Business and Economy



Australia to spend billions on drones as warfare changes

AFP - 10m ago

Australia will boost spending on drones by up to Au$5 billion ($3.6 billion) in response to shifts in warfare seen in …

Geneva watch fair set to show war's effect on luxury sector

AFP - 18m ago

The Geneva watch fair opens on Tuesday and will be taken as a barometer of how the Middle East war is affecting the …

'Blindsided': US farmers strained as fertilizer costs surge on war

AFP - 21m ago

On Andy Corriher's farm in North Carolina, planting and preparations are underway for his corn and soybean crops -- but …

Venezuela, Chevron strike deals to expand oil operations in key region

AFP - 1h ago

US oil giant Chevron and the government of Venezuela signed two deals Monday that will expand oil production in the …

Trump vows US will sink any Iran boats that challenge blockade

Apr 13 2026

US President Donald Trump warned Monday that any Iranian attack boats that approach the American naval blockade around …

US stocks finish higher amid hopes for US-Iran deal as oil price gains moderate

Apr 13 2026

Wall Street stocks shrugged off early weakness and pushed higher Monday as oil price gains moderated amid optimism that …

Hormuz toll preferable to closure, TotalEnergies CEO says

Apr 13 2026

The head of the French energy giant TotalEnergies said Monday that reopening the Strait of Hormuz -- even with a toll -- …

CinemaCon starts with box office optimism

Apr 13 2026

Movie theater owners huddled in Las Vegas on Monday for their annual meeting, buoyed by optimism over the year's strong …

LVMH sales feel impact from war

Apr 13 2026

Sales at the world's leading luxury group, LVMH, fell six percent in the first quarter of the year as the war in the …

Lufthansa pilots strike as cabin crew call further stoppage

Apr 13 2026

Hundreds of Lufthansa flights were cancelled Monday as pilots kicked off a two-day strike over pay and pensions, with …

Goldman Sachs eyes more corporate mergers despite war uncertainty

Apr 13 2026

Goldman Sachs reported strong first-quarter earnings on Monday, pointing to continued client interest in dealmaking that …

Satisfaction as Rolling Stones drop track under Cockroaches name

Apr 13 2026

The Rolling Stones have mysteriously released a new limited edition single on vinyl only, under the band name The …

Oil surges, stocks drop as Trump threatens to block Hormuz

Apr 13 2026

Oil prices surged back above $100 a barrel and stocks mostly fell Monday as a US blockade of Iranian ports went into …

French court jails Lafarge ex-CEO for funding IS in Syria

Apr 13 2026

A French court on Monday fined the cement group Lafarge over $1.3 million and sentenced its former boss to six years in …

US says to begin blockade of Iranian ports

Apr 13 2026

The US military said it would begin a blockade of all Iranian ports Monday, after talks between the warring sides in …

Germany unveils 1.6 bn euro fuel price relief to tackle energy shock

Apr 13 2026

Germany on Monday unveiled 1.6 billion euros ($1.9 billion) in fuel price relief for households and businesses …

Oil surges, stocks fall as Trump says to blockade Strait of Hormuz

Apr 13 2026

Oil prices surged and stocks sank Monday after US-Iran peace talks fell apart and Donald Trump announced a blockade of …

Germany to cut fuel taxes amid Iran war energy shock

Apr 13 2026

Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday Germany will slash fuel taxes as households struggle with the energy shock from …

US military to begin blockade of Iranian ports on Monday

Apr 13 2026

The US military said it would begin a blockade of all Iranian ports on Monday, after talks between the warring sides in …

US to begin blockade of Iranian ports Monday: military

Apr 13 2026

The US military said Sunday it would begin a blockade of all Iranian ports within hours, after peace talks in Pakistan …

Irish government announces tax cuts after fuel cost protests

Apr 12 2026

Ireland's government announced fresh tax cuts on petrol and diesel at an emergency cabinet meeting Sunday after fuel …

Trump orders blockade of Hormuz strait after Iran talks fail

Apr 12 2026

President Donald Trump ordered the US Navy on Sunday to block the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, furious with …

Trump orders US Navy to block Hormuz Strait after Iran talks fail

Apr 12 2026

President Donald Trump ordered the US Navy on Sunday to block the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, furious with …

Trump orders US Navy to block Hormuz after Iran talks fail

Apr 12 2026

US President Donald Trump ordered the US Navy on Sunday to block key Gulf sea lane the Strait of Hormuz, furious with …

US-Iran talks fail as world urges respect for truce

Apr 12 2026

Iran and the United States failed to strike a deal Sunday to end the war in the Middle East, but there was no immediate …

