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☆ French watchdog halts iPhone 12 sales over too-high radiation - minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/ Regis Duvignau/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Apple must stop selling its iPhone 12 model in France due to above-threshold radiation levels, France's junior minister for the digital economy told newspaper Le Parisien in an interview published on Tuesday. France's radiation watchdog ANFR notified Apple of its decision to ban iPhone 12 sales after it had carried out tests which showed the smartphone's Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) was slightly higher than legally allowed, Jean-Noel Barrot told the paper. Barrot said a software update would be sufficient to fix the radiation issues linked to the phone which the U.S. company has been selling since 2020. The French watchdog will now pass on its findings to regulators in other EU member states. In 2020, France widened regulations requiring retailers to display the radiation value of products on packaging beyond cell phones, including tablets and other electronic devices.

Persons: Regis, Le, Jean, Noel Barrot, Barrot, Tassilo Hummel, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Apple, REUTERS, Rights, Le Parisien, U.S ., European Union, Thomson Locations: Lusignac, France, U.S

☆ SocGen and Brookfield to launch private debt fund
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

The logo of Societe Generale bank is pictured on an office building in Nantes, France, March 16, 2023. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Sept 11 (Reuters) - French lender Societe Generale (SOGN.PA) and asset manager Brookfield Corp (BN.TO) plan to launch a private debt fund targeting total volume of 10 billion euros ($10.73 billion) over the next four years, they announced on Monday. Initial seed funding, which will be directed towards the power, transportation and finance sectors among others, amounts to 2.5 billion euros, the companies said. The fund "will have a positive impact on the real economy", SocGen Chief Executive Slawomir Krupa said in a press release. ($1 = 0.9319 euros)Reporting by Tassilo Hummel Editing by David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, Slawomir Krupa, Tassilo Hummel, David Goodman Organizations: Societe Generale, REUTERS, Rights, Brookfield Corp, SocGen, Thomson Locations: Nantes, France

☆ Dutch company Philips reaches U.S. settlement over respirators
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dutch technology company Philips' logo is seen at company headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands, January 29, 2019. REUTERS/Eva Plevier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Koninklijke Philips NV FollowPARIS, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Philips (PHG.AS) and some of its local units reached an agreement to resolve all economic loss claims in a US litigation related to the recall of certain sleep and respiratory care devices, the Dutch company announced on Thursday. The agreement includes cash awards to participants of the lawsuit depending on the type of device. Philips Respironics has recorded a provision for an amount of 575 million euros ($615.48 million) in the first quarter of 2023 to cover the estimated costs of the final settlement, it said in a statement. ($1 = 0.9342 euros)Reporting by Tassilo Hummel; Editing by Sudip Kar-GuptaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Eva Plevier, Philips Respironics, Tassilo Hummel, Sudip Kar Organizations: Philips, REUTERS, Koninklijke Philips NV, Gupta, Thomson Locations: Amsterdam, Netherlands, Dutch

☆ Philips settles one category of U.S. claims over respirator recall
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Koninklijke Philips NV FollowAMSTERDAM, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Philips (PHG.AS) said on Thursday it has reached a settlement to resolve one category of legal claims against it following a major recall of the Dutch medical equipment maker's sleep apnea and respiratory devices. The company had taken a 575 million euro ($615.48 million) provision in the first quarter of 2023 against estimated costs for economic loss claims. The company still faces other legal actions over the recall, including personal injury claims, as well as an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. However, the lawyers said in a joint statement they would continue to pursue personal injury and other claims against the company. "We are confident in these claims and we look forward to holding Philips accountable for the physical harm they caused patients," they said.

Persons: Philips, Steve Klink, Toby Sterling, Tassilo Hummel, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Susan Fenton, David Evans Organizations: Koninklijke Philips NV, Philips, U.S . Department of Justice, U.S . Food, Drugs Administration, Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM

☆ Renault CEO: China very competitive on electric vehicles, Europe needs to catch up
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Renault logo on the Renault Scenic Vision concept-car is seen at its exhibition space, at the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France June 16, 2022. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Renault's (RENA.PA) chief executive Luca de Meo said on Monday that China was 'very competitive' in terms of the electric vehicle market, as Renault also prepared to unveil its new Scenic electric vehicle car model. "China is very competitive when it comes to the supply chain of electric vehicles....we need to catch up fast," De Meo told RTL Radio, speaking from the IAA Munich car show. De Meo added that Renault would unveil the prices for its new Scenic minivan later in the year, with a launch planned in the first quarter of 2024. The Scenic will be within the price range for many customers, similar to a hybrid model of the same size and category, he said.

