Business and Economy



Ships in Gulf risk shortages on board, industry warns

AFP - 8m ago

Thousands of seafarers face dwindling supplies of fuel and water as they wait on board, stranded by the Middle East war, …

Oil prices climb as fresh strikes target infrastructure

AFP - 18m ago

Oil prices rose again Tuesday as Iran launched fresh attacks on crude-producing neighbours, while stock markets were …

EU to help reopen blocked oil pipeline in Ukraine

AFP - 1h ago

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday the bloc will help reopen a damaged pipeline that pumps Russian oil through …

SAS cancels flights after fuel prices surge

AFP - 1h ago

Scandinavian airline SAS said Tuesday it has cancelled some hundred flights this week after the war in the Middle East …

War in the Middle East: latest developments

AFP - 1h ago

Here are the latest developments Tuesday in the Middle East war:

Israel says killed Iran's security chief Larijani

AFP - 1h ago

Israel said Tuesday it had killed Iran's powerful national security chief, Ali Larijani, with Prime Minister Benjamin …

Middle East war: global economic fallout

AFP - 2h ago

Here are the latest economic events in the Middle East war on Tuesday:

US Fed expected to keep rates steady as Iran war impact looms

AFP - 1h ago

The US Federal Reserve opened its two-day meeting on Tuesday with policymakers expected to keep interest rates unchanged …

Two men in Kenyan court for ant-smuggling

AFP - 2h ago

Two men appeared in a Nairobi court on Tuesday accused of attempting to smuggle thousands of ants to China, a lucrative …

War fuels fears of new oil crisis

AFP - 3h ago

Attacks on oil infrastructure in the Gulf region and soaring oil prices are raising the spectre of a new oil crisis, …

Germany targets oil firms to prevent wartime price gouging

AFP - 5h ago

Germany said Tuesday its competition watchdog will soon get more powers to target energy firms over concerns they are …

Israel says killed Iran national security chief Larijani

AFP - 1h ago

Israel said Tuesday it had killed Iran's powerful national security chief, Ali Larijani, in what would be a huge blow to …

Strikes shake Tehran as Trump presses allies to help in Mideast war

AFP - 6h ago

Loud explosions shook Tehran Tuesday after a night of bombing, as US President Donald Trump pressed allies to help in …

Israel strikes Tehran, Beirut as Iraq pulled deeper into Mideast war

AFP - 2h ago

Israel launched a wave of strikes on Tehran and Beirut on Tuesday while attacks in Baghdad drew neighbouring Iraq deeper …

Cash handouts, fare hikes as Philippines battles soaring fuel costs

AFP - 13h ago

Hundreds of Philippine tricycle drivers lined up Tuesday in Manila for cash handouts they hope will provide temporary …

Indonesia weighs response to price pressures from Middle East war

AFP - 15h ago

Price pressures fuelled by the Middle East war may push Indonesia's government to reconsider its dogged defence of …

Nvidia chief expects revenue of $1 trillion through 2027

AFP - 8h ago

Nvidia chief Jensen Huang on Monday said he expects the artificial intelligence chip powerhouse to bring in at least a …

Migrant workers bear brunt of Iran attacks in Gulf

AFP - 14h ago

Bangladeshi migrant Ahmad Ali, 55, was doing his regular round delivering drinking water to residents in the United Arab …

Nvidia rides 'claw' craze with AI agent platform

Mar 16 2026

Nvidia announced Monday that it was joining the OpenClaw craze, unveiling tools to bring AI agents -- which can manage …

Securing the Strait of Hormuz: Tactics and threats

Mar 16 2026

President Donald Trump is pressuring allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime choke point that has …

Talks towards international panel to tackle 'inequality emergency' begin at UN

Mar 16 2026

Talks towards creating a new international panel to address extreme wealth disparities, modelled on the United Nations' …

Western allies push back on Trump call for NATO help to reopen Hormuz

Mar 16 2026

NATO allies and other Western nations pushed back Monday on US President Donald Trump's demand that military alliance …

European bank battle heats up as UniCredit swoops for Commerzbank

Mar 16 2026

Italian bank UniCredit on Monday made a 35-billion-euro ($40 billion) takeover offer for Commerzbank, sparking fury from …

EU talks energy as oil price soars

Mar 16 2026

Energy ministers from the EU's 27 nations huddled in Brussels Monday to discuss how to help families and businesses as …

Oil eases, equities rise as market focuses on Strait of Hormuz

Mar 16 2026

Oil prices pulled back and equities rose on Monday as investors focused on the crucial Strait of Hormuz and the head of …

Stagflation risk in US 'quite high': Nobel-winning economist Stiglitz

Mar 16 2026

The war in the Middle East has put the United States at high risk of falling into stagflation, Nobel Prize-winning …

Iran defiant as strikes hit Gulf transport, Trump to speak

Mar 16 2026

Iran said it was ready to take the Middle East war "as far as necessary" as it launched strikes across the region on …

Will Yemen's Houthis join the Mideast war?

