Business and Economy



Musk's empire as SpaceX heads to Wall Street liftoff

AFP - 24m ago

Elon Musk defines himself as an engineer trying to save humanity, while his critics call him a far-right showman who …

SpaceX on cusp of record IPO that could make Musk a trillionaire

AFP - 9m ago

SpaceX entered the final stretch Thursday before its expected trading on Wall Street as part of the biggest initial …

Stocks rebound, oil wavers as traders weigh Iran, rates outlook

AFP - 1h ago

European and US stocks rose Thursday while oil prices wavered following the latest flare-up in the Middle East war, with …

ECB makes first rate hike since 2023 to tame Iran war inflation

AFP - 2h ago

The European Central Bank on Thursday raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2023 as the Middle …

Stocks diverge, oil falls as traders weigh Iran, rates outlook

AFP - 1h ago

European stocks rose Thursday after losses in Asia as oil prices wavered following the latest flare-up in the Middle …

Economic pressures 'manageable': Indonesian deputy finance minister

AFP - 4h ago

External and domestic pressures on Indonesia's economy were "manageable", the country's deputy finance minister said …

UK probes Ryanair over fees for parents to sit with children

AFP - 7h ago

Britain's competition watchdog said Thursday that it had opened an investigation into Irish carrier Ryanair over fees …

Stocks drop, oil rises as Iran and rate worries dog traders

AFP - 4h ago

Fresh worries about the Middle East ceasefire and the prospect of a US interest rate hike hit most stocks and lifted oil …

Rising costs and competition threaten GoPro

AFP - 9h ago

For nearly 25 years, GoPro cameras have gone underwater, glided with parachutes and slipped down ski slopes, allowing …

AI gold rush upends San Francisco housing market

AFP - 9h ago

In San Francisco, the longtime hub of the US tech sector, fortunes tied to artificial intelligence startups are …

The Indian workers training AI robots to take their jobs

AFP - 10h ago

With a smartphone strapped to her head, Indian housewife Nagireddy Sriramyachandra films herself slicing mangoes to …

S.Korea hits Coupang with record fine over e-commerce data leak

AFP - 11h ago

South Korea hit e-commerce giant Coupang with a record $408 million fine Thursday over a leak that allegedly exposed …

ECB set to hike interest rates to tame Iran war inflation surge

AFP - 10h ago

The European Central Bank is set to hike interest rates Thursday for the first time since 2023 as the Iran war fuels …

Drone rescue highlights US Navy's autonomous push

AFP - 13h ago

The use of a sea drone to rescue two US Army aviators apparently shot down by Iran underscores the growing importance of …

All in on Musk, SpaceX's self-declared 'dream weaver'

AFP - 13h ago

When SpaceX lists on Wall Street, expected on Friday, Elon Musk will serve simultaneously as chief executive, chief …

"I love the inflation": Trump comment on latest price jump sparks backlash

AFP - 3h ago

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday brushed off concerns about consumer inflation surging to a fresh three-year high …

Canada moves to ban under-16s from social media, regulate AI

Jun 10 2026

Canada's culture minister on Wednesday introduced legislation that would ban children under 16 from having social media …

US renews Iran attacks as Trump vows to hit 'hard'

Jun 10 2026

The United States launched a new wave of attacks against Iran on Wednesday, with President Donald Trump vowing to "hit …

Record lobby cash shapes EU pro-business agenda, campaigners say

Jun 10 2026

The corporate titans of the tech, energy and chemicals industries are spending more than ever to influence EU …

US renews attacks on Iran, vows to hit 'hard'

Jun 10 2026

The United States on Wednesday renewed attacks against Iran, with President Donald Trump vowing to "hit them hard" after …

Trump brushes off latest US inflation jump

Jun 10 2026

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday brushed off consumer inflation surging to a fresh three-year-high in May, with …

Stocks slide on US inflation surge, tech weakness

Jun 10 2026

Global stock markets mostly fell on Wednesday as fresh strikes in the Middle East, a jump in US inflation and a tech …

Trump vows attacks on Iran for 'playing' US over peace deal

Jun 10 2026

President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that he would renew US attacks on Iran, saying Tehran had taken too long to …

Surging US consumer inflation hits three-year high in key challenge for Trump

Jun 10 2026

US consumer inflation surged to a fresh three-year high in May, with soaring energy prices caused by US President Donald …

Frasers makes 2-bn-euro offer for Hugo Boss

Jun 10 2026

British clothing group Frasers announced Wednesday a nearly two-billion-euro ($2.3 billion) offer to acquire outstanding …

Bill Gates tells Epstein hearing he 'never victimized anyone'

