Business

Business & Economy

Turkey defiant in face of criticism over gas drilling off Cyprus

7 May 2019; DW: Turkey brushed off criticism from the European Union and the United States on Monday, defending its plans to drill for natural gas and oil off Cyprus.

"The legitimate rights of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus over the energy resources of the Eastern Mediterranean are not debatable," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in Ankara.

India: Sensex crashes 363 pts as US-China trade talks derail

Mumbai, May 6 (PTI) The BSE Sensex Monday cracked over 362.92 points in line with global sell-offs amid renewed fears that trade negotiations between the US and China are on the verge of collapse.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty dived 114 points to settle below the 11,600-level.

In a sign of derailment of trade talks between the two global economic powers the US and China, US President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened to hike tariffs on USD 200 billion worth of Chinese goods.

US to propose hike in H-1B application fee

Washington, May 7 (PTI) The Trump administration is proposing a hike in the H-1B visa application fee to increase funding for the expansion of an apprentice programme, which trains American youths in technology related activities, Labour Secretary Alexander Acosta told US lawmakers.

Testifying before a Congressional committee on annual budget of the Department of Labour for the fiscal year 2020 beginning October 1, 2019, Acosta, however, did not give details of the proposed increase in H-1B filing fee and as to which categories of applicants it would be enforced on.

Lebanese Central Bank workers strike over proposed state budget cuts

6 May 2019; MEMO: Lebanese central bank employees went on strike on Monday over state budget proposals that would cut their benefits but said they may be ready to take a decision to “relieve” pressures caused by the move, reports Reuters.

The strike prompted the Beirut Stock Exchange to suspend trading until further notice because the clearance and settlement process for transactions could not be done on time, it said in a statement.

US stocks slide after threat from Trump to raise tariffs

7 May 2019 (AP) - Fresh market jitters over the possibility of an escalation in the costly trade war between the U.S. and China pulled stocks broadly lower on Wall Street Monday.

President Donald Trump threatened over the weekend to raise tariffs on goods imported from China. Trump complained that the trade talks between the two countries are moving too slowly.

US plans to hike tariffs Friday, says China broke promises

WASHINGTON (AP) — Accusing Beijing of “reneging” on commitments it made in earlier talks, the nation’s top trade negotiator said Monday that the Trump administration will increase tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods Friday, a sharp escalation in a yearlong trade dispute.

At the same time, a Chinese trade delegation is expected to arrive in Washington to resume negotiations on Thursday, a day later than originally planned.

Mercedes-Benz to recall 1,600 S-class sedans in Russia, says watchdog

MOSCOW, March 6. /TASS/: AO Mercedes-Benz RUS, the Russian dealer of Mercedes-Benz, will recall 1,600 S-class sedans in Russia due to problems with functioning of the driver assistance package, the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology (Rosstandart) reports on Monday.

The recall will cover automobiles sold from March 2017 to June 2018, the regulator says.

"The function of detecting absence of hands on the steering wheel may not conform to the specification in certain vehicles with the Ditronic Plus and the driver assistant," the federal agency reports.

UK keen to partner with China on green development: British official

LONDON, May 5 (Xinhua): Britain's participation in the International Horticultural Exhibition in Beijing will help strengthen Britain-China partnership on green development and contribute more to achieving a greener future in the world, said a senior British official.

Antonia Romeo, Permanent Secretary of Britain's Department for International Trade, told Xinhua in an interview that Britain has been "enthusiastic" in its contributions to the expo.

Dissension over Cuba strains U.S. ties with allies

BRUSSELS, May 6 (Xinhua): The recent discord over intensified sanctions against Cuba is putting relations between the United States and its allies including the European Union (EU) and Canada under strain.

Washington made the decision to activate the full weight of the Helms-Burton Act against Cuba last week, which authorizes U.S. nationals to file lawsuits over properties nationalized or confiscated by Cuba's government.

Subscribe to Business