Business
Aston Martin said it will cut up to 20% of jobs, cut five-year capex to about £1.7bn and book restructuring provisions after a 2025 loss.
EU governments cleared an interim trade agreement with Mercosur, letting provisions take effect provisionally while the European Parliament process continues.
Eurostat says EU countries imported €3.471 trillion in services from non-EU providers in 2024, with commercial presence the dominant delivery mode.
Final figures put Austria’s January 2026 inflation at 2.0%, the lowest since December 2024, as cheaper electricity and fuels eased household costs.
European Commission officials said a deal is a deal as Brussels demanded US clarity on a new import surcharge and warned against breaching agreed tariff limits.
On the MLC 20th anniversary, ILO and IMO renewed their commitment to seafarer rights, compliance, and fair treatment across global shipping.
EU presses the United States for full clarity on tariffs after the Supreme Court ruling, citing an EU-US framework that caps duties on most goods.
Italy’s 2025 current account surplus widened to €27.4bn, up from €23.8bn, as primary income swung into surplus, Bank of Italy data show.
EU goods trade returned a €28.4bn surplus in Q4 2025 as big surpluses in chemicals and machinery outweighed an energy deficit, Eurostat said. Imports fell 1.4%.
World Gold Council data rank China, Poland, Türkiye and India as top net gold buyers since 2020 while the Philippines and Kazakhstan recorded the biggest sales.
UK jobless rate reached 5.2% in Oct-Dec 2025 highest since 2015 outside the pandemic. ONS said UK vacancies at 726,000 and claimant count was 1.691m in Jan 2026.
Final data confirmed Germany’s CPI rose 2.1% in January and 0.1% month to month, while the EU harmonised rate also held at 2.1%; food, services up; energy down.
Baker McKenzie said its business services review, including AI use, led to proposed cuts and consultations affecting support staff in London and Belfast centres.
The 6th Sustainable Development Forum in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky runs Feb 17-21, with 40+ events on investment, planning, and tourism infrastructure in Kamchatka.
European Commission charged Meta, over WhatsApp Business API rules for AI assistants and weighed interim measures after Italy’s AGCM suspended the terms for now.
IEA warns grid bottlenecks are slowing power projects, with more than 2,500 GW stuck in connection queues, spanning renewables, storage and data centres in 2026.
News
Brussels unveiled a six-pillar ProtectEU counterterrorism agenda, backing Europol data tools, faster takedowns of terrorist content and measures on illicit firearms.
At NATO headquarters, Rutte said Ukraine needs ammunition now and every day, warning that promises alone do not end wars as allies reviewed support.
Reform UK proposes immediate visa suspensions for non-cooperating states as it pushes a new Deportation Command to speed removals.
Travel
Britain says China will waive visas for UK passport holders visiting mainland China for up to 30 days, covering tourism and business travel, after talks in Beijing.
UN Tourism said tourist arrivals rose 4% in 2025, while U.S. inbound numbers fell in several months, tracking a divergence for the world’s largest overall economy.
Updated UK advice warns insurance may be invalid if trips ignore official guidance, while consular help can be limited during crises worldwide in 2026 closely.
Technology
Automotive
The EU is easing its 2035 combustion engine ban, revising emissions targets to protect automakers while maintaining long-term climate neutrality goals.
Porsche launches the all-electric Cayenne, delivering 850 kW power, 2.5s acceleration, and up to 642 km range in a new era of performance SUVs.
Porsche AG posts €967 million Q3 loss, its first since 2022 IPO, citing one-time restructuring costs, import tariffs, and weak global demand.