Mar 16 2026

With assault rifles, daggers and posters of Iran's late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waving in the air as tens of thousands …

Rise of drone warfare sharpens focus on laser defense

Mar 16 2026

The surge of drone use in conflicts worldwide, seen most vividly in the Ukraine and Middle East wars, will accelerate …

Iran defiant as strikes hit Gulf transport, energy hubs

Mar 16 2026

Iran said it was ready to take the Middle East war "as far as necessary" as it launched strikes across the region on …

Central banks meet as Mideast war fuels inflation fears

Mar 16 2026

Some of the world's biggest central banks meet this week as fears grow the energy shock unleashed by the Middle East war …

Oil eases on hopes for Strait of Hormuz passage

Mar 16 2026

Oil prices eased on Monday as investors balanced hopes for the crucial Strait of Hormuz reopening with concerns over …

EU wants to tap citizens' savings. Easier said than done

Mar 16 2026

The idea sounds simple: tap trillions of euros of EU citizens' savings to unlock capital for European companies through …

Indonesia firms in palm oil fraud probe supplied fuel majors

Mar 16 2026

Indonesian companies targeted in a palm oil fraud probe supplied European firms including Italian energy giant Eni and …

Italian bank UniCredit makes bid for Germany's Commerzbank

Mar 16 2026

Italian bank UniCredit on Monday made a 35-billion-euro ($40 billion) takeover offer for Commerzbank, a move likely to …

Oil rises further above $100, most Asian stocks fall as Iran war rages

Mar 16 2026

Oil prices jumped further above $100 Monday and Asian stocks mostly fell as the Iran war moved into a third week with …

Israel announces Lebanon ground assault against Hezbollah

Mar 16 2026

Israel said Monday it had launched ground operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon while US President Donald Trump piled …

AI to drive growth despite geopolitics, Taiwan's Foxconn says

Mar 16 2026

Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn on Monday said it expected the booming market for artificial intelligence servers to drive …

Oil rises further above $100, stocks mixed as Iran war rages

Mar 16 2026

Oil prices rose further above $100 a barrel Monday and stocks fluctuated as the Iran war moved into a third week with …

Oil hovers around $100, stocks mixed as Iran war rages

Mar 16 2026

Oil prices hovered around $100 a barrel Monday and stocks fluctuated as the Iran war moved into a third week with both …

Strait of Hormuz forms part of front line in Mideast war

Mar 15 2026

Attacks targeting commercial vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz have put the blockaded waterway on the front line …

Iran warns against wider war as Trump asks allies to escort ships

Mar 15 2026

Iran on Sunday warned countries against getting involved in its war with the United States and Israel, after President …

Trump says US not ready to agree deal to end Iran war

Mar 15 2026

Donald Trump warned that he is not ready to seek a deal to end the war with Iran, as US ally Israel launched a new wave …

Trump urges other nations' warships to protect Gulf oil route

Mar 15 2026

US President Donald Trump called for other nations' warships to help protect world oil supplies passing through the …

'Dubai is safe': UAE pushes to contain fallout from Iran onslaught

Mar 15 2026

Dubai is scrambling to preserve its image as a safe haven despite Iran's onslaught, with influencers rallying behind the …

US Fed expected to hold rates steady as Iran war roils outlook

Mar 15 2026

US Federal Reserve policymakers are expected to leave interest rates unchanged at their meeting next week, as the …

Who covers AI business blunders? Some insurers cautiously step up

Mar 15 2026

As more businesses trust artificial intelligence "agents" to independently grow their revenues, some insurance firms are …

Trump seeks global backing to secure vital Gulf oil route

Mar 14 2026

US President Donald Trump urged other nations to help secure a vital shipping lane choked off by the war with Iran that …

Trump urges world powers to secure Iran shipping lane

Mar 14 2026

US President Donald Trump urged other nations to help secure a vital shipping lane choked off by the war with Iran that …

Trump says other countries 'must take care' of Hormuz

Mar 14 2026

US President Donald Trump on Saturday said countries that rely on oil carried through the Hormuz strait should take …

'Normal, but not really': Iraqis try to carry on as missiles fly

Mar 14 2026

Hours before strikes hit Iraq's capital, crowds milled in central Baghdad to the sound not of missiles but clinking …

