Business and Economy



US stocks flat as Fed keeps rates steady, oil prices gyrate

AFP - 15m ago

Wall Street stocks treaded water Wednesday after the Federal Reserve met expectations and kept interest rates steady …

US approves Gilead's twice-yearly injection to prevent HIV

AFP - 39m ago

The US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved Gilead Sciences' twice-yearly injection to prevent HIV -- a …

US Fed keeps interest rates unchanged in face of Trump criticism

AFP - 1h ago

The US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady for a fourth consecutive meeting Wednesday, forecasting higher …

Brazil says free of bird flu, will resume poultry exports

AFP - 2h ago

Brazil said Wednesday it was free of bird flu, paving the way for it to resume chicken exports to China and 20 other …

Nippon, US Steel say they have completed partnership deal

AFP - 3h ago

Nippon Steel and US Steel announced Wednesday they have completed a long-debated transaction granting the US government …

Oil prices drop following Trump's Iran comments, US stocks rise

AFP - 4h ago

Oil prices dropped Wednesday as comments by President Donald Trump trimmed concerns about an imminent US intervention in …

Musk's X sues to block New York social media transparency law

AFP - 5h ago

Elon Musk's X Corp. has filed a lawsuit challenging a New York state law that requires social media companies to report …

Putin T-shirts, robots and the Taliban -- but few Westerners at Russia's Davos

AFP - 6h ago

Russia's flagship economic forum kicked off Wednesday with stalls selling Vladimir Putin-themed merchandise and humanoid …

US Fed set to hold rates steady as it guards against inflation

AFP - 3h ago

The US central bank is expected to hold interest rates steady Wednesday after its key policy meeting, as officials gauge …

New rules may not change dirty and deadly ship recycling business

AFP - 1h ago

Mizan Hossain fell 10 metres (33-foot) from the top of a ship he was cutting up on Chittagong beach in Bangladesh -- …

China's AliExpress risks fine for breaching EU illegal product rules

AFP - 29m ago

Chinese online giant AliExpress must do more to protect consumers from illegal product sales, the European Commission …

Oil rises, stocks mixed as investors watch rates, conflict

AFP - 2h ago

Oil prices rose and stock markets diverged Wednesday as investors tracked the Israel-Iran conflict and a looming US …

Iranians buying supplies in Iraq tell of fear, shortages back home

AFP - 8h ago

Near the once-bustling Iraqi border crossing of Bashmakh, Iranian driver Fatah stocked up on rice, sugar and tea, …

Oil prices dip, stocks mixed tracking Mideast unrest

AFP - 2h ago

Oil prices eased and stock markets diverged Wednesday as traders kept a close watch over the Israel-Iran conflict ahead …

Oil edges down, stocks mixed but Mideast war fears elevated

AFP - 2h ago

Oil prices slipped Wednesday following the previous day's surge but investors remained on edge fearing a US intervention …

UK inflation dips less than expected in May

AFP - 13h ago

British inflation eased less than expected in May after surging in April, official data showed Wednesday, fuelling …

Meta offered $100 mn bonuses to poach OpenAI employees: CEO Altman

AFP - 13h ago

Meta offered $100 million bonuses to OpenAI employees in an unsuccessful bid to poach the ChatGPT maker's talent and …

Spain pushes back against mooted 5% NATO spending goal

AFP - 5h ago

Spain is resisting US President Donald Trump's demands to hike defence spending to five percent of national output, …

Energy transition: how coal mines could go solar

AFP - 15h ago

Disused coal mines could be refashioned to place vast fields of solar panels, a new report suggests, providing an …

Taiwan's entrepreneurs in China feel heat from cross-Strait tensions

AFP - 14h ago

Bustling Taipei-style shopping streets, majestic temples to the island's deities and thriving factories dot the eastern …

Bali flights cancelled after Indonesia volcano eruption

AFP - 12h ago

Dozens of flights to and from Indonesia's resort island of Bali were cancelled on Wednesday, according to authorities …

Oil stabilises after surge, stocks drop as Mideast crisis fuels jitters

AFP - 4h ago

Oil prices stabilised Wednesday after surging the previous day on fears of a US intervention in the Israel-Iran conflict …

Made in Vietnam: Hanoi cracks down on fake goods as US tariffs loom

AFP - 16h ago

Since the United States accused Vietnam of being a hub for counterfeit goods, Tran Le Chi has found it increasingly hard …

Trump extends TikTok deadline for third time

AFP - 14h ago

US President Donald Trump will this week give TikTok a fresh 90-day extension to find a non-Chinese buyer, the White …

