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As Trump mulls sanctions, Russia's military economy slows
As Trump mulls sanctions, Russia's military economy slows
by  AFP

After three years of doom-defying growth, Russia's heavily militarised economy is slowing, facing a widening budget deficit and weak oil prices, all under the threat of more Western sanctions. It now expects a budget deficit of 1.7 percent of GDP -- three times higher than initially predicted.

'We're done with Teams': German state hits uninstall on Microsoft
'We're done with Teams': German state hits uninstall on Microsoft
by  AFP

At a time of growing concern over the power of the world's mighty tech companies, one German state is turning its back on US giant Microsoft. He explained that the state wants to rely on publicly owned German digital infrastructure rather than that of an American company.

As NATO ups defence spending, can Europe produce the weapons?
As NATO ups defence spending, can Europe produce the weapons?
by  AFP

NATO leaders meeting in The Hague this month look set to agree to a major increase in military budgets under pressure from US President Donald Trump. The demands on NATO's European members are huge: new hardware targets agreed this month will require the biggest armament spree in decades.

Meta makes major investment in Scale AI, takes in CEO
Meta makes major investment in Scale AI, takes in CEO
by  AFP

Scale AI announced a "significant" new investment by Meta late Thursday that values the startup at more than $29 billion and puts its founder to work for the tech titan. Scale AI founder and chief executive Alexandr Wang will join Meta to work on the tech giant's own artificial intelligence efforts as part of the deal, according to the startup.

Betraying the revolution: Cuban students reject dollarization
Betraying the revolution: Cuban students reject dollarization
by  AFP

It took a steep hike in mobile internet tariffs to unleash a rebellion among Cuban students on a scale unseen since the 1959 revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power. The protests have ballooned into a wider mobilization over the subtle dollarization of the Cuban economy.

Oil surges, stocks fall on Middle East fears as Israel strikes Iran
Oil surges, stocks fall on Middle East fears as Israel strikes Iran
by  AFP

Oil prices soared and stocks sank Friday after Israel launched "preemptive" strikes on Iran's nuclear and military sites and warned of more to come, stoking fears of a full-blown war. The US leader said he believed a "pretty good" deal on Iran's nuclear programme was "fairly close", but that an Israeli strike on the country could wreck the chances of an agreement.

Trump moves to block California electric cars program
Trump moves to block California electric cars program
by  AFP

US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed resolutions blocking California's landmark efforts to phase out gas-powered cars in favor of electric vehicles, a move the state immediately contested in court.