 28 2026

Elon Musk insists that his artificial intelligence venture xAI remains a serious competitor, pushing back against …

Oil advances, stocks drift on fresh US-Iran strikes

May 28 2026

Oil prices rose slightly and global stock markets drifted Thursday after the United States and Iran exchanged new …

US, Iran accuse each other of violating truce after attacks

May 28 2026

The United States and Iran accused each other of violating an ongoing truce on Thursday following an exchange of fire, …

Top EU economies vow to speed up financial integration

May 28 2026

The EU's six biggest economies vowed Thursday to set aside differences and speed up integration of their financial …

UK risks a 'lost generation' of jobless young people

May 28 2026

Britain risks creating a "lost generation" as the number of young people out of work and education surges, a …

Netflix criticises German plan to make streamers invest more locally

May 28 2026

Netflix and other streaming services on Thursday criticised a German plan requiring platforms to reinvest a share of …

Oil climbs, stocks drop on fresh US-Iran strikes

May 28 2026

Oil prices bounced higher and global stock markets fell Thursday after the United States and Iran exchanged new strikes …

French AI firm Mistral announces deals with BMW, Airbus

May 28 2026

French AI firm Mistral announced Thursday partnerships with BMW and the aerospace group Airbus as it aims to boost …

EU fines Temu 200 mn euros over illegal products

May 28 2026

The EU slapped a 200-million-euro ($232 million) fine on Chinese-owned online retailer Temu on Thursday for allowing the …

US, Iran trade strikes in most serious clash since truce began

May 28 2026

The United States and Iran traded strikes on Thursday in their most serious clash since an April ceasefire began, …

'Immense' leverage: why AI chip workers are demanding more

May 28 2026

Runaway profits and sky-high valuations for microchip companies have fuelled worker demands over pay packages in South …

Oil rises and Asia stocks slide after new US strikes on Iran

May 28 2026

Oil prices bounced higher on Thursday while Asian stocks fell, as new US strikes on Iran marked the latest test of a …

New Zealand boosts defence spending in face of 'adverse' security environment

May 28 2026

New Zealand's government will boost defence spending by nine percent, according to its 2026 budget unveiled Thursday, …

Oil prices bounce higher after new US strikes on Iran

May 28 2026

Oil prices bounced higher on Thursday while Asian stocks mostly fell, as new US strikes on Iran marked the latest test …

Australia sues consumer goods giant 3M over 'forever chemicals'

May 28 2026

Australia's government said Thursday it had launched an AU$2 billion ($1.43 billion) legal action against US consumer …

Fund for climate-exposed Pacific nation invests in fossil fuels

May 28 2026

A trust fund set up to help a South Pacific nation gravely threatened by climate change has invested in coal mining, gas …

Meta launches paid subscriptions for Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp

May 27 2026

Meta on Wednesday launched paid subscription plans for its flagship apps, marking a major push by the tech giant to …

AI chiefs walk back job apocalypse warnings

May 27 2026

The most prominent figures in artificial intelligence are stepping back from dire predictions about mass unemployment, …

Oil prices fall as markets monitor state of play on US-Iran situation

May 27 2026

Oil prices fell Wednesday while global stocks mostly rose as markets parsed the latest posturing between Washington and …

Germany warns on trade imbalance as economy minister visits China

May 27 2026

Germany's economy minister began a visit to China on Wednesday with Berlin saying it wanted to boost cooperation with a …

Oil falls, stocks waver as investors eye US-Iran talks

May 27 2026

Oil prices fell Wednesday while stock markets diverged over conflicting headlines on talks between Iran and the US to …

Value of chip giant SK hynix joins Micron to top $1 tn

May 27 2026

The market value of South Korean memory chipmaker SK hynix soared past $1 trillion on Wednesday, fueled by frenzied …

Oil drops further on hopes US-Iran talks on track

May 27 2026

Oil prices tumbled Wednesday as investors tracked signs that the US and Iran were closing in on a deal that would open …

Oil falls, stocks mixed as investors eye tech, US-Iran talks

May 27 2026

Stock markets diverged and oil prices fell on Wednesday as investors tracked optimism over artificial intelligence and …

