Business and Economy



US court bars NSO Group from installing spyware on WhatsApp

AFP - 54m ago

A US judge on Friday granted an injunction barring Israeli spyware maker NSO Group from targeting WhatsApp users but …

Brewing crisis: java-loving NY confronts soaring coffee costs

AFP - 1h ago

New Yorkers run on coffee. From high-end experimental boutique cafes to the humble sidewalk cart, millions of cups of …

Argentine peso drops against dollar despite US backing

Oct 17 2025

Argentines scrambled Friday to buy dollars and household items as the peso depreciated against the greenback, despite …

US stocks bounce back as Trump softens China trade tone

Oct 17 2025

Wall Street stocks bounced back Friday following conciliatory signals from Washington towards Beijing on trade while …

US sinks international deal on decarbonising ships

Oct 17 2025

An international vote to approve cutting maritime emissions was delayed by a year Friday in a victory for the United …

US Treasury chief to meet China counterpart as tensions flare

Oct 17 2025

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday that he would likely meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng next week to …

In Argentine farm town, Milei mania fizzles

Oct 17 2025

For clues as to why Argentina's President Javier Milei faces a potential drubbing in next week's mid-terms, look no …

Women designers 'not getting the breaks' despite global fashion shake-up

Oct 17 2025

In fashion at the moment, as seen on catwalks: frills, corsets, big shoulder pads, and "naked dresses". Out of fashion: …

Ex-McLaren boss could take the wheel at Porsche

Oct 17 2025

The former head of British supercar maker McLaren could take over as CEO of Porsche, the German firm said Friday, as it …

US Fed official urges caution but says could back October cut

Oct 17 2025

A senior member of the US Federal Reserve on Friday indicated he could back another interest rate cut later this month, …

US Treasury chief to speak with China counterpart as tensions flare

Oct 17 2025

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to speak Friday with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, an official from …

Stocks slide even as fears over banks, trade war ease

Oct 17 2025

Global stocks mostly fell Friday even as concerns over bank loans and an escalation in the US-China trade war eased.

US stocks rise as fears over banks, trade war ease

Oct 17 2025

US stock markets rose Friday as concerns over bank loans and an escalation in the US-China trade war eased.

Mango founder's son under scrutiny as police probe death

Oct 17 2025

Spanish police confirmed Friday that their probe into the sudden death last year of Mango clothing empire founder Isak …

Spanish police keep Mango founder death probe open

Oct 17 2025

Spanish police confirmed Friday that their probe into the sudden death last year of Mango clothing empire founder Isak …

US puts plan to cut ship emissions in troubled waters

Oct 17 2025

An international plan to cut emissions from ships hung in the balance on Friday as the United States urged countries to …

Stocks retreat as US credit fears pile on pressure

Oct 17 2025

European and Asian stock markets Friday tracked losses on Wall Street as fresh credit market fears compounded worries …

Caracas records 8.7 pct growth but Venezuelans lament economic woes

Oct 17 2025

Venezuela's economy grew by 8.7 percent in the third quarter, the country's central bank announced Thursday, but …

Hermes menswear designer Nichanian to step down after 37 years: company

Oct 17 2025

Hermes chief menswear designer Veronique Nichanian is to step down after 37 years in charge and will present her final …

Stock markets fall with Wall St as US credit fears add to worries

Oct 17 2025

Asian and European stocks tracked losses on Wall Street on Friday amid fresh credit market fears that compounded worries …

Maritime sector to decide on plan to cut emissions opposed by US

Oct 17 2025

Member states of the International Maritime Organization will decide on Friday whether to formally adopt a plan to cut …

Asian stocks fall with Wall St as US credit fears add to worries

Oct 17 2025

Asian stocks tracked losses on Wall Street on Friday amid fresh credit market fears that compounded worries about trade …

China's economic growth slowed to 4.8% in third quarter: AFP poll

Oct 17 2025

China's economy likely grew at its slowest pace in a year last quarter, according to an AFP survey, dragged down by …

US stocks fall as regional bank angst adds to list of worries

Oct 16 2025

Wall Street stocks fell Thursday on fears that private credit problems may weigh on US regional banks, adding to …

Airbnb and Booking.com accused in France over Israeli settlement listings

Oct 16 2025

A French human rights group on Thursday filed a legal complaint against Airbnb and Booking.com, accusing them of …

Spain's BBVA fails in Sabadell takeover bid

Oct 16 2025

Spanish banking giant BBVA's hostile takeover bid for smaller rival Sabadell has failed, dashing its hopes of creating a …

