Business and Economy



US House revolt advances Obamacare subsidy extension

AFP - 2h ago

US lawmakers voted Thursday to revive health insurance subsidies that expired at the end of last year, offering hope to …

Swiss mining giant Glencore in merger talks with Rio Tinto

AFP - 2h ago

Swiss mining and commodity trading giant Glencore said Friday it is in merger talks with British-Australian rival Rio …

Stocks mixed as traders await US jobs data, oil rebounds

Jan 08 2026

Global stocks were mixed Thursday while oil prices bounced higher as markets looked ahead to key US employment data …

Venezuela begins 'large' prisoner release amid US pressure

Jan 08 2026

Venezuela on Thursday began releasing a "large number" of political prisoners, including several foreigners, in an …

Macron says France to vote against EU-Mercosur deal

Jan 08 2026

President Emmanuel Macron says France will vote against the European Union's trade deal with South American bloc …

Venezuela announces release of 'large number' of prisoners

Jan 08 2026

Venezuela on Thursday announced the release of a "large number" of prisoners, some of them foreigners, in an apparent …

Three ships head to US with Venezuela oil as capacity concerns grow

Jan 08 2026

Three of 11 vessels chartered by Chevron were Thursday transporting oil from Venezuela to the US, according to an AFP …

Trump says US could run Venezuela and its oil for years

Jan 08 2026

The United States could run Venezuela and tap into its oil reserves for years, President Donald Trump said in an …

Stocks retrench as traders eye geopolitics, US jobs data

Jan 08 2026

Stock markets mostly pulled back Thursday as an early year rally ran out of steam, but a solid start to Wall Street …

French farmers rage against EU-Mercosur trade deal

Jan 08 2026

Hundreds of French farmers protested in Paris Thursday after rolling into the capital on tractors, angry at a planned EU …

US trade gap shrinks to smallest since 2009 as imports fall

Jan 08 2026

The US trade deficit made a sharp and unexpected pullback in October, reaching its lowest level since 2009 as goods …

Confusion reigns over Venezuela's oil industry as US looms

Jan 08 2026

Between US demands for its crude, tankers threatened with seizure, storage tanks at overflow risk and bewildered local …

US could run Venezuela, tap its oil for years, Trump says

Jan 08 2026

The United States could run Venezuela and tap into its oil reserves for years, President Donald Trump said in an …

Farmers enter Paris on tractors to rage against trade deal

Jan 08 2026

French farmers rolled into Paris on tractors Thursday in a show of anger against an EU trade deal with South American …

Stocks retreat as traders eye geopolitics, US jobs data

Jan 08 2026

Stock markets fell Thursday as an early-year rally ran out of steam, with investors locking in profits ahead of the …

'Sign of life': defence boom lifts German factory orders

Jan 08 2026

Factory orders in long-struggling Germany unexpectedly posted a sharp jump in November, boosted by higher demand for …

Startups go public in litmus test for Chinese AI

Jan 08 2026

Leading Chinese artificial intelligence startup Zhipu AI soared as it went public in Hong Kong on Thursday, a day before …

Japan's Fast Retailing raises profit forecast after China growth

Jan 08 2026

Japanese retail giant Fast Retailing lifted its 2025-26 annual net profit forecast on Thursday, buoyed by a strong …

Farmers enter Paris on tractors in protest at trade deal

Jan 08 2026

French farmers rolled into Paris on tractors Thursday in a show of dissent against an EU trade deal with South American …

Equity markets mostly down as traders eye US jobs data

Jan 08 2026

Equity markets mostly fell Thursday as the rally that has characterised the start of the year paused with investors …

Asian markets mostly down as traders eye US jobs data

Jan 08 2026

Asian markets mostly fell Thursday as the rally that has characterised the start of the year paused with investors …

Lidl to drop broadcast TV ads in France

Jan 08 2026

German hard discount food retailer Lidl announced Thursday it would halt spots on broadcast television in France, where …

Asian markets mixed as traders eye US jobs data

Jan 08 2026

Asian markets were mixed Thursday as the rally that has characterised the start of the year paused with investors …

US lays out plan for marketing Venezuelan oil after Maduro ouster

Jan 07 2026

The United States on Wednesday laid out what it called an "energy deal" with Venezuela, saying it will partially roll …

US stocks retreat from records as oil falls further

Jan 07 2026

Wall Street stock indices pulled back from records on Wednesday ahead of key US labor data, while oil prices fell …

Accused scam boss Chen Zhi arrested in Cambodia, extradited to China: Phnom Penh

Jan 07 2026

Chinese-born tycoon Chen Zhi, who was indicted by the United States on fraud and money-laundering charges for running a …

