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Some experts caution that progress may be slow, noting parts of Germany's administrative machinery are already creaking under a big backlog of existing citizenship applications. German citizenship is not a condition of employment for migrants, but Germany wants to establish itself as a migration destination for foreign talent, like the U.S. and Canada, and Berlin hopes the prospect of a smoother, quicker path to German nationality will attract skilled migrants. But with German authorities already overwhelmed by thousands of backlogged naturalisation applications, some experts doubt the reforms can quickly achieve their main goal of luring global talent to fill hundreds of thousands of vacancies. Migrants complain of long waits even for a first citizenship consultation appointment. "Even with this reform in Germany, access to citizenship is still much easier in traditional immigration countries like Canada.

Persons: Fabrizio Bensch, Holger Kolb, Kolb, Mediendienst Intergation, Nancy Faeser, Tariq Tabbara, Tabbara, Riham Alkousaa, William Maclean Organizations: Office of Health, Social Affairs, REUTERS, Rights, Integration, Reuters, Berlin University of Economics, Law, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, U.S, Canada, Turkey, Europe, Germany's, Cologne, Dresden, Bielefeld, Hamburg, Munich, Chemnitz

☆ Exclusive: German guarantees for China investments plummet -document
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Andreas Rinke | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The flags of Germany and China are seen ahead of a meeting between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Berlin, Germany, June 19, 2023. Only 51.9 million euros ($56.26 million) in guarantees have been issued so far this year, according to the document seen by Reuters, less than a tenth of the 745.9 million euros in guarantees issued over the whole of last year. Slowing growth, however, has concentrated minds in Berlin, where officials fret that ever-more-advanced Chinese manufacturing poses a threat to Germany's economic model. "China has changed, and that's why our policy towards China also needs to change," Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Tuesday. Companies can invest without government guarantees, meaning real changes in levels of German FDI in China may have fallen by less.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Li Qiang, Fabrizio Bensch, Annalena Baerbock, Andreas Rinke, Thomas Escritt, Rachel Armstrong, Kirsti, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Germany's, Companies, U.S, Thomson Locations: Germany, China, Berlin, Ukraine

REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - PayPal's (PYPL.O) stablecoin is likely to succeed where Facebook's failed, thanks to the payment giant's standing in Washington and policymakers' greater understanding of the issues in the last three years. "From a policy perspective, there is a seismic difference between Facebook's Libra and PayPal's stablecoin," said Isaac Boltansky, director of policy research for brokerage BTIG. Dan Dolev, a senior analyst at Mizuho, said PayPal USD is not a game-changer for PayPal investors. When Facebook unveiled Libra, a stablecoin whose operations were based in Switzerland and which was pegged to a basket of currencies, executives made no secret of their ambitions. Facebook rebranded Libra, scaled it back and moved the project to the United States, in a bid to win U.S. regulatory approval.

Persons: Fabrizio Bensch, stablecoin, Facebook's, Christopher Giancarlo, PayPal's, Isaac Boltansky, Dan Schulman, Dan Dolev, Maxine Waters, Joe Biden's, Janet Yellen, Yellen, TerraUSD, stablecoins, There's, Jack Fletcher, Patrick McHenry, Hannah Lang, Andrea Shalal, Pete Schroeder, Niket, Michelle Price, Matthew Lewis Organizations: PayPal, REUTERS, Rights, U.S ., Facebook, U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Federal Reserve, Meta, Paxos Trust, New York State Department of Financial Services, Mizuho, Financial Services, Treasury, Congress, prudential, Republican, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Washington, U.S, Switzerland, United States, transact, stablecoins, Bengaluru

The PayPal logo is seen at an office building in Berlin, Germany, March 5, 2019. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies PayPal Holdings Inc FollowLONDON, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Payments giant PayPal (PYPL.O) will stop allowing UK customers to buy cryptocurrencies through its platform from October as it works to comply with new rules on crypto promotions. Britain's financial regulator is due to bring in tougher rules to limit how crypto is advertised to British consumers, including requiring crypto firms to carry warnings about the risk and scrapping "refer a friend" bonuses. PayPal first launched crypto buying and selling in the UK in 2021. Regulators around the world are increasingly seeking to regulate crypto assets, after the collapse of several crypto firms including FTX last year left amateur investors with large losses.

