Business and Tech

With shutdown looming, US Senate offers short-term budget fix

AFP - 19m ago

The US Senate drafted a last-ditch short-term budget proposal Tuesday as time was running out for Congress to avoid a …

Foragers and popsicle sellers: a micro-economy among US migrants

AFP - 19m ago

Marco Gonzalez used to fish the river between Mexico and Texas, but now he has a more lucrative harvest -- possessions …

Hollywood writers' guild leaders call off monthslong strike

Sep 27 2023

The leaders of the Writers Guild of America on Tuesday called off a monthslong strike that has paralyzed Hollywood, …

Tree-hugging AI to the rescue of Brazilian Amazon

Sep 27 2023

Small, artificially intelligent boxes tied to tree trunks in the Brazilian Amazon are the latest weapon in the arsenal …

Hit soccer video game adds mixed-gender teams, sheds FIFA name

Sep 27 2023

The blockbuster soccer video game franchise from Electronic Arts, no longer linked to FIFA, will allow mixed-gender …

Sacred cow: Ball makers break taboos for India's favourite sport

Sep 27 2023

Stitching together cricket balls is a wearisome task for leatherworker Bunty Sagar, whose labours are frowned upon by …

World Bank chief vows to tackle 'dysfunctionality' at development lender

AFP - 2h ago

World Bank President Ajay Banga said Tuesday that he is working to reform "dysfunctionality" in the boardroom of the …

Trump committed fraud by inflating value of assets: judge

AFP - 4h ago

Donald Trump and his sons Eric and Don Jr committed fraud by inflating the value of the real estate and financial assets …

ChatGPT maker value rockets in funding talks: report

AFP - 5h ago

The value placed on startup OpenAI has rocketed to between $80 billion and $90 billion in talks with potential …

Stocks knocked by growing US rate worries

AFP - 5h ago

Global stock markets fell Tuesday as investors fixated on the risk US interest rates will be kept elevated for a …

World Bank chief pledges to reform 'dysfunctional' development lender

AFP - 7h ago

World Bank President Ajay Banga said Tuesday that he is working to reform the "dysfunctional" development lender, and …

Writers' guild leaders to meet on Hollywood studio offer

AFP - 7h ago

Leaders of the Writers Guild of America will meet Tuesday to decide whether to accept a pay deal hammered out with …

Biden makes history by joining US auto workers picket line

AFP - 7h ago

Joe Biden became the first sitting US president to stand on a picket line Tuesday, joining striking auto workers in …

JPMorgan Chase to pay $75 mn to settle Epstein-linked sex trafficking suit

AFP - 8h ago

JPMorgan Chase announced Tuesday that it will pay $75 million to settle a US Virgin Islands' (USVI) lawsuit that accused …

US says Amazon running illegal monopoly in online retail

AFP - 9h ago

A top US antitrust regulator sued Amazon on Tuesday, accusing the online retail behemoth of running an illegal monopoly …

Biden makes history by joining striking US car workers

AFP - 9h ago

Joe Biden joined striking auto workers on the picket line in Michigan Tuesday in a historic first for a sitting US …

Biden to join striking car workers in 'historic' move

AFP - 10h ago

US President Joe Biden began an unprecedented trip to join striking auto workers on the picket line in Michigan Tuesday, …

JPMorgan Chase to pay $75 mn to settle Epstein-linked sex trafficking suit jmb/st

AFP - 10h ago

JPMorgan Chase announced Tuesday that it will pay $75 million to settle a US Virgin Islands' (USVI) lawsuit that accused …

UK Lib Dem leader vows closer EU ties but not to rejoin

AFP - 10h ago

British opposition party the Liberal Democrats on Tuesday promised a closer relationship with Europe if they come to …

Sick leave in UK hits 15-year high: study

AFP - 12h ago

Sick leave in the UK has hit its highest rate in 15 years and is well above pre-pandemic levels, a study showed Tuesday.

Hosts China win Asian Games' first-ever eSports gold

AFP - 12h ago

Hosts China on Tuesday won the Asian Games' first-ever gold in eSports in a landmark for gaming, beating Malaysia 2-0 in …

EU tells Apple chief to 'open up' to rivals

AFP - 10h ago

The EU's digital chief Thierry Breton told Apple CEO Tim Cook on Tuesday that the iPhone maker must open up its products …

French news outlet Jeune Afrique protests Burkina suspension

AFP - 9h ago

French media outlet Jeune Afrique protested Tuesday after Burkina Faso's junta-led government suspended its print and …

Rich nations, China must accelerate race to net zero: IEA

AFP - 9h ago

Rich and developing nations alike must sharply improve their net-zero targets, the International Energy Agency said …

