Iris Barker
Business & Finance
Meta settles class action lawsuit alleging harm to teens, pays $16.7 billion
Meta Platforms has come to a settlement regarding a class action lawsuit filed by 48 states alleging the company's wrongdoing towards underage users.
Published on August 26, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
Volkswagen union warns of possible job cuts of up to 140,000
Union representatives caution that the intended restructuring at Volkswagen Group (VW) might impact as many as 140,000 jobs, according to Bloomberg.
Published on August 26, 2026
By Iris Barker
Science & Technology
Meta to launch general-purpose AI agent Hatch in coming weeks
Meta is set to roll out its consumer-oriented AI agent platform, Hatch, in the near future, as reported by The Information, referencing internal corporate documents. Sources informed the publication that…
Published on August 26, 2026
By Iris Barker
World & Politics
Trump extends trade embargo against Cuba for another year
"I am prolonging this authority regarding Cuba for one year, until September 14, 2027," Trump said in a memorandum released on the US Federal Register site.
Published on August 24, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
TotalEnergies continues to ship oil through the Strait of Hormuz
French TotalEnergies is still transporting oil via tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, CEO Patrick Pouyanné stated at an energy conference in Norway, as reported by Reuters.
Published on August 24, 2026
By Iris Barker
Economics
S&P Global Energy predicts ten-year decline in refinery capacity in Europe and the US
According to the Financial Times, citing a forecast from S&P Global Energy experts, oil refining capacity in Europe and the US is expected to decrease over the next ten years,…
Published on August 20, 2026
By Iris Barker
Economics
Bundesbank expects slowdown in German GDP growth due to the low Rhine
Experts from Bundesbank anticipate that significantly reduced water levels in German rivers, especially the Rhine, caused by the recent heat wave, are likely to restrict the nation's GDP growth in…
Published on August 20, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
Amazon to deliver packages via drone in nearly 500 US cities by the end of the year
Amazon.com Inc. aims to greatly enhance its drone delivery service by year’s end, making it available in almost 500 areas throughout the United States.
Published on August 20, 2026
By Iris Barker
Economics
US grants India permission to invest in Venezuelan oil production
The US has issued a license to India's state-run oil and gas firm ONGC to invest in Venezuela's oil sector. This will alleviate the sanctions constraints that had earlier restricted…
Published on August 20, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
Saudi Aramco and Maaden to create mining joint venture
Saudi Aramco, the state oil company of Saudi Arabia, and Maaden (the Saudi Arabian Mining Co.), have reached an agreement to create a joint venture focused on metals exploration and…
Published on August 18, 2026
By Iris Barker
World & Politics
The US to demand its partners define their position in the AI race
The US has presented an ultimatum to 35 nations to clarify their stance in the artificial intelligence (AI) competition and avoid joining conflicting alliances, according to Reuters, referencing a statement…
Published on August 18, 2026
By Iris Barker
Economics
People’s Bank of China expands the list of authorized institutions for digital yuan operations
The People's Bank of China (PBOC) has included eight additional banks in the list of approved entities for digital yuan transactions, increasing the total to 30.
Published on August 17, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
Berkshire Hathaway increases stake in Alphabet, dumps Constellation Brands
Warren Buffett's investment firm, Berkshire Hathaway, significantly raised its ownership in Alphabet Inc. (Google's parent company) during the second quarter, as revealed by documents submitted to the US Securities and…
Published on August 17, 2026
By Iris Barker
World & Politics
India is considering building two oil storage facilities for strategic reserve
Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd. (ISPRL), owned by the state, finished feasibility studies for building two strategic reserve oil storage facilities in Bina (Madhya Pradesh) and Bikaner (Rajasthan), according to…
Published on August 14, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
Anthropic investors expect $2 trillion IPO valuation
Present Anthropic investors anticipate that the AI firm will reach a valuation of $2 trillion or greater during its IPO in October this year, as reported by the Financial Times.
