Finance news

LNG market disruption may continue for months as a top producer withholds some Italian shipments

QatarEnergy extended its force majeure, withholding four additional liquefied natural gas cargoes until September.

Hong Kong tech chief warns AI will unleash ‘greatest industrial revolution’

As Hong Kong marks the 29th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule on July 1, the South China Morning Post talks to the city’s senior officials about the administration’s achievements so far and what may lie ahead. Hong Kong’s tech chief has warned that AI will “exceed all previous industrial revolutions” and heavily impact graduates and workers in traditional sectors, while pledging to accelerate training and industry development to create new jobs. Secretary for Innovation, Technology and..

As China narrows maths gap with US, Hong Kong bids to host 2030 global event

Even before the world’s top mathematicians gather in Philadelphia in late July for the International Congress of Mathematicians, a high-stakes battle is unfolding over where the global event will next take place. Spearheaded by 1982 Fields Medallist and Tsinghua University professor Shing-Tung Yau, Hong Kong’s bid to host the 2030 congress faces competition from Glasgow and Tokyo. An inspection delegation from the International Mathematical Union (IMU) – the congress’s governing body – completed

Trikes, quads and co: light motorcycles and fun vehicles: What newbies need to know

Trikes, quads and small light vehicles offer drivers a new leisure experience. With a car driving license you can legally drive many models, often without a motorcycle test. What works and how?

New Japan visa rules threaten to force out foreign business owners: ‘my dream is broken’

In a tiny Tokyo restaurant filled with the smell of Nepalese dumplings, Budhathoki Samjhana surveys the business she built from scratch but may now have to give up as Japan tightens visa rules. Even though Japan has a rapidly ageing population and is suffering labour shortages in many sectors, opposition to immigration is growing and the new rules for business manager visas were introduced by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in late 2025. Nepalese national Budhathoki, who spent a decade away.

Road trip of a lifetime: 100 years later: The Route 66 myth is alive

The US will celebrate a century of “Mother Road” in 2026. The journey from Chicago to Los Angeles goes through eight states and proves to be a good way to better understand the USA.

+++ Business figures +++: Nike exceeds sales expectations - shares increase after trading

Delivery Hero major shareholder Prosus increases sales and profits +++ Evonik benefits from delivery bottlenecks in Asia - forecast increased +++ The news blog.

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker, June 2026

Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted the leaders of Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Belarus in June. He also travelled to North Korea on his first overseas journey this year and his first visit to Pyongyang since 2019. In total, 20 national leaders have met Xi in Beijing this year, including US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The long list shows China’s growing global influence amid rising geopolitical tensions. Xi may meet Trump three more times this year. He...

Attention football fans!: Profitable ticket sales may be subject to tax

Anyone who resells sports or concert tickets for a profit may have to pay taxes on them. When the tax office also earns money and what fans should consider.

Thailand to implement startup law by year-end, innovation agency chief says

EU e-truck sector skeptical about CATL-Octopus battery-swapping plan

South Korean exports hit monthly high on booming AI chip demand

Japan business sentiment improves sharply in April-June quarter

Health risk: Invisible danger Fine dust: How big is the risk?

Despite decreasing levels, fine dust remains an invisible danger and can cause life-threatening illnesses. How much ends up in our lungs - and what plays a role besides weather and traffic?

China’s new investment law asserts control over offshore tech transfers in landmark move

China has enacted a sweeping overseas-investment law that aims to safeguard national interests against trade barriers and unauthorised use of advanced technology abroad, though analysts warn that the move could complicate operations for foreign partners. The State Council’s 34-article Regulation on Overseas Investment, taking effect on Wednesday, authorises “necessary and defensive measures” to protect Chinese investors and interests overseas in response to foreign trade-related barriers. Under.

