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☆ 'No plan B' for Paris opening ceremony after knife attack - sports minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Olympic rings to celebrate the IOC official announcement that Paris won the 2024 Olympic bid are seen in front of the Eiffel Tower at the Trocadero square in Paris, France, September 14, 2017. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 4 (Reuters) - There is no "plan B" for the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games, the French sports minister said on Monday, after a man armed with a knife and hammer killed a German tourist and left two people wounded near the Eiffel Tower on Saturday. "We have no plan B, we have a plan in which there are several sub-plans with a certain number of adjustment variables," Amelie Oudea-Castera told France Inter radio. The attack occurred on the Quai de Grenelle - a spot also included in the plans for the opening ceremony. Reporting by Piotr Lipinski and Tassilo Hummel Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Christian Hartmann, Amelie Oudea, Castera, Jean, Francois Ricard, Pont, Tony Estanguet, Piotr Lipinski, Tassilo Hummel, Bernadette Baum Organizations: IOC, Paris, REUTERS, France Inter, Islamic, Games, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Islamic State, Grenelle, Chechen, Israel

☆ 'No Plan B' for Paris Opening Ceremony After Knife Attack -Sports Minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Dec. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - There is no "plan B" for the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games, the French sports minister said on Monday, after a man armed with a knife and hammer killed a German tourist and left two people wounded near the Eiffel Tower on Saturday. "We have no plan B, we have a plan in which there are several sub-plans with a certain number of adjustment variables," Amelie Oudea-Castera told France Inter radio. The 26-year-old suspect, a French national arrested after the attack, had pledged allegiance to Islamic State in a video recorded beforehand, anti-terrorism Prosecutor Jean-Francois Ricard said on Sunday. The attack occurred on the Quai de Grenelle - a spot also included in the plans for the opening ceremony. France has been on high alert since raising its security threshold in October, when a Chechen-origin man with a knife killed a teacher in a school in northern France.

Persons: Amelie Oudea, Castera, Jean, Francois Ricard, Pont, Tony Estanguet, Piotr Lipinski, Tassilo Hummel, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Reuters, Paris, France Inter, Islamic, Games Locations: Islamic State, Grenelle, France, Chechen, Israel

☆ Marseille match against Lyon called off after team bus attacked
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 29 (Reuters) - Sunday's Ligue 1 match between Olympique de Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais was called off after Lyon's team bus was pelted with stones, injuring coach Fabio Grosso, as the players made their way to the Stade Velodrome. Sky Italia footage showed damage to two bus windows and Grosso being led into the stadium by two assistants. Italian media said Grosso suffered injuries to his scalp and face. "He can't hold a conversation, he had shards of glass in his face," Lyon's club president, John Textor added. "Because of a handful of thoughtless people, the party planned for this evening has been ruined, and 65,000 fans have been deprived of attending a football match," the club added.

Persons: Fabio Grosso, Grosso, John Textor, Lyon, Francois Letexier, Fabio Grosso's, Amelie Oudea Castera, Raffaele Longo, Tommy Lund, Kate Entringer, Hugh Lawson, Clare Fallon Organizations: Ligue, Olympique de Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais, Stade Velodrome, Sky, OL, French Professional League, Lyonnais, Marseille, Thomson Locations: Marseille, Gdansk, Paris, Lincoln

☆ Australia-based Wallabies lacked work ethic at World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Australia-based players in the Wallabies squad for the disappointing World Cup campaign lacked the ability to train at the same level as their team mates at European clubs, according to assistant coach Pierre-Henry Broncan. "The team's youth did not work at this World Cup, it did not lack experience but collective experience," he told French sports newspaper L'Equipe. "We lost the World Cup the week we lost Tupou and Skelton. They have been preparing for this World Cup for four years. "If he senses a real desire from Rugby Australia to create a high-performance environment, I think he will be there."

Persons: Siphiwe, Pierre, Henry Broncan, Eddie Jones, Will Skelton, Richie Arnold, that's, Jones, Skelton, Taniela Tupou, Tupou, Frenchman, Fabien Galthie, Broncan, Eddie, Nick Mulvenney, Ed Osmond Organizations: Australia Wallabies, St Peter’s, Rugby, South, REUTERS, Rights, Wallabies, Castres, Australia, French, L'Equipe, Fiji, Rugby Australia, Thomson Locations: Sunninghill, South Africa, Pretoria, Australia, France, Fiji