Vance says talks failed to reach deal with Iran on ending Mideast war

Apr 12 2026

Iran and the United States failed to reach an agreement to end the war in the Middle East, US Vice President JD Vance …

'Stop hiring humans'? Silicon Valley confronts AI job panic

Apr 12 2026

AI industry insiders want workers to code smarter, think harder and lean into their humanity -- but still dodge the …

US, Iran talks extend into second day as strait showdown deepens

Apr 11 2026

Top-level peace talks between the United States and Iran entered a second day early Sunday, as Washington piled pressure …

US says warships transit Strait of Hormuz in mine clearance op

Apr 11 2026

Two US Navy warships transited the Strait of Hormuz to begin clearing Iranian-laid mines, US Central Command said …

US warships transit Strait of Hormuz in mine clearance op

Apr 11 2026

Two US Navy warships have transited the Strait of Hormuz to begin clearing the strategic waterway of mines laid by Iran, …

US, Iran hold high-level peace talks in Pakistan

Apr 11 2026

American and Iranian officials were holding face-to-face talks in Pakistan on Saturday, the most significant since the …

Top US, Iran officials hold direct peace talks in Pakistan

Apr 11 2026

American and Iranian officials were holding face-to-face talks in Pakistan on Saturday, the most significant since the …

Iran and US top officials launch negotiations in Pakistan

Apr 11 2026

Senior Iranian and American officials began negotiations in Pakistan on Saturday, Iranian media reported, in a bid to …

US and Iran envoys meet Pakistani PM as negotiations get under way

Apr 11 2026

Senior Iranian and American delegations met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Saturday to begin …

In Europe first, Netherlands to allow Teslas to self-drive

Apr 11 2026

In a first for Europe, the Netherlands is poised to allow Tesla owners to use their car's self-driving feature -- as …

Iran envoys meet Pakistani PM ahead of US talks

Apr 11 2026

An Iranian government delegation met Pakistan's prime minister on Saturday to discuss the terms of planned "make or …

OpenAI CEO's California home hit by Molotov cocktail, man arrested

Apr 11 2026

The luxury San Francisco home of OpenAI boss Sam Altman was hit by a Molotov cocktail on Friday, the company said, as …

Small US farm copes with fuel hikes from Mideast war

Apr 11 2026

An hour's drive north of New York City, the greenhouses at Cropsey Farm are seeing their first leaves of kale, spinach …

Mythos AI alarm bells: Fair warning or marketing hype?

Apr 10 2026

Anthropic postponing the release of its new AI model Claude Mythos, said to be so skilled at coding it could be a wicked …

US inflation surges to 3.3% as Iran war impact bites

Apr 10 2026

Inflation in the United States rose sharply in March, government data showed Friday, as higher energy prices due to the …

Stocks up, oil down over week on guarded optimism for Iran

Apr 10 2026

Wall Street stocks rose sharply over the week and oil prices fell as a fragile truce was struck between the United …

US budget deficit remains steady in first quarter of 2026

Apr 10 2026

The US budget deficit remained virtually stable during the first three months of 2026, as increased revenue -- primarily …

OpenAI CEO's California home hit by Molotov cocktail

Apr 10 2026

The luxury San Francisco home of OpenAI boss Sam Altman was hit by a Molotov cocktail on Friday, the company said.

Celine Dion's Paris concerts promise to spin the money on and on

Apr 10 2026

Celine Dion's fans are not the only ones excited about the megastar's new tour in Paris. Hotels, restaurants and shops …

Stocks mixed, oil steadies on guarded optimism for Iran ceasefire

Apr 10 2026

Stock markets were mixed and oil prices steady Friday with investors cautiously optimistic about the US-Iran ceasefire …

War's impact on fertilisers stirs food producer fears

Apr 10 2026

Even as Gulf tanker traffic slowly resumes, the road back to normal food production will be long and arduous, given the …

Middle East war: global economic fallout

Apr 10 2026

Here are the latest economic events in the Middle East war:

On Iran truce, all sides want bigger China role, but does China?

