BUSINESS

Austria's highly controversial former foreign minister Karin Kneissl -- who now lives in Russia -- told AFP she feels slandered as Vienna reels from an unfolding Russian spying scandal.

Asian markets swung Wednesday following a tech-led bounce on Wall Street as investors prepare for the release of crucial US inflation data, while the yen fell back towards levels that have stirred intervention warnings from Japanese officials.

German auto giant Volkswagen will invest $5 billion in US electric vehicle maker Rivian and create a joint venture expected to produce technology used by both automakers, the companies announced Tuesday.

The Google-owned Waymo robotaxi service on Tuesday became available to anyone in San Francisco interested in hailing a driverless ride.

Some of the world's major music labels are suing music generation services Suno and Udio, accusing the startups of violating the copyrights of top artists to train their generative AI engines without permission.

Israel's top court ruled unanimously on Tuesday that the state must draft ultra-Orthodox Jewish men into military service, potentially destabilising Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition.

The United States is pressing Israel to avoid a major war against Lebanon's Hezbollah, with top American officials urging a diplomatic solution in order to prevent another Middle East crisis.

The press release from Walmart stated that the upcoming sale will be the largest one held by the retail chain, with expected discounts on toys, electronics, and more as the back-to-school season approaches.

Serbia's new government is prepared to make "compromises" over Kosovo, Prime Minister Milos Vucevic told AFP during a wide-ranging interview on Tuesday.

Kenyan police arrived in violence-ravaged Haiti on Tuesday on a UN-backed mission to help wrest the Caribbean nation from powerful gangs, just as deadly turmoil gripped Nairobi during mass protests.

Russia said Tuesday it was blocking access to dozens of European media outlets, including AFP websites, in response to the EU slapping broadcasting bans on several Russian outlets last month.

Microsoft violated EU antitrust rules by bundling its Teams communications app with its popular Office suite, Brussels said on Tuesday, as the US tech giant vowed to do what it takes to address competition concerns.

Viard worked alongside the legendary Karl Lagerfeld for years before taking over at the helm after his death in 2019. She oversaw record sales of nearly $20 billion last year.

The waves of the Aegean Sea lap gently at the tables and chairs of two beach restaurants on Greece's Halkidiki peninsula.

A collaborative investigation by international media outlets on Tuesday shed light on the circumstances behind more than 100 Palestinian journalists and media workers being killed in the Gaza war, some while wearing a press vest.

A collaborative investigation by AFP and international media outlets published Tuesday points to Israeli tank fire likely being the cause of blasts that damaged the global news agency's Gaza bureau on November 2.

Asian equities edged higher Tuesday after recent losses as investors ignored another tough day for tech titans on Wall Street that has raised concerns about a correction in markets following a string of record highs.

Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will attend a lavish banquet thrown by their host King Charles III on Tuesday as they kick off a three-day state visit to the UK. The couple arrived in Britain on Saturday, and carried out informal engagements over the weekend, including an audience with Japanese nationals in the UK and a visit to the Thames Barrier.

A fresh surge of unrest hit the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia, with several buildings set on fire overnight, including a police station and a town hall, authorities said Monday.

The UN's cultural organisation said Monday it recommended adding Stonehenge, the renowned prehistoric site in England, to its world heritage in danger list, in what would be seen as an embarrassment for London.

A Kenyan force to lead a UN-backed multinational mission to tackle gang violence in Haiti departed Nairobi late Monday, interior minister Kithure Kindiki said, despite a court case against the deployment.

Although copyright laws exist to protect creators' intellectual property, independent creators without access to legal resources might find it challenging to navigate digital rights management.

Derided at its unveiling, Germany's pink-and-purple away kit has become the breakout style star of Euro 2024, where it has added a splash of colour to the stands at the host's fixtures.

The Justice Department faces a deadline of July 7 to decide whether to prosecute Boeing.

The European Commission informed Apple in a "preliminary view" that the "App Store rules... prevent app developers from freely steering consumers to alternative channels for offers and content".

Around 20 bodies have been found at a South Korean lithium battery factory after a massive blaze on Monday, the Yonhap news agency said, with firefighters saying they were still searching the building.

The Paris Olympics will be the 33rd summer edition since the first modern Games in Athens in 1896.

AFP continues its look back at the history of the Olympics to pick out some of the legends that have lit up the Games.

Gunmen attacked churches and synagogues in Russia's North Caucasus region of Dagestan on Sunday, killing at least eight police and national guard officers and a priest, officials said.