☆ No restrictions on hijab in Paris 2024 Games' athletes village-IOC
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Athletes can wear a hijab in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games athletes' village without any restriction, the International Olympic Committee said on Friday, days after France's sports minister banned it for the host country's athletes. The Olympic body also said it needed to better understand the situation in France and had been in contact with the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF). French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said on Sunday French athletes would be barred from wearing a hijab during the Paris Games to respect principles of secularism. The vast majority of the approximately 10,000 athletes at Olympic Games reside in apartments in the Olympic village and share common spaces, including dining halls and recreational areas. There are 32 sports on the programme of the Paris Games.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, Amelie Oudea, Castera, Emmanuel Macron, Karolos, Toby Davis Organizations: Paralympics, Compagnie, REUTERS, Rights, International Olympic, French Olympic, French Sports, Sunday, Paris Games, IOC, Olympic Games, International Federation, United Nations, Thomson Locations: La Guerche, Bretagne, Rennes, Brittany, France, Paris, ”

☆ UN body questions French move to bar its athletes from wearing hijab at Paris 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup Tournament Opening Press Conference - Roland Garros, Paris, France - September 4, 2023 Minister for Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games of France, Amelie Oudea-Castera during the press conference REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsGENEVA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - A United Nations body has criticized France's ban on its athletes wearing the hijab at next year's summer Olympics. Asked about the decision to ban French athletes from wearing the hijab at the Paris event, a spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office said: "no one should impose on a woman what she needs to wear, or not wear." The comments come days after French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra said French athletes would be barred from wearing a hijab during the Paris Games to respect principles of secularism. Paris will host the Summer Olympics from July 26 to Aug. 11 next year. Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Roland Garros, Amelie Oudea, Sarah Meyssonnier, Marta Hurtado, Amélie Oudéa, Castéra, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Mark Potter Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, Sport, Olympic, Paralympic Games of France, Rights, United Nations, French Sports, Paris Games, Thomson Locations: Paris, France

Paris CNN —The United Nations’ human rights office has criticized the French government for banning French athletes from wearing the hijab at the Paris Olympics next year. That means a ban on any type of proselytising and the absolute neutrality of the public service,” Oudéa-Castera told state broadcaster France 3. According to the ruling earlier this year, “the principle of public service neutrality applies to sports federations which are in charge of a public service. She added the rules applying to other athletes will be set by each international federation, under the supervision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). “There will be heterogeneity between sports,” the French minister added.

Persons: “, ”, Maria Hurtado, ” Hurtado, Amélie Oudéa, Castéra, Castera Organizations: Paris CNN —, United Nations, Paris Olympics, UN, Human, French Sports, Sunday, France, CNN, International Olympic Committee Locations: France

Homophobic chanting by sections of Paris Saint-Germain fans targeting Marseille players has again marred the biggest game in French soccer, prompting calls for sanctions. “Very shocked by the unbearable homophobic chants heard at the Parc des Princes,” Klein said on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter. He added that he will ask PSG and the French league authorities to bring in sanctions, and will look at the possibility of starting judicial action. Homophobic chants, often heard at French league matches, have been tolerated for a long time by many club officials, and soccer authorities have struggled to find appropriate ways of tackling the issue. Following a match at the Parc des Princes four years ago between PSG and Marseille during which some home fans used homophobic insults, the French league launched an action plan allowing spectators to report sexist, homophobic or racist incidents they witness.

Persons: Paris Saint, Germain, Olivier Klein, “, ” Klein, Amelie Oudea, Castera, ”, ___ Organizations: Marseille, PSG, Parc des Princes, Twitter, French Locations: Paris, Parc des, Parc

☆ PSG should take action over homophobic chants says French Sports Minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

During the 4-0 win over their rivals at the Parc des Princes, PSG supporters in the Boulogne kop were heard celebrating with homophobic chants aimed at Marseille and a lot of the home crowd clapped along. "It is unthinkable to remain deaf to such hateful and homophobic chants in our stands," Oudea Castera said on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter. "Yesterday, these chants spoiled the party at the Parc. "I invite PSG to lodge a complaint to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice so that they can be removed from the stadiums." Oudea Castera added that the matter was now in the hands of French soccer's governing body LFP.

