Business and Economy



AirAsia signs $19bn deal for 150 Airbus A220 jets

AFP - 1h ago

Southeast Asia's AirAsia signed a $19 billion deal to buy 150 Canadian-made Airbus A220-300 jets, the two companies …

Shell profit jumps as Mideast war fuels oil prices

AFP - 2h ago

British energy giant Shell announced Thursday rising net profits for the first quarter as the Middle East war sent oil …

Oil sinks, Tokyo leads Asia stock surge on growing Mideast peace hopes

AFP - 2h ago

Oil sank again Thursday and Tokyo's Nikkei index led another strong rally across Asia stocks, fuelled by growing …

Tokyo leads Asia stock surge on growing Mideast peace hopes

AFP - 41m ago

Tokyo's Nikkei index soared Thursday to lead another strong rally across Asia stocks, fuelled by growing optimism the …

EU weighs options as summer jet fuel threat looms

AFP - 4h ago

How big is the jet fuel threat to Europe's summer holidays? The EU says it is not facing shortages yet, but it is …

Lobito Corridor: Africa's mega-project facing delivery test

AFP - 8h ago

The Lobito Corridor mega-project linking three African countries is shifting from blueprint to proving ground in the …

Africa's Lobito Corridor chief tells AFP business, not geopolitics, drives strategy

AFP - 8h ago

The chief executive of the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) project to link southern African mines to an Angolan export …

Victim's lawyer alleges Boeing was 'negligent' in 2019 Ethiopian crash

May 06 2026

US aviation giant Boeing was "negligent" in the 2019 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 aircraft, the lawyer for …

Trump says Iran deal 'very possible' but threatens strikes if talks fail

May 06 2026

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he believed a deal with Iran was "very possible" but threatened to again bomb …

Musk's SpaceX strikes data center deal with Anthropic

May 06 2026

AI startup Anthropic announced Wednesday it has agreed to a major computing partnership with Elon Musk's SpaceX, …

Oil prices tumble, stocks rally on Mideast peace hopes

May 06 2026

World oil prices dived Wednesday and stock markets rallied on fresh hopes for an end to the Iran war.

Trump says Iran deal 'very possible', but threatens strikes if not

May 06 2026

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he believed a deal with Iran was "very possible", but threatened to resume his …

Pioneering CNN founder Ted Turner dead at 87

May 06 2026

Ted Turner, the flamboyant US entrepreneur who transformed television news with the creation of CNN in 1980 before …

French aircraft carrier pre-positions for possible Hormuz mission

May 06 2026

France's aircraft carrier the Charles de Gaulle was on Wednesday heading towards the southern Red Sea to pre‑position …

Trump sees 'very good chance' of Iran deal, but threatens strikes if not

May 06 2026

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he believed there was "a very good chance" of sealing a peace deal with Iran, …

Europe's first commercial robotaxi service rolls out in Croatia

May 06 2026

For nearly a month, a Croatian company has been rolling out what it says is Europe's first robotaxi service on the …

EU risks financial hit if Chinese suppliers forced out: trade group

May 06 2026

A group representing Chinese companies warned Wednesday the EU would suffer hundreds of billions of euros in losses if …

G7 decries 'economic coercion' in swipe at China

May 06 2026

The trade ministers of the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations Wednesday criticised "economic coercion" by …

CNN founder Ted Turner: 20th century media giant

May 06 2026

Ted Turner created CNN in 1980, revolutionizing the way America, and the world, got their news, and then went on to …

Trump threatens new Iran strikes, piling on pressure for peace deal

May 06 2026

US President Donald Trump threatened Iran on Wednesday with renewed bombing if it did not agree to a peace deal, piling …

Disney shares jump after results top expectations

May 06 2026

Disney shares jumped in pre-market trading Wednesday as the entertainment giant reported better than expected revenues …

Ryanair's O'Leary urges pre-flight morning booze ban

May 06 2026

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has urged a ban on serving alcohol in airport bars before morning flights in an …

Hopes rise for Iran deal as US halts guiding ships in Hormuz

May 06 2026

The United States and a key mediator in the Middle East war expressed new hope of talks leading to a peace deal with …

Cambodian PM's cousin says owned 30% of scam-linked firm

May 06 2026

A cousin of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Wednesday he had owned a 30 percent stake in a digital payments …

US pauses guiding ships through Hormuz, cites Iran deal hopes

May 06 2026

President Donald Trump said he was pausing the US military operation to guide stranded commercial ships through the …