Samsung workers approve bonus deal after big AI profits

May 27 2026

Samsung Electronics union members on Wednesday approved a deal with management securing massive annual bonuses after …

Asia stocks see tech gains as investors weigh US-Iran deal

May 27 2026

Asian equities were mixed on Wednesday with gains driven by soaring tech stocks and guarded optimism the United States …

Frugal and more online: smarter spenders rewrite luxury's China dream

May 27 2026

When Beijinger Jacqueline Li first heard one of her favourite luxury department stores in the city was closing, she was …

Nvidia to boost spending in Taiwan to $150 bn a year

May 27 2026

Nvidia will increase investment in Taiwan to $150 billion a year, the US chip giant's boss said Wednesday, describing …

Value of South Korean chip giant SK hynix tops $1 tn

May 27 2026

The market value of South Korean memory chip maker SK hynix soared past $1 trillion on Wednesday thanks to frenzied …

Asia stocks mixed over hopes of US-Iran deal, tech gains

May 27 2026

Asian equities were mixed on Wednesday with gains driven by tech stocks and guarded optimism the United States and Iran …

'My job is going': UK workers squeezed out by AI

May 27 2026

When a client asked her a year ago to design a glossary to train an artificial intelligence system, translator Jessica …

Ferrari unveils 'Luce', its first fully electric car, in a tough market

May 27 2026

Italian luxury carmaker Ferrari has unveiled its first fully electric model, the Luce, belatedly joining rivals like …

New strikes threaten ceasefires in Iran, Lebanon

May 26 2026

Tehran on Tuesday accused Washington of breaching their ceasefire and warned it was ready to retaliate after overnight …

Samsung workers wrap up vote on massive AI bonus deal

May 26 2026

Samsung Electronics' labour union is expected to announce Wednesday whether chip workers voted to ratify a wage deal …

Peace deal hopes boost Wall Street stocks despite latest US strikes

May 26 2026

Wall Street stocks mostly rose Tuesday, lifting the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to fresh records on hopes for a Middle East peace …

Iran accuses US of breaking truce after new strikes

May 26 2026

Iran accused the United States of breaching their ceasefire Tuesday and warned it was ready to retaliate after overnight …

Oil back at $100 as US strikes douse Iran war hopes

May 26 2026

Oil prices rebounded back to $100 on Tuesday while stock markets were mixed and the dollar firmed after US military …

As IPO nears, arms maker KNDS reports booming profits

May 26 2026

Franco-German tank and weapons maker KNDS reported booming earnings Tuesday as it gears up to launch the latest initial …

BP ousts chairman over 'serious' governance concerns

May 26 2026

British oil giant BP unexpectedly removed Albert Manifold as chairman on Tuesday after less than one year in the role, …

Video games turn to classic films to woo middle-aged millenials

May 26 2026

Millenial gamers who grew up on 80s and 90s blockbusters are today being courted by the industry, with the latest James …

Saudi Arabia turns to drones to shield pilgrims from extreme heat

May 26 2026

With temperatures hitting 45C in Mecca this week, Saudi health workers have increasingly relied on drones to supply a …

US strikes fuel concern over Iran deal talks

May 26 2026

US forces launched overnight strikes on missile sites in Iran and boats they said were trying to lay mines in Gulf …

Mango founder's son says accusation he killed his father 'unfounded'

May 26 2026

Jonathan Andic, son of the founder of the Mango clothing empire, who has been arrested in Spain as part of an …

Oil rebounds, stocks drop as US strikes douse Iran war hopes

May 26 2026

Oil prices rebounded slightly on Tuesday while stock markets mostly retreated and the dollar firmed after US military …

Asia stocks fall, oil prices diverge on US-Iran deal uncertainty

May 26 2026

Asian stocks fell and crude prices diverged on Tuesday after fresh US strikes on Iran deflated optimism that a deal to …

Asia stocks fall, oil prices mixed on US-Iran deal uncertainty

May 26 2026

Asian stocks fell and crude prices were mixed on Tuesday after fresh US strikes on Iran deflated optimism that a deal to …

Au so chic: Paris Mint to issue first solid-gold coins in a century

May 26 2026

The Paris Mint said Tuesday that it would soon start selling solid-gold coins for investment, the first since it quit …