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☆ I have older parents, and I haven't had kids yet. They aren't pressuring me, but I feel some pressure from myself.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-30 | by ( India Kushner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Although I've always wanted to have children, I never thought someone else's parents would care about my family planning. She then noted it would be fun if my friend and I were both having kids at the same time, so our kids could have playdates together. I believe part of this worldview comes from having older parents. While my parents aren't asking me, I still feel pressure to have kids soonNow that I've been married for two years, I'm starting to feel emotionally ready to think about having children. Because my parents put their careers first, they hardly ever ask me about having children.

Persons: I've, slyly, They've, She's Locations: Belgium, Argentina, London, Italy

☆ European Central Bank holds rates and trims its inflation forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-14 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - NOVEMBER 27: Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank speaks during the European Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) meeting in Brussels, Belgium on Nevember 27, 2023. (Photo by Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu via Getty Images)The European Central Bank on Thursday held interest rates steady for the second meeting in a row, as it revised its growth forecasts lower and announced plans to speed up the shrinking of its balance sheet. The latest staff macroeconomic projections see average real GDP expanding 0.6% in 2023, from a prior forecast of 0.7%. Headline inflation is meanwhile seen averaging 5.4% in 2023, 2.7% in 2024 and 2.1% in 2025. Members see core inflation, excluding energy and food, averaging 5% this year and 2.7% in 2024, 2.3% in 2025, and 2.1% in 2026.

Persons: Christine Lagarde, Dursun Aydemir, James Smith, CNBC's Joumanna Bercetche Organizations: European Central Bank, European Parliament's, Economic, Monetary Affairs, Getty, ECB, ING Locations: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, Brussels, Belgium, Anadolu

☆ France puts country on 'high' alert for bird flu
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, Dec 5 (Reuters) - France raised the risk level of bird flu to 'high' from 'moderate' on Tuesday after the detection of new cases of the disease, forcing poultry farms to keep birds indoors to stem the spread of the highly contagious virus. Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has led to the culling of hundreds of millions birds worldwide in recent years. France said last week that it had detected a first bird flu outbreak on a farm this season in Brittany, in the northwest of the country. The "high" risk level implies that all poultry should be kept inside on farms and additional security measures taken to avoid a spread of the disease. Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide and Gus Trompiz; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sybille de La Hamaide, Gus Trompiz, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Thomson Locations: France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Brittany

Released Tuesday, it finds the average international math score fell by the equivalent of three-quarters of a year of learning. Reading scores fell by the equivalent of half a year. Reading scores fell by 10 points. A national study in the U.S. last year found math scores fell by more than ever, with reading scores dropping to 1992 levels. It was joined in the upper echelons by other East Asian countries including Japan and China.

Persons: ”, Peggy Carr, “, didn’t, Jordan, Miguel Cardona, Joe Biden’s Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Program, Organisation for Economic Co, OECD, Reading, National Center for Education Statistics, U.S . Education Department, Associated Press, Carnegie Corporation of New, AP Locations: United States, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, U.S, Belgium, Finland, Canada, France, Sweden, Brazil, Ireland, Singapore, Japan, China, Estonia, Albania, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Dominican Republic, Cambodia, Carnegie Corporation of New York

6 Held in Belgium and the Netherlands on Suspicion of Links to Russia Sanction ViolationsBelgian prosecutors say six people have been detained in connection with an investigation into suspected exports of “sensitive” products and technology that could be banned under sanctions against Russia

Organizations: Russia Locations: Belgium, Netherlands, Russia

☆ EU clears up to 1.2 bln euros of aid for cloud computing
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

European flags fly outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Dec 5 (Reuters) - The European Commission approved on Tuesday up to 1.2 billion euros ($1.30 billion) of state aid for a European cloud computing project to try to boost the involvement of EU business in a field dominated by U.S. companies. Those countries will provide up to 1.2 billion euros in public funding, which in turn is expected to unlock 1.4 billion euros in private investments, the European Commission said. The European cloud technology project features 19 companies, including French companies Atos (ATOS.PA) and Orange (ORAN.PA), Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE) and Germany's SAP (SAPG.DE), Telecom Italia (TLIT.MI) and Telefonica Espana (TEF.MC). The three biggest players in cloud computing are Amazon (AMZN.O), Microsoft (MSFT.O) and Google (GOOGL.O).