Persons: Fabrizio Bensch, FTX, bitcoin, PayPal's, Elizabeth Howcroft, Bernadette Baum Organizations: PayPal, REUTERS, PayPal Holdings, Reuters, Regulators, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany

☆ Chip shortage in Germany's car industry will last years - Audi manager
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Cars are pictured during morning rush hour on the A100 city highway in a Berlin, Germany, February 22, 2018. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File PhotoBERLIN, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Semiconductor shortages that have created bottlenecks for Germany's car industry will take years to resolve despite chipmakers' plans to build factories in the country, a senior Audi manager was quoted as saying on Friday. Executives and policymakers are re-thinking supply lines and trying to reduce reliance on a handful of Asian and U.S. chip suppliers. Chipmakers such as U.S. Intel (INTC.O) and Taiwan's TSMC (2330.TW) this year announced plans to build factories in Germany. It's about billions of dollars are being invested," Renate Vachenauer, head of procurement at Volkswagen-owned (VOWG_p.DE) Audi, was quoted as saying by Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper.

Persons: Fabrizio Bensch, chipmakers, Taiwan's TSMC, Renate Vachenauer, Vachenauer, Riham Alkousaa, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, Semiconductor, Audi, Intel, Volkswagen, Augsburger Allgemeine, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, U.S

☆ China targeting German tech 'through back door' with licences - report
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Reinhard Becker | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The flags of Germany and China are seen ahead of a meeting between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Berlin, Germany, June 19, 2023. REUTERS/Fabrizio BenschBERLIN, Aug 9 (Reuters) - China is going after licences to boost its access to German technology as investment regulation makes company acquisitions in the sector increasingly difficult, the Handelsblatt newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing a study. Tech licences are one way for China to try to get in "through the back door", he told Reuters. As a result, direct investments and takeover bids by Chinese companies have attracted scrutiny in Berlin in recent months. Through licensing agreements, Chinese companies can gain legal permission to use German technology.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Li Qiang, Fabrizio Bensch BERLIN, Juergen Matthes, China's Cosco, Rachel More, Kirsti Knolle, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Tech, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Germany, China, Berlin, Russia, Hamburg

☆ PayPal becomes first major fintech to launch dollar-backed stablecoin
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Jaiveer Shekhawat | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File PhotoAug 7 (Reuters) - Payments giant PayPal (PYPL.O) said on Monday it has launched a U.S. dollar stablecoin, becoming the first major financial technology firm to embrace digital currencies for payments and transfers. Prior attempts by major mainstream companies to launch stablecoins have met fierce opposition from financial regulators and policymakers. Meta's (META.O), then Facebook, 2019 plans to launch a stablecoin, Libra, were foiled after regulators raised fears it could upset global financial stability. PayPal's stablecoin, dubbed PayPal USD, is backed by U.S. dollar deposits and short-term U.S Treasuries, and will be issued by Paxos Trust Co. Argus Research Corp analyst Stephen Biggar said PayPal's brand name makes the stablecoin launch significant but the company has been associated with crypto previously so it's not a surprise.

Persons: Fabrizio Bensch, PayPal's stablecoin, Stephen Biggar, PayPal's, Jaiveer Singh, Manya, Tom Wilson, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Shounak Dasgupta, Shinjini Organizations: PayPal, REUTERS, European Union, U.S . House Financial Services, U.S, Paxos Trust, Argus Research Corp, Visa, Manya Saini, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Britain, United States, Bengaluru, London

☆ Mexican woman's body found in Berlin canal, autopsy planned
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A general view shows the skyline of Potsdamer Platz square and the Leipziger Strasse street in Berlin, Germany, November 6, 2018. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File photoFRANKFURT, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Police in Berlin said on Sunday that an autopsy would be the next step in clarifying the circumstances of the death of a 24-year-old Mexican woman who disappeared at the end of July and whose body was found on Saturday. The cause of the death will be clarified in the course of an autopsy," a police spokesperson said. The case has drawn attention in Mexico, including President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador saying earlier in the week that he would ask the German president to bolster the search for Sanchez. A few days after the woman's disappearance, Berlin police said in a statement that there were "indications" that the woman was "in an exceptional psychological situation."

