Business and Economy



Oil down as traders weigh US sanctions threat against Iran

AFP - 10m ago

Oil prices slipped for a second day on Tuesday as traders judged the risk of renewed military strikes on Iran to have …

Volkswagen boss braces German workers for more job cuts

AFP - 1h ago

The boss of German carmaker Volkswagen warned workers on Tuesday to brace for thousands of job losses, with the …

Stocks rise, oil down as traders weigh Iran sanctions threat

AFP - 2h ago

Stocks mostly rose Tuesday while oil prices slid after the United States warned of new sanctions against Iran, which …

Son of Luxottica founder quits after succession row

AFP - 4h ago

The son of the founder of Italy's Luxottica is set to leave the world's leading eyewear group EssilorLuxottica, a …

Europe's gaming bash kicks off as industry eyes 'Grand Theft' boost

AFP - 4h ago

Europe's biggest video games show Gamescom opens its doors Tuesday in Cologne with the industry hoping that the coming …

Stocks rise and oil slips as traders eye Iran threat, Nvidia results

AFP - 3h ago

Stocks rose and oil dipped on Tuesday as investors assessed a US plan for the "economic asphyxiation" of Iran, while …

Lego net profit up 32% in first half, 'stronger than expected': CEO to AFP

AFP - 8h ago

Lego, the world's biggest toy maker by revenue, posted "stronger than expected" earnings for the first half of the year, …

German GDP growth revised upwards, defying Iran war turmoil

AFP - 2h ago

German growth rose faster than previously estimated in the second quarter thanks to strong exports, official data showed …

Hyundai reaches tentative deal with workers after strike

AFP - 9h ago

South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor and the union representing its workers have reached a tentative deal on wages and …

Namibia paves way for phosphate mining in the Atlantic Ocean

AFP - 10h ago

Namibia has granted environmental clearance for an offshore phosphate mining project that paves the way for the world's …

Canada to announce response to Trump's new tariffs

AFP - 3h ago

Canada said it will announce Tuesday its response to President Donald Trump's new tariffs, as neighbors that used to be …

Six months into Iran war, Hormuz traffic way down, sailors stranded

AFP - 13h ago

Six months since the start of the Middle East war, the strategic Strait of Hormuz remains largely paralysed, with …

Stocks stagger and oil rises as traders eye Iran threat, Nvidia results

AFP - 5h ago

Asian stocks fluctuated Tuesday while oil edged up as investors assess a US plan for the "economic asphyxiation" of …

Hyundai reaches tentative deal with workers after strikes

AFP - 4h ago

South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor and the union representing its workers have reached a tentative deal on wages and …

Cool Japan: Human fridge chills workers in extreme heat

AFP - 14h ago

Feeling dizzy and unwell after cycling to work in Japan's punishing summer heat, warehouse worker Isao Tabuchi headed …

Australia's top music charts ban AI songs

AFP - 14h ago

Music made by artificial intelligence will be banned from Australia's top charts under new guidelines aimed at …

How the French language contributed to the US-Canada trade war

AFP - 15h ago

The trade war between the United States and Canada has taken on the flavor of a culture war after the collapse of …

US vows 'economic asphyxiation' of Iran with new sanctions

Aug 24 2026

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday laid out plans for the "economic asphyxiation" of Iran, expanding …

Nevada sues US govt over cuts to Colorado River access

Aug 24 2026

Nevada on Monday launched legal action against the administration of US President Donald Trump over a plan that would …

Trump says to double tariffs on Canada autos as trade fight heats up

Aug 24 2026

US President Donald Trump vowed Monday to double tariffs on Canadian vehicles beginning next year, as the historically …

Oil prices fall as Bessent outlines new steps to punish Iran

Aug 24 2026

Oil prices retreated as US Treasury Secretary outlined plans for more sanctions to punish Iran while stock markets …

Saudi Arabia to invest $7 bn in theme parks near Paris

Aug 24 2026

France and Saudi Arabia on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding for a six-billion-euro ($7-billion) Saudi …

Stocks, oil slip ahead of US threat of economic war against Iran

Aug 24 2026

Oil prices eased after strong gains last week while stock markets mostly faltered on Monday as investors awaited details …

Oil falls ahead of US plan for economic war on Iran

Aug 24 2026

Oil prices slipped after strong gains last week while stock markets faltered on Monday as investors awaited details of a …

Millions of Teslas recalled in China over door handle safety

Aug 24 2026

Tesla is recalling nearly three million cars in China with interior door handles that could hamper a person's ability to …

