Business and Tech



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

AFP - 25m ago

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

Venezuela, Guyana tensions rise over disputed oil-rich region

AFP - 52m ago

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

Southeast Asia banks on aviation boom

AFP - 3h ago

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

AFP - 1h ago

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

AFP - 7h ago

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

Washington Post staff to strike on Thursday

Dec 05 2023

Hundreds of staff at The Washington Post, one of America's most storied newspapers, will walk off the job for 24 hours …

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 …

'Bad buzz': How video games learnt to embrace diversity

Dec 05 2023

The most notorious, violent and often sexist video game "Grand Theft Auto" is finally dropping a playable woman …

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 …

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 …

'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 …

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 …

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 …

'Grand Theft Auto VI' trailer drops, flagging 2025 release

Dec 05 2023

The first trailer for "Grand Theft Auto VI" hit YouTube in a surprise, ahead-of-schedule post on Monday, promising a …

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 …

US YouTuber who staged plane crash jailed for six months

Dec 05 2023

A daredevil YouTuber who deliberately crashed his plane to boost the number of viewers on his channel and then lied …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Spaniard accused of helping N.Korea evade US sanctions arrested

Dec 01 2023

Spanish police on Friday said they had arrested a man wanted by Washington for allegedly conspiring with cryptocurrency …

Spaniard arrested for helping N.Korea evade US sanctions

Dec 01 2023

Spanish police on Friday said they had arrested a man wanted by Washington for allegedly conspiring with cryptocurrency …

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 …

First trailer for "Grand Theft Auto VI" on December 5

Dec 01 2023

Rockstar Games said it will release a trailer next Tuesday for the first installment in a decade of "Grand Theft Auto," …

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 …

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 …

Regional tourism a casualty in Israel-Hamas conflict

Dec 01 2023

Tourists are abandoning the Middle East region due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, putting at risk nations …

Asian markets mixed even as US data fuels rate cut talk

Dec 01 2023

Asian markets diverged Friday following a mixed day on Wall Street, with data showing a continued fall in US inflation …

COP28: Why energy efficiency matters so much

Dec 01 2023

If we are to save the planet, we are going to have to use energy far more efficiently.

US judge halts pending TikTok ban in Montana

Dec 01 2023

A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked a ban on TikTok set to come into effect next year in Montana, saying the …

UK's HS2: trying to bridge the gap between cost and ambition

Dec 01 2023

The unfinished Colne Valley Viaduct traces a gentle curve over several lakes northwest of London, a picturesque symbol …

Asian markets struggle even as US data fuels rate cut talk

Dec 01 2023

Asian markets drifted Friday following a mixed day on Wall Street, with data showing a continued fall in US inflation …

Meta sues US regulator to stop privacy settlement change

Dec 01 2023

Meta filed a lawsuit late Wednesday arguing that US regulators planning to change the terms of a 2020 privacy settlement …

COP28 puts spotlight on state oil giants

Dec 01 2023

Western energy firms are the usual suspects when it comes to criticism about the sector's role in climate change, but a …

After success abroad, Saudi designers hit the runway at home

Dec 01 2023

Couturier Adnan Akbar's past clients included Princess Diana and two French first ladies, but until recently he had …

Canadian mining firm seeks to suspend 7,000 workers in Panama

Dec 01 2023

Canadian firm First Quantum Minerals on Thursday asked Panama's government to suspend the contracts of some 7,000 …

Russian pleads guilty in US to role in Trickbot malware scheme

Nov 30 2023

A Russian man pleaded guilty on Thursday to involvement in developing the Trickbot malware used to extort businesses, …

Giddy Musk unveils Cybertruck in Tesla's latest defiant bet

Nov 30 2023

Tesla began customer deliveries of the Cybertruck on Thursday, bringing to fruition an Elon Musk passion project that …

UK to probe of UAE-backed takeover of Telegraph

Nov 30 2023

The UK government said on Thursday it had triggered a formal probe on public interest grounds into the proposed sale of …

OPEC+ mulls further output cuts to boost flagging prices

Nov 30 2023

Major oil-producing nations led by Riyadh and Moscow were moving towards an agreement to further slash production to …

US Fed's favored inflation gauge slows in October

Nov 30 2023

A key inflation measure used by the US Federal Reserve to set interest rates eased further last month amid declining …

Falling inflation fuels rise in stocks

Nov 30 2023

A drop in inflation in Europe and the United States sent stocks climbing on Thursday, boosting expectations that the US …