Jun 10 2026

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates denied Wednesday that he had "victimized anyone" as he began closed-door testimony to US …

SpaceX's historic IPO by the numbers

Jun 10 2026

The stock market debut of SpaceX -- Elon Musk's rocket, satellite and company -- expected Friday, could be the biggest …

Struggling German auto supplier Bosch pivots to robots

Jun 10 2026

German industrial giant Bosch said Wednesday it will step up efforts in the field of humanoid robotics, as its …

Norm-breaking SpaceX IPO a source of elation, angst on Wall Street

Jun 10 2026

Elon Musk's SpaceX is just days from a historic stock market debut set to break all norms, drawing feverish excitement …

Stocks slide as US inflation surges, US and Iran trade strikes

Jun 10 2026

Stock markets mostly fell on Wednesday as fresh strikes in the Middle East, a jump in US inflation and a tech sell-off …

Trump accuses Iran of taking 'too long' to negotiate peace deal

Jun 10 2026

US President Donald Trump accused Iran on Wednesday of taking too long to negotiate a peace deal and warned it would …

German consortium hopes to build new fighter jet after FCAS collapse

Jun 10 2026

Airbus and seven other companies are set to launch a consortium to build a next-generation fighter jet in Berlin on …

Bill Gates arrives for questioning in US Congress over Epstein ties

Jun 10 2026

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates arrived on Capitol Hill Wednesday morning for questioning from US lawmakers over his …

Stocks drop ahead of key US inflation data

Jun 10 2026

Stock markets fell on Wednesday as fresh strikes in the Middle East and a tech sell-off weighed on sentiment ahead of …

Iran attacks US bases in Jordan and Bahrain

Jun 10 2026

Iran attacked American bases in Jordan and Bahrain on Wednesday, warning its Gulf neighbours that they had a …

Tech leads Asia losses as rollercoaster week rumbles on

Jun 10 2026

Stocks fell Wednesday to extend a rollercoaster week for markets, with tech firms once again bearing the brunt of the …

Saudi's new national carrier gets off ground despite war, delays

Jun 10 2026

Saudi Arabia launched its second national carrier Riyadh Air after more than a year of delays on Wednesday, defying the …

Messi plushies see roaring trade as China firms get World Cup boost

Jun 10 2026

Toy charms shaped like a goat and decked out in Lionel Messi's Argentina number 10 shirt pepper a factory tabletop in …

Tech leads Asia losses, oil rises as rollercoaster week rumbles on

Jun 10 2026

Stocks fell Wednesday to extend a rollercoaster week for markets, with tech firms once again bearing the brunt of the …

Bill Gates faces questioning in US Congress over Epstein ties

Jun 10 2026

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was set to face questioning Wednesday from US lawmakers over his relationship with late …

Elon Musk, after DOGE and politics, bets on SpaceX IPO

Jun 10 2026

Elon Musk has become the most powerful, prolific and bewildering human on earth and is about to become the world's first …

US tech shares resume sell-off while oil prices retreat

Jun 09 2026

Global stocks mostly fell Tuesday as US tech shares faced another round of selling followed recent outsized gains and …

Anthropic opens most powerful AI model to public with safeguards

Jun 09 2026

Anthropic, maker of the Claude artificial intelligence (AI) models, made the most powerful version of its technology …

Stocks slump as US tech rebound falters, oil dips below $90

Jun 09 2026

Stock markets fell Tuesday, giving back earlier gains as US technology stocks turned lower after weeks of solid gains on …

EU orders Meta to open WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots for free

Jun 09 2026

The EU ordered Meta on Tuesday to give rival AI chatbots access to its WhatsApp platform for free within five working …

Stocks turn lower as US tech rebound falters

Jun 09 2026

Stock markets fell Tuesday, giving back earlier gains as US technology stocks turned lower after weeks of solid gains on …

US trade gap narrows in April on oil exports boost

Jun 09 2026

The US trade deficit shrank slightly in April, government data showed Tuesday, with energy exports bolstered by a supply …

Stocks rise, oil eases after Trump evokes Iran deal

Jun 09 2026

Stock markets mostly rallied Tuesday and oil prices dipped after US President Donald Trump hinted at a deal with Iran in …

Oil prices drop, stocks rise on Mideast hopes

Jun 09 2026

Stock markets mostly rallied Tuesday as investors returned to the AI trade, while easing Middle East tensions weighed on …

German chemical giant BASF urges overhaul of EU carbon scheme

Jun 09 2026

German chemical giant BASF has urged an overhaul of the European Union's flagship carbon market scheme, warning that the …