Apr 10 2026

For decades, the United States has cast itself as the guarantor of stability in the Middle East, allying militarily with …

Pay fears grow for US security workers in shutdown

Apr 10 2026

Thousands of US homeland security employees are facing growing uncertainty over their pay after being told Friday's …

US inflation surges 3.3% as Iran war impact bites

Apr 10 2026

Inflation in the United States rose sharply in March, government data showed Wednesday, as higher energy prices due to …

Antwerp port reopens to North Sea shipping after oil spill

Apr 10 2026

Belgium's Antwerp port said Friday that it had reopened to North Sea shipping after an oil spill brought traffic to a …

Stocks climb, oil steadies on guarded optimism over Iran war ceasefire

Apr 10 2026

Stock markets rose and oil prices flattened Friday with investors nervously optimistic about the shaky US-Iran ceasefire …

Irish govt to meet farmers, hauliers over fuel cost fears

Apr 10 2026

The Irish government was set to hold talks Friday with agricultural and haulage representatives, as days of protests …

Oil spill snarls shipping traffic in Antwerp port

Apr 10 2026

Shipping was at a near-standstill in Belgium's port of Antwerp on Friday following an overnight oil spill, Europe's …

Stocks rally on optimism over Iran war ceasefire, oil extends gains

Apr 10 2026

Stocks rose Friday with investors still optimistic about the shaky US-Iran ceasefire ahead of weekend talks, though oil …

IMF to cut global growth forecast due to Mideast war

Apr 10 2026

The International Monetary Fund will lower global growth forecasts due to the Middle East war, its chief said Thursday, …

New Jersey city spurns data center as defiance spreads

Apr 10 2026

Residents of a New Jersey city mobilized within days to kill a planned data center -- and now activists nationwide want …

After oil, Venezuela opens up mining to private investors

Apr 09 2026

Venezuela on Thursday threw open the country's vast mineral reserves to private investment, less than three months after …

US stocks extend gains, shrugging off ceasefire worries

Apr 09 2026

Wall Street stocks finished higher Thursday after a shaky start, adopting an optimistic view of the Middle East …

IMF chief urges nations to 'do no harm' in fiscal response to Iran war

Apr 09 2026

The International Monetary Fund's chief urged governments on Thursday to "do no harm" as they face the massive economic …

Shipping toll for Hormuz passage sharply divides nations

Apr 09 2026

Iran's imposition of a toll for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz looks set to be a key point of contention at …

Strait of Hormuz traffic remains becalmed despite ceasefire

Apr 09 2026

Just 10 vessels have passed through Strait of Hormuz since the Middle East war ceasefire took effect, according to …

American Airlines targets April 30 return to Venezuela

Apr 09 2026

American Airlines said Thursday it will restore service to Venezuela as soon as April 30, making it the first US airline …

Oil prices jump back toward $100 on Mideast ceasefire doubts

Apr 09 2026

Oil prices jumped and most stock markets fell Thursday as investors weighed the prospects of a shaky Middle East …

US envoy warns EU won't win AI race 'bringing others down'

Apr 09 2026

The European Union will not be able to compete in the global artificial intelligence race by hurting companies in other …

IMF expects to provide vulnerable economies hit by Iran war up to $50 bn

Apr 09 2026

The International Monetary Fund expects to have to provide up to $50 billion in immediate financial assistance to …

EU lawmakers want to tax Big Tech to fund budget

Apr 09 2026

EU lawmakers on Thursday demanded a European Union-wide tax on the world's biggest tech companies and online gambling …

Oil prices jump, stocks drop on Mideast ceasefire doubts

Apr 09 2026

Oil prices jumped and most stock markets fell Thursday on investor concerns over the Middle East ceasefire holding and …

Despite Middle East truce, airlines fear long-term disruptions

Apr 09 2026

Buffeted by six weeks of war in the Middle East, airlines have scrambled to trim routes and costs as fuel bills explode …

Crude rises, stocks fall on fears over nascent Iran ceasefire

Apr 09 2026

Oil prices climbed and most stocks fell Thursday on fears over the nascent US-Iran ceasefire after Tehran threatened to …

Ukraine lets firms deploy air defences against Russian attacks

Apr 09 2026

Facing daily barrages of Russian drones and missiles, Ukraine has invited private companies to get their own air-defence …

Waiting for DeepSeek: new model to test China's AI ambitions

Apr 09 2026

For weeks now, the global tech industry has been waiting for a major artificial intelligence launch from DeepSeek, seen …

War in the Middle East: latest developments

Apr 09 2026

The latest developments in the Middle East war:

Oil prices plunge, stocks surge on US-Iran ceasefire

Apr 08 2026

Oil and gas prices plunged, stock markets soared and the dollar retreated Wednesday after the United States and Iran …

Suspect remains silent in Swiss bar fire probe

Apr 08 2026

A former fire safety official in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana remained silent when questioned Wednesday by …

Argentine MPs to debate watered-down glaciers protection

Apr 08 2026

Argentine MPs on Wednesday were set to begin debating a bill promoted by President Javier Milei which authorizes mining …

Dilemma over crossings as fate of Hormuz ships remains uncertain

Apr 08 2026

Only three ships risked crossing the Strait of Hormuz Wednesday, highlighting the extreme caution about using the key …