Oil falls as Trump pledges economic war on Iran

Aug 24 2026

Oil prices fell on Monday as investors braced for details of a US plan to isolate the Iranian economy that President …

New Zealand moves to ban social media for under-16s

Aug 24 2026

New Zealand's government introduced legislation on Monday to ban under 16s from using social media, joining a number of …

Hyundai union back in wage talks after rare full-day strike

Aug 24 2026

The union representing workers at South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor said on Monday it had resumed wage talks with …

After Wildberries, Ukraine launches drone campaign on Russia's Ozon

Aug 24 2026

Ukraine has struck warehouses belonging to Russian e-commerce giant Ozon on consecutive days, with the firm reporting …

Shein grapples with EU backlash, but clients keep coming

Aug 24 2026

Shein's meteoric growth has made it a lightning rod for critics of ultrafast fashion in Europe, where officials are …

Key facts about Chinese-founded fast-fashion giant Shein

Aug 24 2026

Shein, the Chinese-founded retailer that harnessed social media to chart a meteoric rise in the global fast-fashion …

Shein to make market debut in Hong Kong in September

Aug 24 2026

Shein will debut on the Hong Kong stock exchange on September 1, the fast-fashion retailer said on Monday, in a …

Tourism boom pushes limits of Athens air traffic control

Aug 24 2026

Green arrows representing tourist-laden jets pile up on the screens of the Athens air traffic controllers, a puzzle to …

VW chief warns carmaker's situation 'more than critical'

Aug 23 2026

Volkswagen's CEO warned Sunday the company was in a "more than critical" state ahead of meetings with the car giant's …

Trump admin predicts US trade war 'devastating' for Canada

Aug 23 2026

The Trump administration on Sunday warned that Canada would be "foolish" to think it could win a trade war with the …

Canada retaliates as trade war with US escalates

Aug 23 2026

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced retaliatory tariffs on the United States on Saturday, after walking away …

Austrian mountain town finds niche in AI boom

Aug 23 2026

Nestled in the wooded hills of Austria's Styria region, the town of Leoben oozes tradition with its pastel-coloured …

Blowing in the wind, humble balloon gets green makeover

Aug 23 2026

A global symbol of parties and celebrations but an environmental headache, the humble balloon is undergoing a green …

Canada hits back with new tariffs after trade talks with US fail

Aug 22 2026

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Saturday he would slap retaliatory tariffs on the United States after walking …

Canada's Carney stands up to Trump, despite risks

Aug 22 2026

Siding with Canadians weary of provocations from Washington, Prime Minister Mark Carney stood up to US President Donald …

Anthropic market debut could break SpaceX IPO record: media

Aug 22 2026

The market debut of artificial intelligence start-up Anthropic, a chief rival to OpenAI, could break the record set by …

Trump tariffs heap up as Canada tries to curb US reliance

Aug 22 2026

US President Donald Trump's 50-percent tariffs on certain Canadian goods which took effect Saturday delivered another …

US, Canada fail to reach trade pact to avert Trump tariffs

Aug 22 2026

Hefty US tariffs on some Canadian products took effect on Saturday after days of negotiations that went down to the wire …

Odyssey effect: stars sell Greece to a new wave of US tourists

Aug 22 2026

The idyllic beaches of the Greek islands have long been a draw for European holidaymakers, but now a new wave of US …

Arctic shipping a daunting prospect in hotly contested region

Aug 22 2026

With Gulf turmoil slashing Suez Canal traffic, shipping firms are tempted to try the Arctic for quicker trips between …

Brazil's Lula urges tariffs resolution in call with Trump

Aug 22 2026

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva urged US counterpart Donald Trump in a phone call Friday to resolve their …

In US, rare earths extracted from coal mine wastewater

Aug 22 2026

In the Appalachian region stretching through the US state of West Virginia, the reddish water flowing out of retired …

Canadian negotiator says 'more work to do' on US trade deal

Aug 22 2026

Top Canadian negotiator Dominic LeBlanc said late Friday that a US trade deal was not finalized, with just hours left …

TikTok to pay $400 mn settlement in US children's privacy case

Aug 21 2026

TikTok has agreed to pay $400 million to settle a lawsuit with the US Department of Justice over claims that the …

Trump announces temporary tariff relief on ground beef imports

Aug 21 2026

President Donald Trump announced Friday that the United States would temporarily allow a greater volume of foreign beef …

US, Canada push to seal trade deal as deadline nears

Aug 21 2026

US and Canadian negotiators raced against the clock Friday to reach a trade deal before a midnight deadline when …

