Business and Economy



Spain finance chief Calvino to head EU's lending arm

AFP - 35m ago

Spain's Economy Minister Nadia Calvino, the newly-named European Investment Bank (EIB) chief, is a politician who is …

Fashion world descends on UK's Manchester in Chanel show

AFP - 11h ago

Scintillating colours and celebrities lit up a gloomy Manchester on Thursday as the British city famous for its past …

Tech shares lift US stocks as yen surges

Dec 07 2023

US stocks rebounded Thursday behind strong gains in tech shares ahead of key US jobs data, while the yen surged against …

US, Mexico to boost cooperation on foreign investment screening

Dec 07 2023

The United States and Mexico plan to form a working group on foreign investment screening to guard against national …

Washington Post staffers walk off the job in 24-hour strike

Dec 07 2023

Hundreds of staff at The Washington Post, one of America's most storied newspapers, walked off the job Thursday in a …

'We need information' plead Peru farmers battling drought, climate change

Dec 07 2023

A light rain barely moistens the soil in the drought-stricken region of Junin in central Peru. It does nothing to bring …

US, Mexico to boost cooperation in foreign investment screening

Dec 07 2023

The United States and Mexico plan to form a working group on foreign investment screening, aimed at guarding against …

Epic Games, Lego join forces for latest 'Fortnite' game

Dec 07 2023

Toy giant Lego and videogame leader Epic Games joined forces Thursday to launch "Lego Fortnite" in a bid to grow a …

EU states make last-ditch effort to back spending rules reform

Dec 07 2023

EU finance ministers will try to hammer out an agreement over dinner on Thursday to reform bloc-wide spending rules …

Stock markets diverge, oil in slight rebound

Dec 07 2023

Global stock markets diverged Thursday on the eve of key US jobs data, as oil prices rebounded slightly from five-month …

Striking Washington Post staffers walk off the job

Dec 07 2023

Hundreds of staff at the Washington Post, one of America's most storied newspapers, walked off the job Thursday in a …

UK to raise BBC licence fee after two-year freeze

Dec 07 2023

The UK government announced Thursday that the BBC licence fee will rise after a two-year freeze, but the broadcaster …

EU to resume negotiations on world's first AI law on Friday

Dec 07 2023

The European Union failed to clinch a deal Thursday on a sweeping law on artificial intelligence after nearly 24 hours …

Putin, Saudi leader urge oil cooperation as prices flag

Dec 07 2023

The leaders of Saudi Arabia and Russia used a rare face-to-face meeting to urge oil producers to stick to pledged supply …

Stock markets retreat, oil in slight rebound

Dec 07 2023

European and Asian stock markets retreated Thursday on the eve of key US jobs data, as oil prices rebounded slightly …

Bitcoin rally shines spotlight on investor risks

Dec 07 2023

A much-anticipated US approval of wider bitcoin trading has helped the world's biggest cryptocurrency reach 20-month …

Insured disaster losses to again top $100 bn: Swiss Re

Dec 07 2023

Insured losses from natural catastrophes will pass the $100-billion threshold for the fourth year running in 2023, …

Asia, Europe track Wall St stock losses as US jobs market softens

Dec 07 2023

Asian stocks sank Thursday, extending a rollercoaster week across world markets as investors jockey for position ahead …

Asia tracks Wall Street sell-off as US labour market softens

Dec 07 2023

Asian stocks sank Thursday, extending a rollercoaster week across world markets as investors jockey for position ahead …

China says exports rise for first time in seven months

Dec 07 2023

Chinese exports rose in November for the first time in seven months, officials said Thursday, as the country navigates a …

Stretched to breaking, Germany's debt rule faces reform

Dec 07 2023

Germany's strict constitutional debt rule faces an overhaul after a shock court ruling blew a hole in the budget and …

Asia tracks Wall St sell-off as US labour market softens

Dec 07 2023

Asian stocks sank Thursday, extending a rollercoaster week across world markets as investors jockey for position ahead …

McDonald's eyes big expansion, plans CosMc's small-chain pilot

Dec 07 2023

McDonald's announced an aggressive expansion roadmap Wednesday to reach 50,000 restaurants worldwide by 2027, as the …

US oil prices slide below $70 a barrel; mixed day for global stocks

Dec 06 2023

US oil prices finished below $70 a barrel for the first time since July on Wednesday on a mixed day for global equities, …

McDonald's eyes speedy ramp-up to 50,000 restaurants by 2027

Dec 06 2023

McDonald's announced an aggressive expansion roadmap Wednesday to reach 50,000 restaurants worldwide by 2027, in the …

