IBT Staff Reporter

French President Emmanuel Macron will speak to the nation on Wednesday for the first time since the country was plunged into political crisis after he lost control of parliament and opponents ruled out any form of coalition or pact.

Divisions emerged among Emmanuel Macron's allies on whether his centrist alliance should rule out any deal at all with far-right MPs or could work with them on an ad hoc basis as the French president seeks an elusive majority following an election upset.

'We must defend our families': In Zaporizhzhia, women learn urban combat

Macron to address France over political impasse

Finland has prepared for decades for a Russian attack and would put up stiff resistance should one occur, its armed forces chief said.

Biden seeks fuel tax suspension to help fight inflation pain

Israel moved closer on Wednesday to its fifth election in less than four years after lawmakers gave an initial nod to dissolve parliament, with a possible comeback by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu already dominating the campaign.

The financial sector should not bet on remaining deadlines changing for the phasing out of the use of Libor interest rates, Britain's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said on Wednesday.

Authorities in Bangladesh intensified efforts on Wednesday to deliver food and drinking water to millions of people struggling after heavy rain unleashed catastrophic flooding across a quarter of the country.

U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday called for a three-month suspension of the federal gasoline tax to combat record prices, but opposition from lawmakers within his own party suggests the request may never be met.

U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday called on Congress to pass a three-month suspension of the federal gasoline tax to help combat record pump prices, but opposition from lawmakers within his own party suggests the request is unlikely to be met.

The once ubiquitous Russian signs along Montenegro's picturesque Adriatic coast have all but disappeared as the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia keep tourists from those countries away from one of their favourite destinations.

The European Union will temporarily shift back to coal to cope with dwindling Russian gas flows without derailing longer term climate goals, an EU official said on Wednesday as a tight gas market and soaring prices set off a race for alternative fuels.

A no-confidence vote on Wednesday toppled Bulgaria's government and Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, who had pledged to tackle corruption and took an unusually strong stance against Russia.

A no-confidence vote on Wednesday threatens to topple Bulgaria's government and Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, who pledged to tackle corruption and took an unusually strong stance against Russia.

MarketAxess, Tradeweb and Bloomberg said on Wednesday they were exploring a single price feed for corporate and government bonds in the European Union as the bloc works to better integrate its capital market.

European stocks bounced off session lows on Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the U.S. central bank is "strongly committed" to bringing down inflation.

Two prominent Chinese rights lawyers are set to go on trial behind closed doors this week on charges of state subversion, campaign groups said, part of a clampdown on dissent and rights activism under President Xi Jinping.

South Korea plans to set up a delegation to NATO in Brussels, the national security adviser said on Wednesday, as Seoul pushes to strengthen its partnership with the organisation and play a bigger role on the global stage.

UK inflation hits fresh 40-year high in cost-of-living crisis

Leaders of the global scheme aiming to get COVID-19 vaccines to the world's poorest are pushing manufacturers including Pfizer and Moderna to cut or slow deliveries of about half a billion shots so doses are not wasted.

Sri Lanka will call China, India and Japan to a donor conference to drum up more foreign assistance to find a way out of its worsening economic crisis, the prime minister said on Wednesday, amid ongoing talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

At least 1,000 killed in Afghan quake, with fear toll will rise

Soaring food prices pushed British consumer price inflation to a 40-year high of 9.1% last month, the highest rate out of the Group of Seven countries and one which underlines the severity of the country's cost-of-living crunch.

An upside down world of "reverse currency wars" is seeping into the real one.

Innovative incentives for people to green up their homes revived Italy's construction sector last year, boosted its economy and drew international praise.

Belgium's Umicore on Wednesday presented a 5 billion euro plan to bulk up its battery materials business by 2026, as it prepares for soaring demand largely driven by electrical vehicle production.

French bank Credit Agricole is targeting a net profit of more than 6 billion euros ($6.3 billion) by 2025 and sees strong potential for its business in Italy, it said on Wednesday as it unveiled a new strategic plan.

Bombardier Inc workers on a key program for the Canadian business jet maker will decide on Wednesday whether to accept a new contract offer or walk off the job.