Economy

Economy Latest News

US presses final penny after more than 230 years
US presses final penny after more than 230 years
by  AFP

The United States pressed its final circulating penny on Wednesday, in a move made to save money as the one-cent coin denomination became less relevant over time. "For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents.

Big platforms chart gradual path to self-driving at Web Summit
Big platforms chart gradual path to self-driving at Web Summit
by  AFP

Major Western ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Lyft sketched a gradual path towards introducing self-driving cars at this week's Web Summit in Lisbon, with infrastructure, developing regulation and passengers' preference for human contact weighing on the brakes.

Ukraine ministers resign over major corruption scandals
Ukraine ministers resign over major corruption scandals
by  AFP

Ukraine's energy and justice ministers resigned on Wednesday over their alleged involvement in a sweeping corruption scandal in the country's energy sector. Zelensky earlier called for the resignation of his Justice Minister German Galushchenko, who investigators alleged received "personal benefits" in the scheme, as well as Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk.

Back on track: Belgian-Dutch firm rescues Berlin to Paris sleeper train
Back on track: Belgian-Dutch firm rescues Berlin to Paris sleeper train
by  AFP

Railway fans devastated by the scrapping of a much-heralded Berlin to Paris night train can breathe again after a Belgian-Dutch cooperative stepped in Wednesday to keep the service going. But Belgian-Dutch European Sleeper, a cooperative, said it would launch a train three times weekly between the French and German capitals from March 26, 2026.

German experts slam spending plans, cut GDP forecast
German experts slam spending plans, cut GDP forecast
by  AFP

Germany is using a massive fund for the wrong purposes and it risks providing just a minor boost to the struggling economy, experts warned Wednesday, as they cut their 2026 growth forecast. There had been hopes the extra spending could provide a big boost to the economy, but the economic advisers warned this was unlikely in view of current plans.