Persons: Sergio Rico, Benoit Tessier, Paris St Germain, Amelie Oudea Castera, Oudea Castera, Julien Pretot, Aadi Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: Soccer Football, Paris St Germain, Clermont, de Princes, Rights, Ligue, Olympique de Marseille, France's, Parc des Princes, PSG, Thomson Locations: de, Paris, France, Parc des, Boulogne, Marseille

The 35-year-old Frenchwoman brought back two bronze medals from the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games on the track and she now looks set to take part in the Paris 2024 Olympics after claiming the paracycling road race world title last year. Sport, however, is also a platform for Patouillet, also a gay rights activist, to raise awareness against discrimination on any basis, be it gender, sexual orientation or disability. In 2022, she sported rainbow-coloured hair at the 2022 UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships in a bid to spark conversation on LGBTQIA+ rights. "Athletes who left an impression on me through their activist commitments to fight against discrimination, they are rather Anglo-Saxon. "I hope that the (2024) Games in Paris will give rise, or at least be an opportunity for certain athletes, to speak out on these subjects and that, after that, there will be changes on this."

Persons: Marie Patouillet, Frenchwoman, Patouillet, Dykes, I've, it's, Julien Pretot, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Tokyo Paralympic Games, French, Reuters, Paralympic, Paralympics Games, French national Institute of Sport, Physical Education, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Paris, France

“Today, this subject obviously came up,” Boquete told The Associated Press when asked if the Rubiales controversy was on the agenda. Rubiales, who said the kiss was consensual, is suspended by world soccer body FIFA during its disciplinary case against him and also accused of sexual assault by Spanish prosecutors. UEFA was silent on Rubiales, one of its six vice presidents each paid 250,000 euros ($270,000) annually, for 10 days after the final in Australia. "We have the opportunity here,” said Boquete, whose 38 goals for Spain is second on its all-time women’s list behind Hermoso. She also has been educated with UEFA’s help on its Masters course to help players build careers in the industry.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, “, Rubiales, Ballon, Alexia Putellas, Jenni Hermoso, Hermoso, Veró Boquete, ” Boquete, Aleksander Ceferin, Rubiales ’, Ceferin, Boquete, ”, Jorge Vilda, Vilda, ___ Organizations: Spanish, UEFA, “, Associated Press, Football Board, FIFA, “ UEFA, AP, Spain, Women’s Champions Locations: NYON, Switzerland, Spain, UEFA’s, Spanish, Portugal, Morocco, Ukraine, Australia, United States, Russia, China, Europe

CNN —Russia as a country has no place at the 2024 Paris Olympics and no Russian flag should be used at next year’s Games, French President Emmanuel Macron said. Speaking to French sports newspaper l’Equipe, Macron added that discussions should be held about the participation of some Russian athletes who “may also be victims of this regime.”“Obviously, there can’t be a Russian flag at the Paris Olympic Games. Because Russia as a country has no place [at the Games] when it has committed war crimes and deported children,” Macron said Wednesday. So far, no decision has been taken on Russian and Belarusian athletes’ participation at the 2024 Olympics. “We are ready to boycott the Olympic Games in Paris if the Russian Federation and Belarus are allowed to participate in the competition,” Shmyhal said.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Macron, ” Macron, Denys Shmyhal, ” Shmyhal, “ Organizations: CNN, Paris Olympic, International Olympic Committee, IOC, Ukrainian, Games, Olympic Games, Russian Federation Locations: Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Belarus, Paris

☆ France's Macron: there can be no Russian flag at Paris 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a working meeting 500 days ahead of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games at the Paris and Ile-de-France Prefecture in Paris, France March 14, 2023. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Sept 7 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said no Russian flag should fly at next year's Paris Olympics, with Russian athletes' participation an issue for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to decide. "Of course, there can be no Russian flag during the Paris Games, I think there is a consensus on that matter. "The real question, that the Olympic organisation should decide upon, is what place can be given to the Russian athletes (...) an issue that should not be politicized." Some Ukrainian athletes see their nation's current blanket ban on competing against Russians and Belarusians - regardless of the flag athletes from those two countries compete under - as a self-inflicted wound damaging sports stars' careers.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Ludovic Marin, Macron, Julien Pretot, Benoit Van Overstraeten, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Paralympic Games, Rights, International Olympic Committee, Russian, Paris Games, L'Equipe, Thomson Locations: Paris, Ile, de, France Prefecture, France, Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus

☆ France's Macron: There Can Be No Russian Flag at Paris 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said no Russian flag should fly at next year's Paris Olympics, with Russian athletes' participation an issue for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to decide. Ukraine has threatened a boycott of the Games though it may drop that if athletes from war allies Russia and Belarus compete under a neutral flag rather than national colours. "Of course, there can be no Russian flag during the Paris Games, I think there is a consensus on that matter. "The real question, that the Olympic organisation should decide upon, is what place can be given to the Russian athletes (...) an issue that should not be politicized." Some Ukrainian athletes see their nation's current blanket ban on competing against Russians and Belarusians - regardless of the flag athletes from those two countries compete under - as a self-inflicted wound damaging sports stars' careers.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Julien Pretot, Benoit Van Overstraeten, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: PARIS, International Olympic Committee, Russian, Paris Games, L'Equipe Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus

