Economy / 50

Mercosur sign landmark trade agreement

June 30, 2019

The EU and South American economic bloc Mercosur have clinched a huge trade deal after 20 years of negotiations. Negotiations began on June 28 1999, but have taken a long, torturous path marked by breaks and frustrations, as the countries' different sensitivities and priorities were taken into account.

Trump meets with Kim Jong Un for third time

June 30, 2019

Trump wrote that he wanted to shake Kim's hand and say hello. U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Sunday with North Korea's Kim Jong-un at the Demilitarized Zone separating the North and South, a day after he issued an unprecedented invitation and expressed willingness to cross the border for what would be a history-making photo op.

Ford expands EV Line-up in Europe while announcing job cuts

June 30, 2019

Approximately 12,000 jobs would be affected by this restructuring, both at the Ford-owned and joint venture facilities in Europe by the end of 2020, mainly through voluntary departure programs. But for the moment, Ford does seem confident a slimmer business in Europe can prosper. The move comes as the company closes or sells six plants in Britain, France, Russia and Slovakia this year and next.

Trump criticises Fed chairman Powell for trying to be ‘tough’

June 30, 2019

All three major USA stock indexes ended the session in the red after Powell said the Fed was grappling with whether trade uncertainties and other issues warrant rate cuts. Nevertheless, it must be said that Powell didn't commit to a rate cut. "China trade talks are quite low, so any signs of an improvement could bode well for risk sentiment".

Ranch Flavored Pop-Tarts Leave The Internet Divided

June 30, 2019

Soon, Hidden Valley Ranch heard the hubbub and chose to weigh in, suggesting a collaboration to Pop-Tarts. The tweet from Hidden Valley Ranch and the response from Pop-Tarts created much buzz and many laughs. "Please use your common sense ok thank you have a great day". Pop-Tarts would Pop-Up once more every now and then on the discussion, to bluntly let everyone know it would not be happening, even jokingly telling one user to delete his account after he suggested they "make it happen".

Possible link between dog diets and heart disease unknown

June 30, 2019

In this undated stock photo, a dog is being served dry dog food. Veterinarians were asked to report well-document cases that are suspected of having a link to diet to the FDA. "The FDA is working with the pet food industry to better understand whether changes in ingredients, ingredient sourcing, processing or formulation may have contributed to the development of DCM", the agency says of the industry impact.

G-20 members, without United States, recommit to Paris climate deal

June 29, 2019

According to the leaders' declaration, the G20 economies will "strive to realize free, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, predictable and stable trade and investment environment, and to keep our markets open". The UK's net zero goal was "world-leading", she said as she called on other countries to "raise their ambition and embrace this target". "The global community should go towards multilateralism that advocates cooperation, instead of unilateralism", he said.

Ford cutting 12,000 jobs in Europe in restructuring effort

June 29, 2019

Stuart Rowley, Ford of Europe president said the company was undergoing the most comprehensive redesign in the history of its business in Europe . In its Thursday press release, Ford says that it would be relying on its VW partnership to grow its already substantial share of the European commercial vehicle market.

Trump and Xi Agree to Resume Trade Talks

June 29, 2019

Trump has also pledged to use the face-to-face as an opportunity to raise the issue of two detained Canadians. President Donald Trump meets with China's President Xi Jinping at the start of their bilateral meeting at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka , Japan, June 29, 2019.

Newark airport resumes flights after United Airlines plane makes emergency landing

June 29, 2019

The Federal Aviation Administration said the problem aboard United flight 2098 on an Airbus A320, was linked to a blown tire. LaGuardia Airport's website confirmed that United Airlines flight 2098 for Houston left the NY airport at 7:57 a.m.

Fed Stress Test: 2019 Capital Plan Results Boost Financial Stocks

June 29, 2019

JULY HEAT: Investors are heading into the first week of July closely watching for any developments from trade talks between the US and China. Helped by a buoyant US economy, tax cuts and record profits, the country's biggest banks are ramping up payouts to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.

Chrysler Voyager replaces Pacifica base trims, won't replace Grand Caravan

June 29, 2019

Like the Grand Caravan, the Voyager will be produced alongside the Pacifica at FCA's Windsor, Ontario assembly plant. Chrysler will celebrate the 35th anniversary of its ingenious minivan this model year, which has hauled generations of families since 1985.

Lego owner, investors make offer for Merlin Entertainment

June 29, 2019

Last year Merlin's 120 attractions brought in 67m visitors across 25 countries. A group of investors that includes the owners of toy maker Lego is buying Merlin Entertainment , a British company that operates theme parks like Legoland .