COP28 head presses nations to reach climate 'compromise'

Dec 06 2023

The Emirati head of the UN's climate conference pressed countries on Wednesday to strive for common ground and reach a …

Big US banks balk at new capital rules in Senate hearing

Dec 06 2023

Large US banks railed against new proposed capital requirements at a congressional hearing on Wednesday, joining Senate …

Canada maintains key interest rate at 5%

Dec 06 2023

Canada's central bank on Wednesday held its key lending rate at five percent, citing the global economic slowdown and …

Stock markets rise on rate-cut hopes, oil slumps

Dec 06 2023

Global equities rose Wednesday with Frankfurt striking a record peak, as investors tracked resurgent hopes of interest …

Google looks to take generative AI lead with Gemini

Dec 06 2023

Google on Wednesday infused its Bard chatbot with a new-generation artificial intelligence model called Gemini, which it …

Italy's ruling parties kill minimum wage bill

Dec 06 2023

Italy's governing right-wing parties on Wednesday scuppered an attempt by the opposition to introduce a minimum wage, …

US October trade deficit widens further on decline in exports

Dec 06 2023

The US trade deficit continued to grow in October due to a fall in exports, according to government data published …

US private sector job growth slows in November

Dec 06 2023

Hiring in the US private sector eased in November, as the post-pandemic boom in restaurant and hotel employment …

EU proposes three-year delay on UK electric car tariffs

Dec 06 2023

Brussels proposed Wednesday a three-year delay on tariffs on the sale of electric vehicles between Britain and the EU …

EU seeks agreement on world's first AI law

Dec 06 2023

The European Union will seek to thrash out an agreement on sweeping rules to regulate artificial intelligence on …

Stock markets rise on rate-cut hopes

Dec 06 2023

Global equities rose Wednesday with Frankfurt striking a record peak, as investors tracked resurgent hopes of interest …

Pressure mounts on COP28 president as fossil fuel debate sizzles

Dec 06 2023

The Emirati head of UN climate talks faced growing pressure Wednesday to steer nations towards a consensus as …

Volkswagen to reduce workforce as it chases profits

Dec 06 2023

Volkswagen said Wednesday it would cut its workforce over the coming years as the German auto giant seeks to boost its …

Twitch to shut down in SKorea over 'seriously' high fees

Dec 06 2023

US-based streaming platform Twitch said Wednesday it would stop its service in South Korea in February because of …

Record passengers as airline industry recovers from pandemic

Dec 06 2023

Airlines should carry a record number of passengers next year as the sector puts the Covid-19 pandemic behind it, the …

Stock markets advance on rate-cut hopes

Dec 06 2023

Global equities rose Wednesday with Frankfurt striking a record peak, as investors tracked resurgent hopes of interest …

UN slams COP28 'posturing' as fossil fuel debate sizzles

Dec 06 2023

UN climate chief Simon Stiell on Wednesday accused nations of "posturing" at the COP28 talks in Dubai, raising the …

German travel group TUI books record year for sales

Dec 06 2023

The world's largest tourism operator TUI said Wednesday it had seen record sales on the back of a strong 2023 summer …

Venezuela, Guyana tensions rise over disputed oil-rich region

Dec 06 2023

Tensions rose between Venezuela and Guyana on Tuesday as Caracas proposed a bill to create a Venezuelan province in a …

COP28 fossil fuel debate sizzles as world marks record hot year

Dec 06 2023

With 2023 confirmed to be the hottest year on record by Europe's climate monitor, the temperature was also rising …

Markets on front foot as US jobs data provide new rate cheer

Dec 06 2023

Equities rose Wednesday after a tepid start to the week as data pointing to a softening US labour market restoked hopes …

Asian markets on front foot as US jobs data provide new rate cheer

Dec 06 2023

Asian stocks rose Wednesday after a tepid start to the week as data pointing to a softening US labour market restoked …

Southeast Asia banks on aviation boom

Dec 06 2023

Major airport expansion projects are taking off across Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, and a new airline is set to …

High speed rail in US west gets $6bn boost

Dec 06 2023

Proposed high-speed rail lines in the western United States moved a step closer to reality Tuesday with the announcement …

High speed rail between LA and Las Vegas gets $3bn boost

Dec 06 2023

A proposed high-speed rail line linking Los Angeles with the US gambling and entertainment capital Las Vegas moved …

Global stocks mixed as US crude prices slips to five-month low

Dec 05 2023

Global stocks were mixed Tuesday as investors digested data suggesting a slowing US labor market, while US crude prices …