Stocks knocked by growing US rate worries, but dollar soars

AFP - 9h ago

Asian and European stocks fell Tuesday but the dollar soared as investors grow increasingly concerned that US interest …

Asian, European markets on back foot over growing US rate worries

AFP - 11h ago

Markets fell further Tuesday as investors grew increasingly fearful about another possible US interest rate hike and the …

Need for critical metals poses dilemmas for investors

AFP - 11h ago

Soaring demand for the raw materials needed for the transition towards renewable energy is creating dilemmas for …

Asian, European markets on back foot on growing US rate worries

AFP - 10h ago

Markets fell further Tuesday as investors grew increasingly fearful about another possible US interest rate hike and the …

Asian Games put China tech giants on podium after long crackdown

AFP - 11h ago

Alibaba was among the high-profile Chinese tech companies brought to heel by the ruling Communist Party, but the Asian …

Axed: Rampant logging hits India's batmakers for six

AFP - 12h ago

When the Cricket World Cup opens in India next month several players will carry Kashmiri willow wood bats, but …

'Treated like slaves': Workers dying in ArcelorMittal's Kazakh mines

AFP - 11h ago

Standing in the vast windswept plains of the Kazakh steppe, miner Vladimir Khaniev stoically recalled the explosion that …

'Last hope': Desperate truckers in Germany stage hunger strike

AFP - 10h ago

Truck drivers who transport goods around Europe have staged a hunger strike in Germany as part of a weeks-long work …

EU trade chief warns China data laws could have 'unintended consequences'

AFP - 10h ago

The EU trade commissioner warned Tuesday that Chinese regulations governing the transfer of data out of the country, …

Sudan's vital date industry struggles in war-decimated economy

AFP - 11h ago

The lush palm groves of Karima are a long way from Sudan's battlefields, but the war's effects are all too present, …

Asian markets on back foot on growing US rate, China worries

AFP - 10h ago

Markets fell further Tuesday as investors grew increasingly fearful about another possible US interest rate hike and the …

Biden, Trump in dueling US auto strike trips

AFP - 10h ago

US President Joe Biden will join the picket line with striking auto workers on a historic trip to Michigan Tuesday, …

Ford pauses work on $3.5 bn battery plant

Sep 25 2023

Ford is halting work on a major battery plant in the northern US state of Michigan, the automaker said Monday, just …

Tech firms roll back misinformation curbs ahead of 2024 polls

Sep 25 2023

As a global election season widely expected to be mired in misinformation and falsehoods fast approaches, the big …

Strike deal only first step in resolving film industry crisis

Sep 25 2023

A tentative deal to end a long-running writers' strike that has paralyzed Hollywood is only a first step in resolving a …

ChatGPT AI getting chatty with voice prompts

Sep 25 2023

The company behind ChatGPT on Monday said it is adding voice and image capabilities to the generative artificial …

Air France-KLM to order 50 long-haul Airbus A350s: group

Sep 25 2023

Air France-KLM announced Monday that it was going to place a "major order" for 50 long-haul Airbus A350s, as part of its …

Macron promises heat pump boost in French climate plan

Sep 25 2023

President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday France will triple its heat pump production over the next four years as part of …

Stock markets continue retreat on rate hike fears

Sep 25 2023

Stock markets slumped on Monday over lingering concerns that interest rates will remain higher for longer or even climb …

Polish farmers warn of EU threat from Ukraine grain

Sep 25 2023

At his family farm, Wieslaw Gryn voiced support for Poland's ban on Ukrainian grain imports, but said it had not …

EU trade chief warns businesses questioning future in China

Sep 25 2023

The EU's trade chief told Beijing on Monday that tough security laws and a more "politicised" business environment have …

Stock markets retreat, oil climbs

Sep 25 2023

Stock markets slumped on Monday over lingering concerns that interest rate hikes will remain higher for longer or even …

Germany's housing sector slumps into crisis

Sep 25 2023

Valeriy Shevchenko felt like he made the purchase of his lifetime when he beat a queue of prospective buyers to secure a …

Picasso masterpiece begins pre-auction tour in Dubai

Sep 25 2023

A Pablo Picasso masterpiece expected to fetch at least $120 million at auction went on show Monday in Dubai, kicking off …

Amazon steps up AI race with $4 bn Anthropic investment

Sep 25 2023

Amazon said on Monday it would invest up to $4 billion in AI firm Anthropic, as the online retail giant steps into an AI …

Stock markets largely retreat, oil climbs

Sep 25 2023

Stock markets mostly dropped Monday on the possibility of more hikes to US interest rates, with Federal Reserve …

