Business and Tech

Bank of Japan hikes inflation forecast on soaring energy prices

AFP - 29m ago

Japan's central bank hiked its full-year inflation forecast on Thursday but cautioned that it sees rising prices, driven …

UK finance minister Sunak cleared of ethics breach

AFP - 13h ago

The British government's ethics advisor said on Wednesday he had cleared embattled finance minister Rishi Sunak of …

GM announces it will make electric Corvette

Apr 26 2022

US car maker General Motors announced Monday that it is developing an electric version of its Chevrolet Corvette.

Coal still top threat to global climate goals: report

Apr 26 2022

The number of coal-fired power plants in the pipeline worldwide declined in 2021, according to research released …

Second Amazon site in New York kicks off vote on joining union

Apr 25 2022

Workers at an Amazon sorting center in New York began voting Monday on whether to join the Amazon Labor Union, which …

Oil prices slide on China fears; Twitter rises on Musk deal

Apr 25 2022

Oil prices tumbled Monday along with equities in Europe and Asia on worries over a worsening Covid-19 outbreak in China, …

Crew of first private flight to ISS return to Earth

Apr 25 2022

Three wealthy businessmen and a former NASA astronaut splashed down Monday off the Florida coast after spending more …

Trump rules out Twitter return as Musk announces $44 bn purchase

Apr 25 2022

Former US president Donald Trump vowed he would not be returning to Twitter if his account was reinstated following the …

Murdoch launches TalkTV channel with Trump trashing Harry and Meghan

Apr 25 2022

Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch's "TalkTV" launched in Britain on Monday, entering a crowded news market but leveraging his …

Elon Musk reaches deal to buy Twitter for $44 bn

Apr 25 2022

Elon Musk, the world's richest man, struck a deal Monday to buy Twitter for $44 billion, capping a saga complete with …

Elon Musk: tech visionary turns social media king

Apr 25 2022

Sometimes it feels like it's Elon Musk's world and we just live in it.

US charges Briton, Spaniard with helping N.Korea

Apr 25 2022

The United States on Monday charged two Europeans with conspiring with an American cryptocurrency expert who is in …

US judge holds Trump in contempt over civil fraud probe

Apr 25 2022

A US judge held former president Donald Trump in contempt of court Monday for failing to turn over documents related to …

Consumers lapping up Coca-Cola price hikes so far

Apr 25 2022

Coca-Cola reported a jump in quarterly profits Monday in results showing the soda giant was able to implement price …

UK hosts 'world's first' hub for drones, future flying taxis

Apr 25 2022

A pop-up urban port for delivery drones -- and one day, potentially flying taxis -- launched Monday in Britain, lifting …

Twitter shares rise on reports it will accept Musk takeover bid

Apr 25 2022

Twitter shares rose Monday following reports the company is poised to accept Elon Musk's takeover offer, a dramatic …

Stocks and oil slide China lockdowns, rate hike fears

Apr 25 2022

Stock markets and oil prices slumped Monday on growing concern that lockdowns in China aimed at fighting a worsening …

Markets tumble on China lockdowns, rate hike fears

Apr 25 2022

Stock markets and oil prices slumped Monday on growing concern that lockdowns in China aimed at fighting a worsening …

Philips take hit by supply problems, respirator recall

Apr 25 2022

Philips on Monday reported net losses of over 150 million euros in the first quarter of 2022 as the Dutch health …

Markets plunge on China lockdowns, rate hike fears

Apr 25 2022

Stock markets and oil prices sank Monday on growing concern that lockdowns in China aimed at fighting a worsening Covid …

Nissan ending production of Datsun brand vehicles

Apr 25 2022

Japanese automaker Nissan is ending production of Datsun brand vehicles, less than a decade after reviving the famed …

Sri Lanka shares plunge as Buddhist leaders ask govt to resign

Apr 25 2022

Sri Lanka's stock market halted trading after a nearly 13 percent plunge Monday as the island nation's beleaguered …

London and Washington begin two days of trade talks

Apr 25 2022

The UK on Monday began two days of talks with the United States, hoping for progress to secure a coveted post-Brexit …

China lockdowns, rate hike fears batter stock markets

Apr 25 2022

Stock markets sank Monday on growing concerns that lockdowns in China aimed at fighting a worsening Covid outbreak could …

Markets hit China economy worries, rate hike fears

Apr 25 2022

Stock markets sank Monday on growing concerns that lockdowns in China aimed at fighting a worsening Covid outbreak could …

