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Branson's Virgin moves closer to launching Eurostar rival
Branson's Virgin moves closer to launching Eurostar rival
by  AFP

British entrepreneur Richard Branson vowed Thursday to "shake up" cross-Channel train services after regulators approved a key bid by his Virgin Group to share an east London depot with Eurostar. Although the tunnel is only used at about 50 percent capacity, previous rival bids for a new Channel service have hit hurdles including regulation and restricted station capacity.

Volkswagen posts 1-billion-euro loss on tariffs, Porsche woes
Volkswagen posts 1-billion-euro loss on tariffs, Porsche woes
by  AFP

Volkswagen reported its first quarterly loss for five years Thursday, topping one billion euros, as the German auto giant struggles with US tariffs and a troubled electric shift at subsidiary Porsche. It is the latest bad news for VW and the wider German auto industry, and reflects broader problems for traditional manufacturers in Europe's struggling top economy.

Fentanyl, beans and Ukraine: Trump hails 'success' in talks with Xi
Fentanyl, beans and Ukraine: Trump hails 'success' in talks with Xi
by  AFP

A beaming US President Donald Trump hailed his "great success" in talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the South Korean city of Busan on Thursday. However, he said after the talks in Busan the tariffs would be reduced to 10 percent -- bringing overall US tariffs on Chinese goods to 47 percent.

G7 meets on countering China's critical mineral dominance
G7 meets on countering China's critical mineral dominance
by  AFP

Curbing China's critical mineral dominance will top the agenda at a G7 energy ministers meeting in Canada on Thursday, as industrialized democracies seek more reliable access to the resources that power future technologies.

Bank of Japan keeps interest rates unchanged
Bank of Japan keeps interest rates unchanged
by  AFP

The Bank of Japan kept interest rates on hold Thursday at 0.5 percent, warning of lingering economic "high uncertainties" linked to US trade tariffs. "High uncertainties still remain regarding the impact of trade and other policies on economic activity and prices at home and abroad," the BoJ said in a statement following the decision.

With inflation under control, ECB to hold rates steady again
With inflation under control, ECB to hold rates steady again
by  AFP

The European Central Bank is expected to keep interest rates unchanged for its third straight meeting Thursday with inflation hovering around its target and the eurozone economy holding up. Jose Luis Escriva, Spain's central bank chief and a member of the ECB's rate-setting governing council, told El Diario newspaper in a weekend interview that the "current level of interest rates is appropriate".

Asia stocks muted with all eyes on Trump-Xi meeting
Asia stocks muted with all eyes on Trump-Xi meeting
by  AFP

Asian stocks were subdued Thursday morning, with investors closely watching talks between the leaders of the United States and China for potential breakthroughs to defuse a damaging trade war. Main benchmarks were nearly flat during Thursday morning trading in Tokyo, Shanghai and Sydney.