'Regulate them': hard-up Indonesia traders urge TikTok sales ban

Sep 25 2023

As clothing seller Hendri Tanjung struggles to hawk his tunics to Indonesian buyers outside his market shop, he says …

Scandal-hit UK business lobby wins funds to carry on

Sep 25 2023

Britain's scandal-hit business lobby, the CBI, has received funds to remain operational following reports it was in …

Paris Fashion Week promises drama and departures

Sep 25 2023

Milan Fashion Week was not even over and the fashionistas were already heading to Paris on Monday for another 100-plus …

EU blocks Booking takeover of Swedish travel group

Sep 25 2023

The EU vetoed a bid by US online travel agency Booking to take over Swedish rival Etraveli Group Monday over fears the …

'Humans of New York' creator slams Indian version for suing rival

Sep 25 2023

The creator of "Humans of New York" has slammed an Indian version of the blog for suing a rival, accusing it of …

Equity markets mixed as traders prepare for higher rates

Sep 25 2023

Stock markets were mixed Monday as investors contemplated the possibility the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates …

Chinese tourists get VIP welcome in Thailand as visa-free travel begins

Sep 25 2023

Chinese tourists received a personal welcome from the Thai prime minister Monday as they arrived in Bangkok under a new …

Equity markets struggle as traders prepare for higher rates

Sep 25 2023

Stock markets were mixed Monday as investors contemplated the possibility the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates …

From K-pop to sales girls: AI goes mainstream in South Korea

Sep 25 2023

Her face is a deepfake. Her body belongs to a team of similar-sized actors. But she sings, reads the news, and sells …

Desperate eSports fans in ticket-grabbing frenzy at Asian Games

Sep 25 2023

ESports tickets costing up to $137 are like gold dust at the Asian Games with desperate fans signing up multiple times …

Evergrande shares sink after restructuring plan scrapped

Sep 25 2023

Shares in embattled Chinese property developer Evergrande plummeted Monday, following the announcement that it would be …

Hollywood writers, studios reach tentative deal to end strike

Sep 25 2023

Striking writers whose industrial action has paralyzed Hollywood said Sunday they had reached an "exceptional" deal with …

Asian markets struggle as traders prepare for higher rates

Sep 25 2023

Asian markets were mixed Monday as investors contemplated the possibility the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates …

EU businesses 'questioning their position' in China: trade commissioner

Sep 25 2023

European businesses in China are increasingly questioning their positions in the face of tough new security laws and a …

'One day I said stop': models describe pressure to stay thin

Sep 25 2023

Maud Le Fort won't be seen on the runways of Paris Fashion Week, which kicks off on Monday, having chosen her health …

The 'tyranny of thinness' still dominates fashion

Sep 25 2023

Despite claims that the fashion industry is embracing curvier bodies, the data suggests it could be guilty of what one …

Time ticking on US deadline to avert shutdown

Sep 25 2023

Four months after barely avoiding a catastrophic default, the world's largest economy is once again on the verge of a …

ESports makes debut as Asian Games medal event but women left behind

Sep 24 2023

ESports' inclusion as a medal event at the Hangzhou Asian Games was hailed as a landmark, but out of nearly 500 gamers …

Scottish port feels force of UK fishing storm

Sep 24 2023

In Peterhead, a major port in northeast Scotland and Europe's largest wholesale market for white fish, Brexit was …

Bavarian village to decide future of key BMW factory

Sep 24 2023

A sleepy Bavarian village could decide the future of BMW's drive towards electromobility as it goes to the polls on …

As planet gets warmer, ski gondola maker goes urban

Sep 24 2023

Austrian company Doppelmayr is well known for making gondolas for ski resorts, but its workshop is increasingly building …

Hopes rise for end to Hollywood writers' strike as talks extend

Sep 23 2023

Hollywood writers and studios will meet for a fourth consecutive day of high-level talks Saturday, as the industry hopes …

Hi, Robot: machines take over at China's Asian Games

Sep 23 2023

From autonomous bug zappers to android pianists and driverless ice-cream trucks, machines rule the world -- at least at …

UK's colossal HS2 project in danger of going off the rails

Sep 23 2023

HS2, the UK's second high-speed train line after the one leading to the Channel Tunnel, has suffered spiralling costs …

One year on, Nord Stream sabotage remains a mystery

Sep 23 2023

The September 26, 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream pipelines cut off a major route for Russian gas exports …

Stock markets mixed as traders eye high interest rates for longer

Sep 22 2023

Global stock markets diverged Friday as investors contemplated central bank signals that interest rates will remain high …