Europe 'well positioned' for future shocks: ECB's Lagarde

Oct 16 2025

Europe, under pressure from US tariffs and the war in Ukraine, is in a strong position to weather the next economic …

BBVA's Sabadell takeover bid fails: Spanish regulator

Oct 16 2025

Spanish banking giant BBVA's hostile takeover bid for smaller rival Sabadell has failed, the stock market regulator …

'Battlefield' video game sees big-time sales

Oct 16 2025

The latest installment of military video game "Battlefield" hit the market with sales rivaling that of blockbuster rival …

US budget deficit narrows just slightly despite tariff revenues

Oct 16 2025

The US budget deficit narrowed just slightly over the past year, official data showed Thursday -- despite a surge in …

Waymo robotaxis to deliver orders for some US DoorDash users

Oct 16 2025

US food delivery app DoorDash announced Thursday that Waymo driverless cars will soon shuttle orders to some customers …

Johnson & Johnson faces UK lawsuit over talc cancer claim

Oct 16 2025

Thousands of UK claimants have filed legal action against US pharmaceutical and cosmetics giant Johnson & Johnson …

Thinness is back on catwalks -- and the data proves it

Oct 16 2025

After a short interlude of pushing "body inclusivity" and plus-sized models to the fore, the fashion industry has …

Stocks higher as traders weigh China-US row, tech earnings

Oct 16 2025

Global stock markets mostly rose on Thursday as investors weighed strong tech earnings and hopes that the latest …

US Fed chair contender backs October rate cut

Oct 16 2025

A top contender to run the US Federal Reserve threw his support Thursday behind a quarter-point rate cut later this …

Armani names executive close to designer as new CEO

Oct 16 2025

The Armani Group on Thursday named a senior manager who worked alongside Giorgio Armani to take over as chief executive …

Stocks fluctuate as traders weigh China-US row, tech earnings

Oct 16 2025

US stock markets rose but Europe was mixed Thursday as investors weighed strong tech earnings and hopes that the latest …

Putin says Russia a top oil producer, despite 'unfair' pressure

Oct 16 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that his country was still among the world's top oil producers, despite …

Greece lawmakers back plan to allow 13-hour workday

Oct 16 2025

Greece's parliament on Thursday approved a government-backed bill allowing people to work 13-hour days, despite fierce …

Nestle to cut 16,000 jobs worldwide

Oct 16 2025

Nestle, the Swiss food giant whose brands include Nespresso coffee and Perrier water, announced Thursday plans to cut …

Markets mixed as traders weigh China-US row, rate cut hopes

Oct 16 2025

Markets were mixed on Thursday as investors weighed the latest volleys in the China-US trade war and expectations that …

Markets mostly rise as traders weigh China-US row, rate cut hopes

Oct 16 2025

Most markets rose Thursday as investors weighed the latest volleys in the China-US trade war and expectations that the …

AI boom delivers record net profit for Taiwan's TSMC

Oct 16 2025

Taiwanese tech titan TSMC reported Thursday a record net profit for the third quarter on skyrocketing demand for …

Don't let the party stop: Berlin's fight against 'club death'

Oct 16 2025

Berlin, long hailed as one of the world's great party cities, is fighting to keep its famed techno clubs alive in the …

Nestle says to cut 16,000 jobs worldwide over next two years

Oct 16 2025

Nestle, the Swiss food giant whose brands include Nespresso coffee and Perrier water, will eliminate 16,000 jobs …

Asia stocks rise as traders weigh China-US row, rate cut hopes

Oct 16 2025

Asian equities edged up Thursday as investors weighed the latest volleys in the China-US trade war and expectations that …

US Treasury chief: Beijing's rare earths move is 'China vs world'

Oct 16 2025

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent slammed Beijing's rare earth export curbs Wednesday as "China versus the world," …

Argentine markets cheer new US aid, but Trump threat sparks anger

Oct 15 2025

Argentine stocks surged Wednesday on a new US promise of aid for embattled President Javier Milei, despite Donald Trump …

United sees demand 'strengthening' as profits edge lower

Oct 15 2025

United Airlines reported a slight dip in profits Wednesday as operating expenses ticked higher, adding that a …

Syria won't wait for global community to reform economy: Finance Minister

Oct 15 2025

Syria is in a hurry to rebuild its war-torn economy and will not wait for the international community to begin making …

Stocks rise on US rate cut hopes, strong company earnings

Oct 15 2025

Stocks mostly rose and the dollar retreated Wednesday on hopes for further US interest rate cuts and a solid set of …

US says working on new $20 bn 'facility' for Argentina

Oct 15 2025

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday said he was working to rally the private sector around a new $20 …

