The Chinese government has made an investment in BGI Genomics Co, a listed Chinese company that has supplied millions of COVID-19 tests globally as the gene firm seeks to fund exponential growth driven by the pandemic. SYDNEY: The Chinese government has made an investment in BGI Genomics Co, a listed […]
Business
TOKYO: Japan has requested that airlines avoid using Boeing 777 planes with Pratt & Whitney 4000 engines for take-offs, landings and overflights in its territory until further notice, the Japan Aeronautical Information Service Center said. The notice to airmen, issued on Sunday (Feb 21) evening, came after a United Airlines […]
SYDNEY: Australia’s government pledged a publicity campaign for its rollout of COVID-19 vaccine on Sunday (Feb 21) – but not in Facebook advertisements, as a feud continues over the social media giant blocking news content from its platform in the country. Facebook’s abrupt decision on Thursday to stop Australians from […]
SINGAPORE: More than 52,000 workers across the transport sector have already received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) announced on Thursday (Feb 11). These include 39,000 frontline staff in the aviation and maritime sectors or about 90 per cent of the 43,000 expected to […]
BRUSSELS: EU countries on Wednesday agreed to take a joint position in forthcoming negotiations with EU lawmakers and the European Commission on planned privacy rules governing Facebook’s WhatsApp and Microsoft’s Skype, ending a three-year impasse. The European Commission proposed its ePrivacy Regulation in 2017, which would subject WhatsApp and Skype […]
Macquarie, the world’s largest infrastructure investor, has raised 1.6 billion euros (US$1.93 billion) for its second global renewables fund, driven by strong demand from institutional investors in Britain and Germany. LONDON: Macquarie, the world’s largest infrastructure investor, has raised 1.6 billion euros (US$1.93 billion) for its second global renewables fund, […]
WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden said on Tuesday (Feb 9) he agreed with a proposal by Democratic lawmakers that would limit or phase out stimulus payments to higher-income individuals as part of his US$1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill. Asked during a meeting with business leaders whether he supported the proposal by […]
The board of self-styled “free speech-driven” social media platform Parler has fired its chief executive John Matze, he said on Wednesday. Parler was favoured by many US conservatives who objected to content rules on Facebook and Twitter. It has far fewer users than either of its rivals, but grew rapidly […]
Sales of Australian wine to the UK have surged almost 30% in the last year as producers try to overcome crippling taxes on exports to China. Wine producers have ramped up exports to Europe to a 10-year high, with the UK now the number one destination. China increased taxes by […]
eBay has reported a jump in sales over the festive season, as coronavirus lockdowns spurred more shoppers to buy presents online. The online marketplace saw revenues rise to $2.9bn (£2.1bn) for the three months ending 31 December 2020, beating analysts’ expectations. The number of annual active buyers grew by 7% […]