European Union, Mercosur agree to free-trade pact, defying protectionist wave

June 29, 2019

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro said on Twitter that the deal was historic and one of the most important trade agreements of all time. The EU's push away from the United States has seen it start a free trade agreement with Canada and reach agreements with Japan and Mexico and now, after some 40 rounds of talks, a provisional deal with the grouping of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Castles, islands, vineyards: Airbnb launches new ‘Luxe’ accommodation

June 29, 2019

READ NEXT: Royal castles to visit in Europe: From France to Spain, Denmark and more! This includes elevated design standards on a variety of elements, from premium materials & finishes and rare & unique features, to spaces that accommodate groups, highly functional design, chef-grade appliances and the proper amount of bathrooms corresponding to each bedroom.

Despite crisis: Macron sees 'no reason' to alter French stake in Renault

June 29, 2019

His comments appeared to leave open the possibility both of a deeper integration of the 20-year-old Renault-Nissan alliance, which has been shaken by the scandal over its former chief Carlos Ghosn , and tie-ups with other manufacturers. "And we have the will to ensure the stability of these regions". Macron is the second foreign leader after U.S. President Donald Trump to meet the new emperor, who ascended to the throne on May 1 after his father and former Emperor Akihito abdicated at the ...

Huawei shrugs off Verizon patent talks as 'common' business

June 29, 2019

As of the end of 2018, Huawei has been granted 87,805 patents, of which 11,152 are USA patents. The US government seems to be losing its battle to suffocate Huawei as its own companies look for ways to keep doing business with it. The Commerce Department added Huawei to its entity list in May, which sent shockwaves throughout the tech industry. USA chipmakers are still selling millions of dollars of products to Huawei despite the government ban on the sale of American technology to ...

Transat's board accepts Air Canada buyout offer

June 28, 2019

Shares of Transat, which initially dropped 7.4% on news of the deal, pared losses to C$13.33, shortly after midday. Air Canada is buying Transat AT, which includes the Air Transat brand. Altacorp Capital analyst Chris Murray said in a note to clients Thursday that the transaction was "positive for all stakeholders" and will enhance earnings for Air Canada going forward.

Arby's flips popularity of plant-based 'meat' on its head with 'megetable'

June 28, 2019

In response to the meatless burger craze , Arby's has made a decision to come out with its own alternative: meat-based vegetables. It's then sous vide for an hour and rubbed down in a "special carrot marinade" made of dried carrot juice powder.

Counter puts Amazon inside your local Rite Aid

June 28, 2019

The online giant is partnering with Rite Aid to launch " Counter ", dedicated counters in Rite Aid stores where Amazon customers can pick up their purchases. Here's how it works: when shoppers check out, they choose one of the Counter pickup points available in their zip code at their delivery location.

Smirking Trump jokes to Putin: don't meddle in U.S. election

June 28, 2019

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting on Friday with outgoing UK Prime Minister Theresa May on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Japan . With such global dynamics at play, Trump is scheduled to meet Putin on Friday but USA media is not too optimistic about much details from the meeting being put out into public domain.

Feisty Trump sets tone as stormy G20 looms

June 28, 2019

Citing people familiar with the discussions, the Journal reported early Thursday that Beijing is set to insist that Washington lift all $250 billion in tariffs levied on Chinese goods and halt pressure to ramp up imports from the US. Stefan Legge, a trade expert at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, thought it was important that Trump stressed during the interview that his tariffs would be paid "by the Chinese" and bring "billions of dollars" to the United States.

Fisher-Price recalls 71,000 infant inclined-sleeper accessories

June 28, 2019

Fisher-Price has pulled another inclined infant sleeper accessory from the market following the recall of similar products that have been linked to over 30 infant deaths. The inclined sleeper accessory is the only item subject to recall, the news release said , noting that the play yard by itself and other accessories are still okay to use.

Lightyear One solar vehicle prototype revealed

June 28, 2019

A third, final step will be to provide truly sustainable cars that are more affordable to use than the cost of fuel you need to drive a combustion auto. While not blessed with a lot of sun, the Netherlands has produced numerous winners of solar vehicle races held over recent years. The solar panels put an additional charge of up to 12 km/hour.

Apple MacBooks recalled due to fire hazard

June 28, 2019

MacBook Pro owners may want to check the specifications of their computers as some models are a possible fire hazard, Health Canada is warning. The recall involves 432,000 laptops sold in the USA and 26,000 sold in Canada. The recalled MacBook Pros have a screen that measures 15-inches diagonally and were sold between September 2015 through February 2017 in the USA and Canada starting at about $2,000.