Sri Lanka exchange halts again after 13% plunge

Apr 25 2022

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka's stock exchange halted again Monday after a nearly 13 percent plunge, derailing the bourse's …

Asian markets track Wall St rout, oil sinks

Apr 25 2022

Asian markets sank Monday on growing concerns of a sharp hike in US interest rates as officials struggle to contain …

Egypt gig economy workers face rough ride

Apr 24 2022

Young men on bikes and scooters zip through Cairo, Egypt's sprawling megalopolis, dodging cars to deliver more than a …

'Bleed us dry': Why tech platforms are facing rebellions

Apr 24 2022

When Jak found online marketplace Etsy, it seemed like the perfect match: a tech platform for small traders to sell …

Yemen capital's first commercial flight since 2016 postponed

Apr 23 2022

The first commercial flight from Yemen’s rebel-held capital in six years had to be indefinitely postponed after failing …

Scuba diving boat sinks off Ecuador's Galapagos Islands

Apr 23 2022

A scuba diving boat sank Saturday off one of Ecuador's ecologically sensitive Galapagos Islands but damage was minor and …

Ship carrying diesel fuel sinks off Ecuador's Galapagos Islands

Apr 23 2022

A ship carrying diesel fuel sank Saturday off one of Ecuador's ecologically sensitive Galapagos Islands, officials said.

EU agrees deal to tame internet 'Wild West'

Apr 23 2022

The European Union on Saturday finalised new legislation to require Big Tech to remove harmful content, the bloc's …

New Pakistan government says willing to curb fuel subsidies

Apr 23 2022

Pakistan's new finance minister on Friday agreed with IMF recommendations to reduce fuel subsidies and end a business …

Twitter bans ads that defy climate change science

Apr 22 2022

Twitter on Friday banned ads that deny the reality of climate change.

Global stocks plunge on jitters over higher interest rates

Apr 22 2022

Global stock markets dropped sharply Friday as the latest hawkish commentary from the Federal Reserve sent investors …

Losing Russian energy would weigh on Europe's economy: IMF official

Apr 22 2022

Europe can get by without Russian gas for six months, but beyond that, the economic impact would be severe, a senior IMF …

French prosecutors issue international arrest warrant for Ghosn

Apr 22 2022

French authorities have issued an international arrest warrant for disgraced former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn, who has …

Global markets plunge on hawkish Fed

Apr 22 2022

Global stock markets dropped sharply Friday after the Federal Reserve warned of an aggressive tightening of monetary …

Floods heap woes on South Africa trading hub

Apr 22 2022

First it was Covid, then riots and now floods: KwaZulu-Natal (NZN) province, South Africa's gateway to the Indian Ocean, …

Global markets mostly sink on Fed chief's remarks

Apr 22 2022

Global stock markets slid Friday after the Federal Reserve warned of an aggressive tightening of monetary policy to tame …

EU eyes deal to tame internet 'Wild West'

Apr 22 2022

The European Union on Friday homed in on new regulation to require Big Tech to remove harmful online content, the bloc's …

Ferrari to recall more than 2,200 cars in China over brake risk

Apr 22 2022

Italian luxury carmaker Ferrari has issued a recall plan with Chinese regulators over potential brake problems in its …

Key moments in Carlos Ghosn saga

Apr 22 2022

From his surprise detention to an audacious escape from Japan hidden in an audio-equipment box, the rollercoaster saga …

Eurozone growth speeds up in April despite Ukraine war

Apr 22 2022

Economic growth in the eurozone accelerated and hit a seven-month high in April, a key survey showed on Friday, despite …

Asian markets tumble after Federal Reserve chief's comments

Apr 22 2022

Most Asian markets dropped on Friday, trailing Wall Street losses triggered by the US Federal Reserve boss' signal of an …

Revitalised Angkor Wat brings hope for Cambodia tourism recovery

Apr 22 2022

As dawn breaks, foreign tourists gather by the ancient towers of Cambodia's Angkor Wat, some of the lucky few to see the …

Will Twitter's 'poison pill' be too tough for Elon Musk to swallow?