Persons: Porte, Benoit Tessier, Luca de Meo, De Meo, Tassilo Hummel, Sudip Kar Organizations: Renault, Viva Technology, Porte de, REUTERS, Rights, RTL Radio, IAA, Gupta, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, China, IAA Munich

☆ France-born boxer chases Olympic dream with Ivory Coast
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Clotaire Achi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Sedia Sanogo, 33, captain of the Ivory Coast women's boxing team who dreams to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Games, attends a practice session in Guerville, France, August 25, 2023. "When I watched the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, there were many people from many countries, including my (former) teammates from the French team, but Ivory Coast was not represented," Sanogo, 33, told Reuters. But she chose to run under the flag of Ivory Coast, becoming the African country's first female boxer with Olympic aspirations. "In Ivory Coast, many have a traditional way of thinking. Arthur Boua, the head of Ivory Coast's boxing federation, said he was proud that thanks to Sanogo, the country now had a women's team.

Persons: Sanogo, Benoit Tessier, Denis, Ivory Coast's, Arthur Boua, Ivory, Clotaire Achi, Loucoumane Coulibali, Tassilo Hummel, Ingrid Melander, Conor Humphries Organizations: Ivory Coast, Paralympics Games, REUTERS, Rights, Paris, Rio Olympic, Reuters, Olympic, Thomson Locations: Ivory, Guerville, France, Ivory Coast, Paris, Seine, African, Africa, Dakar, Ivory Coast's

☆ As the Olympics loom, Paris's transport grid worries wheelchair users
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Yiming Woo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

With Paris streets often clogged by traffic, travelling underground is often much quicker but only 9% of metro stations can be accessed without walking up and down steps. Wheelchair users, however, would need to travel by bus as both metro stations have stairs and no lifts, a test ride carried out by Maille, who was accompanied by a Reuters journalist, showed. In Berlin, 83% of underground stations are accessible for wheelchair users, according to the operator. The company also plans to deploy 250 specially refitted buses that can transport more wheelchair users, he added. But wheelchair activist Maille said this won't help many visitors with their trips between hotels and venues.

Persons: Franck Maille, Stephanie Lecocq, Alexander III, la, Maille, Gregoire de Lasteyrie, Yiming Woo, Tassilo Hummel, Ingrid Melander, Ken Ferris Organizations: APF, Madeleine, REUTERS, Rights, la Chapelle, Wheelchair, Reuters, Transport, Thomson Locations: APF France, Paris, France, London, Berlin

☆ French ban of abaya robes in schools draws applause, criticism
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"We were worried by a strong increase in the (the number of pupils) wearing the abaya. Sophie Venetitay, from the SNES-FSU union, said it was key to focus on dialogue with pupils and families to ensure the ban did not mean children will be taken away from state-run schools to go to religious schools. In 2004, France banned headscarves in schools and passed a ban on full face veils in public in 2010, angering some in its five million-strong Muslim community. Abdallah Zekri, vice-chair of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), made a similar point, saying Attal's decision was misguided. "The abaya is not religious attire, it's a type of fashion," he told BFM TV.

Persons: Gabriel Attal, Eric Ciotti, Clementine Autain, France Insoumise, Didier Georges, Georges, Samuel Paty, Sophie Venetitay, Pap Ndiaye, Abdallah Zekri, BFM, Juliette Jabkhiro, Tassilo Hummel, Bertrand Boucey, Ingrid Melander, Nick Macfie Organizations: Reuters, FSU, French Council of, Thomson Locations: France, PARIS

☆ Macron says French ambassador will stay in Niger, despite pressure from junta to leave
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Michel Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