Exiting TED leader clings to tech optimism

Oct 15 2025

Chris Anderson took over TED 25 years ago, when the internet was young and optimism abounded about the future it could …

EU economy chief urges G7 to join plan tapping Russia assets for Ukraine

Oct 15 2025

The EU will urge G7 partners to consider tapping immobilized Russian assets in aiding Ukraine, the bloc's economy …

Dutch tech giant ASML posts stable profits, warns on China

Oct 15 2025

Dutch tech giant ASML warned Wednesday of a steep fall in its China business next year, as it booked flat net profits in …

Canada fears for auto jobs after Stellantis announces US investment

Oct 15 2025

Canadian leaders said Wednesday that Jeep-maker Stellantis's decision to invest $13 billion in the United States …

Greece weighs disputed 13-hour workday reform

Oct 15 2025

Greece's parliament on Wednesday debated a controversial reform proposed by the conservative government, which would …

'Absolutely critical' to boost growth in Europe: IMF official

Oct 15 2025

It is absolutely critical for European countries to boost growth and productivity to catch up with the United States, a …

Pokemon brushes up decades-old formula with 'Legends: Z-A'

Oct 15 2025

New challenges will test Pokemon trainers' reactions in their virtual beast battles, as the near-30-year-old saga's …

Huge telecom takeover bid raising alarms in France is rejected

Oct 15 2025

French telecom firm SFR on Wednesday rejected a buyout bid by three rivals, as the government and labour unions warned …

Markets rally, dollar weakens as Fed cut hopes trump trade war fears

Oct 15 2025

Stocks jumped and the dollar retreated Wednesday as trade war fears were overshadowed by comments from Federal Reserve …

Dutch tech giant ASML posts stable profits, warns on China sales

Oct 15 2025

Dutch tech giant ASML warned Wednesday of a steep fall in its China business next year, as it booked flat net profits in …

Award-winning Nigerian agronomist dreams of a cassava 'revolution'

Oct 15 2025

Mercy Diebiru-Ojo's ambitions are straightforward -- increase Nigerian yam and cassava yields by 500 percent, fight …

Ethiopia's weavers struggle to keep garment tradition alive

Oct 15 2025

Behind the looms of a workshop in the heart of Addis Ababa, dozens of weavers deftly repeat the same motions to craft …

Dutch tech giant ASML: China sales to dip 'signficantly' in 2026

Oct 15 2025

Dutch tech giant ASML said on Wednesday it expected its sales in China to fall significantly next year, as it booked …

China consumer spending falls as pressure on economy builds

Oct 15 2025

China's consumer prices continued to fall last month, with official data highlighting the battle leaders face in trying …

US Republicans seek to shield oil giants as climate lawsuits advance

Oct 15 2025

President Donald Trump's second term has seen the United States go all-in to boost Big Oil and block renewables -- yet a …

Asian markets rally as Fed cut hopes trump trade war fears

Oct 15 2025

Stocks jumped Wednesday as trade war fears were overshadowed by comments from Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell that …

Mixed day for global stocks amid trade angst, Powell comments

Oct 14 2025

European and US stock markets fell before recovering somewhat as markets weighed trade tensions between Beijing and …

Brazil, other nations agree to quadruple sustainable fuels

Oct 14 2025

Brazil, India, Italy and Japan vowed Tuesday to quadruple their production and consumption of renewable fuels, hoping …

Trump threatens to end cooking oil purchases from China

Oct 14 2025

US President Donald Trump slammed China's halt of American soybean purchases as an "economically hostile act," warning …

Strong dealmaking boosts profits at US banking giants

Oct 14 2025

Robust dealmaking activity and strong trading results helped boost US bank earnings Tuesday despite lingering worries …

French telecoms join forces to break up embattled SFR

Oct 14 2025

Three of France's main telecom groups said Tuesday they lodged a joint bid for SFR, a debt-laden rival struggling to …

US indicts Cambodian tycoon over $15bn crypto scam empire

Oct 14 2025

US authorities on Tuesday unsealed an indictment against Chen Zhi, a UK-Cambodian businessman accused of running forced …

Myanmar scam centres booming despite crackdown, using Musk's Starlink: AFP investigation

Oct 14 2025

Scam centres in Myanmar blamed for swindling billions from victims across the world are expanding fast just months after …

China, EU stand firm on shipping emission deal despite US threats

Oct 14 2025

China, the European Union and several other members of the International Maritime Organization reaffirmed their support …

US Fed chair flags concern about sharp slowdown in job creation

Oct 14 2025

US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned Tuesday that risks to employment had risen in recent months, noting there …

