Business and Economy



Oil falls, stocks mixed on US-Iran truce prospects

AFP - 1h ago

Stock markets were mixed while oil prices fell again on Friday on investor optimism that the United States and Iran …

Trump says making final decision on proposed Iran deal

AFP - 1h ago

US President Donald Trump said he was making his final decision on a potential deal with Iran on Friday, as Tehran …

Iran says no trust in US 'words', waiting for Washington to act

AFP - 1h ago

Iran's top negotiator said Friday that Tehran would only trust Washington's actions, not its words, after US Vice …

Oil falls further, stocks mixed on US-Iran truce prospects

AFP - 1h ago

Stock markets were mixed while oil prices fell again on Friday on investor optimism that the United States and Iran …

EU wants 'robust' defence against China trade imbalance

AFP - 4h ago

The European Union must act more forcefully to rebalance its trade relationship with China, the bloc's executive said …

Vance says progress made as US-Iran deal awaits Trump green light

AFP - 1h ago

US Vice President JD Vance said Washington and Tehran are close to agreeing a deal to extend their ceasefire in the …

German ex-minister faces perjury charges over failed car toll plan

AFP - 5h ago

A former German transport minister faces a perjury trial related to a failed scheme to charge foreign motorists highway …

Stocks rise, oil eases on hopes of US-Iran truce deal

AFP - 2h ago

Stock markets mostly rose and oil prices fell Friday on optimism that the United States and Iran would reach a deal to …

French GDP slips 0.1% in first quarter, raising spectre of recession

AFP - 6h ago

French GDP shrank 0.1 percent in the first quarter, official data showed Friday, a downward revision from previous …

'Biggest circus in town' the World Cup set for betting frenzy

AFP - 10h ago

Global betting revenue for the upcoming World Cup is likely to be "in excess of $50 billion", betting expert Darren …

New gold rush threatens indigenous havens in Brazil's Amazon

AFP - 14h ago

Indigenous chief Bepdjo Mekragnotire is once again preparing to lead a group of warriors to chase wildcat gold miners …

Asia stocks surge, oil falls on hopes of US-Iran truce deal

AFP - 7h ago

Asian stock markets surged and oil prices receded on Friday, boosted by optimism that the United States and Iran will …

EU looks to bolster defences as China threatens key sectors

AFP - 11h ago

The EU executive is set for much-heralded talks Friday on ramping up Europe's trade defences to shield critical …

Oil, stocks mixed as US-Iran deal awaits Trump approval

May 28 2026

Oil prices diverged and global stock markets were mixed Thursday as a ceasefire extension deal between United States and …

AI giant Anthropic reaches near-trillion dollar valuation

May 28 2026

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic said Thursday it had raised $65 billion in a new funding round that values the …

US revises first quarter growth down while inflation climbs

May 28 2026

The US economy expanded less than initially estimated in the first quarter, government data showed Thursday, while a key …

AI giant Anthropic raises $65 bn at near-trillion dollar valuation

May 28 2026

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic said Thursday it had raised $65 billion in a new funding round that values the …

Trump's face could appear on US $250 bill

May 28 2026

President Donald Trump could soon appear on a new $250 bill, in the Republican's latest move to shatter US traditions by …

Canada PM backs 'fortress North America' ahead of US trade talks

May 28 2026

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stressed his country's importance to the US economy on Thursday, urging closer …

Musk defends AI ambitions as IPO reveals trouble

May 28 2026

Elon Musk insists that his artificial intelligence venture xAI remains a serious competitor, pushing back against …

Oil advances, stocks drift on fresh US-Iran strikes

May 28 2026

Oil prices rose slightly and global stock markets drifted Thursday after the United States and Iran exchanged new …

US, Iran accuse each other of violating truce after attacks

May 28 2026

The United States and Iran accused each other of violating an ongoing truce on Thursday following an exchange of fire, …

Top EU economies vow to speed up financial integration

May 28 2026

The EU's six biggest economies vowed Thursday to set aside differences and speed up integration of their financial …

UK risks a 'lost generation' of jobless young people

May 28 2026

Britain risks creating a "lost generation" as the number of young people out of work and education surges, a …

Netflix criticises German plan to make streamers invest more locally

May 28 2026

Netflix and other streaming services on Thursday criticised a German plan requiring platforms to reinvest a share of …

Oil climbs, stocks drop on fresh US-Iran strikes

May 28 2026

Oil prices bounced higher and global stock markets fell Thursday after the United States and Iran exchanged new strikes …

French AI firm Mistral announces deals with BMW, Airbus

May 28 2026

French AI firm Mistral announced Thursday partnerships with BMW and the aerospace group Airbus as it aims to boost …