Persons: Yves Herman, Didier Reynders, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Piotr Lipinski, Philip Blenkinsop, Barbara Lewis Organizations: European Commission, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Infrastructure, Services, IPCEI CIS, Union, Deutsche Telekom, SAP, Telecom Italia, Telefonica Espana, Microsoft, Google, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain

REUTERS/Russell Cheyne/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Saudi Arabia's PIF buys into Rocco Forte hotel groupPlans to help expand luxury hotel groupItalian investor CDPE checks out of chainDec 4 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's PIF sovereign wealth fund will buy a 49% stake in luxury hotel group Rocco Forte Hotels and help to support its expansion, the owner of Britain's Balmoral hotel said on Monday. A spokesperson for Rocco Forte Hotels declined to confirm the size of PIF's stake. Rocco Forte Hotels, founded in 1996, operates across Italy, Britain, Germany, Belgium and Russia and has 20 private villas in addition to its hotels. CDPE, which owned a 23% stake in Rocco Forte Hotels, is owned by Italy's state-backed fund CDP. Rocco Forte, which was advised by Rothschild, reported revenues of around 300 million pounds last fiscal year, with a core profit of around 60 million pounds, according to a source.

Persons: Russell Cheyne, Companies Saudi Arabia's PIF, Rocco Forte, CDPE, Olga Polizzi, Forte, Rocco Forte Hotels, Al Nowaiser, PIF, Rothschild, Yadarisa, Elisa Anzolin, Keith Weir, Dhanya Ann Thoppil, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, Companies Saudi Arabia's, Saudi Arabia's, Rocco Forte Hotels, Financial Times, Granada, Thomson Locations: Balmoral, Scotland, Edinburgh, Britain, Saudi, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Russia, Milan, Sardinia, Italy's, SAUDI ARABIA, Saudi Arabia, Bengaluru, London

On Monday, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, energy minister and the key climate negotiator, for the kingdom, was a no-show at the Saudi Green Initiative. "The climate finance that they have pledged at this COP28 is simply not enough," said Pakistani activist Zaigham Abbas, whose country was devastated last year by widespread flooding. Elsewhere, France and Japan said they would support a move by the African Development Bank to leverage IMF Special Drawing Rights for climate and development. This year also features the biggest-ever representation of business at the annual U.N. summit, amid hopes for more private investment toward climate causes. "The scale of the climate crisis demands urgent and game-changing solutions from every industry," COP28 President Ahmed Al-Jaber said.

Persons: COP28, Johanna Geron, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Nicholas Stern, Mia Mottley, Antonio Guterres, Zaigham Abbas, Abu Dhabi, Ahmed Al, Jaber, Simon Jessop, Maha El, Al Sayegh, Alexander Cornwell, Elizabeth Piper, David Stanway, Katy Daigle Organizations: of, European Union, REUTERS, Companies, Saudi, United, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Green Initiative, Crown, Grantham Research, Asian Peoples ' Movement, Development, African Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, BlackRock, HSBC, Finance, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Dubai, Brussels, Belgium, Companies UAE, DUBAI, COP28, United Arab, Saudi Arabia, Sharm el, Sheikh, Egypt, Paris, China, Grantham, Barbados, France, Japan, Copenhagen, Abu

☆ Deutsche Bank to review Postbank tech migration - Handelsblatt
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

The logo of Deutsche Bank is seen in Brussels, Belgium December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank's supervisory board has tasked its auditor EY with reviewing the Postbank IT integration, which has caused numerous customer complaints due to disruptions, Handelsblatt reported on Monday. The result could result in cuts to bonuses, the newspaper said, citing people familiar with the matter. A Deutsche Bank spokesperson declined to comment on the story. Reporting by Kirsti Knolle; Editing by Linda Pasquini and Jan HarveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yves Herman, Handelsblatt, Kirsti Knolle, Linda Pasquini, Jan Harvey Organizations: Deutsche Bank, REUTERS, Rights, Deutsche, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium

