Microsoft has defended its proposal to buy Activision Blizzard – the maker of Call of Duty and Candy Crush – at an EU competitions hearing. Microsoft says it believes the…
Category: Business News
Australia: Qantas’ half-year profits shoot above A$1.4bn
Qantas has announced half-year profits of more than A$1.4bn in a dramatic turnaround of the airline’s fortunes since last year. It comes after the company lost more than A$7bn during…
Japan: Toyota and Honda announce biggest pay rises in decades
Japanese motor industry giants Toyota and Honda say they have agreed to give their workers in the country the biggest pay rises in decades. They are the latest firms in…
India: British MPs call BBC Delhi and Mumbai searches ‘intimidation’
British MPs have described searches of the BBC’s offices in India by tax authorities as “intimidation”. Some staff were subjected to overnight questioning when premises in Delhi and Mumbai were…
China: Search and rescue mission launched after coal mine collapses
At least two people have died and more than 50 are missing after a mine collapsed in northern China. President Xi Jinping has ordered a search and rescue mission following…
Italy: Starbucks launches olive oil coffee drinks
The world’s largest coffee chain Starbucks says it is launching a line of olive oil-infused drinks in Italy. Chief executive Howard Schultz says olive oil’s “unexpected, velvety, buttery flavour… enhanced…
USA: Mormon Church fined over claim it hid $32bn of investments
The Mormon Church, officially known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), and its investment firm will pay out $5m (£4.1m) over claims they hid a huge…
South Africa: Johannesburg to build solar farm to avoid power cuts
A provincial government in South Africa plans to spend 1.2bn rand ($66m; £55m) on building a solar farm in order to shield itself from the country’s energy crisis, local media…
Spain: Officials resign after ordering trains that are too wide for tunnels
Two top Spanish transport officials have resigned over a botched order for new commuter trains that cost nearly €260m ($275m; £230m). The trains could not fit into non-standard tunnels in…
USA: Instagram and Facebook to get paid-for verification
Instagram and Facebook users will now be able to pay for a blue tick verification, parent company Meta has announced. Meta Verified will cost $11.99 (£9.96) a month on web,…