EU fines Temu 200 mn euros over illegal products

May 28 2026

The EU slapped a 200-million-euro ($232 million) fine on Chinese-owned online retailer Temu on Thursday for allowing the …

US, Iran trade strikes in most serious clash since truce began

May 28 2026

The United States and Iran traded strikes on Thursday in their most serious clash since an April ceasefire began, …

'Immense' leverage: why AI chip workers are demanding more

May 28 2026

Runaway profits and sky-high valuations for microchip companies have fuelled worker demands over pay packages in South …

Oil rises and Asia stocks slide after new US strikes on Iran

May 28 2026

Oil prices bounced higher on Thursday while Asian stocks fell, as new US strikes on Iran marked the latest test of a …

New Zealand boosts defence spending in face of 'adverse' security environment

May 28 2026

New Zealand's government will boost defence spending by nine percent, according to its 2026 budget unveiled Thursday, …

Oil prices bounce higher after new US strikes on Iran

May 28 2026

Oil prices bounced higher on Thursday while Asian stocks mostly fell, as new US strikes on Iran marked the latest test …

Australia sues consumer goods giant 3M over 'forever chemicals'

May 28 2026

Australia's government said Thursday it had launched an AU$2 billion ($1.43 billion) legal action against US consumer …

Fund for climate-exposed Pacific nation invests in fossil fuels

May 28 2026

A trust fund set up to help a South Pacific nation gravely threatened by climate change has invested in coal mining, gas …

Meta launches paid subscriptions for Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp

May 27 2026

Meta on Wednesday launched paid subscription plans for its flagship apps, marking a major push by the tech giant to …

AI chiefs walk back job apocalypse warnings

May 27 2026

The most prominent figures in artificial intelligence are stepping back from dire predictions about mass unemployment, …

Oil prices fall as markets monitor state of play on US-Iran situation

May 27 2026

Oil prices fell Wednesday while global stocks mostly rose as markets parsed the latest posturing between Washington and …

Germany warns on trade imbalance as economy minister visits China

May 27 2026

Germany's economy minister began a visit to China on Wednesday with Berlin saying it wanted to boost cooperation with a …

Oil falls, stocks waver as investors eye US-Iran talks

May 27 2026

Oil prices fell Wednesday while stock markets diverged over conflicting headlines on talks between Iran and the US to …

Value of chip giant SK hynix joins Micron to top $1 tn

May 27 2026

The market value of South Korean memory chipmaker SK hynix soared past $1 trillion on Wednesday, fueled by frenzied …

Oil drops further on hopes US-Iran talks on track

May 27 2026

Oil prices tumbled Wednesday as investors tracked signs that the US and Iran were closing in on a deal that would open …

Oil falls, stocks mixed as investors eye tech, US-Iran talks

May 27 2026

Stock markets diverged and oil prices fell on Wednesday as investors tracked optimism over artificial intelligence and …

Samsung workers approve bonus deal after big AI profits

May 27 2026

Samsung Electronics union members on Wednesday approved a deal with management securing massive annual bonuses after …

Asia stocks see tech gains as investors weigh US-Iran deal

May 27 2026

Asian equities were mixed on Wednesday with gains driven by soaring tech stocks and guarded optimism the United States …

Frugal and more online: smarter spenders rewrite luxury's China dream

May 27 2026

When Beijinger Jacqueline Li first heard one of her favourite luxury department stores in the city was closing, she was …

Nvidia to boost spending in Taiwan to $150 bn a year

May 27 2026

Nvidia will increase investment in Taiwan to $150 billion a year, the US chip giant's boss said Wednesday, describing …

Value of South Korean chip giant SK hynix tops $1 tn

May 27 2026

The market value of South Korean memory chip maker SK hynix soared past $1 trillion on Wednesday thanks to frenzied …

Asia stocks mixed over hopes of US-Iran deal, tech gains

May 27 2026

Asian equities were mixed on Wednesday with gains driven by tech stocks and guarded optimism the United States and Iran …

'My job is going': UK workers squeezed out by AI

May 27 2026

When a client asked her a year ago to design a glossary to train an artificial intelligence system, translator Jessica …

Ferrari unveils 'Luce', its first fully electric car, in a tough market

May 27 2026

Italian luxury carmaker Ferrari has unveiled its first fully electric model, the Luce, belatedly joining rivals like …

New strikes threaten ceasefires in Iran, Lebanon

May 26 2026

Tehran on Tuesday accused Washington of breaching their ceasefire and warned it was ready to retaliate after overnight …

