Business and Economy



'Demon Slayer' helps Sony hike profit forecasts

AFP - 1h ago

Shares in Japanese giant Sony jumped more than five percent Tuesday after it hiked full-year profit forecasts thanks to …

Sony hikes profit forecasts on strong gaming, anime sales

AFP - 33m ago

Japanese giant Sony hiked its full-year revenue and profit forecasts Tuesday on the back of the huge global success of …

'Western tech dominance fading' at Lisbon's Web Summit

AFP - 45m ago

Global tech leaders will pack Lisbon's annual Web Summit from Tuesday to talk Artificial Intelligence, robots and …

Asian stocks rise as record US shutdown nears end

AFP - 3h ago

Most Asian markets rose for the second day in a row Tuesday as US lawmakers edged towards ending a record government …

Concentration of corporate power a 'huge' concern: UN rights chief

AFP - 3h ago

A few tech giants accumulating massive power coupled with artificial intelligence is posing huge global rights …

AI agents open door to new hacking threats

AFP - 3h ago

Cybersecurity experts are warning that artificial intelligence agents, widely considered the next frontier in the …

Ukraine, China's critical mineral dominance, on agenda as G7 meets

AFP - 4h ago

G7 foreign ministers gather in Canada Tuesday for meetings expected to focus on Ukraine and find consensus on a path …

'Netflix House' marks streaming giant's first theme park

Nov 10 2025

After years of temporary pop-up events, streaming giant Netflix will make its first foray into the theme park space this …

Exiting Buffett plans to hold on to Berkshire stock for now

Nov 10 2025

Warren Buffett on Monday confirmed plans to step down as Berkshire Hathaway CEO at year's end, but said he will keep a …

Stocks rally on hopes of US government shutdown ending

Nov 10 2025

Stock markets charged higher Monday as investors cheered prospects that the US government shutdown could be nearing an …

Trump threatens air traffic controllers over shutdown absences

Nov 10 2025

US President Donald Trump threatened Monday to dock pay of air traffic controllers he accused of shirking their …

Stocks rally on hopes US government shutdown to end

Nov 10 2025

Stock markets charged higher Monday as investors cheered prospects that the US government shutdown could be nearing an …

Stocks rally on hopes for end to US government shutdown

Nov 10 2025

Stock markets posted strong gains Monday as investors cheered prospects that the US government shutdown could be nearing …

Bank of England seeks to 'build trust' in stablecoins

Nov 10 2025

The Bank of England said Monday it aims to "build trust" in stablecoins in the UK, which would be pegged to the pound …

China suspends 'special port fees' on US vessels for one year

Nov 10 2025

China said on Monday it would suspend for one year "special port fees" on US vessels "simultaneously" with Washington's …

Stocks rally as hopes rise for end to US shutdown

Nov 10 2025

European and Asian stock markets rallied Monday as investors cheered prospects that the US government shutdown could be …

China suspends 'special port fees' on US vessels

Nov 10 2025

China said Monday it would suspend for one year "special port fees" on US vessels "simultaneously" with Washington's …

Guinness maker Diageo picks new CEO after US tariffs cloud

Nov 10 2025

Diageo, the maker of Guinness beer and Smirnoff vodka, announced Monday a new chief executive as it seeks to improve …

Markets boosted by hopes for deal to end US shutdown

Nov 10 2025

Equities rallied Monday on hopes that the US government shutdown could be nearing an end after reports said lawmakers …

From Club Med to Beverly Hills: Assinie, the Ivorian Riviera

Nov 10 2025

Locals in Assinie reminisce about the old days when the now-shuttered Club Med in southeastern Ivory Coast provided jobs …

China lifts sanctions on US units of South Korea ship giant Hanwha

Nov 10 2025

China said Monday it would suspend sanctions against US subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean, one of South Korea's largest …

Big lips and botox: In Trump's world, fashion and makeup get political

Nov 10 2025

Long, blond, wavy hair, heavy makeup and cosmetic injections: like many women in Donald Trump's orbit, political …

Tanzania Maasai fear VW 'greenwashing' carbon credit scheme

Nov 10 2025

Namnyak, a Maasai herder in north Tanzania, fears a carbon credit scheme linked to Volkswagen -- dismissed by NGOs as …

The AI revolution has a power problem

Nov 10 2025

In the race for AI dominance, American tech giants have the money and the chips, but their ambitions have hit a new …

Bezos's Blue Origin postpones rocket launch over weather

Nov 10 2025

Blue Origin, the space company owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, was forced Sunday to postpone the anticipated launch of …

