Economy

Dozens of Colombian flights cancelled due to low fuel stocks
Dozens of Colombian flights cancelled due to low fuel stocks

Airlines on Monday scrapped dozens of flights from Colombia, blaming dwindling fuel stocks -- the cause of which industry officials and the government disagree about. According to IATA, which represents more than 300 airlines, distributors suspended fuel supply to 11 terminals, while for many others they issued alerts for "critical" stock levels.

SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission to make history with first private spacewalk
SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission to make history with first private spacewalk

SpaceX is poised to launch an all-civilian crew on a daring orbital expedition Tuesday, marking a new chapter in space exploration with a historic first spacewalk by private citizens. Isaacman declined to reveal his total investment in the project, though reports suggest he paid around $200 million for the SpaceX Inspiration4 mission in September 2021, the first all-civilian orbital mission.

IBM says will end research and development work in China
IBM says will end research and development work in China

US computer giant IBM confirmed Monday it would close its research and development arm in China. Multiple employees told AFP they had been informed during a brief meeting with US executives on Monday that the company would gut its research and development team in China and move operations to another country.

Canada slaps 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles
Canada slaps 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday 100 percent tariffs on Chinese electric car imports, matching US measures seeking to fend off a flood of Chinese state-subsidized cars into North America. The United States and the European Union in recent months imposed tariffs on Chinese EVs of 100 percent and 38 percent, respectively.

Sri Lanka Marxists eye selective foreign capital if win presidency
Sri Lanka Marxists eye selective foreign capital if win presidency

Sri Lanka's main Marxist leader and a key presidential hopeful in elections next month pledged on Monday to selectively welcome foreign investors, especially in green energy, if he wins. Dissanayaka is pledging to scrap Sri Lanka's presidential system and revert the country to the British-style parliamentary democracy, which existed until 1978.

Dutch hit Uber with 290-mn-euro fine over driver data
Dutch hit Uber with 290-mn-euro fine over driver data

The Dutch data protection watchdog said Monday it hit ride-hailing app Uber with a 290-million-euro ($324 million) fine over the transfer of personal data of European drivers to US servers. It is the DPA's third fine against Uber following fines of 600,000 euros in 2018 and 10 million euros last year. cvo/lth/yad

Big polluters urged to pay as key Pacific summit opens in Tonga
Big polluters urged to pay as key Pacific summit opens in Tonga

Emissions-belching nations were challenged to stump up for climate-related damage as a key Pacific islands summit opened on Monday, with low-lying Tuvalu declaring: "If you pollute, you should pay." "We really need to ensure that we continue to push for action from countries that are the most polluting," Tuvalu Climate Minister Maina Talia told AFP on the sidelines of the summit.