☆ 'There is no Planet B', Belgian climate protest tells COP28
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Farah Salhi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A demonstrator holds a placard, during a climate protest coinciding with COP28 being held in Dubai and ahead of the upcoming Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union, in Brussels, Belgium, December 3, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Police said about 20,000 people protested in the Belgian capital on Sunday to demand more action to fight global warming as delegates from some 200 countries met in Dubai for the United Nation's COP28 climate conference. Marching to the beat of drums, protesters waved banners saying "ACT NOW" - the "O" stylised to resemble the Earth on fire - and "There is no Planet B". In Dubai on Sunday, the COP summit focused on climate change's impact on fuelling sickness and disease. Reporting by Farah Salhi, Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: COP28, Johanna Geron, John, Karol De Decker, Farah Salhi, Gabriela Baczynska, Sharon Singleton Organizations: of, European Union, REUTERS, Rights, Police, United Arab, Thomson Locations: Dubai, Brussels, Belgium, Belgian, United Arab Emirates, Paris

☆ What to watch at COP28 on Monday
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A demonstrator holds a placard, during a climate protest coinciding with COP28 being held in Dubai and ahead of the upcoming Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union, in Brussels, Belgium, December 3, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Monday is finance day at COP28, which means more funding is likely to be announced for the climate cause. Away from the main COP28 venue, Saudi Arabia will host a side event called Saudi Green Initiative to promote its clean energy plans. The COP28 site could also experience more small, pop-up protests, as activists see the U.N.-led event as a rare chance to rally in the United Arab Emirates, where public protests are banned. Reporting by William James; Editing by Will DunhamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: COP28, Johanna Geron, William James, Will Dunham Organizations: of, European Union, REUTERS, Rights, Saudi Green Initiative, United Arab, Thomson Locations: Dubai, Brussels, Belgium, COP28, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates

☆ UK's Cameron to travel to Washington on Dec. 6
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron looks on during a NATO foreign ministers meeting at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium November 28, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 3 (Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary David Cameron will travel to Washington D.C. on Wednesday, Dec. 6, the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said on Sunday in his first visit to the U.S. since taking up the position last month. Cameron will undertake a programme of bilateral meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as well as meet Republican and Democratic members of Congress, the FCDO statement said. Cameron, a former British prime minister, will take part in discussions with his U.S. counterparts with a focus on supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, the statement said. Reporting by Nilutpal Timsina in Bengaluru; Editing by Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: David Cameron, Yves Herman, Cameron, Antony Blinken, Nilutpal, Sharon Singleton Organizations: British, NATO, REUTERS, Washington D.C, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development, U.S, Republican, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Washington, British, Ukraine, Bengaluru

☆ AstraZeneca, AI biologics firm Absci tie up on cancer drug - FT
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The AstraZeneca logo is pictured outside the AstraZeneca office building in Brussels as part of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination campaign, Belgium, January 28, 2021. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Absci Corp FollowAstraZeneca PLC FollowDec 3 (Reuters) - Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca (AZN.L) has signed a deal worth up to $247 million with U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) biologics firm Absci (ABSI.O) to design an antibody to fight cancer, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. The collaboration aims to harness Absci's AI technology for large-scale protein analysis to find a viable oncology therapy, a leading focus of AstraZeneca, the report said. Absci and AstraZeneca did not immediately respond to a Reuters requests for comment. Absci applies generative artificial intelligence to design optimal drug candidates based on target affinity, safety, manufacturability and other traits.

Persons: Johanna Geron, Sean McClain, Absci’s, Shivani Tanna, William Mallard Organizations: AstraZeneca, REUTERS, U.S, Financial Times, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Swedish, Bengaluru

☆ Belgian PM Says He Told Israeli President 'No More Civilian Killings' as Fighting Restarted in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Dec. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Alexander CornwellDUBAI (Reuters) - The Belgian prime minister on Saturday said that he had spoken with Israel's president following the resumption of fighting in Gaza and told him there could be no more killing of civilians. A week-old temporary truce between Israel and Hamas collapsed on Friday after mediators were unable to extend the pause. Israeli warplanes have pounded areas of Gaza since the end of the temporary truce, killing hundreds of people, according to health officials in the coastal strip. Sirens warning of rocket fire sounded in Israeli communities near Gaza on Saturday but there were no reports of serious damage or casualties. We hope that the humanitarian access could be a permanent humanitarian access,” De Croo said.