BBC chief resigns after row over Trump documentary

Nov 09 2025

The director general of the BBC announced his resignation Sunday following a row over the editing of a documentary about …

US grounds MD-11 cargo planes after deadly crash

Nov 09 2025

The US civil aviation regulator ordered Saturday that all MD-11 cargo planes remain grounded for inspections, after one …

UPS, FedEx ground MD-11 cargo planes after deadly crash

Nov 08 2025

Freight carriers UPS and FedEx said they have grounded their fleets of MD-11 cargo planes, after one of them was …

UPS grounds its MD-11 cargo planes after deadly crash

Nov 08 2025

UPS said Friday that it had grounded its fleet of MD-11 cargo planes, after one of them was involved in a deadly crash …

France moves to suspend Shein website as first store opens in Paris

Nov 07 2025

Shein opened its first physical store worldwide in Paris under the eye of riot police, as the French government said it …

Shein vows to cooperate with France in probe over childlike sex dolls

Nov 07 2025

Asian e-commerce giant Shein Tuesday pledged to "cooperate fully" with French judicial authorities after an uproar over …

Shein bans sex dolls after France outrage over 'childlike' ones

Nov 07 2025

Asian e-commerce giant Shein said Monday it was banning sex dolls from sale on its sites globally after French …

Worries over AI spending, US government shutdown pressure stocks

Nov 07 2025

Stock markets mostly retreated Friday as the prolonged US government shutdown dragged on investor sentiment, along with …

At COP30, nations target the jet set with luxury flight tax

Nov 07 2025

France, Spain and Kenya are among a group of countries spearheading a drive at the COP30 climate summit for a new tax on …

Nexperia chip exports resuming: German auto supplier

Nov 07 2025

A leading German auto supplier said Friday that it had received permission to export Nexperia chips from China again as …

Will 'war profiteer' Norway come to Ukraine's financial rescue?

Nov 07 2025

Norway has grown vastly richer after overtaking Russia as Europe's main gas supplier following the invasion of Ukraine, …

Tech selloff drags stocks down on AI bubble fears

Nov 07 2025

Stock markets tumbled Friday as fears of an AI bubble deepened a tech selloff, with investors also rattled by weak …

Greece woos US energy deals, as eco groups cry foul

Nov 07 2025

Greece on Friday hailed as "historic" a deal with US energy giant ExxonMobil that could see the country's first offshore …

Brazil welcomes China lift of ban on poultry imports

Nov 07 2025

Brazil, the world's biggest exporter of chicken meat, on Friday welcomed China's move to lift a ban on imports of the …

Stocks fall on renewed AI bubble fears

Nov 07 2025

Stock markets fell Friday on renewed fears of an AI bubble, a weak US job market and a prolonged US government shutdown.

Serbia fast-tracks army HQ demolition for Trump family hotel

Nov 07 2025

Serbia's parliament on Friday moved to fast-track the demolition of the bombed-out Yugoslav Army headquarters in central …

Inside Germany's rare earth treasure chest

Nov 07 2025

In a World War II bunker east of Frankfurt, a steel door weighing over four tonnes protects Germany's largest reserve of …

Ikea profits drop on lower prices, tariff costs

Nov 07 2025

The world's leading furniture company, Ikea, reported a sharp fall in annual profits on Friday as it focused on dropping …

European, Asian stocks decline after Wall Street slide

Nov 07 2025

European and Asian stock markets retreated Friday after a slide on Wall Street following weak US jobs data and signals …

Markets drop as valuations and US jobs, rates spook investors

Nov 07 2025

Stocks on Friday tracked Wall Street losses propelled by investors weighing weak US jobs data against signals the …

Chinese microdrama creators turn to AI despite job loss concerns

Nov 07 2025

Ultra-short video series "Strange Mirror of Mountains and Seas" is filled with dragon-like monsters, handsome …

US facing travel chaos as flights cut due to govt shutdown

Nov 07 2025

Travelers across the United States were left scrambling to rebook flights as the government shutdown heaps pressure on …

Trump unveils deals to lower costs of some weight-loss drugs

Nov 07 2025

US President Donald Trump announced deals Thursday with pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to lower the …

'Grand Theft Auto VI' video game delayed again until Nov. 2026

Nov 06 2025

The newest installment to the blockbuster "Grand Theft Auto" video game franchise has been delayed again, this time …

Stocks slide as investors weigh data, interest rate cuts

Nov 06 2025

US and European stocks slumped Thursday as investors weighed another wave of corporate results, economic data and the …

France urges EU to sanction Shein platform

Nov 06 2025

France has urged the European Union to take measures against Asian e-commerce giant Shein, two ministers said Thursday, …

