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☆ Analysis: Macron wins Pyrrhic victory on pension bill, risks fuelling anger
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Michel Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

By using special constitutional powers instead of risking lawmakers rejecting the reform, Macron has given ammunition to the opposition and to trade union leaders who cast the reform as undemocratic. LE PEN AMBUSHTo be sure, claims of authoritarianism by the pension bill's critics are far-fetched. Political observers say Le Pen played her hand well. "Mrs Le Pen is ready for the ambush," Laurent Berger, the head of the moderate CFDT union said on Thursday, hours before the vote. But the end of debates in parliament may do little to quell anger on the streets.

☆ Amid ongoing Lebanese stalemate, France renews sanctions threat
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Foreign states have historically played a part in determining the presidency's fate in a country that has been a theatre for international rivalries. Two diplomats aware of the talks said Paris had brought up the issue of imposing EU sanctions targeting Lebanese leaders, although they cautioned the idea did not seem to be top of the agenda. "We call on the Lebanese authorities, Lebanese leaders, all the political leaders to get out of this constitutional impasse," foreign ministry spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre told reporters in a daily briefing. The European Union adopted a legal framework for a sanctions regime targeting Lebanese individuals and entities in 2021 in an attempt to put pressure on the Lebanese, but it has not used it and the political and economic crisis has worsened. "We are currently examining the situation to see how we can work on these consequences," she said.

It was a far cry from the barbs Macron traded with Boris Johnson when he was in Downing Street. The French foreign minister at the time, Jean-Yves Le Drian, said France had been "stabbed in the back". Macron's hardball tactics to ensure French fishermen got a good deal had made him the bete noire of British tabloids. But even before news of the AUKUS deal he was incensed by Johnson's decision to leak details of their conversation to the press, a French official said. A French official let out a sigh of relief after it wrapped up: "It went well, didn't it?"

Ties which have often been rocky since Britain voted to leave the European Union in 2016 have been fortified by the countries' support for Ukraine since Russia's invasion. "The partnership the UK and France share runs deep," Sunak said on Twitter. "From tackling illegal migration to driving growth in our economies to defending our common security, when we work together we all benefit. The Times newspaper said he would announce Britain was providing funding to France to invest in police, security and intelligence. The payments were expected to exceed 200 million pounds over three years, the report said, citing unnamed sources.

☆ Three Los Angeles police officers shot, suspect barricaded
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/4] Police officers stand guard as the Lincoln Park neighborhood is cordoned off, as police look for a gunman who shot three police officers, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 08, 2023 REUTERS/David SwansonMarch 8 (Reuters) - Three Los Angeles police officers were shot on Wednesday evening and a suspect was barricaded inside a garage with an ongoing "tactical scene" unfolding, the chief of police said. The three officers who were shot are in stable condition at a hospital, Los Angeles Police chief Michel Moore wrote on social media. Officers in full tactical gear were seen near the site where the suspected gunman is holed up. A police helicopter hovered over the neighborhood, telling residents over a loudspeaker to remain inside their homes, the Los Angeles Times newspaper reported. The Times, citing unnamed police sources, said the officers who were shot are part of a canine unit and were seeking a suspect when they took fire.

☆ Scientists revived a 'zombie' virus frozen for 48,500 years in ice. They learned it could still infect other cells.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Chris Panella | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Scientists revived a 48,500-year-old 'zombie' virus from permafrost and found it was still infectious. Some scientists are concerned that climate change thawing permafrost could reawaken ancient viruses. A carcass of an Ice Age cave bear found on Great Lyakhovsky Island, in northern Russia, unearthed by thawing permafrost. How 'zombie' viruses could infect hosts once they emergeThis isn't the first time Claverie has revived ancient viruses, or "zombie viruses" as he calls them. The current research on frozen viruses like Claverie's 'zombie' virus is helping scientists understand more about how these ancient viruses function and whether, or not, they could potentially infect animals or humans.

As part of the new deal, Britain will help fund a detention centre in France while Paris will deploy more French personnel and enhanced technology to patrol its beaches. Officers from both countries will also look to work with countries along the routes favoured by people traffickers. The funding package will be paid in instalments, with Britain paying 125 million pounds in 2023-24. Britain said France would contribute significantly more. Later this month, King Charles will also travel to France on his first state visit as monarch.

☆ Georgian protesters rally in Tbilisi after violent clashes with police
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Jake Cordell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The ruling Georgian Dream party say it is modelled on U.S. legislation dating from the 1930s. In violent clashes on Tuesday evening, protesters threw petrol bombs and stones at police, who used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowds. Critics say Georgian Dream is too close to Russia and has taken the country in a more repressive direction in recent years. Georgian Dream Chairman Irakli Kobakhidze defended the bill again on Wednesday, saying it would help root out those working against the interests of the country and the powerful Georgian Orthodox Church. He criticised Georgia's "radical opposition" for stirring up protesters to commit "unprecedented violence" during Tuesday's rallies, according to Georgian news agencies.

