Economics
UK defence secretary John Healey was expected to confirm today that Britain would double troop numbers in Norway to 2,000 over three years, saying Russia posed the greatest Arctic threat.
Record investment by Big Tech and AI startups accelerated workplace deployment, displacing entry-level roles, fueling burnout among employees and unsettling industries from wealth management to administrative roles.
The House rejected Speaker Mike Johnson’s bid to block votes on resolutions disapproving President Trump’s tariffs, clearing the way for lawmakers to rebuke the tariffs and challenge the national emergency.
The European Parliament approved a €90 billion loan to Ukraine, financed by EU bond issuance with interest covered by the EU budget, to support Kyiv’s defence.
Friedrich Merz and Giorgia Meloni aligned to push industrial and defense priorities within the EU and dismissed Emmanuel Macron’s eurobond and European‑preference proposals ahead of a competition summit.
France urged EU partners to adopt comprehensive industrial protections and a joint investment plan to counter Chinese competition, while German hesitation risked domestic auto jobs.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen defended a preference for European-made components in strategic sectors but cautioned it should not become protectionism, while Nordic states remained wary.
On Equal Pay Day, 11 February, Austrian officials announced further measures to tackle a roughly 12 percent gender pay gap while critics said the campaign's framing was flawed.
Heineken announced it would cut up to 6,000 jobs worldwide over two years after global beer demand fell, the Dutch brewer said.
Lufthansa called pilots' announced strikes in Germany for Thursday "a completely unnecessary escalation" and said its Swiss, Austrian, Ita, Brussels, Eurowings and Discover units were likely not affected.
Germany recorded nearly 500 million overnight stays in 2025, a new record, the Federal Statistical Office said, driven mainly by domestic travelers and gains at hotels, pensions and campsites.
Alphabet issued rare 100‑year bonds in global capital markets to raise billions for its AI push, and the sale drew heavy investor demand amid questions over long‑term risk.
Bitcoin plunged sharply in global trading on Feb. 11, wiping out recent gains and raising concerns among analysts of a possible deeper "death spiral" for the cryptocurrency.
