Global regulators will not let Facebook launch its Libra currency until all their concerns, ranging from money laundering to financial stability, have been addressed and "a prolonged discussion" may be needed first, the man in charge of their response told Reuters.

Russia's communications watchdog fined Google 700,000 roubles ($11,100) on Thursday for failing to fulfil legal requirements to remove entries from its search results that Moscow believes contain illegal information.

Digital currencies such as Facebook's planned Libra raise serious concerns and must be regulated as tightly as possible to ensure they do not upset the world's financial system, Group of Seven finance ministers and central bankers said on Thursday.

Indonesia is aiming to start producing electric vehicles (EVs) in 2022, a senior official at the Industry Ministry told Reuters on Thursday, after a number of companies disclosed plans to invest in the country.

Brussels gave its blessing to Vodafone's $22 billion purchase of Liberty Global's cable networks in Germany and central Europe, clearing the way for the British company to become Europe's largest mobile, broadband and TV provider.

Taiwan's TSMC forecast that robust demand for 5G chips will drive a stronger second-half even as it anticipates a dispute between Japan and South Korea involving chip-making materials to be a big source of uncertainty.

Digital currencies like Facebook's Libra must be held "to the highest regulatory standards" to ensure they are not used to launder money and that users are protected, a Group of Seven taskforce urged on Thursday.

Stablecoins like Facebook's Libra can foster financial inclusion but they must be held "to the highest regulatory standards" to ensure that they aren't used to launder money and that users are protected, a Group of Seven taskforce on the issue concluded.

G7 finance ministers agreed to address the tax challenges raised by the digital economy and push ahead with plans for a minimum corporate tax level, a draft of the chair's summary seen by Reuters said on Thursday.

(This July 17 story corrects paragraph 2 to say second-quarter revenue was up, not down)

Memory chip spot prices have risen for the first time this year, indicating grim warnings of "never seen before" spikes and a supply disruption could come to pass as a dispute between South Korea and Japan drags on.

Vodafone secured on Thursday antitrust approval from the European Union for its $22 billion bid to buy Liberty Global's cable networks in Germany and central Europe after offering concessions in May.

Lufax, one of China's largest online wealth management platforms that is backed by financial giant Ping An Insurance , plans to exit its once-core peer-to-peer lending (P2P) business, three sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing said on Thursday it was proposing to relaunch its Hitch carpooling service with added safety features, almost a year after suspending the service following the murder of a female passenger by her Didi driver.

SAP told investors not to expect a major improvement in margins before next year as the German business software group reported a 21% decline in second-quarter operating profit on Thursday, sending its shares sharply lower.

Sweden's AB Volvo raised its market forecasts for North America and Europe on Thursday, as higher trucks and construction equipment deliveries helped it to top profit estimates.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) on Thursday said it expects a stronger half-year on 5G telecoms demand, and that a dispute over chip-making materials between Japan and South Korea is its most uncertain factor.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) on Thursday said it expects a stronger half-year on demand for 5G telecoms gear as well as new tech like Internet of Things (IoT), after booking a profit fall in the second quarter.

Lufax, one of China's largest online wealth management platforms that is backed by financial giant Ping An Insurance , plans to exit its once-core peer-to-peer lending (P2P) business, three sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

SAP told investors not to expect a major improvement in margins before next year as the German business software group reported a 21% decline in second-quarter operating profit on Thursday, weighed down by one-off costs.

The world's financial regulators will not sacrifice customers' security for the sake of innovation, Bank of France head and European Central Bank policymaker Francois Villeroy de Galhau said on Thursday.

AB Volvo on Thursday hiked its growth outlook for North America and Europe, as upbeat deliveries for trucks and construction equipment as well as continued easing of supply-chain bottlenecks helped the Swedish truckmaker top estimates.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC), the world's largest contract chipmaker, posted second-quarter profit largely in line with estimates on Thursday, amid sluggish demand from phone makers impacted by a Sino-U.S. trade spat.

Netflix Inc said on Wednesday it would roll out a lower-priced mobile-only plan in India within the next three months to tap into a price-sensitive market at a time the streaming company is losing customers in its home turf.

Sweden's AB Volvo inched up its market growth outlook for North America and Europe, as strong deliveries for its trucks and construction equipment as well as continued easing of supply chain bottlenecks helped it beat quarterly profit expectations.

SAP told investors they can expect a major improvement in margins only next year as the German business software group reported a 21% decline in second-quarter operating profit on Thursday, weighed down by one-off costs.

European law enforcement agencies set to lose the ability to tap criminals' mobile devices with the launch of 5G technology must be brought into discussions earlier when communications networks are modernized, the new head of Europol told Reuters.

German payments company Wirecard AG said on Thursday it was teaming up with car-dealing platform AUTO1 Group to offer digital financial services to consumers, in its first alliance with a company backed by Japan's SoftBank Group.

Berlin-based N26 said on Thursday it raised an additional $170 million in its latest funding round, driving up its valuation to $3.5 billion, as the online bank looks to speed up expansion to markets outside Europe including the U.S.

SoftBank Group Corp founder and Chief Executive Masayoshi Son said on Thursday that there is a dearth of investment opportunities in Japan, which he said is lagging in the race to develop artificial intelligence (AI).