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Global stocks mostly rise, shrugging off US tariff threats
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Solar becomes Europe's main energy source in June: consultants
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Last-gasp Xhemaili fires Swiss into Euro 2025 quarters
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NBA champion Thunder agree contract extension with Jalen Williams
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Gaza civil defence says Israeli strike kills children at clinic
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Swiatek surprised by surge to Wimbledon final
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Lyles back, ready to 'run fast', as Tebogo lurks
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Anisimova proves doubters wrong with run to Wimbledon final
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Spurs set to sign £60m Gibbs-White - reports
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Booker agrees to record $145 mn extension with Suns: reports
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Sabalenka criticises Anisimova behaviour after shock Wimbledon exit
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Russia and US hold 'frank' talks on Ukraine war
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Swiatek swats Bencic aside to reach Wimbledon final against Anisimova
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Root's 99 not out keeps India at bay in third Test
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Delta offers upbeat outlook on travel demand, lifting shares
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Sara Netanyahu: the ever-present wife of Israel's prime minister
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Italy can hurt rampant Spain, says coach Soncin
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Djokovic faces Sinner in Wimbledon blockbuster as Alcaraz meets Fritz
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Rebooted and 'vulnerable': Superman is back on screens
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Sri Lanka steamroll Bangladesh to win first T20
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Swiatek routs Bencic to reach first Wimbledon final
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Anisimova shocks Sabalenka to reach Wimbledon final, Swiatek in action
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Europe court says S.African Semenya's gender eligibility trial wasn't fair
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Ten rescued after deadly Huthi ship sinking off Yemen
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Scrutiny over Texas flood response mounts as death toll hits 120
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Rami Al Ali becomes first Syrian in Paris fashion programme
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London stocks hit record high on tariff optimism
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Ireland's Healy pulls off solo win at Tour de France
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French appeals court clears two over first lady gender rumours
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French appeals court court clears two over first lady gender rumours
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Barry Callebaut cuts outlook as chocolate sales volumes melt away
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The $10 mn bag: Original Birkin smashes records at Paris auction
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Anisimova stuns Sabalenka to reach Wimbledon final
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Root leads England revival after Reddy's double strike for India
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Snap, crackle and pay: Ferrero to buy WK Kellogg for $3.1 bn
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Shein faces 150-mn-euro fine in France
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Rubio says Asia might get 'better' tariffs than others
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India wicketkeeper Pant leaves field injured in third Test
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Russia says holds 'frank exchange' with US on Ukraine war
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Tendulkar says 'life has come full circle' with Lord's portrait
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Wall Street stocks stall, London hits record high
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Duplantis unfazed by late world champs in Tokyo
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Europe court says S.African athlete's gender eligibility trial wasn't fair
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Dzeko, 39, returns to Serie A with Fiorentina
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Scrutiny over Texas flood response mounts as death toll tops 120
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Iran threats in UK 'significantly increased': Intel watchdog
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Volkswagen halts electric minivan exports to the United States
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EU chief von der Leyen comfortably survives confidence vote
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India's Reddy strikes twice to rock England
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EU opens new probe into TikTok data transfer to China

Amazon wants to be everything to everyone
Amazon is bolstering its e-commerce empire while continuing a march deeper into people's lives, from robots to healthcare and entertainment.
Innovations unveiled in recent days by the Seattle-based tech titan included a delivery van computer system to shave time off deliveries by its speed-obsessed logistics network.
Amazon Stores boss Doug Herrington said that the technology enables vans to recognize stops and signal which packages to drop off.
"When we speed up deliveries, customers shop more," Herrington said.
"For 2024, we're going to have the fastest Prime delivery speeds around the world," he added, referring to Amazon's subscription service.
On top of that, according to Herrington, Amazon last year managed to cut 45 cents off the cost per unit shipped, a huge savings when considering the massive volume of sales.
- Prime is the 'glue' -
Amazon last year recorded profit of more than $30 billion on revenue of $575 billion, powered by its online retail operation and its AWS cloud computing division.
"They have this whole flywheel model with Amazon Prime membership in the middle," said eMarketer analyst Suzy Davidkhanian.
"That's the glue that keeps everything together."
Businesses include retail, advertising, cloud computing and streamed movies and music.
But that very model has the 30-year-old company facing a US government lawsuit, accused of expanding an illegal monopoly and otherwise harming competition.
Amazon makes money from data gathered about consumers, either by targeting ads or through insights into what products they might like, Davidkhanian said.
That was why Amazon paid for expensive rights to stream NFL American football games on Prime Video in a move that promises to help it pinpoint fans of the sport.
Amazon's digital assistant Alexa can order items on command and has been even built into appliances such as washing machines to let them automatically buy supplies like laundry soap as needed.
- A 'pocket pharmacy' -
Amazon showed off enhancements to its virtual health care service called One Medical.
For $9 a month Prime members are promised anytime access to video consultations with health care professionals, along with record keeping and drug prescriptions.
An Amazon Pharmacy takes advantage of the company's delivery network to get prescriptions to patients quickly, striving for speeds of less than 24 hours for 45 percent of customers by the end of next year.
"We're building a pharmacy in your pocket that offers rapid delivery right to your door," Amazon Pharmacy chief Hannah McClellan said, referring to the option of using a smartphone app.
The healthcare market promises to be lucrative for Amazon, which is "trying to be the platform that has everything for everyone," said analyst Davidkhanian.
- Real world wrinkles -
Amazon has suffered setbacks when it comes to brick-and-mortar stores but it continues to strive for a winning strategy.
The company next year will open its first "automated micro warehouse" in Pennsylvania, next to a Whole Foods Market organic grocery shop, the chain it bought in 2017.
People will be able to pick up certain items selected online, with orders filled by robots, after shopping next door for fresh produce and groceries.
Meanwhile, Amazon is ramping up use of artificial intelligence at its online store with tools helping sellers describe and illustrate products.
Product labels will change according to the user, displaying terms likely to catch their attention such as "strawberry flavor" for some and "gluten-free" for others.
"The things that Amazon is doing with AI are to make sure that you go from researching something to making the purchase as quickly as possible," Davidkhanian said.
At the logistics center near Nashville, robotic arms deftly placed packages in carts that autonomously made their way to trucks.
Logistics center automation improves safety and frees up workers for more interesting tasks, according to Amazon robotics manager Julie Mitchell.
However, critics cite delivery speed pressure and other factors as making Amazon warehouses more dangerous than the industry average.
M.Thompson--AMWN