Oil prices jump, stocks drop as traders track Israel-Iran crisis

Jun 17 2025

Oil prices jumped and stocks mostly fell Tuesday after President Donald Trump abruptly departed G7 talks and concerns …

EU chief says pressure off for lower Russia oil price cap

Jun 17 2025

EU Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday said surging energy prices have reduced the urgency to slash the …

Brazil sells rights to oil blocks near Amazon river mouth

Jun 17 2025

Brazil sold extraction rights to 19 oil and gas blocks near the mouth of the Amazon river Tuesday, at an auction slammed …

Spain says 'overvoltage' caused huge April blackout

Jun 17 2025

A major power outage that paralysed the Iberian Peninsula in April was caused by "overvoltage" on the grid that …

Trump says EU not offering 'fair deal' on trade

Jun 17 2025

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the European Union had yet to offer a "fair deal" on trade, as Washington …

Brazil sells exploration rights to oil blocks near Amazon river mouth

Jun 17 2025

Brazil sold exploration rights to 19 oil and gas blocks near the mouth of the Amazon river Tuesday, at the start of an …

Swiss insurers estimate glacier damage at $393 mn

Jun 17 2025

Swiss insurers on Tuesday put the damage caused by last month's glacier collapse, which largely destroyed the Alpine …

US retail sales slip more than expected after rush to beat tariffs

Jun 17 2025

US retail sales declined more than expected in May, government data showed Tuesday, dragged by a slowdown in auto sales …

UK startup looks to cut shipping's carbon emissions

Jun 17 2025

In a small London workshop, a prototype mimics the process of capturing carbon emissions from a cargo ship's engine.

Oil prices rally, stocks slide as traders track Israel-Iran crisis

Jun 17 2025

Oil prices jumped and stocks mostly fell Tuesday after US President Donald Trump abruptly departed G7 talks to monitor …

UK automakers cheer US trade deal, as steel tariffs left in limbo

Jun 17 2025

Britain's auto sector on Tuesday welcomed news that the United States and UK have agreed to implement key parts of their …

Global oil demand to dip in 2030, first drop since Covid: IEA

Jun 17 2025

Global oil demand will fall slightly in 2030, its first drop since the 2020 Covid pandemic, the International Energy …

Poll finds public turning to AI bots for news updates

Jun 17 2025

People are increasingly turning to generative artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT to follow day-to-day news, a …

Why stablecoins are gaining popularity

Jun 17 2025

Stablecoins -- a form of cryptocurrency backed by traditional assets -- are gaining traction, with the US Senate set to …

Taiwan tests sea drones as China keeps up military pressure

Jun 17 2025

A Taiwanese-made sea drone capable of carrying bombs skimmed across waters off the island Tuesday in a display of …

Oil prices rally, stocks mixed as traders track Israel-Iran crisis

Jun 17 2025

Oil prices jumped and equities fluctuated Tuesday as investors weighed Donald Trump called for Tehran residents to …

Bank of Japan holds rates, will slow bond purchase taper

Jun 17 2025

The Bank of Japan kept interest rates unchanged Tuesday and said it would taper its purchase of government bonds at a …

Oil prices swing with stocks as traders keep tabs on Israel-Iran crisis

Jun 17 2025

Oil prices and equities fluctuated Tuesday as investors weighed Donald Trump called for Tehran residents to evacuate and …

Bank of Japan holds rates, says to slow bond purchase taper

Jun 17 2025

The Bank of Japan kept interest rates unchanged Tuesday and said it would taper its purchase of government bonds at a …

Venezuela's El Dorado, where gold is currency of the poor

Jun 17 2025

In the Venezuelan mining community of El Dorado, the majority of residents carry around gold instead of cards or cash to …

Soft power: BTS fans rally behind Korean international adoptees

Jun 17 2025

K-pop megaband BTS is back from military service, and their international fandom -- long known for its progressive …

Oil prices jump after Trump's warning, stocks extend gains

Jun 17 2025

Oil prices rallied Tuesday after Donald Trump urged Tehran residents to evacuate, stoking fresh fears of all-out war as …

Yen slides ahead of Bank of Japan policy decision

Jun 17 2025

The yen fell against the dollar ahead of a Bank of Japan decision Tuesday, with officials expected to hold interest …

Ecuador pipeline burst stops flow of crude

Jun 17 2025

Ecuador's state energy company said it stopped pumping oil through the country's main pipeline Monday due to a rupture …

Despite law, US TikTok ban likely to remain on hold

Jun 17 2025

US President Donald Trump is widely expected to extend the Thursday deadline for TikTok to find a non-Chinese buyer or …

