Central banks worldwide raise inflation forecasts amid Iran war energy shock

Central banks across the globe have lifted their inflation outlooks less than a month after U.S. and Israeli forces struck Iran on February 28. The conflict's economic fallout spreads as energy prices soar and supply chains disrupt. Governments activate emergency measures to counter the crisis [reuters.com]. France's central bank......

Used EV sales surge across Europe as Iran war spikes fuel prices

Europeans rush toward used electric vehicles as Iran war-driven gasoline price spikes bite. Online car sales platforms report sharp demand increases continent-wide. Consumers seek cheaper, immediate EV alternatives amid fuel cost surges. The conflict began February 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran. These disrupted the Strait of Hormuz,......

China's alcohol ban at official events triggers global wine market crisis

China's once-robust appetite for imported wine has collapsed, and a Communist Party directive banning alcohol at government and official functions has deepened the damage, leaving producers from France to Australia managing unsold inventory and sharply declining demand. In May 2025, Beijing renewed and tightened regulations on excessive......

UK eyes museum entry fees for foreign tourists

The UK government actively considers charging international visitors entry to major national museums and galleries. This would end 25 years of universal free access at sites like the British Museum, National Gallery, and Tate. The Guardian reported Wednesday ministers eye fees to shore up struggling cultural sector funding. The government......

France to unveil targeted measures to tackle rising energy costs

The government of France is preparing to introduce targeted measures aimed at easing the impact of rising energy prices, according to Finance Minister Roland Lescure. The announcement is expected in the coming days as authorities respond to a surge in energy costs linked to ongoing tensions involving Iran. The increase in prices has placed......

Danone secures billions in bonds amid war-driven market volatility

Major blue-chip firms rushed to lock in funding during brief market lulls as the US-Iran conflict disrupts global bond markets and drives up borrowing costs. Danone led a wave of European bond issuances Wednesday with a three-tranche deal. It drew over 6.5 billion euros in orders for euro-denominated portions and more than 1.5 billion pounds......

BNP Paribas moves to exit Morocco with BMCI reclassified for sale

BNP Paribas has taken a significant step toward exiting Morocco, reclassifying its subsidiary BMCI and related entities as assets held for sale in its 2025 annual financial report. The move follows the opening of exclusive talks with Moroccan conglomerate Holmarcom over the sale of BNP Paribas's 67% stake in the Banque Marocaine pour le......

Marrakech Comedy Festival set to launch in June with Disney+ broadcast deal

Marrakech is preparing to host its first comedy festival from June 4 to 6, 2026, as the Marrakech Comedy Festival makes its inaugural appearance at the Palais des Congrès. The three-day event aims to position the city as an international hub for French-language and Arabic-language comedy, bringing together comedians from both traditions......

Morocco's largest bank eyes equity stake in French AI startup Mistral

Attijariwafa Bank, Morocco's largest financial institution and one of Africa's biggest lenders, is exploring an equity investment in Paris-based artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, according to Africa Intelligence. The bank, controlled by Al Mada, the holding company of Morocco's royal family, is examining the potential......

European stocks rise on hopes for Middle East peace plan

European stock markets opened higher on Wednesday, boosted by optimism over a potential resolution to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Investor sentiment improved following recent statements from U.S. officials, who outlined a 15-point peace plan reportedly shared with Iran. In early trading, Paris’ CAC 40 index rose 1.32%,......

Air Liquide plans global reallocation of helium amid supply shortage

French industrial gases company Air Liquide has announced plans to redistribute helium supplies from different regions worldwide in response to a short-term shortage linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. A company executive explained that recent disruptions affecting natural gas production have led to reduced helium availability,......

French university platform hack exposes data of nearly 800,000 users

A major cybersecurity breach in France has exposed the personal data of approximately 774,000 students and former students, according to the National Center for University and School Services (Cnous). The compromised information originated from a government platform used to schedule appointments for student services, including housing assistance,......

Cloudflare geo blocks 2,800 domains as legal pressure intensifies

Cloudflare sharply increased its use of geo blocking in late 2025, restricting access to 2,791 domains in the second half of the year, according to its latest transparency report. The figure marks a nearly ninefold rise compared with the 308 domains blocked during the same period in 2024, reflecting growing regulatory pressure on internet......

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