- Italy targets climate activists in 'anti-Gandhi' demo clampdown
- US trade chief defends tariff hikes when paired with investment
- EU court blocks French ban on vegetable 'steak' labelling
- Meta AI turns pictures into videos with sound
- US dockworkers return to ports after three-day strike
- DR Congo to begin mpox vaccination campaign Saturday in east
- Meta must limit data use for targeted ads: EU court
- Oil extends gains, jobs report lifts Wall Street
- US hiring soars past expectations in sign of resilient market
- As EU targets Chinese cars, European rivals sputter
- Top EU court finds against FIFA in key transfer market ruling
- Oil extends gains, Hong Kong stocks resume rally
- 'A man provides': Ukrainian miners send families away as Russia advances
- EU states greenlight extra tariffs on EVs from China
- Hong Kong stocks resume rally, oil dips after Middle East-fuelled surge
- Crude stable after Israel-Iran surge, Hong Kong stocks resume gains
- Hera spacecraft to probe asteroid deflected by defence test
- US dockworkers to head back to work after tentative deal
- After Helene's destruction, North Carolina starts to rebuild
- Dockers end three-day strike at Montreal port
- What next for OpenAI after $157 billion bonanza?
- Israel-Hamas war causes 86-percent dive in Gaza GDP: IMF
- Milan's Morata moves house after Inter-fan town mayor 'violates' privacy
- 'Devastating' storm hits Augusta National but Masters will go on
- Relief in Brazil, Asia over delay to EU deforestation rules
- Oil prices jump, stocks fall on Middle East tensions
- Biden says 'discussing' possible Israeli strikes on Iran oil facilities
- Oil prices rise, stocks fall on Middle East tensions
- Oil rallies, stocks mostly retreat on Middle East tensions
- Phasing out teen smoking could save 1.2 mn lives: study
- 'Welcome relief': Asia producers hail EU deforestation law delay
- Japan PM slated to announce plans for 'happiness index'
- Turkish inflation falls less than expected in September at 49.4%
- Easing inflation lifts profit at UK supermarket Tesco
- Skiing calls on UN climate science to combat melting future
- China wine industry looks to breed climate resilience
- Tokyo rallies on weak yen, Hong Kong drops after surge
- Dutch airline KLM unveils 'firm' cost-cutting measures
- Carpe diem: the Costa Rican women turning fish into fashion
- Senegal looks to aquaculture as fish stocks dwindle
- Will AI one day win a Nobel Prize?
- Climate change, economics muddy West's drive to curb Chinese EVs
- Argentina's Milei vetoes university budget after huge protests
- TotalEnergies plans to grow oil and gas production until 2030
- 2024 Nobels offer glimmer of hope as global crises mount
- Tokyo rallies on weak yen, Hong Kong reverses after surge
- Tunisia readies for vote as incumbent Saied eyes victory
- High childcare costs in US weigh on women's employment
- US voters seek help with crushing childcare costs
- Taiwan shuts down for second day as Typhoon Krathon to land
Shops shut for queen's funeral but pubs to raise glass
Many retailers will shut Monday for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II but thousands of pubs and bars will remain open for Britons to toast the late monarch.
The UK has declared a public holiday for the event due to be attended by world leaders and watched by millions across the globe on television and social media.
British schools and the London Stock Exchange will shut on the day, as is the case on every UK public holiday.
A number of hospital appointments have been postponed, while a day off work for millions of Britons is set to weigh on the UK economy, already headed for recession owing to sky-high inflation.
Britain's biggest supermarkets led by Tesco and Sainsbury's will close, as will major clothing store Primark.
Food-to-clothing retailer Marks and Spencer plans to open only a few shops that are situated close to the funeral and burial venues in and around London.
"Due to the millions of expected mourners travelling on the day, we will have a small number of stores open," M&S said.
All UK branches of US fast-food giant McDonald's will be closed until after the funeral ends.
Not everyone is happy at the closures, with disgruntled holidaymakers forcing Center Parcs to U-turn on its decision to remove guests from its UK venues for 24 hours.
Visitors had been told they would have to vacate the parks next Monday "as a mark of respect and to allow as many... colleagues as possible to be part of this historic moment".
Following customer complaints, however, Center Parcs said guests still on holiday at its venues would be allowed to stay -- but those not due to start their vacations until Monday would have to delay arrival by one day.
"We recognise that leaving the village for one night and returning is extremely inconvenient," the company said in a message to customers seen by media.
"On reflection and having listened, we have made the decision to allow guests on longer duration breaks to remain... on Monday September 19."
- Pubs 'honour' queen -
The UK's biggest pub group said it plans to keep venues open and show the funeral on its televisions.
"The passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is a momentous and sombre occasion," Stonegate Group, which runs about 4,500 sites, said in a statement.
"Our managed pubs, bars and venues remain open and, where possible, will show the funeral... to honour her life and service," added the owner of popular bar brands Walkabout and Slug & Lettuce.
Many other pubs plan to keep on serving, with Greene King opening all its venues in central London, allowing "communities to come together".
Elsewhere, London's Heathrow airport has flagged likely disruption to flights.
"We anticipate further changes to the Heathrow operation... when Her Majesty's funeral is due to take place," the hub said.
Air traffic above London was already restricted Wednesday for a procession of the queen's coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, where the late monarch lies in state until her funeral in Westminster Abbey.
The queen will be buried in Windsor, west of London.
A.Samuel--CPN