France unveils rearmament boost to face Russia threat

Apr 08 2026

France is to ramp up explosive drone stocks by up to 400 percent by 2030, draft legislation showed Wednesday, as the …

Iran truce spurs hopes for world economy, but recovery will be rocky

Apr 08 2026

The ceasefire agreed between Iran and the United States should bring some relief to a world economy that has been roiled …

Researchers unmask trade in nude images on Telegram

Apr 08 2026

Tens of thousands of intimate images of women have been traded without the subjects' consent in Telegram groups and …

Nigeria sweats in heatwave as Iran war drives up costs to stay cool

Apr 08 2026

Azeez Akanni hopped on a yellow bus heading for the central business district on Lagos Island, beads of sweat rolling …

Crude prices plunge, stocks surge as US and Iran agree ceasefire

Apr 08 2026

Oil prices plunged Wednesday while stocks soared after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire that …

German factory orders rise in February but energy shock looms

Apr 08 2026

German industrial orders rebounded in February due to strong overseas demand, data showed Wednesday, but officials …

Jet fuel supplies to take 'months' to recover from war disruption: IATA

Apr 08 2026

It will take months for jet fuel supplies and prices to normalise even with the Strait of Hormuz open, the head of the …

Vietnam's To Lam bets big on building blitz

Apr 08 2026

The world's largest stadium, Southeast Asia's biggest exhibition hall and hundreds of major road, aviation and energy …

Both sides claim victory after US, Iran agree to 11th-hour truce

Apr 08 2026

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire barely an hour before President Donald Trump's Wednesday …

Solar push helps Pakistan temper Gulf energy shock

Apr 08 2026

Pakistan's solar power push has cushioned the full impact of the war in the Middle East, analysts said, despite …

US, Iran agree to 11th-hour truce after Trump apocalyptic threats

Apr 08 2026

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire Tuesday barely an hour before President Donald Trump's …

Trump suspends Iran bombing for two weeks, after apocalyptic threats

Apr 07 2026

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he was suspending bombing of Iran for two weeks but that Tehran must reopen the …

Pershing Square unveils transaction valuing Universal Music at 55 bn euros

Apr 07 2026

American hedge fund Pershing Square, led by the activist investor Bill Ackman, announced Tuesday a transaction valuing …

Pakistan makes last-minute bid to avert Trump threat to destroy Iran

Apr 07 2026

Pakistan made a last-minute proposal Tuesday to avert catastrophic US attacks on Iran, hours ahead of a deadline set by …

Global stocks mostly fall ahead of Trump's deadline for Iran

Apr 07 2026

Global stock markets mostly retreated Tuesday as investors braced for US President Donald Trump's looming deadline for …

UK govt bars Kanye West, forcing cancellation of festival

Apr 07 2026

The UK government on Tuesday blocked US rapper Kanye West from entering the country due to his past antisemitic …

Oil rises, stocks fall ahead of Trump's Iran deadline

Apr 07 2026

Oil prices jumped and stocks slumped on Tuesday after US-Israeli strikes on the key Iranian oil export terminal of Kharg …

UK government blocks Kanye West from London music fest

Apr 07 2026

The UK government Tuesday blocked US rapper Kanye West from visiting the country to headline a music festival due to his …

Oil rises, stocks fall as Trump's Iran deadline looms

Apr 07 2026

Oil prices jumped Tuesday and stocks fell after US-Israeli strikes on the key Iranian oil export terminal of Kharg …

Strait of Hormuz shipping blockade update

Apr 07 2026

Here are the latest key facts about impacts from the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route …

Oil, stocks rise as Trump's Iran deadline looms

Apr 07 2026

Oil prices and stocks rose Tuesday as investors weighed the chances of Iran meeting US President Donald Trump's looming …

US fund Pershing Square launches takeover bid for Universal Music

Apr 07 2026

American hedge fund Pershing Square, led by the activist investor Bill Ackman, announced Tuesday that it had offered to …

Oil prices rally, stocks edge up after Trump's latest Iran threat

Apr 07 2026

Oil prices rose Tuesday while equities edged up tentatively as investors assessed Donald Trump's latest deadline for …

Iran defiant as deadline looms for Trump threat to infrastructure

Apr 07 2026

Iran showed no sign of backing down Tuesday as a US deadline loomed for it to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, defying …

Oil prices rally, stocks mixed after Trump's latest Iran threat

Apr 07 2026

Oil prices rose Tuesday while equities were mixed as investors assessed Donald Trump's latest deadline for Iran to …