Oil tumbles and stocks rally on peace hopes, Samsung tops $1 trillion

May 06 2026

Oil prices dived again Wednesday on fresh hopes for an end to the Iran war, while Samsung blasted past the $1 trillion …

Oil sinks and stocks rally on peace hopes, Samsung tops $1 trillion

May 06 2026

Oil prices extended losses Wednesday on fresh hopes for an end to the Iran war, while Samsung blasted past the $1 …

US pauses Hormuz escorts, Trump says progress on Iran deal

May 06 2026

The United States will pause escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz barely a day after it began doing …

Fresh UAE attacks blamed on Iran draw new reality in the Gulf

May 06 2026

Hours after the UAE's top oil executive said the country had "emerged stronger" from war and as thousands attended an …

Philips profits double in first quarter

May 06 2026

Philips said Wednesday its first-quarter profits had doubled, maintaining its sales forecasts as the Dutch electronics …

Iran war jolts China's well-oiled manufacturing hub

May 06 2026

Vacuum cleaners and vapes could get more expensive if the Iran war drags on for much longer, Chinese factory owners and …

US pauses Hormuz escorts in bid for deal, as threats continue

May 06 2026

The US will pause escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz barely a day after it began doing so, US …

US declares Iran offensive over, warns force remains an option

May 05 2026

The United States has completed its offensive operations against Iran, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday, even …

Musk 'was going to hit me,' OpenAI executive says at trial

May 05 2026

OpenAI President Greg Brockman told a California jury Tuesday that Elon Musk physically threatened him during a 2017 …

Stocks rise, oil falls as traders eye earnings, US-Iran ceasefire

May 05 2026

European and US stocks advanced Tuesday, lifting Wall Street indices to fresh records, as investors focused on …

US forces ready to resume combat operations against Iran if ordered

May 05 2026

US forces are ready to resume combat operations against Iran if ordered, Washington's top military officer said on …

G7 trade ministers meet, not expected to discuss US tariff threat

May 05 2026

G7 trade ministers opened a meeting in Paris on Tuesday to discuss issues including critical minerals, but were not …

France's Macron taps ex-aide to head central bank

May 05 2026

France's President Emmanuel Macron is mulling appointing his former chief of staff as head of the country's central …

EU urges US to stick to tariff deal terms

May 05 2026

The United States must respect its tariff agreement with the EU, the bloc's trade chief told his American counterpart …

Vodafone to take full ownership of UK mobile operator

May 05 2026

British mobile phone giant Vodafone announced Tuesday it has agreed a £4.3 billion ($5.8 billion) deal to take full …

Stocks advance, oil falls as traders eye US-Iran ceasefire

May 05 2026

European and US stocks advanced Tuesday as investors weighed first-quarter corporate earnings alongside uncertainty over …

US trade gap widens in March as AI spending boosts imports

May 05 2026

The US trade deficit grew slightly less than expected in March, government data showed Tuesday, as spending linked to …

Stocks diverge as traders eye US-Iran ceasefire

May 05 2026

Global stocks diverged Tuesday as investors weighed first-quarter corporate earnings alongside uncertainty over the …

Pyongyang calling: North Korea shows off own-brand phones

May 05 2026

North Korea has welcomed foreign visitors and firms to a trade fair this week, showcasing homegrown products including …

Iran warns 'not even started' in Hormuz

May 05 2026

Iran's powerful chief negotiator warned the United States against any further escalation in the Strait of Hormuz, after …

War in the Middle East: latest developments

May 05 2026

The latest developments in the Middle East war:

Asian stocks drop amid fears over US-Iran ceasefire

May 05 2026

Asian stocks sank Tuesday with a fresh spike in Middle East tensions fanning fears over the fragile US-Iran ceasefire, …

Stocks sink amid fears over US-Iran ceasefire

May 05 2026

Stocks sank Tuesday with a fresh spike in Middle East tensions fanning fears over the fragile US-Iran ceasefire, as the …

Yoko says oh no to 'John Lemon' beer

May 05 2026

The old saying about lemons and lemonade has borne fruit for a French craft brewery, which was ordered by Yoko Ono to …

G7 trade ministers set to meet but not discuss latest US tariff threat

May 05 2026

G7 trade ministers are set to meet in Paris on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss issues such as critical minerals and …

Trouble in paradise: Colombia tourist jewel plagued by violence

May 05 2026

With snow-capped mountains sweeping down to the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National …

