Economy

Colombian police break up road blockades against diesel price hikes
Colombian police break up road blockades against diesel price hikes
by  AFP

Colombian police moved in Thursday to break up road blockades in and around the capital on the fourth day of protests against a rise in diesel prices. Bogota Mayor Carlos Fernando Galan said on X that anti-riot police had intervened with national government approval "to lift blockades" in five critical points in and around the capital of some eight million people.

Brazilians flock to Bluesky and Threads after X suspension
Brazilians flock to Bluesky and Threads after X suspension
by  AFP

Millions of Brazilians, including the president, have flocked to social media platforms such as Threads or Bluesky, where Portuguese has become the most spoken language in the few days since Elon Musk's X was shut down in the country. Bluesky, a social media network created by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, now counts 7.6 million users since the X suspension in Brazil.

Trump says would tap Musk to lead US government 'efficiency' panel
Trump says would tap Musk to lead US government 'efficiency' panel
by  AFP

Donald Trump announced Thursday that if elected president he would appoint billionaire Elon Musk to lead an audit of government spending and implement "drastic" reform. Trump said that at Musk's suggestion, he would "create a government efficiency commission tasked with conducting a complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government," with the Tesla CEO as its chief.

Pernod can PSG sponsorship deal after Marseille protests
Pernod can PSG sponsorship deal after Marseille protests
by  AFP

French drinks firm Pernod Ricard said Thursday it has scrapped a proposed sponsorship deal with soccer giants Paris Saint Germain after fans of bitter rivals Marseille threatened a boycott. Pernod Ricard’s headquarters these days are actually in Paris but after Marseille fans protested the company conceded defeat.

UK meets bridge milestone on new high-speed rail track
UK meets bridge milestone on new high-speed rail track
by  AFP

Britain on Thursday finished building its longest-ever rail bridge after fitting the final segment of the Colne Valley Viaduct for the new high-speed HS2 train line, company bosses announced. "Lowering the Colne Valley Viaduct's final deck segment into place today marks the culmination of more than 10 years of planning, design and construction," said HS2 senior project manager Billy Ahluwalia.

US private sector hiring misses expectations in August: ADP
US private sector hiring misses expectations in August: ADP
by  AFP

Hiring in the US private sector markedly undershot analyst expectations in August, said payroll firm ADP on Thursday, as the health of the labor market comes under scrutiny. Private sector employment rose by 99,000 in August while job gains in July were revised down to 111,000, said ADP in a report.