OpenAI wins $200 mn contract with US military

Jun 17 2025

The US Department of Defense on Monday awarded OpenAI a $200 million contract to put generative artificial intelligence …

G7 leaders urge Trump to ease off trade war

Jun 17 2025

World leaders at the Group of Seven summit in Canada on Monday pushed US President Donald Trump to back away from his …

Oil prices drop, stocks climb as Iran-Israel war fears ease

Jun 16 2025

Stocks rose and oil prices retreated Monday as fears of a wider Middle East conflict eased even as Israel and Iran …

France shuts Israeli weapons booths at Paris Air Show

Jun 16 2025

Geopolitical tensions roiled the opening of the Paris Air Show on Monday as French authorities sealed off Israeli …

Struggling Gucci owner names new CEO

Jun 16 2025

French luxury group Kering announced Monday that it had appointed Luca de Meo, who helped drive automaker Renault out of …

Oil prices fall, stocks rise as Iran-Israel war fears ease

Jun 16 2025

Stocks rose and oil prices retreated Monday as fears of a wider Middle East conflict eased even as Israel and Iran …

Fighter jets, refuelling aircraft, frigate: UK assets in Mideast

Jun 16 2025

Britain is deploying extra fighter jets and other assets to the Middle East amid the escalating conflict between Israel …

Struggling Gucci owner's shares soar over new CEO reports

Jun 16 2025

Shares in Gucci owner Kering jumped Monday over reports that the outgoing boss of French automaker Renault would take …

Oil prices fall even as Israel-Iran strikes extend into fourth day

Jun 16 2025

Stocks rose and oil prices pulled back on Monday as fears of a wider Middle East conflict eased even as Israel and Iran …

Oil prices rise further as Israel-Iran extends into fourth day

Jun 16 2025

Oil prices extended gains Monday as Israel and Iran pounded each other with missiles for a fourth day and threatened …

China factory output slows but consumption offers bright spot

Jun 16 2025

Growth in China's factory output hit a six-month low last month as trade war pressures bit, official data showed Monday, …

China factory output slumps but consumption offers bright spot

Jun 16 2025

China's factory output grew slower than expected last month as trade war pressures bit, official data showed Monday, …

Renault boss Luca de Meo to step down, company says

Jun 15 2025

The head of French carmarker Renault, Luca de Meo, is to quit "to take on new challenges outside the automobile sector", …

Sober clubbing brews fresh beat for Singapore Gen Z

Jun 15 2025

Swaying to dance music and TikTok-fuelled pop under a disco ball, young punters are packed shoulder to shoulder while …

US Fed set to hold rates steady in the face of Trump pressure

Jun 15 2025

The US central bank is expected to keep interest rates unchanged for a fourth straight policy meeting this week, despite …

Big tech on a quest for ideal AI device

Jun 15 2025

ChatGPT-maker OpenAI has enlisted the legendary designer behind the iPhone to create an irresistible gadget for using …

US Steel, Nippon partnership proceeds with security deal, 'golden share'

Jun 14 2025

The partnership between US Steel and Nippon Steel has reached a new phase, with an agreement on US national security …

Trump approves US Steel, Nippon Steel partnership

Jun 14 2025

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday approving a partnership between US Steel and Nippon Steel after …

Google turns internet queries into conversations

Jun 13 2025

Google on Friday began letting people turn online searches into conversations, with generative artificial intelligence …

Oil prices soar, stocks slide after Israel strikes Iran

Jun 13 2025

Oil prices soared and stocks sank Friday after Israel launched strikes on Iran, prompting retaliation from Tehran and …

War, trade and Air India crash cast cloud over Paris Air Show

Jun 13 2025

War, tariffs and the Air India crash will cast a shadow over the Paris Air Show as the aerospace industry's biggest …

Airlines halt many Middle East flights after Israel hits Iran

Jun 13 2025

Global airlines on Friday cancelled flights to Tel Aviv, Tehran and other Middle East destinations, or rerouted planes, …

Spain economy minister urges fair, balanced EU-US tariff deal

Jun 13 2025

Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said a tariff pact between the EU and Washington should be "fair and balanced," …

Startups show off ocean-preserving tech at Paris trade fair

Jun 13 2025

Harnessing ocean currents to boost fuel efficiency of vessels, or tracking whales using sensor data and AI -- startups …

Oil surges, stocks fall on Middle East fears as Israel strikes Iran

Jun 13 2025

Oil prices soared and stocks sank Friday after Israel launched strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites and warned …

As Trump mulls sanctions, Russia's military economy slows

Jun 13 2025

After three years of doom-defying growth, Russia's heavily militarised economy is slowing, facing a widening budget …

Anthropic says looking to power European tech with hiring push

Jun 13 2025

American AI giant Anthropic aims to boost the European tech ecosystem as it expands on the continent, product chief Mike …

As NATO ups defence spending, can Europe produce the weapons?

