The wine industry in Bordeaux is facing a deep crisis, with falling demand, declining prices, and a growing number of vineyards at risk of abandonment. In response, the Confédération Paysanne de Gironde has called for the creation of a public land management agency to help steer the region through this difficult period, Vinetur reported. The proposal was presented on Thursday at a meeting of the prefecture’s viticulture task force in Gironde.

The latest tour operator to land in bankruptcy proceedings is the expedition cruise line Exploris Expeditions & Voyages. Based out of Nantes in France, the cruise operator was placed under receivership by a local judge. "Unfortunately, we have a small cash flow problem that has been exacerbated by this last-minute cancellation by a major charterer, which has made things extremely difficult for us," Expedis VP Éric Lustman said in a statement translated from French.

Industrial production in the eurozone sank back in August, a reflection of continued uncertainty among manufacturing firms as they adapt to reshaped global trade, the Wall Street Journal reported. Output fell 1.2% on month, swinging from a 0.5% increase in July, European Union data agency Eurostat said Wednesday. Industrial production in the 20-nation currency area was strong in the early months of 2025, as producers sought to get ahead of planned U.S. tariffs on imported goods.

Britain’s economy expanded only slightly in August, entrenching a period of slow growth after the fast clip at the start of this year, the Wall Street Journal reported. Economic activity rose 0.1% on month, the Office for National Statistics said Thursday, after gross domestic product fell a downwardly revised 0.1% in July. The U.K.’s economy grew at a strong pace in the first quarter of 2025, partly on a surge in exports as U.S. importers raced to get ahead of an anticipated rise in tariffs.

Rachel Reeves has signalled she will target tax rises on assets rather than earnings in the Budget as she ramps up her war on wealth, the Telegraph reported. Just weeks before she delivers her second Budget, the Chancellor said those with the “broadest shoulders” should contribute more to balancing the books. She also suggested higher earners would not be the main target of her tax raid. Her latest comments will raise fears that Ms Reeves is preparing to target pension wealth or family homes to plug a black hole left by about-turns on welfare reform and higher borrowing costs.

An Austrian court convicted former property billionaire Rene Benko of insolvency-related fraud on Wednesday in his first criminal trial linked to the collapse of his real estate group Signa, sentencing him to two years in prison, Reuters reported. The case stems from a sweeping investigation into crimes prosecutors suspect were committed in connection with Signa's collapse starting in 2023, which was the biggest postwar bankruptcy in Austria and burnt investors across Europe, including blue-chip companies in Germany and Switzerland.

The number of companies sliding into insolvency in Germany rose by 10.4 per cent in September compared to the year before, according to preliminary data, the Brussels Signal reported. This was announced by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on October 13. The final tally for July – which was published on the same date – shows that insolvency rose by 13.4 per cent year-on-year in the month. The preliminary data is based on insolvency announcements from German courts that are later complemented by official statistics to arrive at the final number.

Archer Aviation has emerged as the winning bidder for Lilium’s extensive portfolio of advanced air mobility patents, ZagDaily.com reported. The California-based company has secured around 300 intellectual property assets for €18 million following a competitive process that also involved Joby Aviation and the Ambitious Air Mobility Group (AAMG). Announced at the NBAA Business Aviation Convention in Las Vegas, the deal marks the latest chapter in Lilium’s drawn-out insolvency proceedings and underscores the growing consolidation in the advanced air mobility (AAM) sector.