Oil prices jump on Hormuz tensions as US indices retreat from records

May 04 2026

Oil prices jumped on Monday after a drone strike sparked a fire at an Emirati energy installation, threatening a fragile …

OpenAI co-founder under fire in Musk trial over $30 bn stake

May 04 2026

Following high-profile testimony from billionaire Elon Musk last week, one of OpenAI's co-founders testified Monday in …

Amazon to ship stuff for any business, not just its own merchants

May 04 2026

Amazon announced Monday it is opening up its massive shipping and delivery network to any business that wants to use it …

Energy crisis fuels calls to cut methane emissions

May 04 2026

Officials pushed Monday for faster action to reduce methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector to both help slow …

Oil prices jump as Iran attacks UAE, US warships enter Hormuz

May 04 2026

Oil prices jumped on Monday after a drone strike sparked a fire at an Emirati energy installation following US warships …

UniCredit raises capital ahead of Commerzbank takeover bid

May 04 2026

Shareholders in Italy's UniCredit approved on Monday an increase in share capital that enables the Italian bank to mount …

Seoul, Taipei hit records on tech rally

May 04 2026

Seoul and Taipei hit record highs Monday as Asian traders joined the rally in tech shares, while oil prices rose as US …

Seoul, Taipei hit records as Asian stocks track Wall St tech rally

May 04 2026

Seoul and Taipei hit record highs Monday as tech firms led a rally across most Asian markets, tracking a healthy day on …

Musk vs OpenAI trial enters second week

May 04 2026

Following high-profile testimony from billionaire Elon Musk last week, one of OpenAI's co-founders will testify Monday …

Boeing faces civil trial over 737 MAX crash

May 04 2026

Boeing is scheduled to return to court Monday to face its latest lawsuit over a deadly 737 MAX crash in Ethiopia, …

Village braces for closure of Spain's largest nuclear plant

May 04 2026

In the western Spanish village of Almaraz, the uncertain future of the country's biggest nuclear power plant casts a …

GameStop makes $56 billion takeover bid for eBay

May 04 2026

US video game retailer GameStop made a takeover bid on Sunday to buy eBay for about $55.5 billion in an attempt to turn …

'No pilgrims': regional war hushes Iraq's holy cities

May 04 2026

In Iraq's holy city of Najaf, the majestic shrine of Imam Ali stands quiet, its vast courtyards no longer echoing with …

'Devil Wears Prada 2' takes top spot in N. America box office

May 03 2026

"The Devil Wears Prada 2" debuted atop the North American box office this weekend, industry estimates showed Sunday, 20 …

OPEC+ hikes oil production quotas but stays mum on UAE pull-out

May 03 2026

Saudi Arabia, Russia and five other OPEC+ countries increased their oil production quota on Sunday in an expected move …

German fertiliser makers and farmers struggle with Iran war fallout

May 03 2026

As Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz roils the global economy, one German town has been scrambling to help make up …

OPEC+ to make first post-UAE production decision

May 03 2026

Seven OPEC+ members are meeting Sunday to make their first decision on oil-production quotas since the United Arab …

US airlines step up as Spirit winds down

May 03 2026

US air carriers on Saturday mobilized to help passengers and crew members stranded by the overnight shutdown of Spirit …

Aviation companies step up as Spirit winds down

May 02 2026

US air carriers mobilized Saturday to help passengers and crew members stranded by the overnight shutdown of Spirit …

Spirit Airlines begins 'wind-down', cancels all flights

May 02 2026

Low-cost US carrier Spirit Airlines said on Saturday that all of its flights have been cancelled as it started an …

Trump says will raise US tariffs on EU cars to 25%

May 01 2026

President Donald Trump said Friday that he will hike US tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union next week, …

S&P 500, Nasdaq end at fresh records on tech earnings strength

May 01 2026

The Nasdaq and S&P 500 soared to fresh records Friday, cheering mostly strong earnings from tech giants and continuing …

ExxonMobil CEO sees chance of higher oil prices as earnings dip

May 01 2026

US oil giants reported lower earnings Friday with accounting effects muting the benefits of the Middle East oil shock, …

Baguettes take centre stage on France's Labour Day

May 01 2026

French bakeries sold crusty baguettes and flaky croissants with government backing Friday, defying labour unions arguing …

Trump says will raise US tariffs on EU cars, trucks to 25%

May 01 2026

President Donald Trump said Friday that he will hike US tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union next week, …

Blockbuster EU-Mercosur trade deal enters into force

May 01 2026

The European Union's mammoth trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur provisionally enters into force Friday, …