US seizes Russia-linked oil tanker chased to North Atlantic

Jan 07 2026

The United States on Wednesday seized a Russia-linked oil tanker in the North Atlantic after pursuing it from off the …

US oil giant Chevron interested in Russian Lukoil's foreign assets: report

Jan 07 2026

US oil giant Chevron and private equity firm Quantum Capital Group have partnered on a bid for sanctioned Russian oil …

Oil sinks as US ups pressure on Venezuela over crude supplies

Jan 07 2026

Oil prices fell further Wednesday after President Donald Trump said Venezuela would turn over millions of barrels to the …

AI helps pave the way for self-driving cars

Jan 07 2026

Even if Elon Musk's dream of robotaxis for everyone is a long way off, sleek electric cars powered by artificial …

US seizes Russia-flagged oil tanker chased to North Atlantic

Jan 07 2026

The United States on Wednesday seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic after pursuing it from off the …

Oil wavers as Trump flags Venezuela shipments, US seizes tankers

Jan 07 2026

Oil prices wavered Wednesday after President Donald Trump said Venezuela would turn over millions of barrels to the …

France halts imports of food with traces of banned pesticides

Jan 07 2026

France on Wednesday officialised a ban on food imports containing traces of five pesticides currently banned in the EU, …

German emissions cuts slow, North Sea has warmest year on record

Jan 07 2026

Germany's greenhouse gas emission cuts slowed sharply in 2025 as the North Sea experienced its warmest year on record, …

US private sector hiring rebounds in December but misses expectations

Jan 07 2026

Hiring in the US private sector bounced back in December, data from payroll firm ADP showed on Wednesday, but the figure …

US attempts to seize Russia-flagged oil tanker in Atlantic

Jan 07 2026

The United States has started an operation to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic after it evaded a …

Warner Bros rejects updated Paramount takeover bid, backs Netflix deal

Jan 07 2026

The board of entertainment and news giant Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) urged shareholders Wednesday to reject an updated …

Oil falls as Trump flags Venezuela shipments, stocks waver

Jan 07 2026

Oil prices extended losses Wednesday after President Donald Trump said Venezuela would turn over millions of barrels to …

Oil extends losses as Trump flags Venezuela shipments, stocks mixed

Jan 07 2026

Oil extended losses Wednesday after Donald Trump said Venezuela would turn over millions of barrels to the United …

Lenovo unveils AI agent to bridge PCs, phones and wearables at CES

Jan 07 2026

Lenovo, the world's top PC maker, unveiled its own AI assistant Tuesday at the CES tech show in Las Vegas, promising a …

US car market expected to moderate in 2026

Jan 07 2026

Auto industry experts expect US car sales to moderate in 2026 after last year's churn of trade announcements and …

Overseas scholars drawn to China's scientific clout, funding

Jan 07 2026

China's government has long made efforts to tempt top scientists from abroad, but researchers say its institutions …

Vietnamese caught in Japan's illegal worker crackdown

Jan 07 2026

For a decade, Vietnamese worker Minh did tough jobs like sandblasting ships and welding steel, helping address rapidly …

Oil extends losses as Trump flags Venezuela shipments, stocks wobble

Jan 07 2026

Oil extended losses Wednesday after Donald Trump said Venezuela would turn over millions of barrels to the United …

From music to mind reading: AI startups bet on earbuds

Jan 07 2026

AI companies are on the hunt to design the ideal device to deliver AI's superpowers, and some new enterprises are …

Nvidia CEO praises robots as 'AI immigrants'

Jan 07 2026

Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang described robots as "AI immigrants" on Tuesday, arguing they could solve a global …

Equities extend record run, oil eases

Jan 06 2026

Global stock markets advanced on Tuesday to fresh record highs while oil prices eased as investors tracked developments …

Brazil oil drilling near Amazon halted over 'fluid leak'

Jan 06 2026

Brazilian state oil company Petrobras said Tuesday that a "fluid leak" had forced it to halt drilling off the coast of …

Oil prices gain as equities extend record run higher

Jan 06 2026

Oil prices climbed and stock markets hit new heights Tuesday as investors tracked developments surrounding crude-rich …

UK electric car sales hit record high in 2025: industry

Jan 06 2026

All-electric vehicles accounted for nearly one quarter of new cars sold in the UK last year, a record high, industry …

EV sales rebound in Germany as Chinese brands make inroads

Jan 06 2026

Electric vehicle sales rebounded strongly in Germany in 2025, official data showed Tuesday, with Chinese manufacturers …

Markets extend global rally amid optimistic outlook, oil dips

Jan 06 2026

Markets rallied Tuesday, tracking the year's first record on Wall Street as investors racked up AI-linked tech bets, …

