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Gucci -- again -- drags down Kering's performance

Gucci -- again -- drags down Kering's performance

French luxury group Kering saw sales slide by six percent in the first quarter of this year, with its troubled flagship Gucci fashion house still dragging down its performance. The group, which embarked on a deep restructuring effort with the hiring of CEO Luca de Meo last year, plans to

Rolls-Royce unveils ultra-luxury limited series electric car

Rolls-Royce unveils ultra-luxury limited series electric car

Far from the downturn that has shaken many luxury houses in recent years, Britain's Rolls-Royce on Tuesday launched an ultra-luxury, limited-series electric car. The imposing bonnet, crowned by the marque's iconic Spirit of Ecstasy mascot, remains, but the new convertible series marks a

Paris engineer wins Picasso painting at charity auction

Paris engineer wins Picasso painting at charity auction

An art-loving engineer from Paris was the lucky winner of an original Picasso painting worth over a million euros at a charity raffle in Paris on Tuesday. Ari Hodara, 58, who only bought his ticket at the weekend, was picked at a ceremony in Paris that was livestreamed from

ECB chief insists won't abandon ship amid global turmoil

ECB chief insists won't abandon ship amid global turmoil

European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde said Tuesday she would not leave her post early as the global economy faces a severe storm, insisting: "This captain is not going to leave the ship." Media reports emerged earlier this year that Lagarde may step down before the end of

Lavrov blasts efforts to 'contain' Russia, China on Beijing visit

Lavrov blasts efforts to 'contain' Russia, China on Beijing visit

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticised efforts he said were aimed at "containing" Russia and China on Tuesday during a visit to Beijing, where he also discussed with his Chinese counterpart plans for a meeting "within the year" between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Lavrov was

Czech govt draws ire with public media financing plan

Czech govt draws ire with public media financing plan

The Czech culture minister angered the opposition and media freedom watchdogs with a plan presented Tuesday to fund public media from the state budget instead of fees paid by citizens. Opponents argue the bill, due to take effect in 2027, would harm the independence of Czech TV and Czech Radio

Dutch prosecutors urge long jail terms for Romanian helmet theft

Dutch prosecutors urge long jail terms for Romanian helmet theft

Prosecutors Tuesday called for the three suspected robbers of a priceless gold Romanian helmet from the fifth century BC to face lengthy jail sentences, as their trial opened in the Netherlands. The brazen January 2025 theft of the 2,500-year-old Helmet of Cotofenesti, a revered Romanian relic, along