23andMe says hackers saw data from millions of users

Dec 05 2023

Personal genetics firm 23andMe on Tuesday confirmed that hackers using stolen passwords accessed the personal …

US antitrust regulators probe ExxonMobil's Pioneer deal

Dec 05 2023

US antitrust officials are seeking additional information related to ExxonMobil's megadeal to acquire Pioneer Natural …

Doctors in England to stage longest NHS strike ever

Dec 05 2023

Hospital doctors in England plan to strike around Christmas in their longest industrial action in the history of …

US, European stocks mixed as data comforts rate-cut bets

Dec 05 2023

US and European stocks diverged on Tuesday despite data comforting expectations that central banks may begin cutting …

Stock markets diverge as traders temper rate-cut bets

Dec 05 2023

Major stock markets diverged Tuesday, with analysts warning November's rally fuelled by bets on interest rate cuts may …

Climate change by numbers

Dec 05 2023

As countries try to hammer out a response to climate change at the COP28 talks in Dubai, here are some key figures about …

Musk's X defends its Dublin riot response

Dec 05 2023

Social media giant X, formerly known as Twitter, has defended its response to recent rioting in Dublin that was in part …

Grand Theft Auto VI: What we learned from the trailer

Dec 05 2023

Fans around the world exploded with excitement Monday when Rockstar Games released the first trailer for Grand Theft …

'Where is our future': Uganda declares war on used clothing

Dec 05 2023

For nearly three decades, the chaotic, overcrowded Owino secondhand market in Uganda's capital has been the cornerstone …

Moody's downgrades outlook on China credit rating over debt fears

Dec 05 2023

Ratings agency Moody's on Tuesday downgraded the outlook on China's credit rating to "negative" from "stable" on the …

Asian, European markets drop as traders temper rate cut bets

Dec 05 2023

Stocks fell Tuesday, extending the sell-off seen on Wall Street, with analysts warning November's rally fuelled by bets …

Asian markets drop as traders temper rate cut bets

Dec 05 2023

Stocks fell Tuesday, extending the sell-off seen on Wall Street, with analysts warning November's rally fuelled by bets …

Hollywood braces for actors' vote on strike deal

Dec 05 2023

Hollywood on Tuesday anxiously waited to learn if actors have approved their union's hard-fought deal with studios, or …

Grand Theft Auto: built for the long haul

Dec 05 2023

In a video game industry known for cranking out sequels, Rockstar Games has cashed in big by making "Grand Theft Auto" …

Crunch time for EU-Mercosur deal at Rio summit

Dec 05 2023

The fate of a long-awaited but controversial Europe-South America trade deal hangs in the balance this week when …

Premier League announces record $8.45 bn domestic TV deal

Dec 05 2023

The Premier League announced on Monday it had agreed a record £6.7 billion ($8.45 billion) domestic television rights …

Canada's public broadcaster to cut 10% of workforce

Dec 04 2023

Canada's public broadcaster on Monday announced it would cut 600 jobs, or 10 percent of its workforce, as it confronts …

Gold hits record high as equities weaken

Dec 04 2023

Gold hit a record high on Monday as growing optimism that the Federal Reserve will cut US interest rates in the new year …

Divided US high court hears challenge to $6bn Purdue opioid settlement

Dec 04 2023

The US Supreme Court appeared divided on Monday as it heard a challenge to Purdue Pharma's $6 billion opioids settlement …

Banque Pictet to pay nearly $123 mn over secret bank accounts

Dec 04 2023

Banque Pictet et Cie will pay nearly $123 million under a deferred prosecution agreement in which the private bank …

Saudi Arabia says 'absolutely not' to oil phaseout at COP28

Dec 04 2023

Saudi Arabia's energy minister has slammed the door shut on agreeing to phase out fossil fuels at the UN's COP28 climate …

Spotify cuts around 1,500 jobs as growth slows

Dec 04 2023

Music streaming giant Spotify said Monday it would reduce its number of employees by around 17 percent in a bid to cut …

UK has record £16.9bn shortfall in defence budget: watchdog

Dec 04 2023

The UK's defence department is facing a £16.9 billion ($21.4 billion) shortfall in its equipment budget due to inflation …

Rights orgs sue Netherlands over F-35 parts to Israel

Dec 04 2023

A group of human rights organisations took the Dutch government to court on Monday, arguing its supply of parts for F-35 …

Turkey's inflation ticks up to 62%

Dec 04 2023

Turkey's annual inflation rate ticked up slightly in November, the state statistics agency said on Monday, showing …

