Europe

Hong Kong spent more than HK$600 billion ($76.44 billion) on various pandemic relief programs for the past three years, forcing it to run rare budget deficits. Isaac Lawrence | AFP | Getty Images Google and OpenAI, which has partnered with Microsoft, have restricted access to their powerful artificial intelligence chatbots …

An animated avatar generated by the AI video platform Synthesia. Synthesia Synthesia, a digital media platform that lets users create artificial intelligence-generated videos, has raked in $90 million from investors — including U.S. chip giant Nvidia, the company told CNBC exclusively. The London-based company raised the cash in a funding …

Manchester United shares jumped on Tuesday after Qatari media suggested Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani was likely to succeed with his takeover bid. CNBC was unable to verify the reports, and a spokesperson for Manchester United declined to comment. The Athletic, the sports media outlet owned by The New York …

Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), announced a new rate decision Thursday following new inflation data. Caisa Rasmussen | Afp | Getty Images FRANKFURT — The European Central Bank is set to increase its benchmark policy rate by another 25 basis points this week, insisting that all …

Fintech executives descend on Amsterdam for the annual Money2020 conference. MacKenzie Sigalos AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — At last year’s Money 20/20 — Europe’s marquee event for the financial technology industry — investors and industry insiders were abuzz with talk about embedded finance, open banking, and banking-as-a-service. As nebulous as these terms …

Earlier this year, Thunberg was arrested alongside other campaigners during a protest against the demolition of a small German village to make way for a coalmine. Bernd Lauter | Getty Images News | Getty Images Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg on Friday took part in her final school strike, signing …

Melanie Perkins, co-founder & chief executive of Australian graphic design firm Canva, says the business is in a “uniquely strong position” as it expands to Europe. David Fitzgerald | Sportsfile | Getty Images LONDON — Australian graphic design company Canva believes it is in a “uniquely strong position” to withstand …

People gathered in the streets of Tbilisi in May to protest after a Russian passenger plane landed in the Georgian capital, completing the first direct flight from Moscow after a four-year hiatus, on May 20, 2023. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Caucasus countries Georgia and Armenia, whose …

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Thursday that Ukraine’s “rightful place” is within the NATO military alliance. Sunak said he agreed with comments made earlier Thursday by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg that Ukraine is on the path toward NATO membership. “I agree with the NATO Secretary-General: Ukraine’s rightful place is …

People at the market for their daily shopping on April 07, 2023 in Bari, Italy. Inflation has eased in Italy but price pressures remain strong. Donato Fasano | Getty Images News | Getty Images Inflation in the euro zone eased more than expected in May, with flash figures showing the …