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Jeep owner Stellantis suspends outlook over tariffs

US-European auto giant Stellantis, whose brands include Jeep, Peugeot and Fiat, dropped its annual financial guidance on Wednesday due to uncertainty over US President Donald Trump's tariffs.

Aston Martin limits US car imports due to tariffs

British luxury carmaker Aston Martin Lagonda said Wednesday that it is limiting shipments to the United States after US President Donald Trump slapped 25-percent tariffs on car imports.

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Travel chaos after power outage closes London's Heathrow airport

Heathrow airport was completely shut down on Friday after a power outage due to a fire at a London electricity substation, causing travel chaos for passengers around the world and the cancellation or diversion of hundreds of flights from Europe's busiest air hub.

Namibia inaugurates its first woman president

Southern Africa's desert nation of Namibia swore in its first woman president Friday after Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah won elections last year that extended the ruling party's 35-year grip on power.

Markets skid into weekend as trade fears cast a pall

Equity markets limped into the weekend on Friday following a tepid lead from Wall Street as the optimism stoked by a dovish US Federal Reserve meeting gave way to long-running fears about Donald Trump's tariff agenda.

Court rules against K-pop group NewJeans in contract dispute

A South Korean court on Friday ruled against popular K-pop girl group NewJeans, which had sought to sever ties with their label ADOR over what they called "mistreatment" by the company.

Turkish clinics vie for UK medical tourists' custom in London

Whether it is a bleached-white smile, a full head of hair or major surgery, more and more Brits are flocking to Turkey for cut-price medical and cosmetic procedures -- and clinics are going out of their way to win their custom.

London's Heathrow: Europe's biggest airport

London's Heathrow Airport, which shuttered on Friday after a fire broke out at a substation serving the aviation hub, is Europe's busiest in terms of passengers.

In Washington, glum residents struggle with Trump return

Jennifer Nikolaeff slowly inhales and exhales as she seeks "a moment of calm" at a free yoga class for sacked government workers in Washington, where life has been upended by Donald Trump's return.

Japan core inflation slows to 3% in Feburary

Japanese inflation eased in February, government data showed Friday, with prices excluding fresh food rising 3.0 percent year-on-year in the world's fourth-largest economy.

Trump's call for AI deregulation gets strong backing from Big Tech

Major tech firms are pushing the administration of President Donald Trump to loosen rules on building artificial intelligence, arguing it is the only way to maintain a US edge and compete with China.

Japan's core inflation rate slows to 3% in Feburary

Japan's core inflation rate decelerated in February, government data showed Friday, with prices excluding fresh food rising 3.0 percent year-on-year in the world's fourth-largest economy.

Chinese electric car maker BYD aims for Europe boost

Chinese carmaker BYD on Thursday vowed to conquer Europe with a new compact electric model and super-fast charging capability to rival continental brands.

Stocks fall, oil prices rise in choppy trade after Fed decision

Wall Street stocks slipped Thursday after the US Federal Reserve sought to calm fears over President Donald Trump's tariffs, while eurozone equities slumped.

Explosive Meta memoir tops US best-seller list

A scathing book about Facebook parent company Meta, whose author has been barred from promoting her work, entered at the top of the New York Times bestseller list after its first week of release in the United States.

Swiss cut rates again over global economic 'uncertainty'

Switzerland's central bank cut its key interest rate on Thursday, citing the "high uncertainty" in the global economy triggered by US President Donald Trump's tariff wars.

US existing home sales beat expectations in February

Sales of previously owned homes in the United States topped analysts' expectations in February, as increasing inventory allowed more buyers to enter the property market, according to industry data released Thursday.

BoE warns on 'economic uncertainty' as rate held

The Bank of England kept its key interest rate at 4.5 percent Thursday, as it warned of "a lot of economic uncertainty" caused largely by US President Donald Trump's tariffs.

Hong Kong's embattled CK Hutchison says profits down in 2024

Embattled Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings, caught in a US-China spat over control of the Panama Canal, said on Thursday that profits fell 27 percent in 2024.

Most markets track Wall St gains as Fed soothes tariff fears

Stocks mostly rose Thursday after US Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell suggested any increase in consumer prices caused by tariffs would likely be short-lived, even as the central bank slashed its growth outlook and hiked inflation expectations.

Europe shifts gears for the Trump era

Barely a month ago, a phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin sent an unmistakable message across the Atlantic: the United States may not be there forever to keep Europe safe from an aggressive Russia.

Return of the alpha male: Why toxic masculinity is gaining prominence

Toxic masculinity peddled by online influencers is becoming increasingly prominent, experts say, buoyed by the resurgence of far-right ideology and a virulent backlash against feminism.

Swedish govt holds talks on countering rising food prices

Swedish government officials are to meet food industry giants on Thursday to discuss soaring food costs and rising consumer anger in the Nordic country.

Young Chinese women find virtual love in 'Deepspace'

Rafayel's girlfriends went all out to celebrate their lover's birthday, renting malls across China for parties, decorating high-speed trains with his photos, and even staging a dazzling drone show.

Most Asian markets track Wall St rally after Fed rate signals

Most Asian equities rose Thursday after US Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell suggested any increase in consumer prices caused by tariffs would likely be short-lived, even as the central bank slashed its growth outlook and hiked inflation expectations.

Chinese tariffs on Canadian agricultural products kick in

Chinese tariffs on Canadian products including rapeseed oil and pork come into effect Thursday, with an industry lobby warning the new levies will have a "devastating impact" on farmers.

Too much water: Gold rush, climate change submerge Bolivian village

Navigating a makeshift raft between drifting furniture and submerged cars, Rafael Quispe steers through his village in western Bolivia, where the streets were turned into rivers two months ago.

Nvidia chief confident chip maker can weather US tariffs

Nvidia boss Jensen Huang expressed confidence Wednesday that the artificial intelligence (AI) chip giant can handle US President Donald Trump's trade war.

Zelensky says discussed with Trump US idea of owning occupied nuclear plant

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday said that he and US counterpart Donald Trump had discussed possible US ownership of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine.

US stocks climb after Fed decision, gold hits fresh high

US stocks jumped while European indexes were mixed Wednesday as the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady after a policy meeting -- and gold hit a new record as geopolitical concerns returned to the fore.

US Fed holds rates again, flags increased economic uncertainty

The US Federal Reserve paused interest rate cuts again on Wednesday and noted an increase in economic uncertainty, as it navigates an economy unnerved by President Donald Trump's stop-start tariff rollout.

Stock climb before Fed decision, gold hits fresh high

European and US stocks mostly rose on Wednesday a Fed rate decision, while gold set a new record high as geopolitical concerns returned to the fore.

UniCredit CEO says prepared to wait on Commerzbank decision

UniCredit's chief executive said Wednesday he could wait until 2027 to determine whether a takeover of Germany's Commerzbank made sense for Italy's second-largest bank.

Santander to close one fifth of UK branches amid online switch

Spanish bank Santander announced Wednesday plans to close one fifth of its UK branches, impacting 750 jobs, as the switch to online banking gathers pace.

The Japan Times - Economy (English)