Persons: Alexander Cornwell DUBAI, I've, Belgium's Alexander De Croo, De Croo, Israel, “, Alexander Cornwell, Toby Chopra Organizations: Reuters, Hamas Locations: Belgian, Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Dubai

☆ Belgian PM says he told Israeli president 'no more civilian killings' as fighting restarted in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Alexander Cornwell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo attends a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (not pictured), in Ramallah, 23 November 2023. ALAA BADARNEH/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Dec 2 (Reuters) - The Belgian prime minister on Saturday said that he had spoken with Israel's president following the resumption of fighting in Gaza and told him there could be no more killing of civilians. A week-old temporary truce between Israel and Hamas collapsed on Friday after mediators were unable to extend the pause. Israeli warplanes have pounded areas of Gaza since the end of the temporary truce, killing hundreds of people, according to health officials in the coastal strip. Sirens warning of rocket fire sounded in Israeli communities near Gaza on Saturday but there were no reports of serious damage or casualties.

Persons: Alexander De Croo, Mahmoud Abbas, Pedro Sanchez, ALAA, I've, Belgium's Alexander De Croo, De Croo, Israel, “, Alexander Cornwell, Toby Chopra Organizations: Belgium's, Spain's, Rights, Hamas, Thomson Locations: Ramallah, Belgian, Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Dubai

Foundation models like the one built by Microsoft (MSFT.O)-backed OpenAI are AI systems trained on large sets of data, with the ability to learn from new data to perform various tasks. In a meeting of the countries' economy ministers on Oct. 30 in Rome, France persuaded Italy and Germany to support a proposal, sources told Reuters. Until then, negotiations had gone smoothly, with lawmakers making compromises across several other conflict areas such as regulating high-risk AI, sources said. France-based AI company Mistral and Germany's Aleph Alpha have criticised the tiered approach to regulating foundation models, winning support from their respective countries. Other pending issues in the talks include definition of AI, fundamental rights impact assessment, law enforcement exceptions and national security exceptions, sources told Reuters.

Persons: Carlos Barria, Thierry Breton, Geoffrey Hinton, Alpha, Mistral, Mark Brakel, Supantha Mukherjee, Josephine Mason, Alexander Smith Organizations: Technology, Intelligence, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Foundation, Microsoft, European Commission, Mistral, Lawmakers, Life Institute, Thomson Locations: San Francisco, California, U.S, Rights STOCKHOLM, BRUSSELS, LONDON, France, Germany, Italy, Rome, Spain, Belgium, Stockholm

☆ Toyota partially halts output at Tianjin plant in China - Jiji
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Japan's Toyota Motor (7203.T) is partially suspending production at its plant in Tianjin, China, the Jiji news service reported on Friday, as global automakers face strong sales competition in the world's top auto market. A spokesperson for Toyota China did not immediately comment on the report. A representative for FAW (SASACJ.UL), Toyota's joint venture (JV) in the Tianjin plant, said he was not immediately able to comment. Reuters reported last month that Toyota has told dealers it will extend a plan to reduce output at its JV with FAW in China. Its sales and production in China over that period slipped compared to 2022 amid the rising competition.

Persons: Johanna Geron, Jiji, Daniel Leussink, Rocky Swift, Brenda Goh, Edmund Klamann, Christina Fincher Organizations: Toyota, REUTERS, Rights, Toyota China, FAW, Reuters, JV, Lexus, China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, Thomson Locations: Zaventem, Belgium, Tianjin, China, Europe, North America, Tokyo, Shanghai

The logo of a Tesla electric vehicle is placed on a car outside a dealership in Drogenbos, Belgium November 25, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 1 (Reuters) - Tesla shares (TSLA.O) fell about 2% on Friday after the highly anticipated launch of its Cybertruck left analysts concerned about the electric vehicle's steep price tag and a longer wait for significant financial payoff. Musk has said Tesla was likely to reach a production rate of roughly 250,000 Cybertrucks a year in 2025. At $235.45, Tesla was set to lose about $15 billion in market valuation on Friday. "Cybertruck is more of a 'halo' product, in our view, to attract consumers to the brand for the mainstream vehicles Model 3 and Model Y," RBC Capital Markets analyst Tom Narayan said.

