Business Global cooperation has shifted to favour smaller ally groups, says WEF Large-scale, global cooperation is weakening as trade, finance, and tech links shift toward smaller, interest-based groups of countries, says the World Economic Forum. 08/01/2026
Business Defence shares jump after Venezuela fallout and US talk on Greenland The sector rallied in Europe, the US, and parts of Asia, with investors betting tensions will keep military spending elevated and order books fuller for longer. 08/01/2026
Business Flight of the bullions: Why did Maduro move gold to Switzerland? Caracas shipped 127 tonnes of central-bank gold to Swiss refineries over a period of five years, seeking cash and collateral as the Venezuelan debt crisis deepened. 07/01/2026
Economy Switzerland freezes all Maduro-linked assets 'with immediate effect' Switzerland ordered a four-year precautionary freeze on any assets held by Nicolás Maduro and people linked to him but gave no figures and did not confirm whether any assets exist. 05/01/2026
Markets Oil rallies after Venezuela shock while safe haven assets also rise Washington’s action in Venezuela jolted markets, with oil showing volatile price movements as investors considered long-term supply consequences. Gold and defence stocks also inched up. 05/01/2026
Business BYD sales pull ahead as Tesla stumbles on sales and politics Tesla’s early dominance of the electric car market is being challenged as China’s BYD posts record sales and wins over European consumers with lower prices. 02/01/2026
Markets A respite for sofas and spaghetti: Trump eases and delays tariffs Planned tariff hikes on imported furniture are pushed back a year, while punishing tariffs on Italian pasta are scaled down after months of negotiations. 01/01/2026
Economy Venezuelan bolívar–dollar rate jumps to nearly 480% as sanctions bite With the bolívar down sharply and access to official dollar rates limited, most Venezuelans now turn to crypto-based markets for foreign currency amid sanctions and persistent inflation. 01/01/2026
Business Warren Buffett, ‘Oracle of Omaha,’ retires after 60 years in business Warren Buffett’s departure as CEO marks the end of an era at Berkshire Hathaway for the business 'sage' whose unpretentious approach reshaped modern investing. 01/01/2026
Economy Europe’s corruption challenge goes beyond an East–West divide Petty bribery may be rarer in Western Europe, but influence, lobbying and regulatory capture remain powerful — and often minimised. 01/01/2026
Economy From war to wallets: How Iran’s economic crisis is fuelling protests Sanctions, inflation and currency collapse have pushed daily survival to the centre of public anger following the conflict with Israel last June. 31/12/2025
Business Citi edges closer to Russia exit, bracing for over €1bn hit Citi has secured internal approvals to sell its remaining business in Russia to Renaissance Capital, moving closer to an exit from the market after years of delays. 30/12/2025
Business Moody’s cuts Budapest rating to 'junk' as dispute with Orbán deepens The City of Budapest has been downgraded to "junk" rating by Moody’s and placed on review for further cuts, a move that could increase borrowing costs as the liberal mayor led capital butts heads with the PM. 30/12/2025
Economy Iran’s currency collapse sparks second day of protests Protesters closed shops for a second day as the rial hit new lows on the free market, amplifying inflation fears and highlighting the widening gap between official and street exchange rates. 29/12/2025
Business Explainer: Why Chevron operates in Venezuela despite US sanctions Chevron’s continued presence in Venezuela looks like an anomaly amid intensifying US sanctions. In fact, the contradiction is rooted in selective enforcement to maintain leverage over Caracas, as well as decades of oil politics. 29/12/2025
Business Space tech company’s shares skyrocket after Trump Golden Dome deal Sidus Space shares have jumped sharply this week after the small space-tech company announced it had won a place on a major US defence contract. 26/12/2025
Business Unlikely bedfellows: Castrol deal draws private capital into industry The deal reflects a shift in how investors view businesses like Castrol — less as consumer brands, and more as industrial infrastructure embedded in the global economy. 25/12/2025
Economy Santa Claus rally or year-end wobble? Markets wrap up 2025 mixed World shares were mixed despite fresh record highs on Wall Street, as investors remained wary of inflation, slowing demand and uncertainty over how markets will start the new year. 24/12/2025
Economy Germany’s export model hit by dual US and China demand slump Simultaneous falls in exports to the US and China are exposing deep structural weaknesses in Europe’s largest economy, according to a new study. 23/12/2025
Business Year of the metals: Venezuela tensions send gold and silver soaring Precious metals have been among the strongest performers this year, supported by geopolitical risk, expectations of looser monetary policy and global economic stability. 23/12/2025