Gold strikes record on rate cut bets but equities struggle

Dec 04 2023

Gold hit a fresh record Monday on growing optimism the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in the new year, with …

Gold jumps to record on rate cut bets but equities struggle

Dec 04 2023

Gold hit a fresh record Monday on growing optimism the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in the new year, with …

Chasing weight loss dream, many in US seek Ozempic alternatives

Dec 04 2023

Like many Americans struggling to lose weight, Marissa Montanino felt compelled to try Ozempic or one of the other new …

Bitcoin soars past $40,000 on optimism for US trading approval

Dec 04 2023

Bitcoin on Monday rose past $40,000 for the first time since May last year, boosted by hopes that the United States will …

What we know about Evergrande's financial future

Dec 04 2023

A Hong Kong court on Monday gave Chinese property giant Evergrande until the end of January to put together a …

US high court to hear challenge to $6bn Purdue opioid settlement

Dec 04 2023

The US Supreme Court is to hear a challenge on Monday to Purdue Pharma's $6 billion opioids settlement immunizing the …

Indonesia's coal love affair still aflame despite pledges

Dec 04 2023

Sania sits in front of her home in Indonesia, less than a kilometre from Southeast Asia's biggest coal complex, where …

Alaska Airlines to buy Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 bn

Dec 04 2023

Alaska Airlines announced Sunday that it would buy Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 billion, consolidating its position as the …

At COP28, Al Gore takes aim at host UAE's emissions

Dec 03 2023

Armed with satellite images of pipelines, former US vice president and climate champion Al Gore singled out the …

Maghreb farmers embrace drones to fight climate change

Dec 03 2023

A drone buzzed back and forth above rows of verdant orange trees planted near Nabeul, eastern Tunisia.

US Commerce chief warns against China 'threat'

Dec 02 2023

US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Saturday urged lawmakers, Silicon Valley and US allies to stop China from getting …

To greenwash or do the right thing? Corporate dilemmas at COP28

Dec 02 2023

They call the giant climate business expo running outside the COP28 United Nations talks in Dubai the "green zone".

Nuclear power has role to play, atomic energy head tells AFP at COP28

Dec 02 2023

It would be a mistake to reject nuclear power because of problems at a handful of projects, Rafael Grossi, head of the …

Montreal research hub spearheads global AI ethics debate

Dec 02 2023

Rapid developments in artificial intelligence -- and recent turmoil at industry powerhouse OpenAI -- have brought fresh …

Stocks bounce on growing optimism over interest rates

Dec 01 2023

US and European stocks rose on the first day of December as investors grew more confident there would be interest rate …

IMF to revise regional outlook over Israel-Hamas conflict

Dec 01 2023

The IMF announced Friday that it will revise its economic outlook for the Middle East and North Africa region due to the …

With outburst, Musk puts X's survival in the balance

Dec 01 2023

Elon Musk's verbal assault on advertisers who have shunned X (formerly Twitter) threatens to sink the social network …

British inventor Dyson loses Brexit libel claim

Dec 01 2023

The billionaire inventor James Dyson has lost a libel action against a British newspaper which commented on how he …

US Fed Chair Jerome Powell calls rate cut speculation 'premature'

Dec 01 2023

It is still "premature" to speculate on when the US Federal Reserve will start cutting interest rates despite the bank's …

Stocks grind higher on interest rate expectations

Dec 01 2023

US and European stocks mostly rose on Friday as investors continued to anticipate a drop in interest rates as inflation …

UK unveils £11 bn windfarm investment by UAE, German firms

Dec 01 2023

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced Friday plans by UAE state-owned renewables firm Masdar and German energy giant …

Designer Matthew Williams leaves Givenchy

Dec 01 2023

Fashion designer Matthew Williams is leaving Givenchy after three years as creative director, the French luxury brand …

Stocks mixed tracking cooler inflation, weak growth

Dec 01 2023

Global stocks markets moved in different directions on Friday as investors weighed a cooler inflation environment …

EU wants to know how Meta tackles child sex abuse

Dec 01 2023

The EU on Friday demanded Instagram-owner Meta provide more information about measures taken by the company to address …

Inflation, unemployment weigh on DR Congo leader's economic gains

Dec 01 2023

President Felix Tshisekedi, who once vowed to transform DR Congo into "the Germany of Africa", has promised to create …

British train drivers set to continue pay strike

Dec 01 2023

Train drivers belonging to Britain's Aslef union on Friday voted to continue strike action for the next six months in a …