Samsung workers wrap up vote on massive AI bonus deal

May 26 2026

Samsung Electronics' labour union is expected to announce Wednesday whether chip workers voted to ratify a wage deal …

Peace deal hopes boost Wall Street stocks despite latest US strikes

May 26 2026

Wall Street stocks mostly rose Tuesday, lifting the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to fresh records on hopes for a Middle East peace …

Iran accuses US of breaking truce after new strikes

May 26 2026

Iran accused the United States of breaching their ceasefire Tuesday and warned it was ready to retaliate after overnight …

Oil back at $100 as US strikes douse Iran war hopes

May 26 2026

Oil prices rebounded back to $100 on Tuesday while stock markets were mixed and the dollar firmed after US military …

As IPO nears, arms maker KNDS reports booming profits

May 26 2026

Franco-German tank and weapons maker KNDS reported booming earnings Tuesday as it gears up to launch the latest initial …

BP ousts chairman over 'serious' governance concerns

May 26 2026

British oil giant BP unexpectedly removed Albert Manifold as chairman on Tuesday after less than one year in the role, …

Video games turn to classic films to woo middle-aged millenials

May 26 2026

Millenial gamers who grew up on 80s and 90s blockbusters are today being courted by the industry, with the latest James …

Saudi Arabia turns to drones to shield pilgrims from extreme heat

May 26 2026

With temperatures hitting 45C in Mecca this week, Saudi health workers have increasingly relied on drones to supply a …

US strikes fuel concern over Iran deal talks

May 26 2026

US forces launched overnight strikes on missile sites in Iran and boats they said were trying to lay mines in Gulf …

Mango founder's son says accusation he killed his father 'unfounded'

May 26 2026

Jonathan Andic, son of the founder of the Mango clothing empire, who has been arrested in Spain as part of an …

Oil rebounds, stocks drop as US strikes douse Iran war hopes

May 26 2026

Oil prices rebounded slightly on Tuesday while stock markets mostly retreated and the dollar firmed after US military …

Asia stocks fall, oil prices diverge on US-Iran deal uncertainty

May 26 2026

Asian stocks fell and crude prices diverged on Tuesday after fresh US strikes on Iran deflated optimism that a deal to …

Asia stocks fall, oil prices mixed on US-Iran deal uncertainty

May 26 2026

Asian stocks fell and crude prices were mixed on Tuesday after fresh US strikes on Iran deflated optimism that a deal to …

Au so chic: Paris Mint to issue first solid-gold coins in a century

May 26 2026

The Paris Mint said Tuesday that it would soon start selling solid-gold coins for investment, the first since it quit …

Ferrari unveils first fully electric car

May 26 2026

Italian luxury carmaker Ferrari has unveiled its first fully electric model, the Luce, belatedly joining rivals like …

Starbucks Korea reveals series of mishaps leading to 'Tank Day' campaign

May 26 2026

Starbucks Korea revealed on Tuesday a series of mishaps leading to its heavily criticised "Tank Day" promotion, …

US hits Iran with new strikes, despite talks to end war

May 26 2026

US forces attacked missile sites in southern Iran and boats trying to lay mines on Monday, US Central Command said, …

Asia stocks, oil prices mixed on US-Iran deal uncertainty

May 26 2026

Asian stocks and oil futures were mixed on Tuesday after fresh US strikes on Iran threatened fragile negotiations to …

US hits Iran with new strikes, despite ceasefire

May 26 2026

US forces attacked missile sites in southern Iran and boats trying to lay mines on Monday, US Central Command said, …

US attacks missile sites in Iran, despite ceasefire

May 26 2026

US forces attacked missile sites in southern Iran and boats trying to lay mines on Monday, US Central Command said, as …

Trump links normalizing ties with Israel to Iran peace deal

May 25 2026

Top Iranian negotiators were in Doha Monday for talks to end the war with the United States, even as both sides …

Pope urges 'disarming' of AI in major manifesto

May 25 2026

Pope Leo XIV called Monday for the "disarming" of artificial intelligence in his long-awaited manifesto on the rapidly …

Oil drops below $100 on hopes of US-Iran deal to open Hormuz

May 25 2026

Oil prices plunged below $100 a barrel on Monday and stock markets rallied as investors raised their expectations of a …

Huawei touts new chipmaking technology to sidestep US restrictions

May 25 2026

Chinese tech giant Huawei said on Monday it had developed a new way of making semiconductors that could get around its …

Locals at epicentre of DR Congo Ebola outbreak storm hospital

May 25 2026

Locals at the epicentre of the Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo attacked the town hospital overnight, demanding the body …