Hundreds of new oil and gas projects approved despite climate crisis

Nov 30 2023

More than 400 oil and gas projects were approved globally in the last two years despite calls to abandon all new …

Former UK finance minister Alistair Darling dies aged 70: family

Nov 30 2023

Alistair Darling, the UK finance minister when the 2008 financial crisis hit, has died at the age of 70 following a …

Eurozone inflation falls to more than two-year low

Nov 30 2023

Inflation in the eurozone fell to its lowest level in more than two years in November, official data showed Thursday, …

UK's RMT union members accept pay deal to end long-running rail strikes

Nov 30 2023

The RMT rail union on Thursday said its members have voted in favour of a pay deal to end more than a year of walkouts …

Stock markets rise with inflation on radar

Nov 30 2023

Stock markets rose Thursday before publication of key US inflation data and as investors reacted to mixed economic news …

Intense talks as OPEC+ meets to decide over output amid tumbling prices

Nov 30 2023

Uncertainty hovered over what major oil-producing nations -- collectively known as OPEC+ -- will decide on output policy …

'More than a chatbot': Google touts firm's AI tech

Nov 30 2023

Google's position as king of the search engines is under threat like never before, but the firm's global policy chief …

Markets rise ahead of US inflation, but rate cut hopes build

Nov 30 2023

Asian markets ticked higher Thursday, with focus on the release of key US inflation data that comes as traders ramp up …

Markets drift ahead of US inflation, but rate cut hopes build

Nov 30 2023

Asian markets struggled Thursday following another tepid performance on Wall Street, with focus on the release of key US …

Musk's latest gamble: Tesla Cybertruck set for debut

Nov 30 2023

Four years after startling the car world with designs for the Cybertruck, Elon Musk is set Thursday to mark the arrival …

Ottawa, Google reach 'historic' deal to support Canadian media

Nov 30 2023

The Canadian government and Google announced Wednesday a "historic" deal to support the country's media, heading off an …

Musk regrets controversial post but won't bow to advertiser 'blackmail'

Nov 30 2023

Elon Musk apologized Wednesday for endorsing a social media post widely seen as anti-Semitic, but accused advertisers …

US slaps sanctions on crypto mixer used by N.Koreans for laundering

Nov 29 2023

The United States on Wednesday slapped sanctions on a crypto mixer that it said was serving as a money laundering tool …

US Fed finds signs of slowing economic activity

Nov 29 2023

US economic activity has slowed in recent weeks and the labor market has continued to cool, the Federal Reserve …

Ottawa, Google reach deal to support Canadian media

Nov 29 2023

The Canadian government and Google have reached a deal to support the country's media, heading off an imminent threat by …

European, US stock markets up as bets build on rate cuts

Nov 29 2023

Europe's main stock markets mostly rose Wednesday while Wall Street held onto gains as traders ramped up bets on the US …

European, US stock markets climb as bets build on rate cuts

Nov 29 2023

Wall Street and Europe's main stock markets mostly climbed Wednesday as traders ramped up bets on the US Federal Reserve …

With auto strike over, GM announces big share buybacks

Nov 29 2023

General Motors announced hefty new initiatives Wednesday to return billions of dollars to shareholders, lifting its …

COP28 president denies using climate talks to push oil deals

Nov 29 2023

The Emirati host of the UN climate conference in Dubai denied Wednesday reports that he used his presidency of the …

Saudi wealth fund scoops up 10% of London Heathrow airport

Nov 29 2023

Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund is to buy ten percent of London's Heathrow airport from Spanish infrastructure …

Ikea net profit surges in 2023 as sales rise

Nov 29 2023

Swedish furniture giant Ikea saw a five-fold increase in net profit for its full-year 2023 which ended in August, …

Austrian property tycoon's Signa to file for insolvency

Nov 29 2023

Rene Benko's real estate giant Signa -- whose vast portfolio includes New York's iconic Chrysler building -- on …

UAE to pump CO2 into rock as carbon capture debate rages

Nov 29 2023

High in remote mountains in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates, a new plant will soon take atmospheric CO2 and pump it …

European stock markets climb as bets build on rate cuts

Nov 29 2023

Europe's main stock markets mostly climbed Wednesday as traders ramped up bets on the US Federal Reserve cutting …

OECD trims global growth forecast, warns of conflict risk

Nov 29 2023

The world economy is likely headed for a soft landing next year, the OECD said Wednesday as it pared back its growth …

Austria property giant Signa to file for insolvency

Nov 29 2023

Austrian real estate giant Signa -- whose vast portfolio includes New York's iconic Chrysler building -- on Wednesday …