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☆ Macron to meet Elon Musk in Paris to talk Tesla investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Michel Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A general view shows the Tesla logo on the Gigafactory in Gruenheide near Berlin, Germany, August 30, 2022. "I'm going (into that meeting) with an agenda," Macron told reporters as he visited the VivaTech summit in Paris, France's biggest tech fair, which Musk will visit on Friday. Asked specifically whether he was hoping to secure a Tesla gigafactory, Macron said: "It's up to the company to look at these different issues in Europe. Earlier today, the French minister for digital affairs Jean-Noel Barrot told CNBC: "It will be great to have a Tesla factory in France. France previously tried to convince Musk to build a gigafactory in the country, but he chose Germany for his only such plant in Europe so far.

Persons: Annegret, Emmanuel Macron, Elon Musk, Tesla, Macron, Stellantis, Jean, Noel Barrot, Bruno Le Maire, Musk, Michel Rose, Akash Sriram, Silvia Aloisi, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Tesla, Reuters, Peugeot, Mercedes, Benz, CNBC, Finance, Thomson Locations: Gruenheide, Berlin, Germany, France, Spain, Paris, Europe, Bengaluru

☆ Euro zone slips into recession after Germany, Ireland revisions
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The revision was principally due to a second estimate from Germany's statistics office showing that the euro zone's largest economy was in recession in early 2023. The euro zone figure for the fourth quarter of 2022 was also cut to -0.1% from a previous reading of zero. Capital Economics said the outlook for the euro zone economy was poor, with a contraction likely again in the second quarter as the impact of higher interest rates fed through. Eurostat said that household spending stripped 0.1 percentage points, public expenditure 0.3 points and inventory changes 0.4 points from quarterly GDP. Gross fixed capital formation added 0.1 points and net trade a further 0.7 points as imports declined.

Persons: Gross, Philip Blenkinsop, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Gross, Eurostat, Reuters, Economics, P Global Market Intelligence, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Ireland, BRUSSELS, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Slovakia

[1/3] German parliamentary group co-leaders of Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla attend a plenary session of the lower house of parliament, Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany May 25, 2023. In France, the far-right has become a stronger rival at the ballot box, while in Italy and Sweden, they are now are in government. Germany's domestic spy agency has branded the AfD's youth wing "extremist", saying it propagated "a racial concept of society". Some AfD initiatives have won backing from mainstream voters on the more local level. Wolfgang Buechner, a Scholz government spokesman, said he was confident the coalition could whittle away at AfD support.

Persons: Alice Weidel, Tino Chrupalla, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's, Stefan Marschall, Michael Kretschmer, Friederich Merz, Nancy Faeser, Marc Debus, Matthias Grahl, Wolfgang Buechner, Scholz, whittle, Sarah Marsh, Andreas Rinke, Madeline Chambers, Edmund Blair Organizations: Bundestag, REUTERS, Government, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social, University of Duesseldorf, Christian Democratic Union, CDU, Greens, Scholz's, Mannheim University, Thomson Locations: Germany, Berlin, BERLIN, Scholz's, Europe, France, Italy, Sweden, Nazi, Russia, Ukraine, Germany's, Saxony, Thueringen, Brandenburg, Bautzen

☆ Mourinho uncertain about Roma future after Europa League defeat
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Soccer Football - Europa League - Final - Sevilla v AS Roma - Puskas Arena, Budapest, Hungary - June 1, 2023 AS Roma coach Jose Mourinho looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Annegret HilseJune 1 (Reuters) - AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho said he was uncertain about his future at the club following their 4-1 penalty shootout defeat in the Europa League final against Sevilla on Wednesday. The defeat meant Roma failed to qualify for next season's Champions League and prompted questions about whether the 60-year-old would remain in the Italian capital, having been linked with Paris St Germain. "I have to fight for these lads and therefore not say objectively that I will remain," Mourinho told Sky Sports Italia. Mourinho also criticised referee Anthony Taylor, adding that the Englishman showed too many yellow cards. It was yellow, yellow, yellow all the time," he said.