Iran and Trump talk down hopes of imminent peace deal

May 25 2026

Iran warned Monday that, while some progress had been made, it was not yet close to striking a deal with the United …

Oil plunges below $100 on hopes of US-Iran Hormuz deal

May 25 2026

Oil prices dropped back below $100 a barrel on Monday and stock markets rallied as investors raised expectations of a …

Iran warns deal with US not yet close, despite some progress

May 25 2026

Iran warned Monday that, while some progress had been made, it was not yet close to striking a deal with the United …

Oil falls, stocks climb on hopes of US-Iran Hormuz deal

May 25 2026

Oil prices fell and Asian stocks climbed on Monday over hopes a deal between the United States and Iran to open the …

Toshifumi Suzuki, 'father' of Japan convenience stores, dies at 93

May 25 2026

Former chairman of Seven & i Holdings Toshifumi Suzuki, credited for the global success of 7-Eleven convenience stores, …

Oil falls, Asian stocks climb on hopes of US-Iran Hormuz deal

May 25 2026

Oil prices fell and Asian stocks climbed on Monday over hopes a deal between the United States and Iran to open the …

Thai beer heir sexual abuse allegations ignite rare public reckoning

May 25 2026

A high-profile alleged sexual abuse case within a wealthy Thai beer brewing family has prompted a wave of painful …

AI chip demand drives 6% growth for Singapore in first quarter

May 25 2026

Singapore's economy grew six percent year-on-year in the first quarter as demand skyrockets for artificial intelligence …

Hotels strive to be found as AI models conduct travel search

May 24 2026

With people increasingly adopting AI to help plan their vacations, hotels are working to make sure that you check them …

Lightning advance: swathes of Hanoi demolished for development

May 24 2026

Rows of townhouses torn down in hours, roads ripped up by bulldozers and city blocks reduced to rubble in the name of …

US jury finds Boeing not guilty in 737 MAX grounding lawsuit

May 23 2026

A US jury found Friday that aerospace giant Boeing was not liable for lost revenue in a lawsuit involving its 737 MAX …

SpaceX carries out mostly successful Starship test flight

May 23 2026

SpaceX's Starship spacecraft splashed down into the Indian Ocean Friday after the company performed a mostly successful …

SpaceX's enormous Starship splashes down after test flight

May 23 2026

SpaceX's Starship spacecraft splashed down into the Indian ocean Friday after the company performed a test flight of the …

SpaceX sends Starship rocket sailing into space

May 22 2026

The latest edition of SpaceX's Starship soared through the Texas skies Friday after the company's initial launch attempt …

Mexico, EU lower tariffs in bid to grow non-US trade

May 22 2026

The European Union and Mexico on Friday signed a deal reducing tariffs on each other's goods as both seek to lessen …

Who killed Trump's AI order? Musk says it wasn't him

May 22 2026

Speculation swirled Friday over the last-minute collapse of President Donald Trump's planned executive order on powerful …

US Fed chair says will be 'reform-oriented' at glitzy White House swearing-in

May 22 2026

New US Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh vowed to be "reform-oriented" as he was sworn in at the White House on Friday, …

Stocks gain, oil higher as investors weigh Mideast peace prospects

May 22 2026

Stocks pushed higher Friday while oil prices also rose as traders tracked headlines on Iran war peace talks, against a …

Kevin Warsh: New Fed chair who vows not to be Trump's puppet

May 22 2026

Kevin Warsh, the new chair of the US Federal Reserve, returns to the central bank with an ambitious reform agenda and …

From agave syrup to raw materials: EU, Mexico agree trade expansion

May 22 2026

The EU and Mexico agreed to expand their trade ties Friday against the backdrop of a more protectionist United States …

EU seeks to rebalance trade relationship with China

May 22 2026

The EU must rebalance its trade relationship with China, the bloc's industry chief said Friday, as Brussels renews its …

SpaceX to retry Starship test launch Friday

May 22 2026

Elon Musk's SpaceX will attempt another launch of its mammoth Starship rocket Friday, after the previous evening's try …

Mexico, EU to lower tariffs in bid to grow non-US trade

May 22 2026

The European Union and Mexico will on Friday sign a deal reducing tariffs on each other's goods as both seek to lessen …

Stocks gain, oil wavers as investors weigh Mideast peace prospects

May 22 2026

Stocks pushed higher Friday while oil prices were little changed as traders tracked headlines on the chances for peace …

Slow Food's 'visionary' founder Carlo Petrini dies aged 76

May 22 2026

Carlo Petrini, whose worldwide Slow Food movement has spent 40 years promoting quality traditional cooking and …