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How many cargo ships are passing Hormuz strait?
Just a trickle of cargo ships and tankers has made it through the Strait of Hormuz since Iranian forces blocked the crucial trade route in the Middle East war.
Oil surges as Iran gas facilities hit, stocks slide
Oil prices surged Wednesday following a strike on one of Iran's gas facilities that raised the spectre of a further escalation of attacks on energy infrastructure in the Gulf region.
Chilean GDP beats 2025 forecast despite mining dip
Chile's GDP beat expectations for 2025 thanks to a trade and investment boost which helped offset a weaker mining sector, the country's central bank said Wednesday.
Global music market grows, calls for AI compensation: industry body
The global music industry generated $31.7 billion last year, driven by online streaming, industry body IFPI said Wednesday, as it called on the sector to ensure AI-generated content compensates musicians.
Troubled waters: Thai fishermen marooned by rising fuel costs
With his belongings stuffed into a plastic bag, Thai fisherman Narongsak Kongsuk heads home, far from the sea.
Why convoys cannot fully protect oil tankers from Iran attacks
The Israeli-US war on Iran has provoked a reaction from Tehran that has effectively choked a large chunk of the world's oil supply, and untangling the blockage will take a regional effort beyond what is currently being proposed, experts have told AFP.
Brussels touts 'EU Inc.' company status to lure start-ups
The EU unveiled Wednesday a scheme to make it much easier for innovative start-ups to launch and grow across the 27-nation bloc, as part of a push to help Europe keep up with US and Chinese economic rivals.
Oil wavers, stocks rise as attention turns to US Fed
Stocks markets climbed and oil prices wavered on Wednesday, as traders were reassured by a partial resumption of Iraq's crude exports and turned their focus to upcoming central bank decisions.
China tech giant Tencent bets on AI agents
Tencent wants to bring artificial intelligence agents into its WeChat social media app, the Chinese tech firm's president said on Wednesday, a move that could change how hundreds of millions of users interact with the platform in the Asian nation and beyond.
Deadly strikes across Mideast as Iran vows revenge on slain security chief
Iran vowed revenge as it prepared the funeral for its security chief Ali Larijani on Wednesday, firing off a wave of missiles against Israel while also reporting fresh Israeli-US strikes across the Islamic Republic.
Brussels to unveil 'EU Inc' pan-European company status
Entrepreneurs will be able to create pan-European companies under new plans to be unveiled Wednesday, which the EU executive says will make it less of a headache to do business across the bloc.
Brazil starts to restrict minors' access to social media
Brazil began implementing new measures on Tuesday to restrict minors' access to social media and prevent them from viewing violent or illegal content.
Cuba vows 'unbreakable resistance' as US pressure mounts
Cuba's leader on Tuesday said the US would face "unbreakable resistance" if it tries to take over the impoverished island nation, as communist authorities scrambled to fix a nationwide electricity blackout.
US pounds near key strait as Iran vows to avenge death
The United States said it pounded Iranian missile sites near the key Strait of Hormuz as the Islamic republic fired missiles Wednesday around the region, vowing to avenge the killing of its powerful security chief.
US Fed expected to hold rates steady as Iran war's shockwaves ripple
US Federal Reserve policymakers are expected to leave interest rates unchanged Wednesday, as the US-Israel war on Iran sends shock waves through oil markets and supply chains, while economic data has begun to show weakness.
Nvidia says restarting production of China-bound chips
Nvidia chief Jensen Huang on Tuesday said the AI technology powerhouse is restarting production of its high-performance chips for clients in China.
US airlines still see strong demand as jet fuel worries loom
US carriers will face tough challenges in the months ahead if jet fuel prices stay high, but for now consumers are still booking trips in numbers, airline CEOs said Tuesday.
Leftist New York mayor under pressure on Irish unity question
New York's leftist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, was facing pressure Tuesday over his position on Irish unification as he helped lead the city's St. Patrick's Day parade.
Iran vets friendly ships for Hormuz passage: trackers
Iran is selecting ships from friendly countries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial trade waterway cut off by the Middle East war, data trackers indicated Tuesday.
Ships in Gulf risk shortages on board, industry warns
Thousands of seafarers face dwindling supplies of fuel and water as they wait on board, stranded by the Middle East war, a key shipping body warned Tuesday as it urged governments to help get maritime traffic flowing again.
US Fed expected to keep rates steady as Iran war impact looms
The US Federal Reserve opened its two-day meeting on Tuesday with policymakers expected to keep interest rates unchanged as they digest weak economic data and gauge the economic effects of the Iran war.
Kerr 'frustrated' at six-figure sum owed to him by Johnson's failed Grand Slam Track
Britain's Josh Kerr is "frustrated" by the six-figure sum owed to him by US athletics great Michael Johnson's failed Grand Slam Track project but still believes those behind it are "good people" who got themselves in a "horrible situation".
Oil prices climb as fresh strikes target infrastructure
Oil prices rose again Tuesday as Iran launched fresh attacks on crude-producing neighbours, while stock markets were higher ahead of key central bank meetings.
Germany targets oil firms to prevent wartime price gouging
Germany said Tuesday its competition watchdog will soon get more powers to target energy firms over concerns they are unfairly hiking petrol prices to profit from the wartime oil shock.
EU to help reopen blocked oil pipeline in Ukraine
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday the bloc will help reopen a damaged pipeline that pumps Russian oil through Ukraine to Hungary -- after Budapest accused Kyiv of stalling on repairs in an escalating row.
Cash handouts, fare hikes as Philippines battles soaring fuel costs
Hundreds of Philippine tricycle drivers lined up Tuesday in Manila for cash handouts they hope will provide temporary relief from a war-driven surge in fuel prices that has left the country scrambling for short-term answers.
Indonesia weighs response to price pressures from Middle East war
Price pressures fuelled by the Middle East war may push Indonesia's government to reconsider its dogged defence of energy subsidies and a costly meals scheme close to the heart of President Prabowo Subianto, analysts say.
In Hollywood, AI's no match for creativity, say top executives
Artificial intelligence is transforming Hollywood at a pace that has sent shockwaves through creative industries, but human creativity will always prevail, a leading executive at the cutting edge of that change told AFP.
Migrant workers bear brunt of Iran attacks in Gulf
Bangladeshi migrant Ahmad Ali, 55, was doing his regular round delivering drinking water to residents in the United Arab Emirates when Iran launched its first retaliatory attacks against Gulf countries.
Trump vows to 'take' Cuba as island reels from oil embargo
US President Donald Trump vowed Monday to "take" Cuba as the communist island plunged into darkness under a total power blackout linked to a crippling oil embargo imposed by Washington.
Equities rise on oil easing, with focus on Iran war and central banks
Oil prices retreated and equities rose Monday as investors remained focused on the Strait of Hormuz, with US allies pushing back against President Donald Trump's demands to help reopen the key waterway to oil and natural gas tankers.
Nvidia rides 'claw' craze with AI agent platform
Nvidia announced Monday that it was joining the OpenClaw craze, unveiling tools to bring AI agents -- which can manage your email, files and calendar while you sleep -- into the corporate world.