Bloomberg Some European banks are seeing their capital ratios come under pressure as the region’s top supervisor takes a more conservative view of their risk models. Last month, the European Central Bank raised the risk-weightings which determine capital at Finland’s biggest financial services group after finding “shortcomings” in its models. Lenders including Bank of Ireland have started to take …

  Bloomberg Alphabet Inc. unveiled new customers and partners for its cloud storage service in an attempt to boost the standing of Google’s business sales unit, which lags behind Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp. Diane Greene, Google’s cloud chief, named several recent clients at the company’s event in San Francisco, including Colgate-Palmolive Co., HSBC Holdings Plc and EBay Inc. Google …

  Bloomberg Tom Moore, a satellite veteran brought in to lead Google’s Project Loon unit, has stepped down after about six months. Alastair Westgarth, who headed wireless antenna company Quintel, is taking the spot. The transition comes after the company scaled back an ambitious attempt to build a global communications service by circling the earth with high-altitude balloons. X, the …

    Dubai / Emirates Business The LG HOM-BOT vacuum cleaner’s popularity is on the rise across the world, reaching a cumulative sales total of one million since first entering the market seven years ago. After its 2003 domestic launch, the HOM-BOT vacuum cleaner was introduced to more than 40 countries beginning with European markets in 2010, across Asia the …

  Bloomberg Despite the US government’s steps to tackle cybersecurity threats, hackers continue to target federal agencies and they experienced tens of thousands of incidents last year, according to a White House report. The Trump administration released the Office of Management and Budget’s annual report to Congress on federal cyber performance. Federal agencies weren’t immune to broader trends affecting the …

  PARIS / AP It’s no secret that politics infuses fashion — and some critics are interpreting the mania for blue at Paris Fashion Week as a statement of “the blues” about the perceived rise of nationalism across Europe and America. Here are some highlights from Sunday’s star-filled Paris shows — including how a 9-year-old fashionista turned heads at Valentino. …

  PARIS / AP It was designer Elie Saab’s first collection since his coup of dressing Meryl Streep for the Oscars following the actress’ high-profile spat with Chanel. The deep blue embellishments of Streep’s lauded Oscars gown were picked up again in Saturday’s fall-winter Paris show, inspired by the magical, romantic ballet Giselle. Meanwhile, Paris Fashion Week went gaga for …

  Dubai / Emirates Business Max, the largest value fashion brand in the region, has recently launched the latest spring collection for men, women and children with florals and nautical designs taking center stage. This year, for the women’s Spring collection, there is a natural flow of colours developed into a palette that is both transitional and forward-looking. Colours are …

  DHAKA / AP Teen model Shonali Khatun strutted the catwalk as the audience cheered and clapped for a fashion show held in the capital of Bangladesh. But Khatun is no ordinary model, and this was no ordinary show. She and the 14 other models are survivors of acid attacks, common in this South Asian country where spurned lovers or …

  DUBAI / WAM The theme parks in the UAE are dialling up the “smart” visitor experience to ensure the country remains one of the world’s fastest growing markets, industry experts announced, ahead of the of the Dubai Entertainment, Amusement, and Leisure Show. The UAE is the dominant market in the Middle East and North Africa, the world’s fastest growing region …