Nestle recalls infant formula in several European countries

Jan 06 2026

Swiss food giant Nestle announced on Monday a recall of batches of infant formula in several European countries, notably …

Uber shows off its robotaxi heading for San Francisco

Jan 06 2026

Uber on Monday unveiled a custom robotaxi it is adding to its global ride-share platform, starting on the San Francisco …

TV makers tout AI upgrades at CES, as smartphone threat looms

Jan 06 2026

A century after Scottish inventor John Logie Baird demonstrated the first mechanical television system, TVs face …

Ex-Canadian foreign minister appointed economic advisor in Ukraine

Jan 06 2026

Liberal politician Chrystia Freeland, Canada's former minister of finance and foreign affairs, said Monday she will …

Lower demand for electric cars dents GM's sales

Jan 05 2026

General Motors reported a dip in fourth-quarter US auto sales Monday, reflecting a sharp decline in electric vehicle …

Chevron helps lift Dow to record as oil market weighs Venezuela shake-up

Jan 05 2026

Oil prices finished higher Monday on a heady day for global equities after the US capture of Venezuela's president …

Volatility grips oil market as nervous investors assess Venezuela

Jan 05 2026

The oil market was jumpy on Monday after US forces captured the leader of oil-rich Venezuela, sparking speculation on …

EU hopes to sign Mercosur trade deal soon

Jan 05 2026

The European Union on Monday said it hoped to sign a long-delayed trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur "soon", …

German renewable energy shift slowed in 2025

Jan 05 2026

The share of renewables in German power production almost stagnated in 2025, data showed Monday, as concerns grow about …

Oil prices ease as investors track Venezuela fallout

Jan 05 2026

Oil prices dipped Monday after the United States ousted Nicolas Maduro, leader of crude-rich Venezuela, raising the …

Tech firms lead markets higher, oil swings after Maduro ouster

Jan 05 2026

Stocks rose Monday on the back of a fresh rally in tech firms and oil dipped as investors weighed the impact of the US …

Tech firms lead Asian markets higher, oil swings after Maduro ouster

Jan 05 2026

Asian stocks rose Monday on the back of a fresh rally in tech firms and oil dipped as investors weighed the impact of …

'Tuna King' pays record $3.2 mn for bluefin at Tokyo auction

Jan 05 2026

A Japanese sushi entrepreneur paid a record $3.2 million for a giant bluefin tuna Monday at an annual prestigious new …

UK starts ban on junk food ads on daytime TV and online

Jan 05 2026

New regulations come into force Monday in Britain banning daytime TV and online adverts for so-called junk foods, in …

A year on, LA wildfire survivors struggle to rebuild

Jan 04 2026

Less than a year after watching flames raze his home in the Altadena foothills, Ted Koerner has moved into a brand new …

Sprawling CES gadgetfest a world stage for AI and its hype

Jan 03 2026

Dreams about the vast potential of artificial intelligence will collide with cold, hard reality as the Consumer …

Tesla loses EV crown to China's BYD in 2025 as sales slip

Jan 02 2026

Tesla's sales fell in 2025, the company reported Friday, ceding its position as the world's biggest electric vehicle …

London stocks hit record as 2026 kicks off with global gains

Jan 02 2026

Stock markets mostly rose on Friday, the first trading day of 2026, with London's benchmark FTSE 100 index reaching …

Milei eases tax evasion rules to draw out 'mattress dollars'

Jan 02 2026

Argentine President Javier Milei on Friday signed into law a so-called "tax innocence" bill, which aims to encourage …

Tesla sales slip as it loses EV crown to China's BYD in 2025

Jan 02 2026

Tesla's sales fell in 2025, the company reported Friday, ceding its position as the world's biggest electric vehicle …

UK sees record-high electricity from renewables in 2025: study

Jan 02 2026

Britain produced a record-high amount of electricity from renewable energy last year, a study revealed on Friday.

