Economy

Economy Latest News

US finalizes up to $6.6 bn funding for chip giant TSMC
US finalizes up to $6.6 bn funding for chip giant TSMC
by  AFP

The United States will award Taiwanese chip giant TSMC up to $6.6 billion in direct funding to help build several plants on US soil, officials said Friday, finalizing the deal before a new administration enters the White House. Besides the $6.6 billion in direct funding, the United States is also providing up to $5 billion in proposed loans to TSMC Arizona.

US retail sales lose steam in October after hurricanes
US retail sales lose steam in October after hurricanes
by  AFP

Retail sales in the United States slowed in October, according to government data released Friday, with analysts noting that devastating hurricanes in recent months likely disrupted consumption. Sales rose 0.4 percent in October from a month prior to $718.9 billion, according to Department of Commerce data.

Jeff Beck guitar collection to go under the hammer in January
Jeff Beck guitar collection to go under the hammer in January
by  AFP

A collection of guitars and other musical equipment owned by influential rock guitarist Jeff Beck will go on sale in London in January, Christie's auctioneers announced on Friday. The full collection will go on show for a week at Christie's London headquarters before the January 22 sale.

Pompeii rejects 'mass tourism' with daily visitor limit
Pompeii rejects 'mass tourism' with daily visitor limit
by  AFP

The world-famous Pompeii archaeological park introduced a daily limit of 20,000 visitors on Friday, the latest Italian tourist site to take action against overcrowding. Zuchtriegel said efforts were also underway to open alleyways and streets in Pompeii that are currently closed, which would provide more space for visitors and allow organisers to raise the 20,000 daily limit.

Palestinians turn to local soda in boycott of Israel-linked goods
Palestinians turn to local soda in boycott of Israel-linked goods
by  AFP

In a red box factory that stands out among the drab hills of the West Bank, Chat Cola's employees race to quench Palestinians' thirst for local products since the Gaza war erupted last year. "The demand for (Chat Cola) increased since the war began because of the boycott," owner Fahed Arar, told AFP at the factory in the occupied West Bank town of Salfit.

UK growth slows in third quarter, dealing blow to Labour government
UK growth slows in third quarter, dealing blow to Labour government
by  AFP

Britain's economy grew less than expected in the third quarter, official data showed on Friday, dealing a blow to the Labour government that has set its sights on growth expansion. Separate data this week showed Britain's unemployment rate jumping more than expected, climbing 4.3 percent in the third quarter from 4.0 percent in the three months to the end of August. ajb/gil

Stiff business: Berlin startup will freeze your corpse for monthly fee
Stiff business: Berlin startup will freeze your corpse for monthly fee
by  AFP

Becca Ziegler is only 24, but she already has her death planned out: her corpse will be deep-frozen to minus 200 degrees Celsius (minus 328 degrees Fahrenheit) with liquid nitrogen. The body is then infused with a "cryoprotectant" and transported to the facility in Switzerland where it is stored in a pod surrounded by liquid nitrogen and cooled to around minus 200 degrees Celsius.

Wars, looming Trump reign set to dominate G20 summit
Wars, looming Trump reign set to dominate G20 summit
by  AFP

G20 leaders gather in Brazil on Monday for a G20 summit set to be dominated by differences over wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, and implications of Donald Trump's White House return. China is Brazil's biggest trading partner, and the two countries have been touting themselves as mediators to help end Russia's war in Ukraine, so far without success.