Economics: Latest and Breaking News from Azerbaijan and the World

Economics

Toyota pushes EV growth amid rising US tariffs

Toyota is ramping up its focus on electric vehicles and expanding U.S. manufacturing as rising tariffs increase costs for automakers, even as the company builds on strong recent sales momentum.

03 Apr 2026-09:11
Tesla leads S. Korea's imported car market; BMW, Benz gain ground

Sales of imported cars in South Korea posted strong double-digit growth last month, driven by rising demand for electric vehicles and German luxury brands, industry data showed Friday.

03 Apr 2026-08:58
Microsoft targets Japan with $10B AI and cyber defence expansion

Microsoft announced on Friday that it will invest 1.6 trillion yen (about $10 billion) in Japan between 2026 and 2029 to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity cooperation with the government.

03 Apr 2026-08:41
OpenAI acquires TBPN, the buzzy founder-led business talk show

OpenAI has acquired popular tech industry talk show TBPN — Technology Business Programming Network — making this the AI giant’s first acquisition of a media company.

03 Apr 2026-00:51
US stocks trim losses as Iran signals Hormuz shipping plan amid war tensions

Wall Street pared earlier losses on Thursday after signs that Iran may seek to ease disruptions in the vital Strait of Hormuz, even as escalating rhetoric from Washington kept investors on edge.

02 Apr 2026-23:48
Portugal unveils €600m energy support package to shield firms from Middle East crisis fallout

Portugal’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has announced a €600 million ($696 million) credit line aimed at supporting businesses grappling with rising energy costs linked to instability in the Middle East.

02 Apr 2026-23:36
Tesla’s cheaper vehicles aren’t helping its declining sales

Tesla spent more than a year touting that “more affordable” cars were on the way, and they finally arrived last October, with stripped-down versions of the Model Y and Model 3 starting at $39,990 and $36,990, respectively. But the new vehicles are not moving the needle much for Tesla’s overall sales, first-quarter figures show.

02 Apr 2026-21:17
Google now lets you direct avatars through prompts in its Vids app

Google on Thursday added new features to its video editor app Vids, including directing and customizing avatars through text prompts, Veo 3.1 support, the ability to export videos to YouTube, and recording with a Chrome extension.

02 Apr 2026-21:11
Microsoft takes on AI rivals with three new foundational models

Microsoft AI, the tech giant’s research lab, announced the release of three foundational AI models on Thursday that can generate text, voice, and images.

02 Apr 2026-21:07
China expands digital yuan network to 22 banks

China has expanded its digital yuan programme by adding 12 new banking operators, increasing the number of authorised institutions handling its central bank digital currency to 22.

02 Apr 2026-16:59