Israel says Iran war entering 'decisive phase'

Mar 14 2026

Israel said the war against Iran was entering its "decisive phase" on Saturday, as explosions rocked cities across the …

US embassy in Iraq hit as Mideast War enters third week

Mar 14 2026

Explosions rocked cities across the Middle East on Saturday as the US embassy in Baghdad was hit by a drone strike and …

Middle East turmoil revives Norway push for Arctic drilling

Mar 14 2026

Already the continent's biggest single supplier of natural gas since Russia invaded Ukraine, Norway is hoping to use the …

Iran, US threaten attacks on oil facilities

Mar 14 2026

Iran threatened Saturday to reduce US-linked oil facilities to "a pile of ashes" as the two-week-old Middle East war …

Trump, Xi prepare to meet amid Iran war, uncertain goals

Mar 14 2026

Just over two weeks before President Donald Trump is due to meet his counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing, Chinese …

Trump 'has fun' buying shoes for cabinet members

Mar 13 2026

US President Donald Trump confirmed Friday that he had bought several members of his cabinet the same shoes from his …

Oil stays above $100, stocks slide tracking Mideast war

Mar 13 2026

Oil prices stayed over $100 per barrel Friday while stock markets slid, with no end in sight to disruption in crude …

Democrats accuse Trump of aiding Russia with sanctions relief

Mar 13 2026

Democrats accused US President Donald Trump on Friday of weakening pressure on Russia by easing oil sanctions amid the …

US federal judge quashes subpoenas in Fed chair investigation

Mar 13 2026

A US federal judge has quashed subpoenas issued to the Federal Reserve as part of an investigation that Fed chair Jerome …

UK govt warns petrol retailers against 'unfair practices' during Iran war

Mar 13 2026

Britain's energy minister warned petrol retailers Friday that the government would not tolerate "unfair practices" amid …

War has halted Gulf oil flow -- and restarting it won't be easy

Mar 13 2026

The war in the Middle East has largely paralysed the Gulf region's crucial oil industry, which has been hit by attacks …

Mideast war cuts Hormuz strait transit to 77 ships: maritime data firm

Mar 13 2026

Only 77 ships have so far crossed the Strait of Hormuz in March as the Mideast war disrupts one of the world's most …

How will US oil sanctions waiver help Russia?

Mar 13 2026

The United States has eased some restrictions on Russia's oil sales as it tries to stabilise global energy markets, …

Airport workers miss pay as US government shutdown hits one month

Mar 13 2026

US airport security officers missed their first full paycheck Friday as a partial funding shutdown of the government …

Senegal to take back assets of phosphate giant ICS

Mar 13 2026

Senegal's government said on Friday it would take back all the assets of ICS -- one of Africa's biggest phosphate …

Global shipping industry caught in storm of war

Mar 13 2026

For anyone in the import business, the economic risks from the war in the Middle East arrive by sea -- and that goes for …

Iran defiant, US vows even heavier bombing

Mar 13 2026

Iranian officials led a pro-government rally as explosions rocked Tehran on Friday, while the US vowed to intensify its …

Why is the dollar profiting from Middle East war?

Mar 13 2026

The surge in energy prices triggered by the conflict in the Middle East has significantly strengthened the dollar, …

US economic growth sharply lower than estimated in fourth quarter

Mar 13 2026

The US economy grew at a significantly slower pace than initially estimated for the final months of 2025, government …

Mideast war plunges Germany's energy-hungry industry into crisis

Mar 13 2026

Germany's energy-hungry industries are sounding the alarm about the devastating impacts of the Middle East war as …

Dubai's low-paid workers on edge as Mideast war hits tourism

Mar 13 2026

For thousands of workers in Dubai's tourism sector, the Middle East war has brought business to a standstill -- leaving …

Oil dips under $100, stocks back in green tracking Mideast war

Mar 13 2026

Oil dipped under $100 Friday, but remained far above pre-Mideast war levels with no end in sight to the disruption in …

US Fed's preferred inflation gauge edges down

Mar 13 2026

The US Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge came in slightly lower than expected in January, registering 2.8 …

Deadly blast rocks Iran as leaders rally in show of defiance

Mar 13 2026

Deadly explosions rocked Tehran close to a pro-government rally attended by top officials Friday, as Israel and Iran …

Oil dips under $100, stocks fall tracking Mideast war developments

Mar 13 2026

Oil dipped under $100 Friday, but remained far above pre-Mideast war levels with no end in sight to disrupted crude …

Deadly blast rocks Iran as leaders attend rally in show of defiance

Mar 13 2026

Deadly explosions rocked Tehran close to a pro-government rally attended by top officials on Friday, as Israel and Iran …