Irish Heart Foundation warns against ban on e-cigarettes

June 28, 2019

Around three months back, City Attorney Dennis Herrera asked the firm to justify the reason for holding tobacco distributor license, if it has made a decision to ban tobacco-based products on the premises. This ordinance would not push Juul out of the city, but it would prevent any future e-cigarette companies from being based there. The company has maintained it has taken action to limit kids from using their products and said it intends to continue working with policymakers and ...

Ford to slash 12,000 jobs in Europe by end of 2020

June 28, 2019

Ford's chief executive, Jim Hackett, instigated the cuts to the carmaker's global business, which lost more than $800m (£631m) outside north America previous year. "We have a winning hand in Europe and it's called commercial vehicles ", then-Chief Financial Officer Bob Shanks said at a May 15 Goldman Sachs conference in NY.

Wall Street opens mixed as investors assess latest headlines on trade

June 28, 2019

The S&P 500 opened higher by 5.88 points, or 0.20%, at 2,919.66. According to The Wall Street Journal , Xi will present President Trump with a new set of terms the United States should meet before Beijing is ready to accept a trade deal. The Final Word: It remains to be seen whether the United States and China can finally move past their almost yearlong trade dispute. Ford shares ticked up 0.91% in pre-market trading after announcing it would be cutting 12,000 jobs.

Bitcoin (BTC) Continues Its Rally As Crypto Market Surge Unabatedly

June 28, 2019

However, Bitcoin remained in the eye of the storm as it was the one which once caught all the limelight at one point in time. Bitcoin's price , for instance, languished around US$3,600 just six months ago, down from nearly US$20,500 in December 2017.

Jony Ive leaves Apple to start own design firm

June 28, 2019

Ive became a symbol of continuity, bridging the Jobs and Cook eras. Ive's presence has helped deflect some criticism that the company has lost some of its innovative flair after Jobs' death. The report, which was obtained by AppleInsider , relays that iPhone production for the quarter will likely see a slight bump from 39 million to 40 million units.

Huawei worked on research projects with the China military

June 28, 2019

Bloomberg reported Wednesday that several of the company's workers have collaborated on research projects with "members of various organs of" the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Huawei does not customize products or conduct research for the Chinese military, its chief legal officer said on Thursday after a Bloomberg report was published saying Huawei employees had worked on at least 10 research projects with Chinese armed forces personnel over the past decade.

Teachers Get 15 Percent Off At Target For Back-To-School Shopping

June 28, 2019

The discount applies to all US teachers, including those that work in day care centers, early childhood education, home schooling and more. To verify that you're a teacher Target requires any document that ties your name or email address to an educational system.

Xi trade meeting set for Saturday morning in Osaka: White House

June 28, 2019

Last month, TankerTrackers said on May 16 that it had sighted what was the first confirmed export of crude oil out of Iran since the end of all United States waivers on May 2. The United States has put Huawei, the world's largest maker of telecoms equipment and its second biggest maker of smartphones, on an export blacklist, citing national security issues.

For $170000 You Can Buy Your Very Own Solar Car

June 27, 2019

Lightyear believes it may be possible for owners to drive up to 20,000km in a year in the Lightyear One , with the vehicle able to be self-charged through sunlight alone. Conventional charging is also possible at rates at up to 60 kilowatts. That would be with moderate driving, which is the objective of the 5-seater.

Asian shares turn up on Sino-US trade truce hopes

June 27, 2019

An alternate course as the trade talks resume may be that United States suspends the next round of tariffs on the additional $300 billion of Chinese imports, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. Negotiators have not met since then, and USA and Chinese sources briefed on the state of talks have told Reuters the best-case scenario for the Xi-Trump meeting is to resume negotiations, leaving the two sides still far from an agreement.

AbbVie to buy Botox-maker Allergan in $63 billion deal

June 27, 2019

With Tuesday's deal, AbbVie is having a wager on Allergan beauty products , at the side of the correctly-identified filler Botox and the rotund-freezing procedure CoolSculpting. AbbVie will pay US$188.24 a share in cash and stock, according to a statement, a 45 per cent premium to Allergan's closing price on Monday. One of the main reasons that AbbVie planned to buy Allergan is diversification of its product portfolio.

Huawei says 5G 'business as usual' despite US sanctions

June 27, 2019

To strike back at China, US President Donald Trump chose to go after the best of Chinese businesses, Huawei one of the foremost in all of the country. The company is also focused on smart 5G devices that are easier to operate. Giving example of 5G use cases, Hu said that 5G can make mining safer.