Norway closes in on objective of 100% electric car sales

Jan 02 2026

Norway came close to its objective of selling only zero-emission cars in 2025, with electric vehicles accounting for …

Orsted files lawsuit against US suspension of wind turbine leases

Jan 02 2026

Danish offshore wind energy firm Orsted said Friday its US joint venture had filed a lawsuit challenging the suspension …

Stocks make bright start to 2026

Jan 02 2026

Markets made a bright start to 2026 on Friday but volumes were thin with Tokyo and Shanghai still closed as investors …

Asia stocks make bright start to 2026

Jan 02 2026

Asian markets made a bright start to 2026 on Friday but volumes were thin with Tokyo and Shanghai still closed as …

Nigeria kicks off new tax regime vowing relief for low earners

Jan 01 2026

Nigeria on Thursday launched a new tax regime that officials said will expand the tax base, ease the tax burden on …

China's BYD logs record EV sales in 2025

Jan 01 2026

Chinese auto giant BYD sold 2.26 million electric vehicles last year, a company statement showed Thursday, setting a new …

Bulgaria adopts the euro, nearly 20 years after joining the EU

Jan 01 2026

Bulgaria on Thursday became the 21st country to switch to the euro, a milestone met with both cheers and fears, nearly …

AI, chips boom sent South Korea exports soaring in 2025

Jan 01 2026

Soaring global demand for semiconductors fuelled by a boom in artificial intelligence sent South Korea's exports to …

In Venezuela, price of US dollar up 479 percent in a year

Jan 01 2026

Venezuela, currently in the throes of an escalating crisis with the United States, closed the books Wednesday on a …

China says to impose extra 55% tariffs on some beef imports

Jan 01 2026

China said on Wednesday it will impose additional 55 percent tariffs on some beef imports from countries including …

Stocks pull lower at end of record year for markets

Dec 31 2025

Stock markets mostly retreated Wednesday in thin trading, following a year of record gains for key assets as central …

Eurostar trains back with delays after power glitch sparks travel chaos

Dec 31 2025

Rail traffic through the Channel tunnel slowly resumed with more cancellations and delays Wednesday after an electricity …

Bulgaria takes hesitant step into the eurozone

Dec 31 2025

Bulgaria will become the 21st country to switch to the euro when it enters the New Year on Thursday, amid concerns the …

Stocks drop at end of record year for markets

Dec 31 2025

Stock markets mostly fell Wednesday in thin trading, following a year of record gains for key assets as central banks …

Xi says China to hit 2025 growth target of 'around 5 percent'

Dec 31 2025

China's economy is expected to have grown "around five percent" in 2025, President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday, despite …

Berlin says decision postponed on European fighter jet

Dec 31 2025

Efforts to break a deadlock in 2025 over plans for a new European fighter jet have been unsuccessful, a German …

Eurostar says full service to resume after power glitch sparks travel chaos

Dec 31 2025

Traffic slowly resumed Wednesday in the Channel tunnel after an electricity failure halted train trips connecting London …

Silver slips lower in mixed end to Asia trading year

Dec 31 2025

Silver slipped further as Asian markets presented a mixed picture in the the final trading day of 2025 on Wednesday, …

TSMC says started mass production of 'most advanced' 2nm chips

Dec 31 2025

Taiwanese tech titan TSMC has started mass producing its cutting-edge 2-nanometre semiconductor chips, the company said …

Asia markets mixed in final day of 2025 trading

Dec 31 2025

Asian stocks were mixed at the start of the final trading day of 2025 on Wednesday, with some tracking Wall Street …

Bulgaria readies to adopt the euro, nearly 20 years after joining EU

Dec 31 2025

Bulgaria was preparing to switch to the euro on Wednesday night to become the 21st eurozone member, amid concerns the …

Trump v 'Obamacare': US health costs set to soar for millions in 2026

Dec 31 2025

Iowa farmer Aaron Lehman was already paying a hefty price for health insurance, but his premium is set to skyrocket in …

SoftBank lifts OpenAI stake to 11% with $41bln investment

Dec 31 2025

Japanese tech investor SoftBank said Wednesday that its stake in OpenAI is now around 11 percent after completing the …

Stocks mixed, silver rebounds as 2025 trading winds down

Dec 30 2025

Stock markets were mixed on Tuesday while silver prices rebounded amid volatile trading in precious metals.

Eurostar likely back to normal overnight after power glitch sparks travel chaos

Dec 30 2025

Channel Tunnel traffic should return to normal overnight, operator Getlink said Tuesday, after a power supply issue that …

Stocks higher, silver rebounds as 2025 trading winds down

Dec 30 2025

Stocks markets mostly moved higher on Tuesday while silver prices rebounded amid volatile trading in precious metals.

Eurostar to resume services after Channel tunnel power glitch sparks travel chaos

Dec 30 2025

Eurostar said Tuesday it was restarting services suspended earlier over a power supply problem in the Channel tunnel, as …

Chinese leasing firm CALC orders 30 Airbus A320neo planes

Dec 30 2025

China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings (CALC) and Airbus said Tuesday that the Hong Kong-listed firm had placed an order …

Germany bank heist nets about 30mn euros in cash, valuables: police

Dec 30 2025

Robbers used a large drill to break into a German savings bank's vault room and steal cash, gold and jewelry worth some …