Business

What's in Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan?

Joe Biden wants to spend $1.9 trillion on a relief program aimed at curbing the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis it has caused in the US. DW explains what the funding is intended for and how quickly it can flow.  

Biggest threats: Pandemic, climate change

Economic and social fallout from COVID-19 are among the most imminent threats to the world, a new report shows. The pandemic will leave deep scars on young people, already reeling from financial and environmental crises.  

What next after Lee's bribery conviction?

The heir to the Samsung conglomerate is going back to jail and South Korea is again examining the dirty intersection of all-powerful "chaebols" and political leadership.  

WhatsApp row reveals data privacy fears

Many users abandoned WhatsApp after the messenger service changed its privacy policy. Worries that their data could end up with Facebook are driving them to competitors pushing superior data protection.  

UK-Africa trade: What will Brexit change?

As part of its post-Brexit global vision, Britain is hosting a UK-Africa trade forum this week. But with its new trade deals failing to offer African nations much extra, the UK is falling behind as a key trading partner.  

UAE's tourism sector gets a shot in the arm

Despite COVID-19, up to 50,000 Israelis have been flying to Dubai since last November. The UAE is adapting to the new clientele as mutual business interests start to take off.  

Illegal waste exports to Poland on the rise

Thousands of tons of waste are dumped in Poland every year, much of it from Germany. But Poland also has problems with its own waste disposal and its environment is suffering as a result.  

German foundation fights US sanctions

Possible US penalties for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline have the European companies involved jumping ship. Now, a foundation is hoping to get the job done. Environmentalists are incensed and legal experts are skeptical.  

EU launches 'Year of Rail' amid COVID gloom

The rail sector has paid a high price for lockdowns across Europe. The number of passengers has declined steeply, impacting rail operators. The EU executive is now launching a series of initiatives to support the sector.  

Chip shortage disrupts global car production

The auto industry has been left scrambling for semiconductors as a swift recovery catches their suppliers off guard. Strong demand for iPhones, Galaxy tabs and Playstation consoles from housebound consumers is to blame.  

EU firms unprepared for US-China breakup

The economic schism between the US and China is likely to widen, despite a potential improvement in relations under Joe Biden, a new study says. The US-China "decoupling" would throw European firms into uncharted waters.  

Italy government collapses amid EU aid row

Matteo Renzi's decision to pull his party's two ministers from the coalition government has plunged the country into yet another political crisis — this time over a debate on how best to spend EU recovery funds.  

Corporate world ditches Trump after riot

Deutsche Bank is the latest firm to distance itself from the US president following the storming of the Capitol. The threat of losing corporate campaign donations could be enough to make Republicans turn on their leader.  

Two ex-EU leaders and their ties to gas barons

Ex-UK PM Tony Blair has finished his work on the TAP, while Germany's Gerhard Schröder is helping on Nord Stream 2. What is it with 1990s Social Democrats that attracts them to authoritarian leaders and their pipelines?  

Why producing a vaccine is no smooth sailing

A sustainable global vaccination campaign is key to ending the coronavirus pandemic. While a number of vaccines are already available, the road to mass production is long and bumpy.  

Perspectives

Tesla's rise could cheer climate campaigners

Equity investors, known for their myopic views, have been eternal procrastinators when it comes to climate risks. Tesla's meteoric rise shows that they may be finally smelling the coffee, says DW's Ashutosh Pandey.  

Will Bitcoin become 'millennial gold'?

After smashing multiple records in recent weeks, Bitcoin is on track to become the gold of the future, investment experts say. But the precious metal, which could hit record prices this year, won't dull so easily.