Bloomberg Alphabet Inc. reported first-quarter revenue that missed analysts’ estimates and spar-ked fears that advertisers are shifting some spending to digital rivals. Shares of Google’s parent company were down 7.8 percent during pre-market trading in New York on Tuesday. The stock closed at a record $1,296.20 shortly before its earnings were published. Sales came in at $29.5 billion, excluding payments ...
Read More »Microsoft announces tie-up with VMware to keep up with Amazon
Bloomberg Microsoft Corp. unveiled a partnership with VMware Inc. in a bid to bring more customers to its Azure cloud-computing service, emulating a pact that has benefited rival Amazon.com Inc. The agreement will let VMware customers move their technology systems to Microsoft’s Azure cloud-computing services, the companies said in a statement. Amazon Web Services, the leader in the market for ...
Read More »Euro area kicks off 2019 with unexpected growth spurt
Bloomberg Europe’s economy began 2019 with an unexpected growth spurt buoyed by France and Spain, easing pressure on the European Central Bank to add stimulus. The 0.4 percent increase in euro-region gross domestic product during the first quarter reported by Eurostat was twice the pace at the end of last year and more than economists predicted. Strong investment in Spain ...
Read More »Coal’s near-record stockpiles weigh on Europe power prices
Bloomberg Coal is piling up at ports across Europe, depressing both the cost of the fuel and price of electricity. Stockpiles at three European ports — Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Vlissingen — are near the highest since 2013. Supplies built up during a warmer than usual winter and as governments tried to reduce emissions from the most polluting fossil fuel. The ...
Read More »Youth voters at 20-year low as S Africa protests beat polls
Bloomberg Young South Africans are turning their backs on elective politics at the fastest pace in at least two decades, a trend that may hurt the ruling party in next week’s vote. The number of South Africans under 20 who have registered to participate in the May 8 general election has dropped to the lowest level since at least 1999, ...
Read More »South Korea’s Moon thanks Japan former emperor to mend ties
Bloomberg South Korean President Moon Jae-in wrote to former Japanese Emperor Akihito to thank him for contributing to improving ties, in a gesture that could help thaw chilly diplomatic relations between the two countries. Moon sent the letter as the former emperor relinquished his crown to his son Crown Prince Naruhito. Akihito has emphasized the importance of guarding peace during ...
Read More »Hunt urges Tories not to challenge May
Bloomberg Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned grassroots activists in his Conservative Party not to try to depose PM Theresa May, arguing that a leadership contest would only delay Brexit. The beleaguered premier, who survived a confidence vote by members of parliament in December, is set to face the judgment of local party leaders and other members at a special meeting ...
Read More »Merkel pushes back all speculation she could soon step aside
Bloomberg German Chancellor Angela Merkel pushed back against renewed speculation she could soon step down, saying she won’t make any big announcements at a party meeting scheduled after next month’s European election. The German leader was asked about the implications of a meeting called by Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the head of Merkel’s CDU party, for the beginning of June — and ...
Read More »Guaido calls for Venezuela coup
Bloomberg Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido went to a military base in the nation’s capital to proclaim the end of socialist President Nicolas Maduro’s regime and called for a military uprising. The outcome of the high-stakes gambit remained unclear as protesters gathered despite billowing tear gas and the regime promised punishment for any who joined a rebellion. No high-ranking officers ...
Read More »Jokowi wants citizens to choose ‘new capital’
Bloomberg After dithering for decades, Indonesia has decided to move its capital from an overcrowded Jakarta, and President Joko Widodo wants its citizens to have a say in picking the new location. Widodo, known as Jokowi, sought suggestions from the public about the new capital on his Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts, drawing thousands of responses from netizens. “Jakarta now ...
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