US Treasury chief accuses China of wanting to hurt world economy

Oct 14 2025

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent slammed Beijing in an interview this week, accusing it of seeking to harm the global …

Chipmaker Nexperia says banned from exporting from China

Oct 14 2025

Chipmaker Nexperia said Tuesday the Chinese government had banned it from exporting goods from China, after Dutch …

Animal welfare transport law deadlocked in EU

Oct 14 2025

An EU proposal aimed at improving animal transport conditions has hit a wall two years after its introduction, with …

IMF lifts 2025 global growth forecast, warns of ongoing trade 'uncertainty'

Oct 14 2025

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday lifted its outlook for global growth this year, flagging a …

Maria Grazia Chiuri named creative director at Fendi

Oct 14 2025

Italian designer Maria Grazia Chiuri was named Tuesday as the new chief creative officer at Rome-based luxury brand …

IMF raises 2025 global growth forecast on 'modest' US trade shock

Oct 14 2025

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday lifted its outlook for global growth this year, flagging a …

Europe's economic integration 'insufficient': IMF chief economist

Oct 14 2025

The EU's attempts to integrate the economies of its 27 member states have been insufficient to boost lackluster growth, …

Fallen Austrian property tycoon Benko goes on trial over fraud charges

Oct 14 2025

Fallen Austrian property tycoon Rene Benko pleaded not guilty Tuesday to alleged fraud, the first charges in a …

China sanctions five US units of South Korean ship giant Hanwha

Oct 14 2025

China imposed sanctions on five American subsidiaries of South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean on Tuesday, accusing them …

Flights cancelled as Belgium hit by national strike

Oct 14 2025

A national strike over a government savings plan grounded flights and disrupted public transport in Belgium on Tuesday, …

Asian stocks pare tariff-led losses, Tokyo hit by political turmoil

Oct 14 2025

Asian stocks sank Tuesday on fresh trade war worries after China imposed curbs on US units of a Korean shipbuilder, …

Google to invest $15 bn in India, build largest AI hub outside US

Oct 14 2025

Google said Tuesday it will invest $15 billion in India over the next five years, as it announced a giant data centre …

Myanmar scam cities booming despite crackdown -- using Musk's Starlink

Oct 14 2025

They said they had smashed them. But fraud factories in Myanmar blamed for scamming Chinese and American victims out of …

Trump tariffs on timber, furniture take effect

Oct 14 2025

US President Donald Trump's fresh tariffs on imported wood, furniture and kitchen cabinets took effect Tuesday, a …

Nobel economist warns of AI dangers

Oct 14 2025

A winner of this year’s Nobel prize in economics warned Monday that artificial intelligence offers "amazing …

Wall Street stocks bounce after Trump-fueled slide

Oct 13 2025

Wall Street stocks rebounded Monday from steep pre-weekend falls as US President Donald Trump softened his posture on …

Massive UK dieselgate lawsuit reaches court

Oct 13 2025

A trial involving five major carmakers opened at London's High Court Monday, marking the latest chapter of the …

Wall Street stocks bounce after Trump-fuelled slide

Oct 13 2025

Wall Street stocks rebounded Monday after heavy pre-weekend falls as US President Donald Trump reignited his trade war …

Trio wins economics Nobel for work on tech-driven growth

Oct 13 2025

The Nobel prize in economics was awarded on Monday to American-Israeli Joel Mokyr, France's Philippe Aghion and Canada's …

Wall Street stocks rebound after Trump-fuelled slide

Oct 13 2025

Wall Street stocks rebounded Monday after heavy pre-weekend falls as US President Donald Trump reignited his trade war …

IMF meetings to start under fresh cloud of US-China trade tensions

Oct 13 2025

The IMF and World Bank's semi-annual gathering of finance ministers and central bank governors gets underway in …

Europe cannot let US, China be 'technological leaders': Nobel laureate Aghion

Oct 13 2025

One of the winners of this year's Nobel economics prize, France's Philippe Aghion, on Monday warned Europe that it must …

European stocks rebound after Trump-fuelled slide

Oct 13 2025

European stock markets rebounded slightly Monday after heavy pre-weekend falls as US President Donald Trump reignited …

Asian equity markets drop after Trump reignites tariff row

Oct 13 2025

Asian markets slipped Monday after US President Donald Trump reignited his trade war with Beijing by threatening last …

IMF meetings to begin under fresh cloud of US-China trade tensions

Oct 13 2025

The IMF and World Bank's semi-annual gathering of finance ministers and central bank governors gets underway in …