Persons: Fabrizio Bensch, Maria Fernanda Sanchez, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Sanchez, María Fernanda, Vera Eckert, Adriana Barrera, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Police, Interpol, Mexican Foreign Ministry, Thomson Locations: Potsdamer, Berlin, Germany, FRANKFURT, Adlershof, Mexico, Mexican

For investors looking to weed out climate laggards from portfolios, these are vital questions but existing guidelines on emissions reporting and new rules due to come in for the United States and Europe are unlikely to provide hard answers. The United States is on track to announce similar rules this year and the corporate standard, first launched in 2001 and revised in 2004, is also embedded in other international emissions reporting standards. Nonetheless, many investors scrutinise carbon emissions data to gauge how polluting a company is, how it compares with rivals and how this might affect its bottom line and share price. Another area of investor concern is how companies account for their own energy use, or Scope 2 emissions. The GHGP allows companies to buy green energy to offset their emissions, using contractual instruments such as renewable energy certificates, and reflect this in their reporting.

Persons: Fabrizio Bensch, Vanessa Bingle, David Lubin, Subaru, SCA's Lubin, Laura Kane, Kane, Jimmy Jia, Jia, abrdn, Pedro Faria, Faria, Pankaj Bhatia, Douglas Gillison, Sumanta Sen, Dan Flynn, David Clarke Organizations: REUTERS, Toyota, Shell, Greenhouse, World Business, Sustainable Development, World Resources Institute, Reuters, Alpha Financial Markets Consulting, Analytics, Subaru, North, Voya Investment Management, Voya, EU, Sustainability, IFRS, Oxford Smith School of Enterprise, Reuters Graphics, U.S . Securities, Exchange, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, United States, Europe, Japan, North America, U.S, Britain, British, EU

☆ The 5 deadliest Western-provided weapons Ukraine is using to fight Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The West has been sending Ukraine weapons and armed vehicles since the start of the war. Now, as Ukraine is in the midst of its counteroffensive to regain crucial territory from Russia, many of these weapons are proving useful. Insider spoke to three military experts about which of the Western-provided weapons have been the most effective for Ukraine in the war. Only time will tell how useful the weapons really areIt is still unclear how Ukraine's counteroffensive will unfold, and how long the Western weapons will hold until Ukraine will need more. A top Ukrainian general told the BBC on Thursday that because Russia has littered the frontlines in south Ukraine with multi-layered minefields, Western tanks are proving ineffective.

Persons: Serhii, Ben, that's, Zelenskyy, Fabrizio Bensch, Oleksii Reznikov, Huseyn Aliyev, Javelin, of, Cave, Lewis Joly, Marina Miron, Bradley, Hanna Maliar, Aliyev, Alivey, Alivey said.It, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Tarnavskyi Organizations: Shadow, Service, Leopard, US, Patriot, Challenger, Ukraine, High, Artillery, Getty, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, RAND Corporation, Patriot Missile Systems, Army MIM, Defense, Research Center, East European Studies, Patriots, Ukrainian Defense Ministry Press Service, Javelin, AP, Military Times, Kyiv, Paris Air, Department of, King's College London, Soviet, Bradley Infantry Fighting, Bradley, BBC Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Germany, Russia, Donetsk Oblast, Ben Caves, Russian, Kherson, Rzeszow, Jasionka, Poland, Moscow, of Ukraine, Le Bourget, Paris, France, Ukrainian, Europe

