By Helen Reid LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) – Zara has become the latest fast-fashion retailer to use AI to help create new images of real models in different outfits, speeding up the production process as part of an industry shift that could have a major impact on fashion photography. Zara’s AI experimentation follows Swedish rival …
Zara turns to AI to generate fashion imagery using real-life models Read More »
LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) – The Bank of England cut interest rates on Thursday after a narrow vote by policymakers, but it signalled that the already gradual pace of lowering borrowing costs might slow further. The pound jumped as much as 0.16% to a session high of $1.34 immediately after the decision, while two-year gilt …
Bank of England cuts rates in tight vote, sterling rises Read More »
By Emanuele Berro and Cian Muenster Dec 18 (Reuters) – Beauty retailer Douglas cut its sales guidance for 2026 and beyond on Thursday, as a cautious sentiment among shoppers weighs on its core markets in the western and central parts of Europe. The German group expects sales of 4.65 billion to 4.80 billion euros ($5.46 …
Beauty retailer Douglas tempers growth forecasts for 2026 and beyond Read More »
Dec 18 (Reuters) – Austrian lender Raiffeisen said on Thursday Russian unit AO Raiffeisenbank would book provisions of 339 million euros ($397.38 million) in the fourth quarter in relation to a second lawsuit by Russian investment company Rasperia. The bank said a ruling by the Arbitration Court of the Kaliningrad Region decided that Strabag and …
MADRID, Dec 18 (Reuters) – Spain’s airport operator Aena said on Thursday it agreed to buy a 51% stake in a new holding company that owns Leeds Bradford Airport and part of Newcastle Airport in the UK for 270 million pounds ($360.88 million). The deal aligns with Aena’s push to expand internationally, as the group …
Aena to buy majority stake in UK airports holding for $360 million Read More »
Dec 18 (Reuters) – Corvex Management urged Premier Inn owner Whitbread to review its strategy and 3.5-billion-pound ($4.68 billion) capital plan on Thursday, citing a gap in valuation after recent UK budget changes saddled it with more costs. The hedge fund – founded by Keith Meister, a former protege of Carl Icahn – disclosed a …
Activist investor Corvex calls for strategic review at Premier Inn-owner Whitbread Read More »
BERLIN, Dec 18 (Reuters) – German defence company Rheinmetall has partnered with satellite maker ICEYE to fulfil a 1.7-billion-euro ($2 billion) order from the German army for the space sector, it said in a statement on Thursday. The joint venture, called Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions, will provide space-based reconnaissance data to the German armed forces …
Rheinmetall, ICEYE partner on $2 billion German army order for space sector Read More »
By Ilona Wissenbach and Joanna Plucinska FRANKFURT, Dec 18 (Reuters) – Lufthansa plans to capitalize on robust demand in key U.S. markets by expanding transatlantic flights and promoting its new premium seating, its CEO Carsten Spohr told Reuters. “We have been able to shift our point of sales to almost 60% now coming from the …
Lufthansa looks to US flyers opting for premium to boost sales Read More »
Dec 18 (Reuters) – Meta’s outgoing chief artificial intelligence scientist Yann LeCun is holding early talks to raise 500 million euros ($586.00 million) for a new startup that would value the AI firm at about 3 billion euros ahead of its official launch, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. The report said LeCun has tapped …
Meta’s Yann LeCun targets $3.5 billion valuation for new AI startup, FT reports Read More »
DUBLIN, Dec 18 (Reuters) – The number of people employed by foreign multinational companies in Ireland increased slightly in 2025 despite uncertainty over the impact of U.S. tariffs, the country’s inward investment agency said on Thursday. Ireland’s economy relies on the taxes and jobs of foreign multinationals, which have almost doubled their workforce in the …
Irish foreign multinational employment climbs in 2025 despite Trump tariffs Read More »