Europe's top firms fuelling inequality with payouts: Oxfam

Jun 09 2026

Europe's 100 largest companies pay out more than two-thirds of profits to shareholders on average, fuelling inequality …

German factory output, exports rise but Iran war weighs

Jun 09 2026

German industrial production and exports rose slightly in April, official data showed Tuesday, but analysts warned the …

Asian stocks track Wall St tech bounce, oil eases on Mideast hope

Jun 09 2026

Asian stocks rallied on Tuesday from the previous day's rout as investors returned to the AI trade, while easing Middle …

Business, unions unite against Swiss immigration cap push

Jun 09 2026

Swiss business leaders and unions are mobilising ahead of a vote Sunday on capping immigration, which has triggered …

Trump says in 'final throes' of reaching Middle East peace deal

Jun 09 2026

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that negotiators were in the "final throes" of talks for a peace deal in the …

China exports surge as Beijing withstands Middle East stress

Jun 09 2026

Chinese exports surged by almost a fifth last month, official data showed Tuesday, as shipments of tech components and …

Iran, Israel say hostilities on hold after first attacks since truce

Jun 08 2026

Iran and Israel said Monday that hostilities between them had halted, after the two countries exchanged strikes that …

OpenAI makes move to go public one week after rival Anthropic

Jun 08 2026

ChatGPT-maker OpenAI on Monday took the first step toward going public, one week after arch-rival Anthropic announced …

Tech stock rebound drives Wall Street gains, oil pares rise after fresh strikes

Jun 08 2026

Tech stocks drove global equity markets on Monday, with steep selling last week having a knock-on effect in Asia but …

Apple tries again on AI, turns to Google for help

Jun 08 2026

Apple unveiled an artificial intelligence overhaul for the iPhone on Monday, turning to Google for help two years after …

France, Germany abandon joint fighter jet project

Jun 08 2026

France and Germany said on Monday they had agreed to abandon a joint fighter jet programme due to disagreements between …

'We need to get off fossil fuels': COP31 negotiations chief tells AFP

Jun 08 2026

The incoming COP31 negotiations president told AFP on Monday the Middle East war underscored the need to "get off fossil …

Oil surges on Mideast war escalation, tech stocks rebound

Jun 08 2026

Oil prices surged Monday after Iran and Israel resumed strikes against one another despite a purported ceasefire, while …

Intesa roils Italian banking with rival bid for MPS

Jun 08 2026

Italy's biggest bank Intesa Sanpaolo launched Monday a 31-billion-euro ($35 billion) bid for Monte dei Paschi (MPS), …

Iran halts Israel operation after first post-truce clash

Jun 08 2026

Iran on Monday said it was ending its latest military operation against Israel after the first exchanges of fire between …

Nintendo agrees to 35 mn euro French fine over faulty Switch controllers

Jun 08 2026

Nintendo said Monday that it would pay a fine of 35 million euros ($40 million) to settle a French claim over faulty …

Oil surges on Mideast war escalation, tech stocks slide

Jun 08 2026

Oil prices surged Monday after Iran and Israel resumed strikes against one another despite a purported ceasefire, while …

Trump tells Iran, Israel to stop 'shooting' after first clash since truce

Jun 08 2026

US President Donald Trump on Monday told Iran and Israel to stop fighting after the two foes attacked each other's …

UK govt warns big tech over nude images sent by children

Jun 08 2026

Tech giants must stop children in Britain from being able to send and receive nude images on their devices, or be forced …

Airlines say taxes and rules bigger worry than Mideast war

Jun 08 2026

Airlines are facing surging fuel costs from the war in the Middle East but executives say they are more concerned about …

Iran, Israel exchange fire in first clash since truce

Jun 08 2026

Iran and Israel on Monday attacked each other's territory for the first time since a shaky ceasefire put five weeks of …

Rout in Seoul stocks leads Asian losses as AI tech rally hits wall

Jun 08 2026

Seoul's Kospi stock index dived more than eight percent to lead a rout across Asia on Monday as tech firms were hammered …

Israel, Iran trade fire for first time since truce

Jun 08 2026

Israel and Iran exchanged attacks on Monday for the first time since a ceasefire in the Middle East war took effect two …

Israel, Iran trade fire despite Trump's call for restraint

Jun 08 2026

Israel and Iran traded fire on Monday, seriously testing a fragile truce and threatening hopes for a deal to end the …

'There's no E': Blackout-plagued Nigeria pursues EVs

Jun 08 2026

There are two ways to think about electric vehicles in Nigeria.