French President Emmanuel Macron gives a speech in front of French ambassadors during the conference of ambassadors at the Elysee Palace, Paris, France, August 28, 2023. TERESA SUAREZ/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Aug 28 (Reuters) - France's ambassador to Niger will stay in the country despite pressure to leave from leaders of a recent coup, President Emmanuel Macron said in a speech to diplomats on Monday. Macron also reiterated France's support to Niger's ousted president Mohamed Bazoum, whose decision not to resign Macron called courageous. It's based on the courage of President Bazoum, and on the commitments of our ambassador on the ground who is remaining despite all the pressure, despite all the declarations made by the illegitimate authorities," said Macron. On Friday, Niger's junta, which seized power in a coup on July 26, said it had ordered French ambassador Sylvain Itte to leave the country within 48 hours.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, TERESA SUAREZ, Macron, Niger's, Mohamed Bazoum, Bazoum, Sylvain Itte, Michel Rose, Blandine Henault, Tassilo Hummel, Sudip Kar, Ingrid Melander Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Niger's, West, ECOWAS, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Niger, French, United States, Europe

☆ France's Le Maire vows to keep lowering taxes
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire attends the China-France Economic and Financial Dialogue at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, July 29, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Aug 24 (Reuters) - France will accelerate the reduction of its debt while sticking to its policy of lowering taxes for households and businesses, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Thursday. The French state must reduce public spending, he added, confirming that gas and electricity price caps would end. Inflation has started to slow and "we will stick to our fiscal policy", Le Maire said during a visit to the Haute-Savoie department in the French Alps. Reporting by Dominique Vidalon, editing by Tassilo Hummel and Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bruno Le Maire, Thomas Peter, Le Maire, Fitch, Elisabeth Borne, Dominique Vidalon, Tassilo Hummel, Devika Organizations: Finance, France Economic, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: China, France, Diaoyutai, Beijing, Haute, Savoie, French

☆ Triathlon Sewer problems in Seine behind cancellation of Paris 2024 run-up event
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Olympics - Paris 2024 holds triathlon test event for the Olympics - Paris, France - August 18, 2023 General view as athletes compete in the elite men triathlon test event in the river seine REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Aug 23 (Reuters) - A faulty valve in Paris' sewage system was likely to have caused a contamination of the River Seine's water that led to the cancellation of a pre-Olympics swimming event, the Paris city council said on Wednesday. The swimming stage of the World Triathlon Para Cup - seen as a test event for the 2024 Summer Games - was cancelled on Saturday due to poor water quality. Athletes had taken part in swimming events in the Seine on the previous two days. "The valve that prevents rainwater from being discharged into the River Seine appears to have leaked," Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera was quoted as saying by Le Parisien. Paris has been working on cleaning up the Seine so that people can swim in it again, as was the case during the 1900 Paris Olympics more than a century ago.

Persons: Stephanie Lecocq, Alexandre, Le Canard, Amelie Oudea, Castera, Le Parisien, Tassilo Hummel, Stephen Coates, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Olympics, Rights, Le Parisien, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, REUTERS, Tolbiac, Seine

☆ France issues 'red alert' over heatwave in south
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The logo of Electricite de France (EDF) is seen in front of electrical pylons at the Tricastin nuclear power plant site in Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux, France, November 21, 2022. The departments targeted by the alert, which allows local authorities to call off events and close public facilities if needed, are the Rhone, Drome, Ardeche and Haute-Loire, Meteo France said. Earlier on Monday, Meteo France had issued an orange alert for half of the country's territory, saying temperatures will reach between 35 and 38 C (95 to 100 F) in most of the affected departments. Temperatures are expected to rise to between 40 and 42 Celsius (104 and 108 F) on Tuesday afternoon in the southern departments of Ardeche, Drome, Vaucluse and Gard, Meteo France said. Some technical issues at the reactor also played a role in delaying the restart to Aug. 25, an EDF spokesperson told Reuters.

Persons: Eric Gaillard, Meteo, Forrest Crellin, Dominique Vidalon, Tassilo Hummel, Sudip Kar, Emelia, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, EDF, Reuters, Thomson Locations: France, Saint, Rhone, Drome, Ardeche, Haute, Loire, Meteo France, Vaucluse, Gard

☆ Fire on car carrier ablaze off Dutch coast now less intense
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AMSTERDAM, July 28 (Reuters) - The fire which has been burning on a car carrier off the Dutch coast has lessened in intensity and salvagers have been able to board the ship to secure stronger tow lines, authorities said on Friday. Smoke rises as a fire broke out on the cargo ship Fremantle Highway, at sea on July 26, 2023. The Dutch coastguard said on its website on Thursday that the cause of the fire was unknown, but an emergency responder is heard in a recording released by Dutch broadcaster RTL saying, "The fire started in the battery of an electric car". An investigation has been launched by the Panama Maritime Authority and the Netherlands is assisting the inquiry, the Dutch Safety Board has said. The 199-metre (653-ft) Fremantle is drifting about 17 km from the northernmost Dutch coast, the coastguard said.