Rally outside Rockstar against GTA studio's 'union busting'

Nov 06 2025

Dozens of people protested Thursday outside Rockstar Games' offices in Edinburgh, accusing the multi-billion dollar …

US judge drops criminal charges against Boeing over 737 MAX 8 crashes

Nov 06 2025

A US judge dropped criminal charges against Boeing on Thursday over deadly crashes of its 737 MAX 8 aircraft as part of …

Crypto giant Coinbase fined in Ireland for rule breaches

Nov 06 2025

Ireland's central bank imposed a fine of 21.5 million euros ($24.7 million) Thursday on crypto giant Coinbase over …

German steel industry girds for uncertain future

Nov 06 2025

Hammered by surging energy costs and a flood of cut-price Chinese imports, Germany's steel industry has been mired in …

Stocks slip as investors weigh earnings, tariffs

Nov 06 2025

US and European stocks sputtered Thursday as investors weighed another wave of corporate results, interest rates, the US …

Police say 19 held after raid at Swedish start-up Stegra to be deported

Nov 06 2025

Police said Thursday that 19 people they caught working illegally during a raid at the Swedish start-up Stegra's steel …

Teetering Belgian government given more time to agree budget

Nov 06 2025

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever gave his deadlocked ruling coalition more time to agree a cost-cutting budget on …

Merz backs EU plan to protect steel sector from Chinese imports

Nov 06 2025

Germany supports proposals by the EU to increase tariffs on foreign steel as the bloc struggles with cheap imports, …

Bank of England leaves rate unchanged before UK budget

Nov 06 2025

The Bank of England kept its key interest rate at 4.0 percent Thursday, opting against a cut before the UK government's …

Battered US businesses eye improved China trade at Shanghai expo

Nov 06 2025

Plying everything from handbags to salt in a cavernous Shanghai exhibition hall, US exporters hit by the trade war with …

Drugmaker AstraZeneca profit jumps as US business grows

Nov 06 2025

British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca announced surging quarterly profit Thursday on strong sales of cancer drugs and …

European stocks fall after gains in Asia, US

Nov 06 2025

European stock markets dropped Thursday following gains in Asia and on Wall Street as traders reacted to positive US …

US to cancel flights as longest govt shutdown drags on

Nov 06 2025

US officials said the scheduled capacity for flights would be cut by 10 percent in 40 busy air traffic areas nationwide …

Asian markets bounce from selloff as US jobs beat forecasts

Nov 06 2025

Asian markets rose on Thursday to claw back some of the previous day's hefty losses as investors tracked a bounce on …

Budget impasse threatens Belgium's ruling coalition

Nov 06 2025

Belgium's Prime Minister Bart De Wever looked Thursday to pile pressure on his deadlocked government partners to agree …

Probe into Thales defence group looking at Indonesian contract

Nov 06 2025

A French-British investigation into alleged bribery at France-based defence giant Thales is examining a contract with …

Musk's $1 trillion pay package to face Tesla shareholder vote

Nov 06 2025

Tesla shareholders will determine on Thursday the fate of a massive pay package meant to retain Elon Musk long enough to …

BoE set for finely balanced pre-budget rate call

Nov 06 2025

The Bank of England is expected to hold its key interest rate unchanged on Thursday but some analysts are not ruling out …

Eyes turn to space to feed power-hungry data centers

Nov 06 2025

Tech firms are floating the idea of building data centers in space and tapping into the sun's energy to meet …

Boeing settles with one plaintiff in 737 MAX crash trial

Nov 06 2025

Boeing reached a last-minute settlement in one of two lawsuits in this week's trial in Chicago over a 2019 737 MAX crash …

Wall Street stocks rebound after positive jobs data

Nov 05 2025

Wall Street stocks advanced Wednesday after better-than-expected jobs data soothed concerns about the US economy with …

US Supreme Court appears skeptical of Trump tariff legality

Nov 05 2025

A majority of US Supreme Court justices appeared deeply skeptical of the legality behind a swath of Donald Trump's …

Promotions lift McDonald's sales in tricky consumer market

Nov 05 2025

Fast-food giant McDonald's scored solid sales growth Wednesday following promotions to attract struggling consumers, …

BMW reports rising profitability, shares jump

Nov 05 2025

BMW on Wednesday reported rising profitability in the last quarter despite slowing Chinese sales and the impact of …

US Supreme Court debates legality of Trump's tariffs

Nov 05 2025

US Supreme Court justices questioned the legality behind a wide swath of Donald Trump's tariffs on Wednesday, as they …