Biden to join picket line as auto workers union expands strike

Sep 22 2023

The US auto workers union expanded a strike against two of Detroit's "Big Three" on Friday, while President Joe Biden …

US stocks fall again, extending losing streak

Sep 22 2023

Wall Street stocks edged lower Friday, extending a losing streak as markets continued to anticipate a period of …

Lachlan Murdoch, the choice of continuity

Sep 22 2023

Lachlan Murdoch, the heir of the sprawling media empire whose politics skew as conservative as his father Rupert's, is …

Central banks in no rush to cut interest rates

Sep 22 2023

Investors were hoping to hear central banks finally signal this week that they were close to being done raising interest …

Conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch hands empire to son Lachlan

Sep 22 2023

Rupert Murdoch announced Thursday he will step down as chairman of his global media empire, a conservative behemoth that …

US auto workers union expands strike at General Motors, Stellantis

Sep 22 2023

The US auto workers union expanded a potentially economically and politically damaging strike against two of Detroit's …

Rupert Murdoch's handover to son Lachlan sparks concern in London

Sep 22 2023

Rupert Murdoch's announcement that he will hand over control of his global media empire to son Lachlan has put the …

Adidas boss apologises for controversial Ye comments

Sep 22 2023

The head of Adidas has apologised after speculating that Kanye West did not "mean what he said" with anti-Semitic …

US Fed official calls for more rate hikes to tackle inflation

Sep 22 2023

The US Federal Reserve has more work to do to tackle high inflation despite making "considerable" progress in the last …

UK opposition leader denies he will try to undo Brexit

Sep 22 2023

The leader of the UK's opposition Labour Party on Friday denied he wanted to rejoin the European Union after recent …

EU reduces record Intel antitrust fine to 376 mn euros

Sep 22 2023

The European Commission slapped a new fine of 376 million euros ($400 million) on US chipmaker Intel on Friday after an …

As electric shift stalls, Volkswagen weighs up savings

Sep 22 2023

Volkswagen's factory in the heart of the east German city of Dresden was conceived as a showcase for the auto giant's …

Blockbuster movie scares Chinese tourists away from Thailand

Sep 22 2023

For millions of Chinese tourists, Thailand used to be a happy land of water fights, lantern festivals and delicious …

Japan sticks to ultra-loose monetary policy

Sep 22 2023

The Bank of Japan stuck to its ultra-loose monetary policy Friday, though officials face increasing pressure to turn …

Eurozone economic contraction less severe in September

Sep 22 2023

Eurozone economic activity shrank further in September but the rate of decline has slowed, a key survey showed on …

Microsoft nears takeover of 'Call of Duty' maker

Sep 22 2023

Xbox-owner Microsoft has closed in on its $69-billion takeover of "Call of Duty" video-game maker Activision Blizzard …

Markets mostly rise as traders try to look past expected rate hikes

Sep 22 2023

Most stock markets rose Friday, reversing early losses and a sell-off on Wall Street, as traders contemplate further …

In war-scarred Iraqi city, food business gives women independence

Sep 22 2023

Abir Jassem is busy preparing stuffed vegetables at a kitchen in Iraq's Mosul, where after years of unrest a women-run …

Military exemption for South Korean gamers reignites debate

Sep 22 2023

K-pop powerhouse BTS didn't get one, star footballer Son Heung-min did: South Korea grants limited exemptions from …

EU seeks to put brakes on China without hurting ties

Sep 22 2023

When the EU launched an investigation into Chinese electric car subsidies, Brussels wanted the world to know that it …

JPEX crypto fraud casts shadow over Hong Kong nascent policy

Sep 22 2023

Crypto investor Jenny first learned about digital assets at a Hong Kong store that promoted cryptocurrency exchange JPEX …

Chevron workers to end Australia gas plant strike

Sep 22 2023

Workers will end strike action at Chevron's gas plants in Western Australia, their union said Friday, accepting a deal …

US states relax child labor laws amid rise in illegal work

Sep 22 2023

Working in industrial laundries at age 14, laboring up to 35 hours a week on top of school -- some US states are …

US farmers, tech tycoons square off over plans for utopian city

Sep 22 2023

A stealth campaign by Silicon Valley elites with a dream of turning a swath of California farmland into a new age city …

IMF board approves $300 mn loan for Burkina Faso

Sep 21 2023

The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) executive board approved a $300 million loan agreement for the West African …

Microsoft to offer OpenAI's Dall-E 3 in Bing

Sep 21 2023

Microsoft on Thursday said it would integrate OpenAI's soon to be released Dall-E 3 image creation tool into its Bing …