Persons: Jose Mourinho, Annegret, Roma, Paris St Germain, Mourinho, Anthony Taylor, ”, Tommy Lund, Toby Davis Organizations: Soccer, Europa, Sevilla, AS Roma, Puskas Arena, REUTERS, Europa League, Wednesday, season's Champions League, Paris St, Sky Sports, Portuguese national, Thomson Locations: Budapest, Hungary, Paris, Gdansk

☆ VW completes sale of Kaluga plant in Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Volkswagen AG FollowBERLIN, May 19 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) has completed the sale of its Kaluga production plant in Russia and its local subsidiaries, the German carmaker said on Friday, ending months of wrangling with Russian authorities over the deal. Volkswagen has sold its shares in Volkswagen Group Rus LLC to Art-Finance LLC, which is supported by autodealer group Avilon, VW said in a statement. Volkswagen is pictured during the 63rd Annual General Meeting of Volkswagen AG in Berlin, Germany May 10, 2023. According to a source familiar with the matter, the deal is valued at 125 million euros ($138 million). Work at the plant in Kaluga, south of Moscow, has been furloughed since March 2022 due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which prompted Western countries to sanction Moscow leading to a breakdown in supply chains.

☆ Ukraine's Patriots aren't hard to find, and Russia's gunning for them with one of its best weapons — Putin's prized Kinzhals
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Ukraine's Patriots aren't hard to find, and Russia appears to be using one of its best weapons to hunt them. Patriot missile defense system at Schwesing military airport in Germany on March 17, 2022. Photo by Axel Heimken/picture alliance via Getty ImagesUkraine presently has just two Patriot air defense batteries in its arsenal, one from the US and another provided by European partners. A general view of a mobile defence surface-to-air missile system, Patriot, before it is transported to Poland from Gnoien, Germany January 23, 2023. He asserted that "to the extent possible, replenishing Ukraine's air defense capacity should remain a priority for Western military aid for the foreseeable future."

☆ Russia's Kinzhal was never an unstoppable hypersonic missile, but the Patriot shot that killed one is still 'impressive,' expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Ukraine shot down a Russian Kinzhal missile described as a hypersonic weapon with a US-made Patriot interceptor. Still, a missile defense expert told Insider the missile is tough target, making it an "impressive" kill. A missile defense expert called the intercept by a Patriot missile "impressive," for both the advanced American-made missile defense system and its Ukrainian operators. A general view of a mobile defence surface-to-air missile system, Patriot, before it is transported to Poland from Gnoien, Germany January 23, 2023. Gen. Pat Ryder said that he could "confirm that they did down a Russian missile by employing the Patriot missile defense system."

☆ Leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan to meet May 14 in Brussels -EU
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Annegret HilseMay 8 (Reuters) - The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan are to meet next week in Brussels, the European Union said on Monday, the latest attempt to secure a durable peace accord and resolve longstanding differences over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. An announcement on the EU Council's website said a three-corner meeting with Council President Charles Michel would take place at EU headquarters. Armenia and Azerbaijan, both former Soviet states, have fought two wars over 30 years focusing on Nagorno-Karabakh, recognised as part of Azerbaijan but populated mainly by Armenians. In a six-week conflict in 2020, ended by a Russian-brokered truce, Azerbaijan recovered territory lost in the first war dating from the collapse of Soviet rule. "The leaders have also agreed to continue to meet trilaterally in Brussels as frequently as necessary to address ongoing developments on the ground and standing agenda items of the Brussels meetings," the EU statement said.

☆ German public sector workers agree to wage deal with employers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Annegret HilseBERLIN, April 22 (Reuters) - German public sector workers have agreed on a wage deal with employers, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and the Verdi union said on Saturday, ending a dispute that has disrupted the transport sector in Europe's biggest economy. The agreement for around 2.5 million workers in the sector follows arbitration. Under the deal, each worker will receive a total of 3,000 euros in tax-free payments in instalments through to Feb. 2024 to help offset inflation, said the ministry in a statement. A surge in the cost of living this year has led to some of Germany's most disruptive strikes in decades. The tax-free payments will show up quickly in wallets," said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.