Persons: Miranda Murry, Daniel Leussink, Geert De Clercq, Marine Strauss, Anthony Deutsch, Tassilo Hummel, Philippa Fletcher, Leslie Adler Organizations: Panamanian, Fremantle Highway, Fremantle, Ship, Coastguard, REUTERS, K Line, Kawasaki, Dutch coastguard, RTL, Panama Maritime Authority, Dutch Safety, coastguard, Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM, Coastguard Netherlands, Dutch, Netherlands, Fremantle, Germany, Egypt, Wadden, Denmark

☆ Carrier ablaze off Dutch coast carrying almost 500 electric cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AMSTERDAM, July 28 (Reuters) - The car carrier burning off the Dutch coast since Tuesday night is carrying nearly 500 electric vehicles, ship charter company "K" Line said on Friday, significantly more than the 25 initially reported by the coastguard. There were 3,783 vehicles on board, including 498 battery electric vehicles, a Tokyo-based spokesperson for K Line (Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha), which had chartered the vessel, said. He declined to say anything about the car brands, including whether or not it included any cars from Japanese manufacturers. An investigation has been launched by the Panama Maritime Authority and the Netherlands is assisting the inquiry, the Dutch Safety Board has said. The 199-metre (653 ft) Fremantle, which is still burning, is drifting about 17 km from the northernmost Dutch coast, the coastguard said.

Persons: Miranda Murry, Daniel Leussink, Marine Strauss, Anthony Deutsch, Tassilo Hummel, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: coastguard, Panamanian, Fremantle Highway, K Line, Kawasaki, RTL, Panama Maritime Authority, Dutch Safety, Fremantle, Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM, Tokyo, Dutch, Netherlands, Germany, Egypt, Wadden, Denmark

☆ French, Spanish economies grow at sustained pace in second quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS/MADRID, July 28 (Reuters) - The French and Spanish economies grew at a sustained pace in the second quarter on the back of stronger exports and tourism, statistics agencies said on Friday, auguring a possible euro zone rebound. France's gross domestic product expanded in the second quarter a faster-than-expected 0.5% from the preceding quarter, while the Spanish economy grew 0.4%, according to data from INSEE and INE, as the French and Spanish statistics agencies are respectively known. The data from French and Spanish economies, respectively the euro zone's second- and fourth-largest, bode well after the euro zone's growth was 0% in the first quarter of this year. The French economy sped up from a revised 0.1% in the first quarter, INSEE said in its quarterly GDP report. Unlike France and Spain, Austria, a much smaller economy, shrank 0.4% in the second quarter due to a slowdown in construction and industry.

Persons: auguring, Bruno Le Maire, bode, Nadia Calvino, Tassilo Hummel, Inti, Dominique Vidalon, Christopher Cushing, Nick Macfie Organizations: PARIS, Finance, RTL, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Spanish, Spain, France, Austria

☆ French antitrust watchdog issues statement of objection over Apple app tracking
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, July 25 (Reuters) - France's antitrust watchdog on Tuesday said it had issued a statement of objection against Apple (AAPL.O), citing concerns the U.S. technology company could have used "discriminatory and non-transparent conditions" for using user data for advertising purposes on iPhones. The statement triggers a proper antitrust procedure during which the company will be able to express its point of view, the watchdog said. The mechanism "gives users more control by requiring all apps to ask permission before tracking them," Apple said in an e-mailed statement, adding that it will "continue to engage constructively" with the French antitrust regulator. The four associations - IAB France, MMAF, SRI and UDECAM - said the changes brought by Apple did not meet European Union privacy rules, which Apple denies. Reporting by Tassilo Hummel and Mathieu Rosemain; Editing by Susan Fenton and Mark PorterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Apple, Tassilo Hummel, Mathieu Rosemain, Susan Fenton, Mark Porter Organizations: Apple, ., IAB, SRI, Thomson Locations: IAB France, MMAF

☆ Atos, tech giants join forces on ethernet consortium
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