☆ French government says has deal on anti-inflation shopping basket
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Dominique Vidalon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The discounts are expected to cost retailers "hundreds of millions of euros", Le Maire said. From June, retailers and government officials will reassess the situation and may ask large consumer goods suppliers to re-negotiate prices with retailers, he added. French annual inflation rose unexpectedly to 7.2% in February from 7.0% in January, partly as a result of higher food prices, preliminary figures from the INSEE statistics body found. INSEE has forecast that food price inflation would remain at 13% for the first half of the year. The basket of anti-inflation groceries is the government's latest effort to show political support to lower-income citizens.

☆ ExodusPoint is on the comeback trail after a rocky 2022
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

It's the beginning of the month, which means a chance to see how the top hedge funds are performing. But the top dog among large multi-strategy hedge funds was ExodusPoint. Click here to check out the performance of top hedge funds like Citadel, Millennium, and Point72. Working on Wall Street is so bad this woman left to clean up crime scenes. Stacey Foyster detailed how after a decade on Wall Street in risk analysis, she opted for a career change.

☆ Meet the Wertheimers, the secretive French brothers worth $96 billion who control Chanel, own vineyards in France and Napa Valley, and breed racehorses
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Meira Gebel | Libertina Brandt | Avery Hartmans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

The New York Times once described the brothers as "fashion's quietest billionaires." Gerard told The Times' magazine in 2002 that the family prefers being discreet. It's about everyone who works and creates at Chanel. Gerard, left, and Alain Wertheimer at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at the Hippodrome de Longchamp in 2006. Michel Dufour/WireImage/Getty ImagesSource: The New York Times Magazine, The New York Times

REUTERS/Tingshu WangHONG KONG/BEIJING/SHANGHAI, March 3 (Reuters) - As unprecedented protests against China's zero-COVID policies escalated in November, Li Qiang, the man recently elevated to No.2 on the ruling Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee, seized the moment. Meanwhile, some local-level party workers and healthcare officials were grappling with growing challenges in implementing the zero-COVID policy. "From my perspective, it's not that we set out to relax the zero-COVID policy, it's more that we at the local level were simply not able to enforce the zero-COVID policy anymore," the official said. In mid-November, when Xi was still in Southeast Asia, he ordered Chinese authorities to "unswervingly" execute the zero-COVID policy, said two of the people, after which some cities retightened curbs. Xi's vacillating led to renewed debate on COVID policy among top leaders during mid to late November, one of these people and another person said.

☆ Leonardo DiCaprio was interviewed by the FBI over his relationship with a Malaysian businessman involved with the 1MDB scandal, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kim Kardashian were interviewed by the FBI in 2018 and 2019, Bloomberg reported. The stars had received gifts from Jho Low, who is accused of masterminding the 1MDB scandal. Earlier, DiCaprio had to return a number of gifts given to him by Low, including an Oscar won by Marlon Brando. On Thursday, Bloomberg revealed previously undisclosed documents which show the FBI interviewing DiCaprio in 2018 about his relationship with Low. Representatives for Kardashian and DiCaprio did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, sent outside normal working hours.

☆ AB InBev upbeat on 'resilient' beer, China recovery
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

AB InBev's sales and earnings declined in China due to a strict zero COVID policy that was suddenly dropped in December. In the United States, AB InBev's largest market, profit and revenue increased, largely because of price increases, although those same increases, along with harsh winter weather in December, cut into beer sales in volume terms. REUTERS/Toby Melville 1 2Brewers have raised beer prices in response to higher energy and raw materials costs, and both Heineken (HEIN.AS) and Carlsberg (CARLb.CO) have warned of reduced beer consumption in Europe because of the increases. For the whole year, core profit growth was 7.2%. AB InBev also increased its full-year dividend to a proposed 0.75 euros from 0.50 euros in each of the past two years.

☆ AB InBev CEO Michel Doukeris on mixed Q4 earnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAB InBev CEO Michel Doukeris on mixed Q4 earningsAB InBev CEO Michel Doukeris joins CNBC's 'Squawk Box' to discuss revenue gains following price increases, rebuilding consumption levels in China, and forecasts for timing inflation moderation.

☆ France's longest river dries up amid winter drought
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Jeremy Schultz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Back in the day, the water levels were high, the water was murky and we caught fish. Right now, it's no good, we can't fish anymore at least for now," said pensioner Michel Lanos, who fishes as a hobby. "The water is just...more"There's no fishing left. Back in the day, the water levels were high, the water was murky and we caught fish. Right now, it's no good, we can't fish anymore at least for now," said pensioner Michel Lanos, who fishes as a hobby.