[1/2] A general view shows a special ship, "Neptune", the floating liquefied natural gas terminal, during the inauguration of the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal 'Deutsche Ostsee' in the port of Lubmin, Germany January 14, 2023. Northweat Europe LNG imports Northwest Europe LNG importsAnalysts estimate that Europe accounted for more than a third of global spot market trades in 2022, from around 13% in 2021. Such exposure could reach more than 50% this year if no long-term contracts were signed. Morten Frisch, senior partner at Morten Frisch Consulting, said Europe ideally needs about 70-75% of its LNG supply under firm long-term sale and purchase agreements (SPAs). LNG spot market prices LNG spot market pricesBut they are expected to rise again, with a hot summer that could cut hydro levels, a cold 2023-2024 winter and a rebound in Chinese LNG demand all seen as among the risk factors for price.

☆ Volkswagen invests in batteries, raw materials in race for affordable EV
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Victoria Waldersee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Over two-thirds of the company's five-year investment budget announced on Tuesday is allocated to electrification and digitalisation, including up to 15 billion for batteries and raw materials. Volkswagen, Europe's top carmaker, is striving to close a gap with electric vehicle (EV) pioneer Tesla (TSLA.O) by expanding its slice of the growing market for battery-powered cars. Buzz EV car, on the day of the annual news conference of the Volkswagen Group at DRIVE.Volkswagen Group Forum, in Berlin, Germany March 14, 2023. Volkswagen met analysts' expectations in 2022 on revenues but missed the consensus estimate for earnings before interest and taxes by 3%. The most likely actual stock market candidate is battery unit PowerCo.

☆ Volkswagen: still targeting an affordable EV by 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A model of a Volkswagen Bus is seen before the annual news conference of the Volkswagen Group at DRIVE.Volkswagen Group Forum, in Berlin, Germany March 14, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret HilseBERLIN, March 14 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) still wants to bring an affordable electric vehicle - costing around 25,000 euros ($26,790.00) in today's prices - to market by 2025, the carmaker said on Tuesday, describing it as a model below the ID.3. "We will have significant scale by then... our Valencia plant cell factory gives us additional improvement on the cell side. By then we (will) hopefully have also made significant progress in attaining a significant supply (of) raw materials," Chief Financial Officer Arno Antlitz said on an analyst call. ($1 = 0.9332 euros)Reporting by Victoria Waldersee Editing by Madeline ChambersOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ukraine 'Art Weapon' show draws crowds in Berlin
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( James Imam | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] A person stands in front of a video installation at the Art Weapon Festival, which showcase contemporary Ukrainian culture and various performances, created during the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the "Alte Muenze" in Berlin, Germany February 25, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret HilseBERLIN, Feb 25 (Reuters) - In a converted former mint in Berlin on Saturday, crowds danced in a blaze of strobe light as a rapper hollered Ukrainian lyrics to punchy beats. The 'Art Weapon' event - which opened at Berlin's sprawling Alte Muenze complex on Saturday - also featured live painting by Ukrainian artists, Ukrainian-language theatre and the chance to sit for a Ukrainian tattoo artist. He decided to apply for funding through a German organisation supporting cultural initiatives, allowing him to organise "Art Weapon" in Berlin. "The invasion has definitely changed art in Ukraine," he added.

☆ Hundreds of foreign soldiers to help train Ukrainian troops in Germany, general says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Marlow's Special Training Command (STC) is part of a European Union military mission set up in November to train up to 30,000 Ukrainian troops in various skills to help Kyiv fight off Russia's year-old invasion. Courses in various European countries range from basic training to the operation of modern battle tanks such as the Leopard 2, air defence systems, rocket launchers and howitzers. Poland is another major training hub while Spain, France, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Italy are also running courses. Beyond the EU mission, U.S. and British troops are training Ukrainian troops in Europe as well. Marlow said he was impressed by the quick wits, skills and commitment of the Ukrainian troops.

