Articles by AFP
Despite doubts over economy, Americans set for record holiday spending
Americans are expected to spend a record amount over the holiday season, despite lingering worries in the world's biggest economy about stubborn inflation, tariffs and the knock-on effects of the government shutdown. "Consumers remain pretty concerned about inflation and, there's no doubt, about where prices are going," Mark Mathews, chief...
BusinessFeaturedMemberloading...
Irish fashion designer Paul Costelloe dies aged 80
Irish-American fashion titan Paul Costelloe, who was the late Princess Diana's personal designer for over a decade, has died aged 80, his family said in a statement Saturday. "We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Paul Costelloe following a short illness," his family said, adding he was with his wife and seven children when he died...
Peopleloading...
Italy probes Tod's executives over labour exploitation
Italian prosecutors are investigating three executives from luxury fashion label Tod's, as well as the company itself, for alleged labour exploitation, according to a court document seen Thursday by AFP. Milan Prosecutor Paolo Storari had previously requested a six-month ban on the company's advertising, with Judge Domenico Santoro fixing a...
BusinessMemberloading...
Greenpeace says clothes sold by Shein break EU chemicals rules
Clothing items sold by Asian e-commerce giant Shein contain dangerous chemicals at levels well in excess of EU rules, Greenpeace charged in a report published on Thursday. A spokesman for Shein told AFP that "as a precaution we will withdraw the articles that we can identify from our marketplace worldwide". Greenpeace Germany said 18 clothing...
BusinessMemberloading...
French retail sector unites against Shein
Major French trade federations representing sectors from mass market retail to clothing and toys are suing Shein for “unfair competition”. The Asian e-commerce giant, already under government scrutiny, described the move as a “boycott attempt”. Several sector organisations stated in a press release that Shein’s model “relies on non-compliance...
Retailloading...
Prada heir to head Versace after buy-out
Lorenzo Bertelli, the son of designer Miuccia Prada, said Wednesday he will become executive chairman of Versace following the Prada Group's takeover of its smaller Italian rival. Prada announced in April it was buying Versace from US group Capri Holdings for 1.25 billion euros (1.4 billion dollars). Bertelli, currently Prada's group chief...
Peopleloading...
Claire's France: two takeover bids approved by court, half of employees retained
The Paris Commercial Court approved two partial takeover bids for the Claire's brand in France on Friday. The company was placed in administration at the end of July, lawyers for the staff representatives told AFP on Monday. The lawyers detailed that around 450 out of 830 employees will be taken on by two companies. The vast majority will be...
BusinessMemberloading...
Vinted faces French probe over porn content
Vinted faces an investigation in France over allegations that some accounts on the second-hand clothes platform are being used to promote pornographic content, the government's child protection commissioner said. French news website L'Informé and other media reported last week how some users are posting advertisements for lingerie or swimwear to...
BusinessMemberloading...
Maersk secures 30-year lease for Bangladesh's Chattogram container terminal
On Monday, Bangladesh signed a 30-year lease with Danish global shipping giant Maersk to manage a new container terminal in Chattogram (south-east), the country's largest port. Officials from the Chattogram Port Authority stated that APM Terminals, the Maersk subsidiary involved in the project, will invest approximately 550 million dollars over...
BusinessMemberloading...
Alibaba denies report accusing it of supporting Chinese army against US
Beijing - Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba on Saturday denied to AFP an article in the Financial Times (FT) that accused it of assisting in Beijing's military operations against the US. Alibaba “provides technical support for the ‘operations’ of the Chinese army against US targets,” stated the report from the British newspaper published on...
BusinessMemberloading...