Bitcoin jumps, stocks bounce as traders weigh US Treasury action

Aug 21 2026

Bitcoin bounced and global stocks clawed back some of their recent losses on Friday as investors assessed the US …

US, Canada work to wrap up trade deal ahead of looming deadline

Aug 21 2026

The United States and Canada were back at the negotiating table Friday, with the clock ticking down to a midnight …

US, Canada try to wrap up trade deal before latest Trump deadline

Aug 21 2026

The United States and Canada were headed back to the negotiating table on Friday seeking a deal to end months of trade …

Stocks tread cautiously as traders weigh US Treasury action

Aug 21 2026

Global stock markets traded cautiously on Friday as investors assessed the US Treasury's effort to push down long-term …

Asian markets extend rally as traders assess US Treasuries pledge

Aug 21 2026

Asian stocks edged higher on Friday as investors assessed the US Treasury's move to push down long-term bond yields, …

Indian captain 'scapegoat' in Britain's Russia shadow fleet case, wife says

Aug 21 2026

The Indian captain of an alleged Russian shadow fleet oil vessel seized by British commandos has been made a …

In US mining hub, black lung rates soar

Aug 21 2026

John used to love to go fishing with his son. But at age 45, after 20 years working in the coal mines of West Virginia, …

Panama Canal to reduce shipping over El Nino-fueled drought

Aug 21 2026

The Panama Canal will cut the number of ships passing through it starting next month because of drought caused by the El …

US, Canada 'very close' to trade deal, Ottawa says, as details emerge

Aug 21 2026

The United States and Canada are "very close" to a final trade deal, the top Canadian negotiator said Thursday after …

Amazon Prime Video to invest $2 bn in Latin America productions

Aug 20 2026

Amazon announced Thursday that it would invest $2 billion in Latin American productions for its Prime Video streaming …

US pushes allies, China to back Trump's economic war on Iran

Aug 20 2026

The United States on Thursday warned allies and China to join President Donald Trump's new campaign to isolate the …

Walmart reports mixed results as gas prices drag on US sales growth

Aug 20 2026

Walmart reported mixed results Thursday, topping analyst estimates but experiencing slower US sales growth as consumers …

US bond selloff resumes despite Treasury intervention

Aug 20 2026

Yields on longterm US Treasury bonds rose Thursday despite a fresh pledge from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to …

US stocks fall as bond yields rebound despite Treasury moves, oil rises

Aug 20 2026

Wall Street stocks fell Thursday as government bond yields rebounded despite a fresh pledge from US Treasury Secretary …

US, Canada resume talks to finalize trade deal as details emerge

Aug 20 2026

US and Canadian negotiators resumed trade talks shortly after midday Thursday, as both countries push to finalize a deal …

US warns allies, China to back economic war on Iran

Aug 20 2026

The United States on Thursday warned allies and China alike to join President Donald Trump's new campaign to isolate the …

Stocks retreat as bond yield fears persist, oil rises

Aug 20 2026

Stock markets fell Thursday on doubts about a US move to rein in soaring government bond yields, after a surge in …

As Europe's rivers recede, shippers scramble to limit damage

Aug 20 2026

Exceptionally low river levels in a Europe hit hard by drought and record heat have plunged transporters into turmoil …

Evergrande's Xu Jiayin: from real-estate tycoon to life in prison

Aug 20 2026

Once China's richest man, disgraced property tycoon Xu Jiayin looked worn as a court in China handed the now …

Oil jumps on Iran war tensions, offsetting bond yield fears

Aug 20 2026

European stocks fell Thursday after oil prices rose further on a threat by Washington of "economic warfare" against …

Asian stocks rally as US Treasury steps in to ease bond fears

Aug 20 2026

Asian markets rallied Thursday after the US Treasury said it would "at least double" the amount of long-term bonds to …

US national debt exceeds $40 trillion for first time

Aug 20 2026

The US gross national debt has surged past $40 trillion for the first time, government data showed Wednesday, …

China jails founder, fines disgraced property giant Evergrande

Aug 20 2026

China sentenced the founder of embattled property giant Evergrande to life in prison and fined the group more than $2 …

What property giant Evergrande's sentence means for China's economy

Aug 20 2026

For property giant Evergrande, the face of China's real estate woes, an excruciating saga that has dragged on for years …

North Sea drilling tests UK govt climate pledge

Aug 20 2026

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham must decide in the coming weeks whether to authorise two North Sea drilling …

Kyiv's desperate vendors persevere outside obliterated flea market

Aug 20 2026

On the scorching asphalt besides what was once a bustling Kyiv flea market, vendors were trying to sell the remains of …