☆ Still filming, Spielberg, 76, wins Berlin lifetime award
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Hanna Rantala | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/7] Director Steven Spielberg gestures during a news conference ahead of receiving the Honorary Golden Bear Award for Lifetime Achievement, at the 73rd Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 21, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret HilseBERLIN, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Director Steven Spielberg, picking up a lifetime achievement award at the Berlin Film Festival, said the prospect of making new films continued to excite him at 76, and unveiled new details of his planned HBO series. "We're mounting a large production for HBO based on Stanley's original script 'Napoleon'," he said. Reflecting on the past two years of frenetic film-making, Spielberg said the pandemic prompted him to revisit his childhood in "The Fabelmans". "If you want to be a movie director, first of all write," he said.

☆ 'Reality' recreates fateful day for U.S. whistleblower in Berlinale premiere
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Cast members Marchant Davis, Sydney Sweeney, Josh Hamilton and Director Tina Satter attend a photo call to promote the movie 'Reality' at the 73rd Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 18, 2023. Director Tina Satter aims to change that with the movie "Reality," a 85-minute re-enactment of the day FBI agents came to Winner's house based off the transcript of the audio they recorded which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival on Saturday. Winner's sister and mother also attended the premiere, prompting a burst of applause from the crowded theatre. "After spending time speaking with her, I wanted to make sure that I captured her as much as possible," said Sweeney. "I hope that they see this moment in a woman's life, that it was a really hard decision to make, and to not reduce Reality to just a headline," she added.

☆ Berlinale film 'Manodrome' explores misogynistic world of incel culture
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Miranda Murray | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Cast members Adrien Brody, Odessa Young, Jesse Eisenberg and director John Trengove attend a photo call to promote the movie 'Manodrome'' at the 73rd Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 18, 2023. The film, which premieres at the Berlin Film Festival on Saturday, explores the "manosphere" of online toxic masculinity that bubbled up into the mainstream after a series of mass killings by "incels" - the self-described "involuntary celibates" - in the 2010s. They eventually win Ralphie as a new adherent to their cult and initiate him by branding him with their symbol. "It really became this idea of a character who just immerses himself in a world of men. And it all kind of leads to a sort of madness, a kind of a fever dream," Trengove told the premiere's audience.

Pressure has been building on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government to send its Leopard tanks to Ukraine and let other countries send the ones they own. Ukraine says heavily armoured Western battle tanks would give its ground troops more mobility and protection ahead of a new Russian offensive that Kyiv expects in the near future. Germany has previously said that no country had formally asked for permission to send their Leopard tanks. A German defence source told Reuters that Poland had submitted a request to let it supply up to 14 Leopard 2 A4 tanks to Ukraine. He expressed confidence that a decision on sending battle tanks would come soon.

☆ Germany starts deploying Patriot air defence units to Poland
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/4] A view of a part of the convoy as the mobile defence surface-to-air missile systems, Patriot, are transported to Poland, near Gnoien, Germany, January 23, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret HilseGNOIEN, Germany Jan 23 (Reuters) - Germany on Monday dispatched the first two out of three Patriot air defence units that will be sent to the Polish town of Zamosc close to the Ukrainian border where they will be deployed to prevent stray missile strikes. As a result, Berlin offered to deploy three of its Patriot units to Poland to help secure its air space. Ground-based air defence systems such as Raytheon's (RTX.N) Patriot are built to intercept incoming missiles. Sievers, who will command the German unit in Poland, underlined the defensive nature of the Patriot system.