July 19 (Reuters) - A group of tech industry actors including Meta (META.O), Microsoft (MSFT.O) and Intel (INTC.O) and France's Atos (ATOS.PA) have teamed up to form an ethernet consortium in a bid to build up networks suited for artificial intelligence, Atos announced on Wednesday. The consortium will work on minimizing communication stack changes while maintaining and promoting ethernet interoperability, is said in a statement. Other founding members include AMD, Arista, Broadcom, Cisco, and HPE. Reporting by Victor Goury-Laffont, editing by Tassilo HummelOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: France's, Atos, Victor Goury, Tassilo Hummel Organizations: Meta, Microsoft, Intel, AMD, Arista, Broadcom, Cisco, Thomson

☆ France to raise regulated household electricity prices by 10% from August
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, July 18 (Reuters) - The French government has decided to raise regulated household electricity prices by 10% starting from August, a government official said on Tuesday, confirming a report from newspaper Les Echos. The 10% increase is much lower than the one proposed by the French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), which - based on current market prices - recommended an increase of 74.5%. In May, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said France's cap on electricity prices would be phased out and end at the end of next year. European electricity prices soared last year, mainly driven by the fallout from the war in Ukraine. France also saw record-low nuclear output as state-owned utility EDF (EDF.PA) repairs reactors affected by stress corrosion.

Persons: Les, ”, Bruno Le Maire, France's, Benjamin Mallet, Tassilo Hummel, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Jason Neely Organizations: French Energy Regulatory Commission, Finance, EDF, Thomson Locations: Europe, Ukraine, France

☆ France to cut government spending by 4.2 bln eur next year - minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, July 17 (Reuters) - The French government expects to spend 4.2 billion euros ($4.71 billion) less in 2024 as it scales back massive consumer subsidies on fuel and electricity, according to first budget estimates sent to parliamentarians. "For the first time in almost a decade, spending will decrease when compared to the previous year: 4.2 billion euros down", Budget Minister Gabriel Attal told paper Les Echos on Sunday. "We are ending the exceptional crisis spending and are making savings, to finance the green transition," Attal said. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has asked each ministry to identify cutbacks worth 5% of their budget. A finance ministry source said on Sunday that France's debt reduction would be achieved through various means, including savings in employment and housing policies.

Persons: Gabriel Attal, Emmanuel Macron's, Attal, Fitch, Bruno Le Maire, Tassilo Hummel, Bertrand Boucey, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Finance, Thomson Locations: France

[1/3] Writer Milan Kundera is pictured in Prague, former Czechoslovakia, May 6, 1963. CTK Photo/Frantisek Nesvadba via REUTERSPRAGUE, July 12 (Reuters) - Czech-born writer Milan Kundera, author of the novel "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" who lived nearly five decades in Paris after emigrating in disillusionment from his Communist-ruled homeland, has died at the age of 94. French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said Kundera was "a writer and a voice that we will miss". "Milan Kundera's work is at the same time a deep, human, intimate and distant exploration," she said. Fellow Czech writer Karel Hvizdala told Czech Television he saw his friend last November and he was already in poor health.

Persons: Milan Kundera, Frantisek Nesvadba, Kundera, Petr Fiala, Petr Pavel, Pavel, Elisabeth Borne, Milan, Karel Hvizdala, Albert Camus, Daniel Day, Lewis, Juliette Binoche, Philip Kaufman, Timothy Garton Ash, Monde, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Czechoslovakia's, Jan Lopatka, Robert Muller, Elizabeth Pineau, Tassilo Hummel, Michael Kahn, Jason Hovet, Toby Chopra, Kevin Liffey, Mark Heinrich, Nick Macfie Organizations: CTK, REUTERS, Moravian, Prague Spring, Czech Television, Czechoslovak Communist, New York Times, Oxford University, Paris Mayor, Czechoslovakia's Communist, Thomson Locations: Prague, Czechoslovakia, REUTERS PRAGUE, Czech, Paris, Brno, France, Communist Czechoslovakia, Czechoslovak, Europe, Central Europe, French, Western

☆ NATO's Stoltenberg: Ukraine can join bloc when members agree and conditions are met
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

VILNIUS, July 11 (Reuters) - NATO will extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the military alliance when "members agree and conditions are met", Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference on Tuesday. Stoltenberg's comments reflected the language in a communique issued by NATO leaders on Tuesday at a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said earlier in the day it would be "absurd" if NATO leaders did not offer his country a timeframe for membership. "If you look at all the membership processes, there have not been timelines for those processes. Reporting by Andrew Gray, writing by Tassilo Hummel; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Rosalba O'BrienOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Stoltenberg, Andrew Gray, Tassilo Hummel, Frank Jack Daniel, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: NATO, Thomson Locations: VILNIUS, Ukraine, Vilnius, Lithuania