Published on August 14, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
Hedge fund Trian Fund Management is preparing a bid for Wendy’s restaurant chain
The major shareholder in the American fast-food company Wendy's Co., the hedge fund Trian Fund Management, led by famous investor Nelson Peltz, is laying the foundation for a buyout of…
Published on August 13, 2026
By Iris Barker
Economics
France expects multi-billion-euro drought losses
In France, the total damage from this summer's drought, encompassing both direct and indirect losses, may reach €10 to €15 billion, announced Ecological Transition Minister Monique Barbut at a crisis…
Published on August 13, 2026
By Iris Barker
Science & Technology
Global shipments of humanoid robots grow 3.7-fold in the first half 2026
Worldwide deliveries of humanoid robots surged over 3.7 times in the initial half of 2026, totaling 19,100 units, up from 5,100 units during January-June of the previous year, as indicated…
Published on August 11, 2026
By Iris Barker
World & Politics
Meteorological services warn of new heat wave in Europe
Unusually high temperatures are expected to arrive in France and the UK beginning Tuesday, according to the Associated Press on Monday, referencing the French weather agency Météo-France.
Published on August 11, 2026
By Iris Barker
World & Politics
CNBC: Bank of America spends over $250 million annually on weight-loss medications for employees
Bank of America Corp., the second-largest U.S. bank by assets, allocates more than $250 million each year on GLP-1-based weight-loss drugs for its employees, Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan stated…
Published on August 10, 2026
By Iris Barker
Economics
Rystad analysts report China’s ambition to develop coal-to-gas industry
China is establishing the only large-scale coal-to-gas (CTG) industry globally, considering it a strategic safeguard against supply interruptions due to geopolitical strains. A report by Rystad Energy indicates that no…
Published on August 10, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
Meta ordered to pay over $900 million for harm to children caused by social media
A judge in New Mexico has instructed Meta Platforms to pay over $900 million after a jury determined it did not safeguard underage users from sexually explicit content and facilitated…
Published on August 6, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
Apollo investment firm acquires EasyJet, values the airline at $7.7 billion
Apollo Global Management, a private equity fund, has struck a deal to buy British airline easyJet Plc, estimating its worth at £5.7 billion ($7.7 billion).
Published on August 6, 2026
By Iris Barker
World & Politics
UN predicts food shortages for 50 million people worldwide due to El Niño
The severe heatwave linked to the El Niño phenomenon may drive around 50 million individuals globally to the edge of starvation, according to The Guardian.
Published on August 5, 2026
By Iris Barker
Economics
The Netherlands officially endorse Knot’s candidacy for ECB President
According to Bloomberg, citing a spokesperson from the Dutch Ministry of Finance, Dutch officials have supported Klaas Knot's bid for the presidency of the European Central Bank (ECB) scheduled for…
Published on August 5, 2026
By Iris Barker
Economics
Saudi Aramco to reach pre-conflict production levels in days with Hormuz reopening
Should the conditions in the Strait of Hormuz stabilize, Saudi Aramco may resume production levels to those seen before the conflict in just a few days, stated company CEO Amin…
Published on August 5, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
BP completes sale of German refinery to European Klesch Group
BP plc has finalized the sale of its Gelsenkirchen refinery in Germany along with related businesses to the independent European oil refining firm Klesch Group.
Published on August 5, 2026
By Iris Barker
Economics
Hackers steal $86 million worth of Bitcoin from offline crypto wallets
Hackers have targeted Coldcard hardware crypto wallets and have reportedly stolen around $86 million in Bitcoin, according to Bloomberg, referencing information from Galaxy Research.
Published on August 3, 2026
By Iris Barker
Economics
Japan may have spent $34 billion on interventions to support the yen on July 31
According to Bloomberg's analysis of the Bank of Japan's accounts, Japan probably expended around 5.3 trillion yen ($34 billion) on currency support interventions last Friday, July 31.
Published on August 3, 2026
By Iris Barker
World & Politics
EU launches a call for tenders for AI gigafactories
On Thursday, the European Commission (EC) issued a call for bids for the establishment of seven AI gigafactories throughout Europe, aiming to enhance European technological independence and transform the continent…
Published on July 30, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
British American Tobacco’s first-half net profit loses nearly 30% despite revenue growth of 1.4%
British American Tobacco (BAT) announced a significant drop in its net profit during the first half of 2026, even though there was a small rise in revenue.
Published on July 30, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
Kia to invest $649 million in electric vehicle production in Mexico
Kia, the South Korean automaker, will allocate $649 million in Mexico, as revealed by Horacio Chavez, Managing Director of the firm's Mexican branch, at a press event alongside Mexican President…
Published on July 30, 2026
By Iris Barker
World & Politics
British hospitals and clinics stop taking blood tests due to heat
British clinics and medical centers are compelled to cancel blood tests because of the summer heat. The cause is limitations on air conditioning, implemented as a part of the nation's…
Published on July 30, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
Johnson & Johnson to pay $5.5 billion to settle talc-related lawsuits
American healthcare company Johnson & Johnson has finalized a deal to resolve the outstanding lawsuits connected to the use of talc in its products.