☆ Germany publishes new strategy on 'increasingly assertive' China
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] The flags of Germany and China are seen ahead of a meeting between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Berlin, Germany, June 19, 2023. REUTERS/Fabrizio BenschBERLIN, July 13 (Reuters) - Germany published its long-awaited China strategy on Thursday, which took stock of an "increasingly assertive" Beijing and outlined possible responses such as outbound investment controls on cutting-edge technology with military use. However, it was also increasingly assertive in its attempts to change the rules-based international order with consequences for global security. Germany would expand its close relations with Taiwan while continuing to adhere to the "One China policy", which recognises the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China. On the economy, the strategy outlined proposals to reduce critical dependencies on China, in line with what has previously been agreed by the European Union.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Li Qiang, Fabrizio Bensch BERLIN, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's, Sarah Marsh, Andreas Rinke, Matthias Williams, Friederike Heine, Miranda Murray, Rachel More, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, European, Volkswagen, BASF, BMW, Government, Thomson Locations: Germany, China, Berlin, Beijing, West, Russia, Taiwan, People's Republic of China

☆ Ravers dance through Berlin heat at techno parade
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Revellers attend the 'Rave The Planet' techno parade near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, July 8, 2023. REUTERS/Fabrizio BenschBERLIN, July 8 (Reuters) - Ravers gathered in Berlin on Saturday for the annual "Rave The Planet" techno music-themed street parade, with up to 300,000 attendees expected over the course of the afternoon. Police gave the go-ahead for the street parade on Saturday morning, after organisers had cautioned it may be cancelled due to concerns over security and sanitation. "The town centre belongs to the ravers today," Berlin police tweeted, confirming the event could take place. Around 200 DJs were due to play on 25 floats at the event, seen as the successor to the Love Parade founded in 1989 which was halted in 2010 after a stampede killed 21 and injured 500.

Persons: Fabrizio Bensch BERLIN, Ravers, Tanya Wood, Fabrizio Bensch, Victoria Waldersee, Ros Russell Organizations: REUTERS, Police, Love, Thomson Locations: Brandenburg, Berlin, Germany, Berlin's

China became Germany's single biggest trade partner in 2016 and is a core market for top German companies including Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), BASF (BASFn.DE) and BMW (BMWG.DE). "They know German companies will run up direct channels to the chancellery," said Andrew Small, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund's Asia program. The talks come after Antony Blinken on Sunday became the first U.S. secretary of state to visit China in five years, stressing the importance of keeping open lines of communication to reduce the risk of miscalculation. The Chinese delegation will meet with some of those CEOs on Monday, according to people familiar with the plans. The Chinese delegation will head to Paris for an official visit and to attend a financial conference on June 22 to 23.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Fabrizio Bensch, China Scholz, Scholz, Li Qiang, Li, Wang Yiwei, Andrew Small, Marshall, Mikko Huotari, Antony Blinken, Sarah Marsh, Andreas Rinke, Laurie Chen, John Geddie, Giles Elgood Organizations: REUTERS, Volkswagen, BASF, BMW, Centre, European Studies, Renmin University of China, Greens and Free Democrats, Social Democrats, Analysts, Mercator Institute for China Studies, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, China, Beijing, Munich BERLIN, Europe, European Union, Asia, Munich, Bavaria, Paris

REUTERS/Fabrizio BenschSummarySummary Companies Germany unveils first ever National Security StrategyDocument reflects growing focus on security over economyContains strong criticism of China but does not mention TaiwanImplementation could be hampered by lack of Security CouncilBERLIN, June 14 (Reuters) - China poses a growing threat to global security, Germany said in its first national security strategy on Wednesday, underscoring Berlin's shift in emphasis from economic interests to geopolitics following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It also omits some major issues, such as Taiwan, and as expected, does not create a National Security Council that would help its implementation. "We paid for every cubic metre of Russian gas twofold and threefold with our national security." Russia is the top threat to European peace "for now", the National Security Strategy (NSS) said. "The good thing is that German companies are drawing similar conclusions to the German federal government," she said.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Fabrizio Bensch, cyberattacks, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Annalena Baerbock, Ola Kaellenius, Baerbock, Noah Barkin, Norbert Roettgen, Scholz, Christian Lindner, Andreas Rinke, Miranda Murray, Rachel More, Madeline Chambers, Christoph Steitz, Angus MacSwan, Mark Potter, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: REUTERS, Germany, Security, BERLIN, Security Council, National Security, NSS, Volkswagen, BASF, BMW, Benz, NATO, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, China, Taiwan, Ukraine, Beijing, Asia, Russia, Moscow, Europe, Moldova, Georgia