☆ France upbeat on attracting major Tesla investment, finance minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PARIS, July 9 (Reuters) - French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on Sunday said he was "very hopeful" Tesla (TSLA.O) Chief Executive Elon Musk will pick France for a substantial investment linked to the production of electric vehicles in Europe. Musk recently met French government officials, including President Emmanuel Macron, as he explores options for future production sites. Asked whether an investment could be linked to battery cells or other parts of Tesla's business, Bruno Le Maire told LCI television "several options are on the table". "He (Musk) knows that he would be welcome in France", Le Maire said, adding: "It's up to him to take the decision." Reporting by Gilles Guillaume and Tassilo Hummel; Editing by Alison WilliamsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bruno Le Maire, Tesla, Elon Musk, Musk, Emmanuel Macron, LCI, Le Maire, Gilles Guillaume, Tassilo Hummel, Alison Williams Organizations: French Finance, Sunday, France, Thomson Locations: Europe, France

☆ Kretinsky to install former Metro and Lactalis exec at Casino if offer succeeds, Les Echos reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, July 9 (Reuters) - Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky and his partners are prepared to hire former Metro (B4B.DE) and Lactalis executive Philippe Palazzi as the new boss of French supermarket chain Casino (CASP.PA), should their refinancing offer for the debt-laden company succeed, Les Echos reported on Sunday. Kretinsky could not immediately be reached for comment outside working hours. Kretinsky's offer is valid until Monday. It faces a rivalling offer led by telecoms maverick Xavier Niel, investment banker Matthieu Pigasse and businessman Moez-Alexandre Zouari, which Casino said had also been extended to the same day. Reporting by Tassilo Hummel; Editing by Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Daniel Kretinsky, Philippe Palazzi, Les Echos, Kretinsky, Palazzi, Xavier Niel, Matthieu Pigasse, Moez, Alexandre Zouari, Tassilo Hummel, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Metro, LinkedIn, Thomson Locations: Czech

☆ TotalEnergies boss: 2024 U.S. election could cause energy shock
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies Patrick Pouyanne speaks during the Energy Asia conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia June 26, 2023. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain/File PhotoCompanies TotalEnergies SE FollowPARIS, July 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. presidential election could trigger a major energy shock if Republicans were to win and decide to halt hydrocarbon exports, Patrick Pouyanné, the chief executive of French oil major TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA), said on Saturday. "The only thing that could happen, which is a major systemic risk, is that the Republicans decide to stop exporting ... At least 11 Republican candidates have announced that they will try to win their party's nomination to take on Democratic President Joe Biden in the November 2024 election. Pouyanné also said he expected a "sustainably high" oil barrel price due to the global shift towards cleaner sources of energy and the decrease in oil investments.

Persons: TotalEnergies Patrick Pouyanne, Hasnoor Hussain, Patrick Pouyanné, Pouyanne, Joe Biden, Biden, Pouyanné, Benjamin Mallet, Tassilo Hummel, Alison Williams Organizations: Energy Asia, REUTERS, U.S, Republican, Democratic, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Thomson Locations: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, PARIS, Ukraine

☆ Paris protest over police violence banned in aftermath of riots
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

PARIS, July 8 (Reuters) - Paris police banned a protest on Saturday against violence by the force, a week after France was rocked by riots sparked by the killing of a teenager in a suburb of the French capital. French authorities and politicians including President Emmanuel Macron have denied institutional racism within the country's law enforcement agencies. The demonstration against alleged police violence and racial discrimination was initially planned as a march in Beaumont-sur-Oise, another Paris suburb, where Traore died in 2016. Separately, the French foreign ministry on Saturday denied a UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) allegation of racial discrimination and excessive use of force by French law enforcement officials. "Any accusation of systemic racism or discrimination by law enforcement in France is unfounded", the foreign ministry said, echoing similar statements it has made previously.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Nahel, Adama Traore, Frenchman, George Floyd, Traore, Mathilde Panot, Tassilo Hummel, Alexander Smith Organizations: la Republique, UN, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, la, United States, Beaumont, sur, Oise, Marseille, Strasbourg, Nahel

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