US Fed official says rate hikes may be needed if inflation surges

May 01 2026

A key US Federal Reserve official warned Friday that a series of interest rate hikes could be needed if price shocks …

Gulf countries' plans to bypass Hormuz still far off, experts warn

May 01 2026

The war in the Middle East has forced the Gulf monarchies to rethink their oil and trade routes, but rerouting them will …

Oil steady after wild swing, stocks diverge in thin trading

May 01 2026

Oil prices steadied and stocks diverged Friday in thin holiday trading, as investors awaited the next move in the Middle …

Crude edges up after wild swing, stocks track Wall St rally

May 01 2026

Oil prices edged up Friday after the previous day's wild swings, with investors awaiting the next move in the Middle …

Iran activates air defences as Trump faces congressional deadline

May 01 2026

Tehran's air defences were activated to counter small aircraft and drones late Thursday, as the White House signalled …

Iran war redraws sea routes with Africa as the pivot

May 01 2026

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz as well as tensions in the Red Sea are reshaping trade routes, with Africa becoming …

Apple earnings beat forecasts on iPhone 17 demand

Apr 30 2026

Apple said Thursday it had its best-ever start to the year when it came to earnings, with iPhone demand and digital …

Iran's supreme leader defies US blockade as oil prices soar

Apr 30 2026

Iran's supreme leader declared Thursday that the United States had suffered a shameful defeat, defiantly rejecting a …

Oil slumps after hitting peak, US indices reach new records

Apr 30 2026

Oil prices struck a four-year high Thursday on worries about a resumption of hostilities in the Middle East, before …

Trump says lifting Scottish whisky tariffs to 'honor' King Charles

Apr 30 2026

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he was removing tariffs on Scottish whisky in honor of Britain's King Charles …

Venezuela leader hikes minimum wage package by 26%

Apr 30 2026

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez on Thursday hiked the minimum wage package by 26.3 percent, to $240, in an …

Bangladesh signs biggest-ever plane deal for 14 Boeings

Apr 30 2026

Bangladesh on Thursday signed a deal with US aircraft manufacturer Boeing to buy 14 planes for its national carrier …

Musk grilled on AI profits at OpenAI trial

Apr 30 2026

Elon Musk sparred with lawyers for a third day Thursday at his California trial against OpenAI, struggling to explain …

Venezuela opens arms to world with Miami-Caracas flight

Apr 30 2026

A relaunched Miami-Caracas flight after seven years of a standstill is paving the way for Venezuela to reclaim its …

Routine returns but Iranians struggle to afford daily life

Apr 30 2026

Gyms and cafes have reopened in Tehran as life returns to a familiar rhythm under a ceasefire following weeks of …

Oil slumps after hitting peak, stocks rise

Apr 30 2026

Oil prices struck a four-year high on Thursday on worries about a resumption of hostilities in the Middle East, before …

ECB warns of risks from Mideast war as it holds rates

Apr 30 2026

The European Central Bank held interest rates steady on Thursday but signalled a possible increase ahead as it warned of …

Oil strikes 4-year peak, stocks rise

Apr 30 2026

Oil prices struck a four-year high on Thursday on worries over a resumption of hostilities in the Middle East, while US …

US first-quarter growth rebounds less than expected as inflation surges

Apr 30 2026

US economic growth rebounded less than expected in the first quarter as consumer spending cooled, while inflation surged …

Carmaker Stellantis swings back into profit as sales climb

Apr 30 2026

Global automaker Stellantis -- owner of the Jeep and Fiat brands -- said Thursday it had swung back into profit in the …

Air France-KLM trims 2026 outlook over Middle East war impact

Apr 30 2026

Air France-KLM cut its 2026 outlook, saying higher fuel prices caused by the Middle East war would expand its fuel bill …

European rocket puts Amazon internet satellites in orbit

Apr 30 2026

Europe's most powerful rocket Ariane 6 successfully released 32 satellites into orbit Thursday for Amazon's internet …

ECB set to hold rates despite Iran war energy shock

Apr 30 2026

The European Central Bank is expected to hold interest rates steady again on Thursday as policymakers weigh concerns …

Oil strikes 4-year peak, stocks diverge as central banks in focus

Apr 30 2026

Oil prices struck a four-year high on Thursday on worries over a resumption of hostilities in the Middle East, while …

Volkswagen warns of more cost cuts as profits plunge

Apr 30 2026

Volkswagen's future is at risk without further cost cuts, the ailing German auto giant warned Thursday after profits …