ECB to hike rates as Mideast war pushes up inflation

Jun 08 2026

The European Central Bank is expected to hike interest rates this week for the first time in two and a half years as the …

Nvidia unveils AI infrastructure deals in South Korea

Jun 08 2026

US chip titan Nvidia on Monday announced a large-scale data centre construction project in South Korea with SK Telecom, …

Seoul leads steep Asian losses as AI-led tech rally hits wall

Jun 08 2026

Seoul's Kospi stock index dived more than eight percent to lead a rout across Asia on Monday as tech firms were hammered …

Europe opening up to self-driving taxis

Jun 08 2026

Self-driving taxis, already booming in the United States and China, are emerging in Europe, with major companies …

More traffic, but halved profits for airlines in 2026: Industry forecast

Jun 07 2026

Airlines expect to carry more passengers this year but earn only half as much profit as in 2025, as high fuel prices …

French mobile operators agree 20.4-bn-euro joint bid for SFR

Jun 07 2026

Three of France's mobile operators have agreed a joint bid worth 20.4 billion euros ($23.5 billion) for rival SFR, owned …

Dubai luxury hotels woo staycationers as tourists flee

Jun 07 2026

Once reserved for wealthy travellers, Dubai's top-notch hotels have become almost exclusively reliant on residents, …

German carmakers weigh China, defence tie-ups for idle plants

Jun 07 2026

Germany's beleaguered carmakers are desperately seeking solutions for their under-used factories, with speculation …

Luxury sector seeks to recover its cachet

Jun 07 2026

Faced with a painful slowdown in recent years, the luxury sector is seeking to recover its mojo by juggling a …

As OPEC+ meets, Iran war hobbles power to shape oil market

Jun 07 2026

OPEC+ ministers meet Sunday to weigh higher production quotas in a bid to cap oil prices that have surged since the Iran …

US gamers getting older as industry reports growth

Jun 07 2026

Video games are having a moment in the United States -- but the players are getting older.

Albanians step up protests over Trump-linked property development

Jun 06 2026

Thousands of people rallied Saturday in the Albanian capital and hundreds in a protected nature reserve on the country's …

Turkey probes billionaire businessman, 95 over Kurdish woman joke

Jun 06 2026

Prosecutors on Saturday opened a probe into a 95-year-old billionaire and honorary head of Koc Holdings, Turkey's …

Albanians step up protests at Trump-linked property development

Jun 06 2026

Several hundred people gathered Saturday in a protected nature reserve on the Albanian coast to protest at plans for a …

Airlines gather in Rio to chart course as horizon darkens

Jun 06 2026

Airline executives descend on Rio this weekend to weigh the prospects for an industry grappling with geopolitical …

US reports second case of dangerous livestock pest

Jun 06 2026

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Friday it has detected a second case of a dangerous livestock pest whose …

Tech sell-off, rate-hike fears drive Wall Street plunge

Jun 05 2026

Wall Street's key indices closed heavily in the red on Friday, hit by a massive sell-off in technology stocks following …

SpaceX signs pre-IPO deal to provide AI computing to Google

Jun 05 2026

SpaceX on Friday signed a blockbuster cloud computing agreement under which Google will pay the Elon Musk-founded rocket …

Putin rules out meeting Zelensky and vows to pursue war goals

Jun 05 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday ruled out meeting his Ukrainian counterpart any time soon, a day after …

Strong US job growth beats expectations in May, firming recent gains

Jun 05 2026

US job growth surged past expectations in May with the unemployment rate remaining steady, as the labor market in the …

Putin rules out Zelensky meeting any time soon

Jun 05 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday ruled out meeting his Ukrainian counterpart any time soon, a day after …

Putin rules out imminent Zelensky meeting

Jun 05 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday ruled out meeting his Ukrainian counterpart any time soon, a day after …

Blockbuster US job gains ruffle Wall Street

Jun 05 2026

Forecast-beating US jobs data rattled Wall Street on Friday as investors saw increased chances of an interest rate hike.

FIFA ups payments to clubs who send players to World Cup

Jun 05 2026

Clubs whose players go to the World Cup, or appeared in qualifying, will receive increased compensation this summer, …

Russian economy has not collapsed, Putin says at key forum

Jun 05 2026

The Russian economy has not fallen apart, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, dismissing Western criticism that his …

Irish slump drags eurozone economy into red

Jun 05 2026

The eurozone economy recorded an unexpected contraction in the first quarter, dragged down by a sharp fall in Irish …

AI fever spreads, but are markets masking economic cracks?

Jun 05 2026

SpaceX's record-smashing IPO plan shows investors are eager to keep pouring money into all things AI, even as alarm …