The tournament starts Friday at the same Stade de France where the security fiasco last year drew worldwide attention to heavy-handed policing, raising questions about how France manages security at big events. Although UEFA was blamed for the near-disaster at the Champions League final, French senators said the fiaco was also because of mistakes by police, with “malfunction at every stage” before, during and after the game. In their report, senators pointed to the poor handling of fans ahead of the Champions League final that created a bottleneck near the Stade de France. “The pathways to the Stade de France, which led to the difficulties we experienced, have been perfectly revised,” Darmanin said. He added that all of the Rugby World Cup teams will benefit from the protection of elite police forces during their stay in France.

Persons: Gerard Darmanin, “, ” Darmanin, Denis, ”, Amélie Oudéa, we’ve, Darmanin, ___ Organizations: League, Stade de France, Champions League, UEFA, French Sports, Rugby World, Paralympic Games, Rugby Locations: France, Paris, French, New Zealand, Seine

☆ France assess flyhalf options in the absence of Ntamack
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 15 (Reuters) - France's World Cup prospects have suffered with the injury to flyhalf Romain Ntamack but coach Fabien Galthie has several options to replace him, including Matthieu Jalibert, in-form Antoine Hastoy or even a switch from fullback for Thomas Ramos. It is a combination capable of devastating effectiveness, at eye-jolting pace and with a Gallic flamboyance, and the fact that France cannot use Ntamack will weigh heavily on the rest of their World Cup preparations. He won the European Champions Cup with La Rochelle this year but has won only three caps for France and played a total of 96 minutes of test rugby. France name their World Cup squad next Monday. Reporting by Mark Gleeson and Nick Said, editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: flyhalf Romain Ntamack, Fabien Galthie, Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Hastoy, Thomas Ramos, Ntamack, scrumhalf Antoine Dupont, Galthie, Jalibert, Ramos, Allan Alaalatoa, Achilles, Mark Gleeson, Nick Said, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: France, New Zealand, Toulouse, Nations, Scotland, European, La Rochelle, South Africa, Argentina, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Ntamack, Hastoy

☆ Saudi soccer league lures Brazilian star Neymar as it seeks to attract 'exceptional players only'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Saudi Arabia also recruited soccer legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema with contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and it's expected to bid to host the 2030 World Cup. Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo poses for a photo with the jersey after signing with Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr Football Club in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 30, 2022. Sports analysts are doubtful that Saudi Arabia will see its ambitions to have a top soccer league realized, even with all the money it can offer to top-tier players. Charles Laberge | LIV Golf | Getty ImagesOther criticism comes from an attitude among many that a Saudi league could never be a serious arena for athletes. Emenalo, himself a former defender for Nigeria's national soccer team and former technical director at English club team Chelsea, called the criticisms "outrageous."

Persons: Kylian Mbappe, Neymar Jr, Jean Catuffe, Neymar, Germain, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Kalidou, Lyon's Moussa Dembele, Michael Emenalo, Saudi Arabia's, Al, Hilal, Kylian Mbappé, LIV, shockwaves, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Captain Brooks Koepka, Ricky Elliott, Charles Laberge, LIV Golf, Emenalo, it's, Khalid Al, Falih, that's Organizations: PSG, UEFA Champions League, Celtic Glasgow, Paris Saint Germain, Celtic Park, Getty, Getty Images, Saudi, Al, Paris Saint, Brazil national, L'Equipe, Manchester, Saudi Pro League, Nassr Football Club, Al Nassr Football, Anadolu Agency, France national, Sports, American PGA Tour, Saudi Crown, CNBC, Royal Greens, & Country Club, King Abdullah Economic, Nigeria's, soccer team, Chelsea, Saudi League, Guardian, Saudi Investment, Public Investment Fund Locations: Getty Images Saudi Arabia, Hilal, Barcelona, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Europe, Jeddah, King Abdullah, King Abdullah Economic City

☆ No specific concerns for Sports minister as Paris 2024 targeted by investigation, new searches
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, June 23 (Reuters) - French sports minister Amelie Oudea Castera says she is not too concerned by the investigations into alleged corruption surrounding the Paris 2024 Olympics, which took a new turn as two top officials were targeted by police searches on Friday. A source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters that Paris 2024 director general Etienne Thobois and executive director of Games operations Edouard Donnelly were subject to searches. The source would not specify whether it was their homes that had been searched. On Tuesday, the headquarters of the Paris 2024 Olympics organising committee and those of its infrastructure partner were searched by police as part of investigations into alleged embezzlement of public funds and favouritism, prosecutors said. The national financial prosecutor's office (PNF) said the Paris 2024 headquarters were raided amid a preliminary investigation launched in 2017 into contracts made by the Summer Games' organising committee.