Apr 22 2022

The so-called "poison pill" Twitter has proposed to use against Elon Musk's potential hostile takeover is a mechanism …

China axes 15 coal plants abroad after Xi pledge, but loopholes remain: study

Apr 22 2022

More than a dozen Chinese coal power projects overseas were cancelled after a ban last year on funding such plants, but …

Cash-strapped Sri Lanka hit by record inflation

Apr 22 2022

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka's inflation hit a record high for the sixth consecutive month, official data showed on Friday as …

Obama calls for tigher reins on big tech

Apr 22 2022

Former US president Barack Obama on Thursday called out Silicon Valley, urging tech companies to stop dividing society …

Musk says he has financing to take Twitter buyout bid to investors

Apr 22 2022

Elon Musk has lined up $46.5 billion in financing for a possible hostile takeover of Twitter and is "exploring" a direct …

CNN to close streaming service after one month

Apr 22 2022

CNN will shut down its new streaming service next week, just one month after launching it with much fanfare, the US …

WHO 'strongly recommends' Pfizer's Covid pill

Apr 22 2022

The World Health Organization said Friday it "strongly recommended" Pfizer's Covid-19 antiviral pill Paxlovid for …

In war-torn Ukraine, dimmed hopes for escargot exports

Apr 21 2022

Ivan Yuskevych used to export truckloads of edible snails from his Ukrainian farm to western Europe, but first …

Hawkish Powell sends US indices lower despite resurgent airline shares

Apr 21 2022

US stocks tumbled while the dollar rallied Thursday following hawkish comments from the head of the Federal Reserve that …

Ukraine needs $7 bn a month in aid, Zelensky says

Apr 21 2022

Ukraine needs $7 billion in month to keep its economy afloat amid the "economic losses" inflicted by Russia, President …

Hidden in bananas and tea, cocaine departs Ecuador port by the ton

Apr 21 2022

Trying to prevent drug traffickers from hiding cocaine in cargo containers at Ecuador's main port of Guayaquil is …

US Treasury announces $500 mn economic aid package for Ukraine

Apr 21 2022

The United States will provide Ukraine with a new $500 million infusion of aid to help the government in Kyiv continue …

No consensus among finance chiefs at IMF talks due to Ukraine war

Apr 21 2022

The International Monetary Fund ended its semi-annual gathering of global finance chiefs without a consensus for the …

Yellen warns European ban on Russian energy could harm economies

Apr 21 2022

A European ban on Russian oil and gas imports could have unintended economic consequences, US Treasury Secretary Janet …

Shares in Tesla and airlines take off

Apr 21 2022

US and European stock markets rose on Thursday, with Tesla shooting higher after the electric carmaker reported record …

Google makes cookie opt-out easier after France fine

Apr 21 2022

Google announced on Thursday it was starting to roll out an option for European users to reject "cookies" with a single …

'Small actions' can help reduce reliance on Russian energy: IEA

Apr 21 2022

Adjusting the heating and working more from home are just some of the "small actions" that can reduce Europe's reliance …

Russia's economic outlook worsens: central bank survey

Apr 21 2022

Russia's economic outlook has worsened as a central bank survey on Thursday showed a deeper contraction than previously …

Tesla, airline shares take off

Apr 21 2022

US and European stock markets rose on Thursday, with Tesla shares shooting higher after the electric carmaker reported …

American Airlines eyes Q2 profit after latest loss

Apr 21 2022

American Airlines reported another quarterly loss Thursday, but said a recent sharp improvement in bookings should …

Spyware allegations poison Spain's ties with Catalan separatists

Apr 21 2022

Catalan separatists have accused Spain's intelligence services of using spyware to snoop on their mobile phones, …

Airline shares take off on bullish United outlook

Apr 21 2022

Shares in European airlines took off Thursday after United Airlines forecast surging travel demand as the pandemic …

EU nears deal on massive tech services regulation

Apr 21 2022

The European Union could agree on Friday a new regulation imposing unprecedented curbs on online content, the second …

UK PM arrives in India for hard sell on anti-Russia action

Apr 21 2022

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrived in India Thursday touting job-creating investment but facing long odds to get …

Libya's oil industry falls hostage again to politics

Apr 21 2022

Libya's oil industry, the lifeblood of its economy, has fallen hostage once more to a political schism, as the …

Oil prices up as traders weigh demand and supply issues

Apr 21 2022

Oil bounced back on Thursday after a day of losses over demand concerns linked to China's Covid-19 lockdowns as markets …

UK's PM arrives in India for hard sell on anti-Russia action

Apr 21 2022

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrived in India Thursday touting job-creating investment but facing long odds to get …

QR codes and cranes: Japan embraces modern cemeteries

Apr 21 2022

Masayo Isurugi settles into a booth on the sixth floor of a sleek Tokyo building, scans an ID card and waits for an …

Twitter, analysts wary of Musk takeover bid

Apr 21 2022

As tempting as access to Elon Musk's wealth may be, Twitter is not eager to be ruled by a billionaire known for shooting …