[1/2] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks to the media at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, May 14, 2023. G7 leaders planned to outline steps to protect sensitive technology, including outbound investment measures, in their communique, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at a briefing in Hiroshima. In a draft of the final communique, seen by Reuters, G7 leaders agreed that China's status as the world's second-largest economy meant they had to continue to cooperate. Zelenskiy is expected to hold bilateral meetings with attendees of the G7 summit, including the host, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Reporting by Reuters G7 team in Hiroshima; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ G7 aims to bridge vast gap with emerging markets, awaits Zelenskiy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks to the media at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, May 14, 2023. REUTERS/Fabrizio BenschHIROSHIMA, Japan, May 20 (Reuters) - Leaders of the world's richest democracies are looking to bridge a vast gap with emerging economies by focusing on infrastructure and debt relief, officials say, part of a strategy to blunt China's influence in lower-income countries. Russia's war in Ukraine has also unduly hurt low-income countries, the G7 members say. "Low- and middle-income countries are disproportionately affected by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine," they said in the draft. Reporting by Reuters G7 team in Hiroshima; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Zelenskiy: Ukraine, West can make Russia's defeat 'irreversible' this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, May 14 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that Kyiv and its Western supporters could make Russia's defeat in the war in Ukraine "irreversible" this year, as he thanked Germany for its military support. The Ukrainian leader told a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin that Kyiv would always be grateful to Germany for its support during Russia's full-scale invasion. "Now is the time for us to determine the end of the war already this year, we can make the aggressor's defeat irreversible already this year," he said. "The war is happening on the territory of our country and so any peace plan will be based on Ukraine's proposals," he said. Reporting by Pavel Polityuk Writing by Tom Balmforth Editing by David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ PayPal adjusted margin forecast cut eclipses higher profit expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Manya Saini | Thomson Reuters | Manya Saini Reports On Prominent Publicly Listed U.S. Financial Firms Including Wall Street S Biggest Banks | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Fabrizio BenschMay 8 (Reuters) - PayPal Holdings Inc (PYPL.O) on Monday cut its outlook for annual adjusted operating margin, overshadowing its profit forecast raise, sending shares in the payments firm down 5% in extending trading. PayPal expects adjusted operating margin expansion of 100 basis points this year, compared with its earlier forecast of a 125-basis-point growth. Still, the payments heavyweight raised its full-year adjusted profit forecast on the back of stronger-than-expected e-commerce trends and improved margins on cost cuts. It now expects adjusted profit growth of about 20% to $4.95 per share, above analysts' average estimate of $4.88 per share,Adjusted operating margin in the first-quarter came in at 22.7% compared with 20.7% last year. The payments firm posted a profit of $1.17 per share on an adjusted basis for the quarter, compared with 88 cents last year.

☆ PayPal raises full-year profit above estimates on e-commerce strength, cost cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

While a cost-of-living crisis has now begun to squeeze budgets, particularly of lower income households, consumer spending has remained remarkably steady in the face of a looming economic slowdown. The company's payments volume rose 12% on a forex-neutral basis to $354.5 billion in the first-quarter ended March 31. The upbeat forecast echoes expectations of card giants Visa (V.N) and Mastercard (MA.N) that have remained largely upbeat about spending volumes on pent-up travel demand and resilient consumer spending. The company has said in the past that it is focused on lowering expenses with executives cautioning that inflation was impacting discretionary consumer spending. The payments firm earned a profit of $1.17 per share on an adjusted basis in first-quarter, compared with 88 cents last year.