Persons: Amelie Oudea Castera, Etienne Thobois, Edouard Donnelly, Oudea Castera, Julien Pretot, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Reuters, Summer Games, Olympic, Paralympic, Corruption Agency, Sorbonne, Thomson Locations: Paris, SOLIDEO, French, Cour

☆ Cycle Syncing Is Trendy. Does It Work?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Alisha Haridasani Gupta | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

According to proponents of cycle syncing, in this phase the body is primed to take on stress and can recover more quickly. And it remains unclear whether cycle syncing makes sense for women using hormonal forms of birth control. The bits of scientific and anecdotal evidence showing fluctuations in performance or energy throughout the menstrual cycle also don’t prove that syncing workouts to the cycle will optimize fitness. One of the main aims of the Empow’her program is to fill that void, Ms. Antero said. She plans to publish the results of the training program after the Olympics.

Persons: Mahalingaiah, Juliana Antero, Antero, Stacy Sims, Clancy, ”, Asima Ahmad, Ms, Scott Organizations: French Institute of Sport

☆ Nadal turns down claycourt event wildcard as French Open looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, May 14 (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal has turned down a wildcard offer for next week's Challenger tournament in Bordeaux as the Spaniard's participation in the French Open hangs in the balance, the claycourt event director said on Sunday. Nadal has been struggling with a hip injury he suffered at the Australian Open in January, and fears the Spaniard may miss the Paris Grand Slam grew after he pulled out of this week's Italian Open. He very kindly told me that Nadal was continuing his preparation at home in Manacor, that he was not ready and was in a race against time to be ready for the French Open," Jean-Baptiste Perlant told French sports daily L'Equipe. Nadal skipped last week's Madrid Open and missed tournaments at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Barcelona. The French Open, which Nadal has won a record 14 times including last year, starts on May 28.

☆ Disney boss races to hold back the dam
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

How that unfolds is in the hands of Comcast (CMCSA.O) boss Brian Roberts, whose cable operator owns the studio behind the cinematic video game hit as well as one-third of Hulu. The shift is understandable, however, considering what Disney is up against. In the quarter ended April 1, the division that houses Disney+ narrowed its operating loss from a year earlier, but subscribers also fell 2% to 158 million compared to the previous quarter. A rare bright spot was the theme parks, particularly overseas, but Iger has a growing number of holes to plug to ensure the dam holds. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Italian corporate activism has a long way to go
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MILAN, May 10 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Fighting opaque governance at Italy’s state-backed companies is proving a tough nut to crack. That’s a victory for the Italian Treasury – the utility’s top investor with 23.6% – which managed to install oil and gas veteran Paolo Scaroni as chairman, along with other board members. The Italian state is in dire need of improving the way it picks its corporate representatives. But to confront Rome, investors will need to make a good case. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Swedish drugmaker finds alluring poison pill
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, May 10 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Sweden’s rare disease drug maker is experiencing unfortunate deal side effects. On Wednesday, shares in Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (SOBI) (SOBIV.ST) fell 15% after it announced a plan to buy CTI BioPharma (CTIC.O), a specialist in rare blood cancers, for $1.7 billion. The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker refused to tender its shares amid a squabble over the U.S. rights for a respiratory drug. But SOBI’s new deal, which will be funded by a rights issue backed by main shareholder Investor AB (INVEb.ST), suggests Oelkers has support for a solo future. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Aramco’s dividend largesse contains a hard logic
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

That could work out to up to $18 billion a year, Royal Bank of Canada analysts reckon. Given that there are solid long-term reasons to hold Aramco shares, it might seem odd that the world’s largest oil producer feels the need to keep its investors on side. Meanwhile, Aramco’s dividend has been fixed since its listing, but that arrangement expires next year. Flagging to prospective foreign investors that its dividend policy is not entirely dependent on the whims of the Saudi state is probably not a bad idea. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Amazon applies therapy to retail
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Rising costs and customers battered by inflation are hampering Amazon’s efforts to get its retail division on a path to sustainable profitability. While the rate of sales growth has outstripped growth in costs of distribution, the retail business over the past 12 months has lost $8 billion. More important, investors haven’t loved the idea of subsidizing delivery costs at the expense of profit. Applying therapy to its retailing business won’t change its consumers’ co-dependency. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

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