Persons: Yves Herman, Elon Musk, Wedbush, Bernstein, Musk, Tesla, Tesla's, Rivian, R1T, Tom Narayan, Samrhitha Arunasalam, Chavi Mehta, Devika Organizations: REUTERS, General Motors, Hummer, RBC Capital, Thomson Locations: Drogenbos, Belgium, Bengaluru

More than 8,000 people, mostly Native Hawaiians, perished at Kalaupapa, including Damien, who eventually contracted leprosy, later called Hansen’s disease. Damien’s love for Kalaupapa’s people was unconditional, said Barbara Jean Wajda of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities. “They keep me like this, make me strong.”She enjoys when people visit and when the church brings pilgrims, she said. The walls of the sisters' house, Kalaupapa’s largest dwelling, are filled with photos of the sisters who worked on the settlement after Marianne. “And we both feel connected to the patients, to the land, to the saints who were here, declared and undeclared,” Wajda said.

Persons: Saint Damien of Molokai, Kalaupapa’s, Damien’s, ”, Lance Toyofuku, ” Kalaupapa, Father Damien, Mother Marianne —, Alicia Damien Lau, Damien, Joseph De Veuster, Saint Marianne, Patrick Killilea, “ Fr, Paddy, “ It’s, Philomena, Barbara Jean Wajda, Francis, Lau, ” Marianne Cope, Marianne, Tonata Lolesio, ” Lolesio, “, Honolulu Bishop Larry Silva’s, Silva, didn’t, that’s, Wajda, Francis Church, she’s, Watanuki, ” Bishop Silva, ” Keani Rawlins, Fernandez, Mother Marianne, Marianne . Lau, Alicia, ” Wajda, ” They’ve Organizations: Toyota, National Park Service, St, Neumann, Sacred Hearts School, Honolulu Bishop, “, Associated Press, Maui County Council, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: KALAUPAPA, Hawaii, Kalaupapa, Molokai, Belgian, Hawaii’s, Honolulu, Belgium, Germany, Maui, Lahaina, American Samoa, Maui County

☆ Exclusive: EU nuclear agency sees some Russia imports up again in 2023 from before Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Its overall imports from Russia's nuclear energy industry held steady last year despite rising demand for nuclear power driven by high energy costs and a push to cut carbon emissions. The trend highlights challenges EU faces in reaching its long-term goal of achieving VVER fuel self-sufficiency. EU imports of natural uranium from Russia fell 16% last year from 2021, a drop compensated by increase in deliveries from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, ESA said. In 2022, the EU's Russian nuclear energy imports were worth around 750 million euros ($823 mln), or 1% of the bloc's Russian gas imports, according the European Commission. Sources said, however, that the proposal - which is not public - does not include sanctions on Russia's nuclear energy industry.

Persons: Radovan Stoklasa, ESA's, Stefano Ciccarello, Ciccarello, Finland's, Gabriela Baczynska, Anne Kauranen, Timothy Gardner, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: REUTERS, Union, Euratom Supply Agency, ESA, Reuters, U.S, Westinghouse, Commission, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Mochovce, Slovakia, Russia, BRUSSELS, Russian, Moscow, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, France, Sweden, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Europe, United States, Brussels, Helsinki, Washington, Budapest