☆ Lyles wins 150m at Atlanta City Games
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Lyles, bronze medallist at the Tokyo Games, scorched to victory in 14.56 seconds to become the third-fastest athlete of all time over the distance behind Jamaican Usain Bolt and compatriot Tyson Gay. Teenager Knighton, who took bronze at last year's World Championships, finished second in 14.85 in the inaugural edition of the tournament in Atlanta, Georgia. Third-placed Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya clocked a time of 14.89 seconds to better Namibian Frankie Fredericks's mark of 14.99 and set a new African record, adding to his African men's 100m record. Earlier on Saturday, United States' Olympic silver medallist Kendra Harrison finished second in the women's 100m hurdles behind Tia Jones. This year's world championships are scheduled to take place in Budapest, Hungary from Aug. 19-27.

The so-called Joint Economic Forecasts, to be presented in Berlin on Wednesday, expect a 0.1% expansion in gross domestic product in the first quarter. The five economic institutes which prepare the Joint Economic Forecasts predict GDP growth in Germany of 0.3% in 2023, up from a predicted contraction of 0.4% in the autumn, two sources familiar with the data told Reuters. The economics ministry will update its forecasts incorporating the results of the Joint Economic Forecasts this spring. The economic institutes predict inflation of 6.0% in 2023, before slowing to 2.4% in 2024. The Joint Economic Forecasts are prepared by the Ifo Institute, the Halle Institute for Economic Research, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, the RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Austrian Institute of Economic Research.

☆ Ryuichi Sakamoto, composer of 'The Last Emperor' film score, dies aged 71
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Elaine Lies | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and member of the jury for the upcoming 68th Berlinale International Film Festival attends a news conference in Berlin, Germany, February 15, 2018. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File PhotoTOKYO, April 2 (Reuters) - Ryuichi Sakamoto, the Oscar-winning Japanese composer famed for his scores for "The Last Emperor", "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" and other films, has died aged 71, the Yomiuri Shimbun daily reported on Sunday. Sakamoto was also known for his work with the pioneering electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) which he co-founded. Embracing electronic music, he and fellow studio musicians Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi formed YMO in 1978. His most celebrated work was 1987's "The Last Emperor" - a film in which he also acted.

☆ EU countries approve 2035 phaseout of CO2-emitting cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The approval from EU countries' energy ministers means Europe's main climate policy for cars can now enter into force - after weeks of delay caused by last-minute opposition from Germany. The EU law will require all new cars sold to have zero CO2 emissions from 2035, and 55% lower CO2 emissions from 2030, versus 2021 levels. The EU policy had been expected to make it impossible to sell combustion engine cars in the EU from 2035. "The direction of travel is clear: in 2035, new cars and vans must have zero emissions," EU climate policy chief Frans Timmermans said. Germany's late intervention, after EU countries and lawmakers had already agreed the 2035 phaseout last year, irked some EU diplomats, and stoked concerns that governments may try to block other carefully-negotiated deals on climate policies.

☆ Germany sees progress in EU talks for ban on fossil fuel cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Cars are pictured at rush hour traffic on A100 highway during a snowfall in Berlin, Germany, February 8, 2021. It wants sales of new cars with internal combustion engines to be allowed after that date if they run on e-fuels. "There are positive trends that are a good basis for further talks," a spokesman for the ministry told a news conference. The Commission declined to comment on the letter, which also suggested allowing carmakers to count such cars towards complying with CO2 targets. Such changes are legally problematic as the European Parliament has approved the regulations agreed between the bloc's member states and the Commission, meaning any change could be complicated and time-consuming.

☆ German police seek motive in shooting at Jehovah's Witnesses church
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Fabian Bimmer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] A view of a police vehicle at the scene following a deadly shooting, in Hamburg, Germany, March 10, 2023. REUTERS/Fabrizio BenschHAMBURG, March 10 (Reuters) - German police were searching for a motive on Friday after a gunman, believed to have been acting alone, killed several people in a Jehovah's Witnesses church in Hamburg. The Bild newspaper reported seven people were dead and eight wounded in the shooting in the northern city that is home to Germany's biggest port. Several of the wounded were seriously hurt, the Jehovah's Witnesses said. In October 2019, a gunman killed two people when he opened fire outside a synagogue in the eastern city of Halle on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur.

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