Trump vows 'tremendous' economic costs on Iran partners

Aug 20 2026

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was launching a major new campaign to target Iran's economy, threatening …

Stocks waver, dollar drops as US Treasury moves to lower bond yields

Aug 19 2026

Stock markets mostly rose on Wednesday and the dollar fell sharply after the US Treasury signaled action to push down …

Many US Fed policymakers back interest rate hikes if inflation stays high

Aug 19 2026

Many US Federal Reserve policymakers believe that interest rate hikes will be necessary if inflation does not decline, …

'Breakthrough' mRNA cancer drug curbs melanoma in large trial

Aug 19 2026

US drugmakers Merck and Moderna said Wednesday a personalized cancer treatment had shown success in reducing the …

Some of Meta's safety tools were 'designed to fail': witness

Aug 19 2026

A former employee testified on Wednesday that some of Meta's safety tools for Facebook and Instagram were "designed to …

Merck and Moderna's tailored cancer drug curbs melanoma recurrence in trial

Aug 19 2026

US drugmakers Merck and Moderna said Wednesday an experimental melanoma drug that delivers treatment tailored to a …

France recalls rare disease drug Tavneos after deaths

Aug 19 2026

A drug called Tavneos used to treat rare autoimmune diseases will be pulled from the shelves in France, the country's …

UK media skewered for 'hounding' black academic

Aug 19 2026

The British press is once again in the spotlight for its methods, this time over accusations that its full-throttle …

Oil rises, stocks waver amid tech sell-off

Aug 19 2026

Stock markets mostly eked out gains while oil prices climbed further Wednesday as higher global bond yields, fuelled by …

Iran warns Gulf countries against helping US after UAE cuts trade ties

Aug 19 2026

Iran's armed forces warned Gulf countries against assisting the US military on Wednesday, hours after the United Arab …

UK PM launches bid to get rough sleepers off streets by Christmas

Aug 19 2026

New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham unveiled plans Wednesday to offer those sleeping rough a way off the streets by …

Europe can't afford to miss AI revolution: ECB chief

Aug 19 2026

European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde said Wednesday that the continent could not afford to miss out on the …

Humanoid-maker Unitree surges more than 600% on Shanghai debut

Aug 19 2026

Chinese humanoid pioneer Unitree, whose backflipping robots wowed the world this year, made a much-anticipated market …

Tech leads losses as Asian stocks track Wall St selloff

Aug 19 2026

Technology stocks were back in the crosshairs of investors Wednesday, taking another heavy blow from a spike in bond …

UK PM unveils plan to help rough sleepers off streets by Christmas

Aug 19 2026

New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham unveiled plans Wednesday to offer those sleeping rough a route off the streets by …

Trump pauses 50% tariffs on Canadian goods for three days

Aug 19 2026

US President Donald Trump paused the planned rollout of punishing new tariffs on Canadian goods late Tuesday, as both …

Trump pauses planned 50% tariffs on Canadian goods for three days

Aug 19 2026

US President Donald Trump paused the planned rollout of new tariffs on some Canadian goods late Tuesday, after …

New Zealand blocks lawsuits against firms over climate harm

Aug 19 2026

New Zealand has passed hotly contested legislation to block lawsuits that seek to hold companies liable for climate …

Meta hooked children and misled public: prosecutors

Aug 19 2026

Meta knowingly hooked and exploited children, a US federal court heard Tuesday in a trial against the social media giant …

Bezos consortium bought nearly 40 percent of Liverpool: report

Aug 19 2026

A consortium including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos bought close to 40 percent of Premier League giants Liverpool, the …

Trump, Carney talk as Canada seeks to hold off new US tariffs

Aug 18 2026

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney held urgent talks with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, hours before fresh US …

Stocks mostly drop as Mideast hopes dim, interest rates rise

Aug 18 2026

Stock markets mostly fell on Tuesday after a US-Iran truce expired with no progress towards reopening the Strait of …

Trump, Carney hold talks as new US tariffs on Canada loom

Aug 18 2026

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has held urgent talks with US President Donald Trump, Ottawa confirmed Tuesday, in …

Disney, ABC sue US regulator over threat to broadcast licenses

Aug 18 2026

Walt Disney-owned ABC sued the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Tuesday, accusing the US regulatory body of …

French producer Nicolas Altmayer, Dior PR chief Favier die in car crash

Aug 18 2026

Award-winning French film producer Nicolas Altmayer and Dior PR head Mathilde Favier were killed in a car accident in …