☆ Mercedes-Benz and BMW to establish JV for high-power charging network in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Mercedes-Benz is seen outside a Mercedes-Benz car dealer in Brussels, Belgium June 1, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 30 (Reuters) - German automaker Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE) said on Thursday it had reached an agreement with BMW (BMWG.DE) to establish a joint venture for operating a high-power charging network in China. At least 1,000 high-power charging stations with around 7,000 charging piles in the country are expected to be installed by the end of 2026, the company said in the statement, adding the deal was subject to regulatory approval. Mercedes-Benz announced earlier this year that it would invest billions of euros in building its own charging network of 10,000 fast-charging points in North America, Europe and China by 2030. Reporting by Ozan Ergenay, Editing by Victoria WalderseeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yves Herman, Ozan Ergenay, Victoria Waldersee Organizations: Mercedes, Benz, REUTERS, BMW, Victoria, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, China, North America, Europe

☆ Eurozone Inflation Falls Faster Than Expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Liz Alderman | More About Liz Alderman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Excluding food and energy prices, so-called core inflation rose 3.6 percent, a sharply slower pace than previous months. “The price to pay is higher interest rates, more difficult financing and therefore an economic slowdown,” he added. Interest rates were raised from below zero and are now at the highest level in the central bank’s two-decade history. But Europe is facing a drawn-out economic slowdown as high interest rates and the lingering impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine continue to curb activity. to start lowering interest rates next year, possibly before the summer.

Persons: ” Bert Colijn, ” Bruno Le Maire, Christine Lagarde, Colijn Organizations: ING Bank, European Central Bank, ”, Eurostat, France Inter Locations: Ukraine, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Europe, United States

☆ Op-ed: Europe is leaving a void in a multipolar world
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Kevin Klowden | Chief Global Strategist At The Milken Institute | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The Russian invasion of Ukraine only three months later served to provide an immediate driver for greater political unity within Europe. China, Russia and even the United States under Donald Trump have expressed dissatisfaction with institutions such as the World Trade Organization, the G7 and the United Nations. watch nowThe void is particularly apparent at the WTO, where the lack of European leadership on trade as the U.S. turned inward is particularly felt. Perhaps nothing shows the consequences of the lack of European strength in preserving these institutions than the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, the combination of a split over Ukraine, and internal divisions within Europe, have prevented any way for Europe to play a key role with China.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der Leyenââ, Pedro Sanchez Perez, Klaus Iohannis, Chancellor, Germany, Olaf Scholz, Charles Michel, Dursun, Angela Merkel, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Merkel, Ursula von der Leyen, Xi Jinping Organizations: European Commission, European, European Union, Anadolu Agency, Getty, World Trade Organization, United Nations, WTO, EU, NATO, APEC Locations: Spain, Romania, Brussels, Belgium, United States, China, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, U.S, Germany, Moscow, India, Southeast Asia, EU, East, Africa

☆ Government Offices in E.U. Can Ban Wearing of Religious Symbols
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Emma Bubola | More About Emma Bubola | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As an interpretation of European Union law, the decision could have effects that go beyond Belgium’s borders. Muslim groups, already concerned over the treatment of Muslims in Europe, expressed worry that it might enable employers to further marginalize Muslim women in the workplace. The woman filed suit, arguing that the decision violated her right to religious freedom and that she was being discriminated against. At the same time, it said, public administrations can decide to allow their employees to wear visible signs of their beliefs. The court added that these policies must be imposed in a consistent and systematic manner and must be limited to what is strictly necessary.

Organizations: European Union, Justice Locations: Belgium’s, Europe

LONDON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Swiss insurer Baloise (BALN.S) is in talks to sell around 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) of life insurance policies in Belgium, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The efforts come as other traditional insurers sell non-core portfolios with a view to freeing up capital held against those liabilities. In 2020, the Swiss group purchased the non-life insurance operations of Apollo-backed Athora. Baloise saw premiums in its non-life insurance business grow by close to 6% in the first nine months of the year to 3.4 billion Swiss francs ($3.9 billion) globally. However, life insurance premiums dropped more than 4% to 2.9 billion francs during the same period, according to its latest earnings release.

Persons: Baloise, Pablo Mayo, Paul Arnold, Anousha Sakoui, Mark Potter Organizations: Baloise, Reuters, The, ING Groep, ING, Aegon, Royal London, Swiss, Apollo, Fidea, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Thomson Locations: Belgium, The Basel, London, Zurich

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