☆ Macron says he won't let France become 'ideal scapegoat' in Africa
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PARIS, Feb 27 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that he will not allow France to become "the ideal scapegoat" in Africa, in a speech ahead of a trip to the continent from Wednesday. Some African countries have criticised France for failing to curb Islamist militancy in the Sahel region in particular. Macron also said he refused to be drawn into an outdated competition between powers for control of Africa. He will travel to Gabon, Angola, République of Congo and Democratic Republic of Congo. Reporting by Michel Rose, Layli Foroudi; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Macron flies to Africa to counter waning French influence
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, Feb 27 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron will fly to Africa this week in a bid to counter Russian efforts to dislodge France from the continent, after Paris suffered a series of military and political setbacks in its former sphere of influence. France withdrew its forces from Mali last year after the junta there started working with Russian military contractors, ending a decade of operations against Islamist insurgents. Macron has accused Russia of feeding anti-French propaganda in Africa to serve "predatory" ambitions. But French presidential advisers denied in a briefing on Friday that Macron was in a charm offensive to win back lost influence. During the trip, Macron will focus on the environment, with a participation to a summit on forests in Gabon, and will also meet African artists.

☆ France's Macron calls Wagner Group 'life insurance of failing regimes' in Africa
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PARIS, Feb 27 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday described the Russian mercenary Wagner Group as the "life insurance of failing regimes in Africa", in comments made before he visits the continent. He said that African nations would eventually stop turning to the Wagner Group as they would see that it only sows misery. Reporting by Michel Rose, Layli Foroudi; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China's EU ambassador says EU leaders may visit China by mid-2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Chinese ambassador to the European Union Fu Cong said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel may visit China in the first half of 2023, China's state-backed Global Times reported. Preparations for the visit by the EU's top two officials are under way and "very frequent high-level mutual visits" between the EU and China are expected to begin soon, Fu said in an interview published on Friday. The two sides have taken divergent positions on the year-long war in Ukraine, with EU diplomats criticising China's refusal to describe the conflict as an invasion or to call for a Russian withdrawal from Ukrainian territory. Fu said in the interview that EU anger with China over Ukraine was "very irrational" and that China did not want the issue to affect the development of ties with the bloc. Reporting by Eduardo Baptista; Editing by Edmund KlamannOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ ‘Vermeer’ Review: Small Focus, Wide Reach
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Mary Tompkins Lewis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

An installation view of the show with Vermeer’s ‘Girl With a Pearl Earring’AmsterdamWhen the Frick Collection announced plans several years ago for a major renovation, the Rijksmuseum here saw a once-in-a-lifetime chance to borrow its three magnificent paintings by the Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675), which normally would never leave their New York home. Museums around the world and two private collectors also agreed to lend, and a retrospective, the largest ever assembled of the painter’s surviving work, took shape. “Vermeer,” the first exhibition devoted to the artist in the Rijksmuseum’s history, consists of 28 paintings (with one, his magisterial “Girl With a Pearl Earring,” leaving town March 30) out of the roughly 36 known to still exist. Organized by the museum’s curators Gregor J.M. Weber and Pieter Roelofs and designed by the architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte , it is a staggeringly beautiful, brilliantly realized show unlikely to be repeated.

☆ Fed economists say the central bank will have to cause serious pain to Americans and the economy if it sticks to its current path
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In the Fed minutes released this week, the central bank's own economists have started to sound the alarm on a recession. Jerome Powell, for his part, has insisted that the Fed's 2% inflation target is set in stone. The jobless rate today stands at 3.4%. We will have other things to worry about at that point besides whether the Fed's inflation target should be 2.0 or 2.75 percent." How realistic do you think the Fed's 2% inflation target is?

☆ Factbox: The countries in the grip of debt crises
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

LONDON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Meetings being held in India will see top officials from the Group of 20 leading economies discuss how to help the growing number of countries now in the grip of debt crises. Below is a list of countries that have either defaulted on their international debt or are seen at risk of doing so. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said this week Kyiv is hoping to clinch a $15 billion, multi-year International Monetary Fund programme. But progress with Zambia's $13 billion debt rework has been glacial. EGYPTEgypt has experienced a double whammy from COVID-19 and soaring food and energy prices, and has struggled in recent years to contain its rising debt and debt servicing burden.

☆ Even a weak Russia is a problem for Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

TINOS, Greece, Feb 20 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Almost a year after Russia invaded Ukraine it is hard to see Vladimir Putin winning his war. After all, that would involve either Ukraine surrendering land, which it cannot accept, or Russia giving up all the territory it has occupied including Crimea, which Putin won’t do. Radoslaw Sikorski, a former Polish foreign minister who is now a member of the European Parliament, says Russia only reforms itself after military defeats like the Crimean War, the Russo-Japanese War, World War One and the Cold War. Europe, which was late to appreciate the danger posed by Putin, won’t quickly forget the lesson even if he goes. Yet even a Russia weakened by a year of war and sanctions remains a problem for Europe.

☆ Analysis: Pension reform strikes tell story of French work malaise
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Michel Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The reform could yield an extra 17.7 billion euros ($19.18 billion) in annual pension contributions to plug the government's funding gap, according to Labour Ministry estimates. The 35-hour work week, introduced in 2000, is exacerbating the current malaise, labour experts say. French productivity was also ahead of Germany's $67.06 and Italy's $53.66, according to OECD figures. He once said he didn't like the word "strenuous" when applied to work because "it implied that work is painful." "Pension reform was a red line for me," she said.

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