End of an era as Netflix faces stagnation challenges

Apr 21 2022

Having lost subscribers for the first time in more than a decade, Netflix faces the new challenge of stagnation from a …

Tesla reports record profits, bullish on 2022 output

Apr 20 2022

Tesla reported another banner quarter of profit growth Wednesday on pricier vehicles and said its 2022 output plan was …

US leads G20 boycott of Russian finance officials

Apr 20 2022

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen led a multinational group of finance chiefs on a walkout Wednesday as Russian …

United Airlines bullish on Q2 as it reports another loss

Apr 20 2022

United Airlines reported another quarterly loss Wednesday on the lingering drag from Covid-19 but offered a bullish …

Italy signs gas deal with Angola seeking to end dependence on Russia

Apr 20 2022

Italy on Wednesday penned a deal with Angola to ramp up gas supplies from the southern African country as it urgently …

Europe stocks shine but US mixed as Netflix plunges

Apr 20 2022

European stocks rose Wednesday as investors tracked corporate earnings and developments in the Ukraine conflict, while …

Tesla reports Q1 profits of $3.3 bn, topping expectations

Apr 20 2022

Tesla reported another banner quarter of profit growth Wednesday as the rapid expansion of electric vehicle (EV) …

G20 finances chiefs convene amid threats of Ukraine boycott

Apr 20 2022

Finance officials from the world's richest countries are convening on Wednesday to address global challenges like rising …

Italy chases African gas to end dependence on Russia

Apr 20 2022

Italian ministers headed to central Africa Wednesday in an urgent quest for new energy deals as Italy scrambles to break …

Higher prices cooled US housing market in March

Apr 20 2022

Sales of existing US homes dropped for the second straight month in March, an industry survey said Wednesday, a sign …

Fresh protests rock Sri Lanka after police killing

Apr 20 2022

Fresh anti-government protests spread across Sri Lanka Wednesday, a day after police shot dead a demonstrator and …

Venice readies day-trip booking system to ease crowds

Apr 20 2022

Venice plans to trial a reservation system for day-trippers, an official said Wednesday, in a bid to ease over-tourism …

Ukraine set to dominate G20 finance chiefs summit

Apr 20 2022

Finance officials from the world's richest countries will meet on Wednesday to address global challenges like rising …

Stock markets rise but Netflix sinks

Apr 20 2022

European and US stocks rose Wednesday as investors tracked developments in the Ukraine conflict and corporate earnings, …

Procter & Gamble profits rise on higher pricing

Apr 20 2022

Quarterly profits edged higher at Procter & Gamble as the consumer goods giant implemented price increases with only a …

European stock market gains capped by Ukraine war

Apr 20 2022

European stocks rose Wednesday but gains were capped as Russia continued its new offensive in eastern Ukraine, dealers …

Ukraine war slams brakes on European car sales

Apr 20 2022

European car sales sank in March as Russia's invasion of Ukraine added more problems to a sector already struggling with …

Sri Lankan town under curfew after police kill protester

Apr 20 2022

Police enforced a curfew on Wednesday in a Sri Lankan town where an anti-government demonstrator was killed, a death …

Oil stabilises after big drop on IMF growth cut

Apr 20 2022

Asian markets were marginally higher on Wednesday while oil began recovering after a downgraded IMF global growth …

Brexit bureaucracy leaves British beet rotting

Apr 20 2022

In the heart of the English countryside, Will Woodhall is trying to stay positive, despite standing next to a vast pile …

IMF asks Sri Lanka to restructure debt before bailout

Apr 20 2022

The International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday that it has asked cash-strapped Sri Lanka to "restructure" its huge …

Dung power: India taps new energy cash cow

Apr 20 2022

India is tapping a new energy source that promises to help clean up smog-choked cities and is already providing a vital …

Sri Lanka town under curfew, foreign concern over killing

Apr 20 2022

Police kept up a curfew in central Sri Lanka on Wednesday, a day after the killing of an anti-government demonstrator in …

New Indian 'sex start-ups' challenge old taboos

Apr 20 2022

The couple behind a new start-up using adult toys and cheeky adverts to challenge long-held taboos say they want to take …

Mexican lawmakers pass lithium nationalization plan

Apr 20 2022

Mexican lawmakers on Tuesday approved a plan to nationalize the exploration and mining of lithium, a vital material in …

Netflix shares plunge as subscribers drop

Apr 20 2022

Netflix shares lost a quarter of their value Tuesday after the company revealed its ranks of subscribers shrank in the …