India’s ruling party risks being sucked into Uttar Pradesh temple donation probe row

An investigation into alleged financial irregularities at a Hindu temple closely associated with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is threatening to tarnish one of his party’s signature projects. Two office bearers at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya have resigned, while police arrested eight officials of the trust managing the site after allegations of embezzlement surfaced earlier this month, a person familiar with the matter said, who asked not to be identified because the investigation was...

Iran says it is selling oil at 20% premium as end of U.S. blockade sees 40 million barrels exported

The ceasefire prompted a surge in crude shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic had largely ground to a halt during the conflict.

Will slowing car sales in China reignite brutal price war in crowded market?

In the most bearish Chinese car market forecast by an international bank or consultancy, AlixPartners has predicted that deliveries will fall by 10 per cent this year on the back of a shaky economy and softening government support. Weak buying interest was likely to fuel a brutal price war that would ensnare nearly all the country’s 100-odd carmakers, the global consultancy added. It forecast that 24.6 million light vehicles would be delivered by Chinese carmakers this year, with 10 million of..

German Dividend Tax XTB

Hello community, I'm an non-Germany based EU citizen (and tax resident in my country) and I would like to buy certain German stocks via XTB. My country has a double taxation treaty with Germany. I understand that for those stocks, the German government withholds 26.375% dividend taxes at the source. Is there anyway I can get a rebate on those dividends from the German government ? Do I still have to pay dividend taxes in my country ? Has anyone been in a similar situation before ? How did it wor

CNBC Daily Open: AI demand fuels investors' portfolios while oil posts biggest monthly decline

The tech space continues to be fueled by rising artificial intelligence demand, with investors piling their portfolios in the technology, while Amazon Web Services dabbles with Forward Deployed Engineering units to better compete with OpenAI and Anthropic.

Labor law: Can the employer order overtime?

Overtime is only permitted under certain conditions. When employees are allowed to refuse and what role the works council plays.

Labor law: Overtime: What you should know

Millions of employees regularly work more than agreed. When is overtime paid, when is it paid - and how do you defend yourself if it becomes too much?

Mercedes: “Intelligent, but not the type to take up space” – that’s the new AMG boss

Stefan Weckbach actually wanted to become Porsche boss. On Wednesday, the former VW chief strategist will start his new job at Mercedes sports car subsidiary AMG. He has to tackle these tasks.

Real estate funds: Losses of millions and auditor warnings: Deutsche Finance funds under pressure

The financial regulator has sent a special representative to the Deutsche Finance fund house. Research shows that there are problems, particularly with funds in Luxembourg.

Monika Schnitzer: AI can make the state faster - politicians themselves have to reform it

The expectations of citizens and the economy are justified - but only if we honestly state which problems AI can actually solve and which it cannot. A guest post.

Interview: “The party is over” – Allianz boss Bäte calls for restructuring of the health system

The CEO praises the federal government's pension plans. He also calls for a rethink in care and health, whereby citizens should also be held responsible.

Comment: Now it will be decided whether Merz can be reform chancellor

While former Chancellor Merkel is working on her legacy with a portrait, Friedrich Merz, of all people, has to resolve the backlog of reforms during her years in office. What an irony of history.

Climate crisis: Seas warmer than ever before at this time of year

The oceans have never been so warm in June: the climate service Copernicus sees the earth heading into unknown territory.

UBTech’s lifelike humanoid robots built for companionship arriving in homes across China

UBTech Robotics, the world’s first publicly traded humanoid robot maker, has launched a consumer humanoid designed for personal companionship, featuring lifelike silicone skin and emotional artificial intelligence, as Chinese tech firms increasingly transition robots from the factory floor to the family living room. The U1, unveiled on Tuesday in Shenzhen, comes in male and female versions, standing 183cm and 168cm tall, respectively. The model is available in Lite, Pro and Ultra variants,...

Study: There's a ton of gold lying dormant in old cell phones

Millions of old cell phones are stored in German drawers - with a ton of gold and other valuable metals. But hardly any device is recycled.