business 
Germany’s centrist parties announced on Wednesday that they had formally reached a coalition agreement to allow Friedrich Merz, a conservative, to take the reins as chancellor at a tumultuous moment when Europe’s economic and security order is being upended. Since Mr. Merz’s Christian Democrats came out on top in elections in February, he has been … Read more
Universal Studios will build its first European theme park in Bedfordshire, England, studio officials said Wednesday, previewing a sprawling resort that could combine iconic American brands like “Jurassic Park” with classic British characters like Paddington Bear, Dr. Who and Harry Potter. Set to open in 2031, British officials said the yet-to-be-named theme park would be … Read more
On a bench in Newbury, England, the country’s most beloved bear sits once more, wearing his familiar red bucket hat and blue coat. Around his neck, a label reads, “Please look after this bear.” Local officials unveiled a repaired statue of Paddington Bear on Wednesday, adding another element of joy to the already perfect — … Read more
China’s foreign ministry on Wednesday rejected accusations by Ukraine that more Chinese citizens were fighting there on behalf of Russia, calling the assertion “groundless.” President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine had said a day earlier, without providing evidence, that two Chinese men fighting alongside Russian troops had been captured and that there were “many more” on … Read more
The parallels between President Trump and Liz Truss, Britain’s shortest-serving prime minister, are growing starker. Ms. Truss triggered market turmoil in 2022 after she proposed sweeping tax cuts that she proposed to pay for with massive government borrowing. Ms. Truss was ultimately doomed by fears of a credit crisis after yields on British government bonds … Read more
Nicolas Puech is an heir to the Hermès fortune whose riches are shrouded in mystery. He either is or is not a billionaire, and may or may not have a sizable stake in his family’s luxury brand, depending on when and where these matters come up. A new lawsuit filed in federal court late last … Read more
The European Union plans to vote on Wednesday afternoon on its first retaliation measures in response to President Trump’s tariffs, moving closer to placing increased duties on a range of manufactured goods and farm products that would take effect in phases starting next week. The list up for consideration is a slightly trimmed down version … Read more
Their lives intersected around a playground on a sunny Friday evening in Kryvyi Rih, a city in central Ukraine. Kostiantyn Novik, 16, had come with his cousin to hang out with friends. Serhii Smotolok, a 57-year-old welder, was nursing a beer nearby on the terrace of a restaurant, unwinding after his workday. Radislav Yatsko, 7, … Read more
Market turmoil extended into Wednesday’s trading session in Asia, as stocks across the region faced renewed downward pressure amid the impending imposition of significantly higher taxes on imports to the United States. Benchmark indexes in Japan and Hong Kong opened down more than 3 percent on Wednesday morning, following a day on Wall Street when … Read more