Auto dealership gives away American flags, bibles and shotguns with each purchase

June 27, 2019

Once the background check clears, the customer must also present a bill of sale from the purchase of the vehicle to then get the gun free of charge. The video advertising the offer appeared on Chatom Ford's Facebook page June 19. Colin Ward, general manager of Chatom Ford , told McClatchy the dealership is not authorized to sell firearms. "They're very proud of their country and nearly everybody here likes to hunt".

Facebook CEO says delay in flagging fake Pelosi video was 'execution mistake'

June 27, 2019

Facebook's policy on how to handle false content was put to the test recently when a deepfake video of Mr Zuckerberg was created. Zuckerberg, speaking at a conference in Aspen, Colorado, said the slow response was "an execution mistake on our side".

New Zealand Holds Rate At Record Low; Hints Easing To Support Growth

June 27, 2019

The Reserve Bank's monetary policy committee yesterday held the OCR at 1.5%, which was the pick of all economists polled earlier in the week. "We expect low interest rates and increased government spending to support a lift in economic growth and employment", the Reserve Bank stated.

Possible We May Make Trade Deal With China: Donald Trump

June 27, 2019

Mr Xi comes to Osaka with a more vulnerable economy behind him. "My Plan B with China is to take in billions and billions of dollars a month and we'll do less and less business with them", Trump said Wednesday during an interview with Fox Business's Maria Bartiromo.

Google Maps leads dozens of drivers into muddy open field, stranding them

June 27, 2019

Google has been testing the " Stay Safer " feature for some time, and now it has finally arrived for users in India. It will alert users when taxis, auto-rickshaws, and other public transport vehicles go off-route. In case the driver deviates from the designated drop route for 500 metres, your phone would buzz with a prominent notification - informing you about the deviation and you can promptly alert the cab-hailing service, near and dear ones, or even cops.

Delta, JetBlue offering waivers for Dominican Republic flights after U.S. deaths

June 27, 2019

JetBlue is also offering similar options. Adkins' death comes as a rash of USA tourist deaths in the Dominican Republic have been reported across the Caribbean island nation. However, the recent deaths of three Americans in a five-day span at neighboring resorts earlier this month, which the FBI is investigating, have prompted a media frenzy.

Petersburg Become Cheaper for Expats, Ranking Says

June 27, 2019

The survey includes over 500 cities throughout the world; this year's ranking includes 209 cities across five continents and measures the comparative cost of more than 200 items in each location, including housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods, and entertainment.

Palestinians Resist Kushner's Middle East Workshop as Business Leaders Gather in Bahrain

June 27, 2019

Jordan and Egypt , the only two Arab nations to have signed peace deals with Israel, were attending but only sent mid-level officials. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has endured for over half a century, through violent eruptions and pushes for peace.

US Bars Exports to Chinese Supercomputer Developers

June 27, 2019

The US has now made its latest move to push ahead in the country's ongoing tech cold war with China. The primary supercomputer firms on the list are the Wuxi Jiangnan Institute of Computing Technology and Sugon . Sugon is a major provider of data centers and supercomputers in China, and one of the leading computer systems manufacturers in the world. The US government has already banned American companies from conducting business with Chinese electronics company Huawei , citing the firm ...

France's Carrefour sells 80% of its Chinese business to Suning.com

June 27, 2019

Suning .com is one of China's largest, non-governmental retailers. German retailer Metro AG, which has 93 stores in China, is also looking to sell its unit in China amid a wider company restructuring, according to Reuters . Especially Chinese companies such as Alibaba subsidiary TMall and JD.com benefit from this. "It's nearly like a second home market, so the question is do you have enough conviction and do you have enough resources to win in China", Jonathan Cheng, head of Bain's ...

BlackBerry reports revenue up after purchase of USA cyber security company

June 27, 2019

Earlier Wednesday, BlackBerry reported US$247 million in first quarter revenue, up from US$213 million in the same quarter a year ago. It was the first BlackBerry financial report to include a full quarter of contributions from Cylance , a California-based artificial intelligence and cyber security company, which was acquired in February for US$1.4 billion.

China trade war: Trump threatens additional tariffs if deal can not be made

June 27, 2019

And if there is no deal, Mr Trump said he plans to reduce business with China . FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks before signing an executive order aimed at requiring hospitals to be more transparent about prices before charging patients for healthcare services, at the White House in Washington , U.S.

Amazon Prime Day 2019 Date and Kitchen Deals to Shop Now

June 27, 2019

In fact, Amazon already said that it's offering an early deal on the Toshiba HD 43-Inch Fire TV Edition Smart TV to whet your appetite. If you do find a good deal, buying from Target could be the better option if you need your purchase ASAP and have a store near you.

Information