Published on July 29, 2026
By Iris Barker
Economics
WoodMac expects reserves in EU underground gas storage facilities to reach 75% max by the start of winter
By November 1, 2026, gas reserves in European underground storages could only hit 75% under an ideal "best-case scenario," provided Qatar can operate its remaining liquefaction trains at full capacity…
Published on July 29, 2026
By Iris Barker
World & Politics
Over 170,000 residents in Spain have either evacuated or restricted their movements due to wildfires
According to the newspaper ABC, citing government estimates, over 170,000 residents in Spain have been compelled to evacuate or limit their movements because of wildfires spreading in recent days.
Published on July 27, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
US AI developers are spending record amounts on lobbying
Artificial intelligence firms in the US are investing unprecedented sums in lobbying efforts in Washington, aiming to curb regulation and influence guidelines for data centers and the assessment of sophisticated…
Published on July 27, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
Zara founder buys Paris office building for €800 million
Billionaire Amancio Ortega, the founder of Inditex SA, one of the biggest clothing retailers globally, has purchased an office building in Paris, marking the largest office real estate deal in…
Published on July 27, 2026
By Iris Barker
World & Politics
Iraqi authorities intend to begin oil exports via Syria
The Iraqi government has sanctioned a project to export Iraqi oil through Syria to the Mediterranean, The National reported on Sunday.
Published on July 27, 2026
By Iris Barker
Economics
Lagarde has no plans to leave the ECB until 2027
Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), intends to remain in her position until at least the year's conclusion.
Published on July 23, 2026
By Iris Barker
Economics
British economy loses 1.5 billion from the June heatwave
According to a study based on a survey of almost 2,000 citizens, the British economy has incurred losses of £1.15 billion ($1.5 billion) due to the unprecedented heatwave in June.
Published on July 23, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
Apple to launch Apple Upgrade device rental program with Klarna
Apple Inc., based in the US, intends to introduce the Apple Upgrade device rental program on July 28, according to Bloomberg, which cites insiders.
Published on July 22, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
Samsung to invest up to €1 billion in French AI startup Mistral
Samsung is negotiating to invest in Mistral, a French AI startup, according to the Financial Times (FT), which cites sources.
Published on July 22, 2026
By Iris Barker
Economics
Analysts call Australian stock markets haven from AI stock volatility
Australia's stock market has emerged as a "safe haven" due to fluctuations in Asian markets associated with artificial intelligence, according to Bloomberg, referencing trading data and analysts.
Published on July 22, 2026
By Iris Barker
World & Politics
Axios: Mediators offer US and Iran 10-day ceasefire
According to Axios, which cites two regional sources involved in the discussions, Qatar, Egypt, Pakistan, and other mediators have suggested a 10-day ceasefire to both the US and Iran.
Published on July 22, 2026
By Iris Barker
World & Politics
Trump imposes additional 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian goods
US President Donald Trump has issued a proclamation that implements a further 50% tariff on various imports from Canada, according to the White House.
Published on July 20, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
EC fines AliExpress record €550 million for selling counterfeit goods
The European Commission imposed a €550 million fine on AliExpress, an online retail site owned by Chinese tech leader Alibaba Group Holding, for offering unsafe and counterfeit items.
Published on July 20, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
Nvidia’s Chinese supplier Innolight to raise up to $8 billion in Hong Kong IPO
Chinese optical transceiver manufacturer Zhongji Innolight has been granted approval by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) to go public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, according to a company…
Published on July 20, 2026
By Iris Barker
Business & Finance
World’s largest mining company cuts copper production by 3% in fiscal year 2026
BHP, the largest mining firm globally, decreased copper output by 3% for the fiscal year closing June 30, 2026.
Published on July 16, 2026
By Iris Barker
Economics
Global smartphone shipments fall by 6.7% in Q2
Worldwide smartphone shipments in Q2 2026 dropped by 6.7% compared to the previous year, totaling 277.5 million units, as per initial estimates from the International Data Corporation (IDC). This signifies…
Published on July 16, 2026
By Iris Barker
