- 'Education apartheid': schooling in crisis in Pakistan
- Smart glasses enter new era with sleeker designs, lower prices
- Supreme Court looks poised to uphold TikTok ban
- 2024 hottest recorded year, crossed global warming limit
- Germany reports foot-and-mouth disease in water buffalo
- US hikes reward for Maduro arrest after 'illegitimate' swearing-in
- Robots set to move beyond factory as AI advances
- Pro-Russian disinformation makes its Bluesky debut
- UK gas reserves 'concerningly low', warns biggest supplier
- 2024 warmest year on record for mainland US: agency
- Meta policy reversal puts question mark on future of fact-checking
- Meta policy reversal puts question mark on furure of fact-checking
- Strong US jobs report sends stocks sliding, dollar rising
- US hiring beats expectations in December to cap solid year
- UK gas reserves 'concerningly low': Biggest supplier
- Global stocks mostly fall before US jobs data
- Ubisoft: the 'Assassin's Creed' maker targeted by suitors
- Stock markets drift lower as US jobs data looms
- Pakistan flight departs for Paris after EU ban lifted
- Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai to visit native Pakistan for girls' summit
- AI comes down from the cloud as chips get smarter
- Tajikistan bets on giant dam to solve electricity crisis
- Uruguay bucks 2024 global warming trend
- Last 2 years crossed 1.5C global warming limit: EU monitor
- Japan 'poop master' gives back to nature
- US Supreme Court to hear TikTok ban case
- US Fed's December rate cut should be its last for now: official
- Paris Hilton among celebrities to lose homes in LA fires
- Airbus boosts plane deliveries in 2024
- Ubisoft reviews restructuring options, postpones new Assassin's Creed
- Lamborghini sets new sales record amidst hybrid push
- Lebanon army chief Aoun becomes president after two-year vacancy
- US emissions stagnated in 2024, challenging climate goals: study
- Lebanon army chief short of required majority in first round of president vote
- Global stock markets mixed tracking US rates outlook
- Lebanon meets to finally elect president after two-year vacancy
- Celebrities flee Los Angeles fires, lose houses as Hollywood events scrapped
- Japan startup hopeful ahead of second moon launch
- Ukraine allies to hold last defence meet before Trump takes office
- Myanmar military adopts anti-junta fighters' drone tactics
- CES tech looks to help world's aging population
- Rubber tappers forge sustainable future in Amazon
- US astronauts upbeat seven months into eight-day mission
- Extreme weather, suburban sprawl fuel LA's wildfires
- Political chess or true beliefs? Zuckerberg's surprise Trump pivot
- US Fed officials concerned over 'stalled' disinflation, tariffs: minutes
- Celebrities flee Los Angeles fires as Hollywood events scrapped
- Several US Fed officials concerned over 'stalled' disinflation: minutes
- US tech titans ramp up pressure on EU
- 'Wicked' tops SAG Awards nominations
RBGPF | 100% | 60.49 | $ | |
RELX | -0.86% | 46.37 | $ | |
BTI | -2.34% | 35.9 | $ | |
AZN | 0.64% | 67.01 | $ | |
RIO | 0.36% | 58.84 | $ | |
SCS | -3.01% | 10.97 | $ | |
NGG | -3.3% | 56.13 | $ | |
CMSD | -0.65% | 23.25 | $ | |
GSK | -1.99% | 33.09 | $ | |
RYCEF | -0.42% | 7.07 | $ | |
BCC | -1.31% | 115.88 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.79% | 22.92 | $ | |
BCE | -2.92% | 22.96 | $ | |
BP | 0.54% | 31.29 | $ | |
VOD | -1.99% | 8.05 | $ | |
JRI | -1.16% | 12.08 | $ |
ExxonMobil, Apple, Boeing latest US giants to cut ties with Moscow
Apple, ExxonMobil and Boeing announced Tuesday in rapid succession steps to withdraw or freeze business in Russia as more US corporate giants take action after the Ukraine invasion.
The moves -- in diverse industries and following earlier announcements by Disney, Ford, Mastercard and others -- highlight the rising economic toll on Russia after its assault on Ukraine unleashed massive sanctions across Western governments.
ExxonMobil will begin a phased withdrawal from the giant Sakhalin offshore oilfield that it has operated since 1995, saying "we deplore Russia's military action that violates the territorial integrity of Ukraine and endangers its people."
The US company operates in Russia on behalf of a consortium including Russian, Indian and Japanese companies, its only major project in Russia, after it pulled out of two joint ventures during the previous round of sanctions against Russia following its annexation of Crimea in 2014.
ExxonMobil's move follows earlier decisions by British energy group BP and Shell to pull out of joint projects in Russia. France's TotalEnergies said it would stay in Russia, but refrain from investing more money there.
ExxonMobil stressed that "the process to discontinue operations will need to be carefully managed and closely coordinated with the co-venturers in order to ensure it is executed safely."
- Focus on security of staff -
Earlier, Apple said it would halt all product sales in Russia and limit the use of Apple Pay and other services in the country.
"We are deeply concerned about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and stand with all of the people who are suffering as a result of the violence," Apple said.
Ukraine's defiant government, which has urged its people to battle Russian forces, has asked for help from all quarters, including Apple's CEO Tim Cook.
"I appeal to you... to stop supplying Apple services and products to the Russian Federation, including blocking access to the Apple Store!" Ukraine's digital minister Mykhailo Fedorov wrote in a letter he posted to Twitter Friday.
Boeing for its part said it was suspending its support for Russian airlines and its operations in Moscow, saying it was "focused on ensuring the safety of our teammates in the region."
The action could weigh heavily on flag carrier Aeroflot, which flies the Boeing 737 and 777, and last week announced it was suspending flights to Europe in response to the flight ban.
The United States and European allies have put tough sanctions on Moscow in recent days, including by cutting selected Russian banks from the SWIFT messaging system, while Washington has announced measures specifically targeting the country's central bank.
There has also been a stampede of large US companies in recent days away from Russia affecting nearly every sector.
Disney and WarnerMedia were among the entertainment giants to suspend new film releases in Russia, while tech heavyweights such as Facebook, TikTok and Microsoft moved to curb the reach of Russian state-linked news outlets, which stand accused of pushing misinformation about Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
General Motors suspended vehicle exports to Russia, while Detroit rival Ford aid it was suspending its remaining operations in Russia, including commercial van manufacturing.
Credit card companies including Visa, Mastercard and American Express announced they were blocking Russian banks from their payment networks following international sanctions.
On Tuesday, Moscow announced plans for presidential decree aimed at preventing foreign investment exiting the country.
"In the current sanctions situation, foreign investors will be guided not by economic factors, but by political pressure," Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said.
"To enable businesses to make informed decisions, a draft presidential decree has been prepared to introduce temporary restrictions on exiting Russian assets."
He added: "We still consider foreign business as potential partners."
X.Cheung--CPN