International News - Page 21

Go home FIFA: 60 percent Brazilians think hosting World Cup is bad for nation

Sports economists and sources inside FIFA say Brazil, the most expensive World Cup ever at an estimated cost of $11.3 billion, has shown both the limits and the risks of this model.<br />

Despite crippling economic crisis, Spain spends millions to support football teams

An Associated Press review of official documents shows that Spain's highly autonomous regions are helping to keep some teams alive through massive direct cash injections. Some politicians and ordinary Spaniards are questioning the generous support amid hospital downsizing, teacher layoffs and chronic delays in payments for needy people.<br />

Troubled times over? Euro zone employment up, trade surplus grows

The number of persons employed in the 18 countries sharing the euro rose by 0.1 percent on the quarter in the three months to March and was up by 0.2 percent on the year, the first annual rise since third quarter of 2011, the European Union's statistics office said.

Canadian puts gold mine up for sale at $2 mn in bitcoin

The tiny, producing mine is being offered for sale by an unidentified seller on BitPremier, a self-described bitcoin marketplace for 'luxury items and opportunities'.

As China cracks down on graft in pharma sector, foreign executives pack their bags

While the crackdown has been building for a year, Chinese police shocked the foreign business community a month ago when they filed corruption charges against Mark Reilly, former China head of British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline Plc. The Briton, who has been barred from leaving China, could face decades in prison.

Hyundai gets on the hydrogen fuel cell car segment, debuts in US

The Tucson fuel cell, which comes only in white, is virtually identical to the gasoline version of the CUV, a four-door automobile with a rear hatch, and is manufactured on the same assembly line at Hyundai's Tucson plant in Ulsan, South Korea.

Labour strikes, threat of a subway stir await visitors in football crazy Brazil

"I'm praying that nothing goes wrong," said Lizbeth Silva, a clerical worker at a Sao Paulo school. "You hear about all these problems, but you still want to root for Brazil."

Is Twitter planning a shake-up in its top management?

Twitter is considering a shake-up in its top management, including a possible shift in the duties of Chief Operating Officer Ali Rowghani, technology news site Re/code reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Mastercard's next big cash cow: Selling info about your last shopping spree

MasterCard, which handles payments for 2 billion cardholders and tens of millions of merchants, uses that information to generate real-time data on consumer trends, available more quickly that regular government statistics.<br />

OPEC renews 30 mn barrels per day oil production ceiling

The 12-member Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is satisfied with oil prices around $110 a barrel for Brent crude, comfortably above its preferred price of $100 a barrel, ministers said.<br />

India recovers 228 mn euros from terminated Finmeccanica helicopter deal

India terminated the high-profile contract in January citing a breach of integrity after allegations of bribery emerged in Italy against executives at Finmeccanica's helicopter unit AgustaWestland a year earlier.<br />

Toyota recalls 2.27 mn vehicles globally over defective airbags

The Japanese giant, which has now recalled about nine million vehicles in the past two months, said the announcement covered 20 models, including its Corolla sedan, Yaris subcompact and Noah minivan.<br />

China's growth benefits everybody, says Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein

The CEO of Goldman Sachs for the last 10 years said the world has changed a lot in these years.<br />

Emirates cancels order for 70 Airbus A350 jets

Emirates was among the first buyers for the A350 rival model to Boeing's 787 Dreamliner when it placed the order for 50 A350-900 and 20 A350-1000 jets in 2007.<br />

Set to go to jail next week, Rajat Gupta appeals to US Supreme Court

India-born former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta has made a last-ditch effort to avoid going to prison next week on insider trading charges.

French actors threaten summer festivals over insurance cuts

Performers, technicians and other casual workers in the French arts world are threatening to step up strikes to thwart the country's top summer festivals in protest at cuts to their unemployment insurance arrangements.

Cold weather in US, Ukraine crisis to trim global growth to 2.8%: World Bank

The US economy contracted for the first time in three years in the first quarter, but it already appears to be rebounding.<br />

Cause: Obesity. Remedy? Levy extra tax on soda companies to reduce consumption

An effort to combat obesity by placing an extra tax on sugary drinks will be considered by the California city of Berkeley following failed bids by other local governments to pass similar measures.

Going green: Hyundai's hydrogen fuel-cell car makes US debut

The Tucson fuel cell, which comes only in white, is virtually identical to the gasoline version of the CUV, a four-door automobile with a rear hatch, and is manufactured on the same assembly line at Hyundai's Tucson plant in Ulsan, South Korea.

From babysitters to plumbers: Amazon may soon provide all household services

Amazon.com Inc later this year plans to launch a marketplace for local services, a broad term that encompasses anything from babysitters to handymen, several people familiar with the matter said.

Wal-Mart website CEO Joel Anderson to step down

Wal-Mart Stores Inc said Joel Anderson, chief executive of its United States website, Walmart.com, would step down, at a time the company plans to speed up investments in technology to boost sales at its fast-growing e-commerce business.

Facebook shareholder sues Zuckerberg, other directors over pay plan

Mark Zuckerberg and other members of Facebook Inc's board have been sued by a shareholder who claimed a policy letting them annually award directors more than $150 million of stock each if they choose is unreasonably generous.

Malaysia spent $8.6 million so far on search for missing plane MH370

Malaysia has spent a total of 27.6 million ringgit ($8.6 million) so far on the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, authorities said on Monday, giving a specific cost figure for the first time.

Head of eBay's PayPal unit, David Marcus, steps down to join Facebook

Under Marcus, PayPal has moved more aggressively into the physical world by developing a mobile wallet for consumers as well as point-of-sale systems for retailers.

Cyber crimes cost global economy $445 bn annually; US, China, Japan big losers

The report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said cyber crime was a growth industry that damaged trade, competitiveness and innovation.<br />

Amazon enters another area without fanfare: online payments

The service, which launches on Monday, allows the company's more than 240 million active users to use credit card details stored on Amazon.com to pay for services such as a monthly phone bill or a digital music subscription. Amazon then charges a fee on each transaction.<br />

Slowdown in India, emerging markets hit global economic recovery: study

The slowdown in EMs could jeopardise the global recovery, unless advanced economies pick up the pace, the report said.

Matter of attitude: Chinese graduates shun blue collar jobs despite bleak labour market

A record 7.27 million graduates - equivalent to the entire population of Hong Kong - will enter the job market this year. Yet many of these university and college students are ill-equipped to fill those jobs, prompting the government to look at how it can overhaul the higher education system to bridge the gap.