Wall Street stocks rise after positive jobs data

Nov 05 2025

Wall Street stocks pushed higher on Wednesday after better-than-expected jobs data soothed concerns about the US …

Brussels wants high-speed rail linking EU capitals by 2040

Nov 05 2025

The European Commission Wednesday unveiled twin initiatives aimed at slashing transport carbon emissions across the …

Swiss business chiefs met Trump on tariffs: Bern

Nov 05 2025

Swiss business leaders have met US President Donald Trump to draw his attention to the toll that steep tariffs are …

At least 9 dead after cargo plane crashes near Louisville airport

Nov 05 2025

The death toll from a UPS cargo plane crashing in Louisville has risen to nine with more fatalities feared, Kentucky's …

US Supreme Court hears challenge to Trump tariff powers

Nov 05 2025

The US Supreme Court began hearing arguments Wednesday on whether a wide swath of Donald Trump's tariffs are lawful, in …

Wall Street stocks steady after positive jobs data

Nov 05 2025

Wall Street stocks steadied on Wednesday after better-than-expected jobs data soothed concerns about the US economy.

Swedish authorities inspect worksite conditions at steel startup Stegra

Nov 05 2025

Officials from several government agencies conducted a surprise inspection of steelmaker Stegra's construction site in …

Shein opens first permanent store amid heavy police presence

Nov 05 2025

Shein opened its first brick-and-mortar store in the world in Paris on Wednesday amid a heavy police presence, as …

BMW boosts profitability, welcomes Nexperia signals

Nov 05 2025

BMW on Wednesday reported rising profitability in the last quarter despite slowing Chinese sales and the impact of …

Stocks retreat as tech bubble fears grow

Nov 05 2025

Technology companies led sell-offs on stock markets Wednesday, as investors grow increasingly worried about an AI bubble …

German factory orders up but outlook still muted

Nov 05 2025

German industrial orders rose in September for the first time in five months, data showed Wednesday, but officials …

Where things stand on China-US trade after Trump and Xi talk

Nov 05 2025

China and the United States have lowered the temperature in their spiralling trade war, bringing a precarious end to …

Asian markets sink as tech bubble fears grow

Nov 05 2025

Tech companies led a sell-off across Asia on Wednesday as investors grow increasingly worried about an AI bubble …

BMW boosts profitability despite China, tariff woes

Nov 05 2025

German carmaker BMW on Wednesday reported a rise in profitability in the last quarter despite facing challenges from …

Toyota hikes profit forecasts 'despite US tariffs'

Nov 05 2025

Japanese auto giant Toyota on Wednesday hiked its operating income and net profit forecasts for the current fiscal year …

At least 7 dead after UPS cargo plane crashes near Louisville airport

Nov 05 2025

At least seven people died and several more were injured after a UPS cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff on …

Sri Lanka targets big fish in anti-corruption push

Nov 05 2025

When Sri Lanka's economy collapsed in 2022, politicians and officials were accused of brazenly stealing the island's …

Asian markets tumble as tech bubble fears grow

Nov 05 2025

Tech companies led a sharp sell-off across Asia on Wednesday as investors grow increasingly worried about an AI bubble …

New lawsuit alleges Spotify allows streaming fraud

Nov 04 2025

A new lawsuit alleges streaming giant Spotify turns a blind eye to vast networks of bots that inflate streaming figures …

Stocks mostly drop as tech rally fades

Nov 04 2025

Global stocks mostly fell Tuesday as investors weighed the recent tech rally on Wall Street against growing fears of an …

Cement maker Lafarge on trial in France over jihadist funding

Nov 04 2025

Cement conglomerate Lafarge went on trial in France Tuesday, accused of paying the Islamic State group and other …

Stocks drop as tech rally fades

Nov 04 2025

Stock markets fell Tuesday as investors weighed the recent tech rally on Wall Street against growing fears of an AI …

Experts call for global panel to tackle 'inequality crisis'

Nov 04 2025

Wealth inequality is a global emergency that threatens democracy and social cohesion, experts warned Tuesday, urging G20 …

Starbucks cedes China control to Boyu Capital

Nov 04 2025

Starbucks has announced it will sell a controlling stake in its Chinese retail operations as it seeks to revitalise …

Nvidia, Deutsche Telekom unveil 1-bn-euro AI industrial hub

Nov 04 2025

US tech giant Nvidia and Deutsche Telekom said Tuesday a one-billion-euro ($1.1 billion) industrial artificial …

Cement maker Lafarge on trial in France on charges of funding jihadists

Nov 04 2025

Cement group Lafarge went on trial in France Tuesday, accused of paying the Islamic State group and other jihadists …