Key Financial Updates: Europe Faces Tech Hiccups and Strategic Moves

Today's top Financial Times stories cover a system outage affecting house sales and payments across the UK and Europe, new UK sanctions on Russian-linked oil tankers, Keir Starmer's approach to asylum claims, Meta's potential stake in EssilorLuxottica, and Harland & Wolff's financial struggles.

A widespread system outage has disrupted house sales and payments in the UK and Europe, according to the Bank of England. The CHAPS interbank payment system, processing £360 billion ($467 billion) daily, is expected to settle all transactions by day's end.

The UK has imposed 11 new shipping sanctions targeting Russian-linked oil tankers as part of its ongoing measures related to the Ukraine conflict. An official notice released on Thursday confirmed the sanctions.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has proposed processing asylum claims outside the UK to combat illegal migration. He emphasized that stronger European defense collaboration could provide better support for Ukraine.

Meta Platforms is negotiating a 5% stake in Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica, enhancing its partnership in producing smart glasses.

Harland & Wolff seeks an additional £20 million ($25.88 million) from Riverstone Credit Partners, on top of its existing $115 million credit facility, as the shipbuilder battles to stay afloat.