Tech News

Staff shortages dent Hong Kong air hub reboot hopes

Regional airlines are struggling to ramp up flights to Hong Kong because of staff shortages at the airport, slowing the city's plan to recapture its travel hub status, industry insiders have told AFP. Hong Kong, which calls itself Asia's World City, once had one of the globe's busiest -- and best-connected -- airports. . "What an irony to say 'Hong Kong is back'," one of those interviewed told AFP.  "How can Hong Kong continue to be 'Asia's World City' if everyone other than the few big companies can never come back?"

Tue, Jan 17, 2023 3 mins read

Tech News

Bank of Japan leaves policy unchanged, yen weakens

Japan's central bank left its ultra-easy monetary policy unchanged on Wednesday, bucking heavy speculation that it could again tweak a key lever and sending the yen plunging against the dollar.. For months, the central bank has bucked the trend set by global peers and stood its ground on its loose monetary policy, convinced that inflation has not yet taken hold in Japan in a sustained fashion.

Tue, Jan 17, 2023 2 mins read

Tech News

Bank of Japan leaves policy unchanged, yen weakens

Japan's central bank left its ultra-easy monetary policy unchanged on Wednesday, a move that sent the yen plunging, despite heavy speculation it could again tweak a key lever.. It said the move would "improve market functioning", and the surprise decision saw the Japanese currency gain ground against the dollar after months of weakening over the growing gap between Japanese and US central bank policy.

Tue, Jan 17, 2023 1 mins read

Tech News

Out of Nile, into tile: Young Egyptians battle plastic plague

Entrepreneurial young Egyptians are helping combat their country's huge plastic waste problem by recycling junk-food wrappers, water bottles and similar garbage that usually ends up in landfills or the Nile.. - 'Good step forward' - VeryNile then compresses high-value plastic like water bottles and sends it to a recycling plant to be made into pellets.

Tue, Jan 17, 2023 3 mins read

Tech News

Most Asian markets rise on recovery hopes

Asian markets mostly rose Wednesday following a mixed lead from Wall Street as traders fought to maintain the strong start to the year.. The yen fell Wednesday after the Bank of Japan left its key policy rate unchanged.

Tue, Jan 17, 2023 2 mins read

Tech News

Microsoft to cut staff again: reports

Microsoft is readying to cut more positions from its global workforce as tech giants continue paring headcount to ride out rough economic conditions, according to media reports on Tuesday.. A new layoff announcement would come a week before Microsoft is to report its earnings for the final three months of last year.

Tue, Jan 17, 2023 1 mins read

Tech News

US fraud trial begins over Elon Musk's 2018 Tesla tweets

Jury selection began on Tuesday in a California courtroom over whether Elon Musk committed fraud with a pair of 2018 tweets saying he was poised to take Tesla private.. Alex Spiro, Musk's lawyer, asked those up for jury selection to remain "open-minded" even if they will first hear the version of the accusers.

Tue, Jan 17, 2023 2 mins read

Tech News

United Airlines sees 2023 profit jump amid tight capacity

Eyeing another year of strong travel demand and limited airline industry capacity, United Airlines projected a big jump in 2023 profits Tuesday after releasing fourth-quarter earnings that topped expectations.. Limited air industry capacity has boosted airplane ticket prices and airline profits, as consumers seek out travel after the pandemic grounded many people.

Tue, Jan 17, 2023 1 mins read

Tech News

Pfizer to sell more drugs at cost to poor nations

US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced on Tuesday that it will greatly expand the number of medicines and vaccines it sells on a not-for-profit basis to the world's poorest countries.. In May, the drug giant had begun offering 23 of its patented drugs to poor countries on a not-for-profit basis.

Tue, Jan 17, 2023 2 mins read

Tech News

International tourist arrivals doubled in 2022: UN

International tourist arrivals doubled in 2022 over the previous year, and should reach near pre-pandemic levels in 2023 thanks to the lifting of travel restrictions, especially in China, the UN's tourism body said Tuesday.. While the number of international arrivals last year was still just 63 percent of the level posted in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, the UN body predicts it could reach 80 percent to 95 percent in 2023.

Tue, Jan 17, 2023 2 mins read