☆ With 2026 on the horizon future looks bright for young Americans
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Round of 16 - Netherlands v United States - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - December 3, 2022 United States players applaud fans after the match as United States are eliminated from the World Cup REUTERS/Annegret HilseAL RAYYAN, Qatar, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The United States exited the World Cup with a Round of 16 loss to the Netherlands on Saturday but looking towards the 2026 horizon, a bright future is rising for the young Americans. With defender DeAndre Yedlin, who played in Brazil in 2014, the only link to the country's World Cup past, the Americans' lack of experience was glaring at moments but offset by exuberance and a breathless work rate. A gritty, politically charged win over Iran and draws against England and Wales carried the United States into the last 16 but more will be expected on home soil. "We're just not there yet, we have to use this World Cup to establish ourselves. The loss to the Netherlands underscored the hard work ahead if the Americans plan to venture beyond the Round of 16 in 2026.

☆ German inflation to stay in double digits despite gas price brake, Bundesbank says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Annegret HilseFRANKFURT, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Inflation in Germany may well remain in double digits into next year despite the government's efforts to curb energy prices, the Bundesbank said on Wednesday. But the Bundesbank said the effect of this so called "brake" on gas prices may not become immediately visible, and would only be temporary anyway. "The inflation rate could stay in double digits also beyond the turn of the year," the German central bank said in its monthly report. "As soon as the gas and electricity price brakes expire, the effect on the inflation rate will reverse," the Bundesbank said. "This could reduce the extent of second-round effects on the inflation rate, especially in the medium-term, and help ensure that the current high inflation rates do not further solidify."

☆ Wait for the dust to settle after Alphabet's poor results before taking action on the stock
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

But we think Club members should wait until the dust settles before taking any action. Even Google Search, the greatest advertising platform in the world, was not immune to some macroeconomic pressures. Revenue breakdown Google Advertising revenue increased 2.5% year-over-year, to $54.48 billion, missing the consensus estimate of $56.59 billion. Google Search & Other revenue rose 4%, to $39.54 billion, below the $40.93 billion forecasted by analysts, driven by a solid performance in travel and retail. Still, we see no reason to doubt the resilience of Google Search due to its strong measurability and high return on investment.

☆ Iran airs video from Evin prison hours after fire, tells Biden to stop interfering
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( Parisa Hafezi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Iran, which has blamed the violence on enemies at home and abroad, deny security forces have killed protesters. The footage of Evin aired on state television showed firefighters inspecting a workshop with fire damage to the roof. State news agency IRNA said on Saturday eight people were injured in the fire at the Evin prison. Video obtained by Reuters showed protesters marching amongst traffic towards Tehran's Evin prison on Saturday night and into Sunday morning. Iran's notorious Evin prison, which holds criminal convicts as well as political detainees, has long been criticised by Western rights groups and was blacklisted by the U.S. government in 2018 for "serious human rights abuses".

☆ Germany's EnBW says Sefe settlement cuts negative impact on profit
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( Ludwig Burger | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A general view of pipelines on the gas storage facility at the gas trading company VNG AG in Bad Lauchstaedt, Germany July 28, 2022. The negative earnings impact for 2022 will likely be below 1.3 billion euros ($1.3 billion), an upper limit mentioned in its second-quarter report, but above 545 million euros, EnBW said in a statement on Monday. EnBW's VNG (VNG.UL) relies on Sefe for 65 terawatt hours (TWh) of gas supplies, accounting for much of its gas procurement needs. As a result of this, Germany's largest gas importers - Uniper (UN01.DE), Sefe and VNG - have either been bailed out or requested state aid to stay afloat. More specific effects on EnBW's finances and cash flows depend on further talks with the German government, the utility added.

☆ Depeche Mode announce new album and world tour
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, Oct 4 (Reuters) - British electronic music pioneers Depeche Mode announced a new album and world tour on Tuesday, their first since the death of founding member Andrew Fletcher this year. We've got all of the tracks finished kind of for the album without them being mixed," Gore said. "All of the songs and even the album title was kind of decided before Andy passed. The band will kick off a world tour to support the album's spring release, in March. They released their last studio album, "Spirit", in 2017.

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