Moscow pushes US to ease more oil sanctions

Mar 13 2026

Moscow on Friday urged the United States to lift more sanctions on its oil exports to stabilise the global energy …

Oil holds above $100, stocks fall as Khamenei targets Hormuz

Mar 13 2026

Oil prices held gains above $100 Friday and most equity markets dropped after Iran's leader called for the blocking of …

South Sudan models dominate global catwalks but visas a problem

Mar 13 2026

Heels click on cracked paving stones as fantastically long-limbed men and women practice moves they hope will whisk them …

China says vice premier to leave Saturday for US economic talks in France

Mar 13 2026

China's top economic official will leave on Saturday for talks with his US counterpart in France, Beijing said, less …

South Africa's livestock farmers reel from foot-and-mouth disaster

Mar 13 2026

Pointing at a calf lying motionless in a green field in South Africa's Eastern Cape province, farmer Igsahn Felix let …

Moscow piles pressure on US over oil sanctions

Mar 13 2026

Moscow said on Friday that the global energy market "cannot remain stable" without its oil, piling pressure on …

Singapore turns tide in evolving fight against scams

Mar 13 2026

Building his cryptocurrency holdings over eight years and helping out defrauded traders, Singaporean investor Mark Koh …

Takaichi to be 'candid' with Trump as war hurts Japan

Mar 13 2026

Japan is hurting from the Iran war ahead of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's visit to Washington next week. She has …

Oil holds above $100 and stocks fall as Khamenei targets Hormuz

Mar 13 2026

Oil prices held around $100 Friday and most equity markets dropped after Iran's leader called for the blocking of the …

With new ships, Canada aims to be 'icebreaking superpower'

Mar 13 2026

At a massive shipyard in North Vancouver, Canadian workers grind metal beams for a powerful new icebreaker crucial to …

AI offers hope for young filmmakers dreaming of an Oscar

Mar 13 2026

Studying at the film school where Oscar-nominated "Sinners" director Ryan Coogler honed his craft, SiJia Zheng dreams of …

US jury to begin deliberations in social media addiction trial

Mar 12 2026

Jury deliberations are set to begin Friday in a landmark social media addiction trial accusing Meta and YouTube of …

Italian prosecutors seek trial for Amazon over tax evasion

Mar 12 2026

Milan prosecutors have requested a criminal trial for Amazon and four of its executives over alleged tax fraud worth …

Oil surges, stocks retreat on fears of prolonged Iran war

Mar 12 2026

Oil prices jumped Thursday with Brent crude settling above $100 a barrel for the first time since August 2022, as Iran …

Dating app Tinder dabbles with AI matchmaking

Mar 12 2026

Tinder said Thursday that it is testing a "Chemistry" option that uses artificial intelligence to help with matchmaking …

Top US, China economy officials to meet for talks in Paris

Mar 12 2026

Top economic officials from the United States and China are set to convene in Paris, the Treasury Department said …

The Chinese cable that could trip up Chile's new leader

Mar 12 2026

Chile's new president Jose Antonio Kast faces a tough choice in his first weeks in office.

Oil tops $100 as Iran vows to keep Hormuz closed

Mar 12 2026

Oil prices soared above $100 and stock markets extended losses as Iran's new supreme leader ordered the Strait of Hormuz …

New Iranian leader vows revenge, keeps oil shipping route shut

Mar 12 2026

Iran's new supreme leader ordered his forces to keep the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane shut on Thursday, as …

US military 'not ready' to escort tankers through Hormuz Strait: energy secretary

Mar 12 2026

The US military is currently "not ready" to escort tankers through the critical Strait of Hormuz because all its assets …

New Iranian supreme leader calls for defiance, keeps key waterway shut

Mar 12 2026

Iran's new supreme leader ordered the vital Strait of Hormuz oil shipping lane to remain closed on Thursday, while US …

Lufthansa flights axed as pilots walk out

Mar 12 2026

Lufthansa said about half its flights were cancelled Thursday as pilots from the German airline kicked off a two-day …

Oil tops $100 as fresh Iran attacks offset stockpiles release

Mar 12 2026

Oil prices soared Thursday, briefly trading above $100, and stock markets extended losses as fresh attacks against Gulf …

BMW profit holds up despite Trump tariffs, China woes

Mar 12 2026

German carmaker BMW reported solid profit Thursday despite US tariffs and tough competition in China -- delivering a far …

WWII leader Churchill to be removed from UK banknotes

Mar 12 2026

World War II leader Winston Churchill is to be dropped from the UK £5 banknote in favour of a nature scene, sparking …