Freedom, defined as “the power or right to speak, act, and change as one wants without hindrance or restraint,” remained elusive for many in Afghanistan during years of conflict. For three Afghan women now living in the United States, freedom signifies a fresh start.

Deutsche Bank says it reaped its best annual profit in 10 years last year.

FRANKFURT – Deutsche Bank reported its third straight quarterly profit amid continuing government financial help for businesses during the coronavirus pandemic and as revenues rose at its investment bank division. CEO Christian Sewing said the bank was continuing to make progress on a long-term restructuring aimed at improving profits by shedding less profitable or riskier lines of business and cutting employee numbers. Chief financial officer James von Moltke said the government efforts to help businesses bridge the pandemic had helped. Money that had to be set aside to cover loans that aren’t being repaid increased 56% to 273 million euros in the quarter from the year-ago quarter, but fell from 761 million euros in the previous quarter. It continued to shed employees, lowering headcount to 87,000 at the end of the July-September quarter from 90,000 a year earlier.

Sean Gallup/Getty ImagesFRANKFURT, Germany - The layoffs have started at Deutsche Bank as the struggling lender embarks on a dramatic overhaul that will reduce its workforce by 18,000. CEO Christian Sewing confirmed during a conference call that layoffs had started Monday in Asia. He said Deutsche Bank teams in other parts of the world would also be affected. Deutsche Bank has not given details on which offices will bear the brunt of the downsizing. Deutsche Bank will shrink its investment bank as part of the overhaul, shutter its equities sales and trading business and create a "bad bank" for 74 billion ($83 billion) in assets.