Jun 13 2025

NATO leaders meeting in The Hague this month look set to agree to a major increase in military budgets under pressure …

'We're done with Teams': German state hits uninstall on Microsoft

Jun 13 2025

At a time of growing concern over the power of the world's mighty tech companies, one German state is turning its back …

Meta makes major investment in Scale AI, takes in CEO

Jun 13 2025

Scale AI announced a major new investment by Meta late Thursday that values the startup at more than $29 billion and …

Betraying the revolution: Cuban students reject dollarization

Jun 13 2025

It took a steep hike in mobile internet tariffs to unleash a rebellion among Cuban students on a scale unseen since the …

Trump moves to block California electric cars program

Jun 13 2025

US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed resolutions blocking California's landmark efforts to phase out gas-powered …

At least 265 dead in India plane crash, one passenger survives

Jun 12 2025

A London-bound passenger jet crashed in a residential area in the Indian city of Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing at least …

Air India crash latest test for new Boeing leadership

Jun 12 2025

The devastating Air India crash seems certain to embroil Boeing in further rounds of negative headlines at a time when …

India plane crash: What we know

Jun 12 2025

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed on Thursday after taking off from the Indian city of Ahmedabad bound …

Dollar dives on Trump's new trade threat

Jun 12 2025

The dollar plunged on Thursday after US President Donald Trump threatened higher unilateral tariffs on trade partners, …

At least 260 dead in India plane crash, one passenger survives

Jun 12 2025

A London-bound passenger jet crashed in a residential area in the Indian city of Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing at least …

California sues Trump for scrapping state's EV rules

Jun 12 2025

California sued Donald Trump's administration Thursday over his move to scrap the state's tailpipe emission rules and …

India plane crash: What we know so far

Jun 12 2025

A London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed on Thursday in the Indian city of Ahmedabad, with …

One survivor after London-bound plane with 242 on board crashes in India

Jun 12 2025

A London-bound passenger plane crashed in the Indian city of Ahmedabad on Thursday leaving one known survivor from 242 …

The most eye-catching products at Paris's Vivatech trade fair

Jun 12 2025

Products ranging from footwear to AI counterfeit detectors fill the halls of Paris's Vivatech trade fair, which runs …

London-bound plane with 242 on board crashes into doctors' housing in India

Jun 12 2025

A London-bound passenger plane crashed in the Indian city of Ahmedabad on Thursday and all 242 people on board were …

Germany's BioNTech to buy CureVac to boost cancer research

Jun 12 2025

Germany's BioNTech is buying domestic rival CureVac for $1.25 billion, the companies said Thursday, bringing together …

787 Dreamliner is Boeing's flagship long-distance plane

Jun 12 2025

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed in India on Thursday is the pride of the US company's catalogue for long-distance …

India and its vast booming aviation sector

Jun 12 2025

Air India's London-bound flight 171 that crashed on Thursday with 242 people on board was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, …

Stocks, dollar retreat on new Trump trade threat

Jun 12 2025

Stock markets and the dollar retreated Thursday after US President Donald Trump threatened higher unilateral tariffs on …

Ryanair says will fine 'disruptive passengers' 500 euros

Jun 12 2025

Irish no-frills airline Ryanair said Thursday it will fine "disruptive passengers whose unruly behaviour" results in …

March quake to drive 2.5% drop in Myanmar GDP, says World Bank

Jun 12 2025

Myanmar's economy is set to shrink 2.5 percent in the 2025/26 financial year, largely as a result of March's devastating …

UK economy shrinks in April as US tariffs kick in

Jun 12 2025

Britain's economy shrank more than expected in April following a tax hike on UK businesses and a record drop in exports …

Shares stumble after Trump's latest trade threat

Jun 12 2025

Investors were rattled on Thursday after Donald Trump said he would impose unilateral tariffs on partners in the next …

Niger-Benin border standoff deepens as trade collapse bites

Jun 12 2025

Nearly two years after Niger's military seized power and the border with Benin was shut, tensions over security, …

EU crypto regulation hampered by national flaws

Jun 12 2025

The first EU-wide cryptocurrency regulation was meant to impose some harmony, but disparities in implementation by …

Rice prices Japan's hot political issue, on and off the farm

Jun 12 2025

All is calm at Satoshi Yamazaki's rice farm, with its freshly planted rows of vivid-green seedlings, but a row over the …