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☆ CIOs Assess Whether Microsoft’s AI Copilot Justifies Premium Price
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Isabelle Bousquette | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

“We are using this AI inflection point to redefine our role,” said Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s chief executive, after the company’s recent results. Photo: annegret hilse/ReutersAfter months of speculation about how generative AI might transform business, Microsoft is poised to make its AI Copilot available through its 365 platform, a test of whether CIOs believe the technology will generate enough value to justify a premium price. CIOs say they are eager to test out the AI assistant, even though the cost is a consideration for some. Copilot leverages generative AI across the Microsoft 365 suite by doing most things you might ask a business assistant to do, like summarizing video calls, writing draft responses to emails and transforming Word documents into PowerPoint presentations, said Jared Spataro, corporate vice president of Modern Work and Business Applications at Microsoft.

Persons: ”, Satya Nadella, annegret, CIOs, Jared Spataro Organizations: Microsoft, Modern

☆ Alphabet, Match settle Google Play antitrust claims before US trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Mike Scarcella | Companies Need To Integrate Climate Reporting Across Functions To Comply With California S New Law | Henry Engler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Annegret Hilse//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 31 (Reuters) - Alphabet (GOOGL.O)'s Google has settled claims by dating app developer Match Group that it monopolized Android app distribution with its Play Store, leaving “Fortnite” maker Epic Games as the sole plaintiff in an antitrust trial against Google set to begin Nov. 6. Match said in a filing in San Francisco federal court on Tuesday that it had resolved its allegations against Google. In a statement, Google said it was “pleased to reach a settlement agreement with Match Group.” Google also recently settled related antitrust claims from U.S. states and consumers for undisclosed terms. Epic and Match accused Google of maintaining an unlawful monopoly in the distribution of Android apps. Google is separately facing U.S. and state antitrust allegations in other U.S. courts over its advertising technology business and its dominance in the web search industry.

Persons: Annegret, “, District Judge James Donato, Tim Sweeney, Mike Scarcella, David Bario, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Google, Arena, REUTERS, Epic, Match, U.S, District, Apple, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, San Francisco federal, U.S, San Francisco

☆ NEC Nijmegen striker Dost recovering after collapsing on pitch
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The 34-year-old former Netherlands international, who regained consciousness and was carried off the field, later said on NEC's social media that he was feeling good. Bas Dost collapsed on the field and was immediately helped by all the emergency services present," NEC said in a statement on their website. "Dost was carried from the field by the emergency services and taken to hospital." Players from both teams stood around Dost, who scored the opening goal and provided the assist for NEC's second, while he was being treated. AZ posted a message saying: "Bas Dost is fortunately conscious.

Persons: Dost, Annegret, Bas Dost, Ken Ferris, Stephen Coates Organizations: Soccer Football, Leipzig, Club Brugge, Red Bull, Brugge's, REUTERS, NEC Nijmegen, AZ Alkmaar, NEC, Thomson Locations: Leipzig, Germany, Bas, Netherlands

☆ Germany's far-left star quits post-Communists to found populist party
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

German politician and member of the Bundestag for The Left party Sahra Wagenknecht attends a press conference to present the "Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht, BSW" in Berlin, Germany October 23, 2023. "Many no longer know who to vote for or vote for the right out of rage and despair," she said. "At a time of crisis.... Left legislators should concentrate on doing their job," said Left party leader Janine Wissler. That fragmentation has let the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party come second in several recent elections - drawing on a pool of voters the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance could also tap. A Civey poll for T-Online found some 20% of voters could imagine voting for her new party.

Persons: Sahra Wagenknecht, Annegret, Germany's, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's, Janine Wissler, Putin, Wagenknecht, Thomas Escritt, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Bundestag, The Left, REUTERS, Rights, Ukraine, Christian Democrats, Left, Sahra, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, East Germany, Ukraine

☆ Jordan's King Abdullah: Displacement of Palestinians would be a war crime
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] Jordan's King Abdullah II addresses a press conference, after a dialogue with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, October 17, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCAIRO, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Jordan's King Abdullah said in his opening speech at the Cairo Peace Summit on Saturday that the forced or internal displacement of Palestinians would be a war crime. The summit is being held as Israel prepares a ground assault on Gaza following Hamas' attack that killed 1,400 people. More than 4,100 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's counteroffensive, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, amid a growing humanitarian crisis. Reporting by Nafisa El Tahir, Writing by Adam MakaryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: King Abdullah II, Olaf Scholz, Annegret, King Abdullah, Nafisa El Tahir, Adam Makary Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Cairo Peace Summit, Israel, Health, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Rights CAIRO, Cairo, Gaza

Those summaries appear on the top of the Google search homepage, with links to “dig deeper,” according to Google’s overview of SGE. Most significantly, publishers want to be compensated for the content on which Google and other AI companies train their AI tools – a major sticking point around AI. In late September Google announced a new tool, called Google-Extended, that gives publishers the option to block their content from being used by Google to train its AI models. Publishers want clicks to secure advertisers, and showing up in Google search is key to their business. When given the option, websites are blocking their content from being used for AI if doing so doesn’t impact search, according to exclusive data from AI content detector Originality.ai.

Persons: Annegret, Jon Fosse ”, –, Japan –, ”, Danielle Coffey, Forrester, Nikhil Lai, “, Helen Coster, Kenneth Li, Claudia Parsons Organizations: Google, Arena, REUTERS, NPR, The New York Times, Reuters, News Media Alliance, Washington Post, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, United States, India, Japan, Paris, SGE

☆ German defence minister visits troops at UN force in Lebanon
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius looks on during a press statement on a visit the German Airforce Base Holzdorf to get informed about the projects of heavy transport helicopters and the anti-ballistic missiles ARROW in Holzdorf, Germany October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Oct 19 (Reuters) - German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius travelled to Lebanon on Thursday to visit German soldiers serving in a U.N. peacekeeping force in the region in the wake of a major escalation between neighbouring Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. Berlin has deployed some 140 soldiers on a corvette off the Lebanese coast and at the headquarters of the UNIFIL mission in southern Lebanon that was hit by a rocket on Sunday without causing casualties. UNIFIL has operated in Lebanon since 1978 to maintain peace along the border with Israel and was expanded by the U.N. resolution that halted the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war in southern Lebanon. Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Friederike Heine, Editing by Rachel MoreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Boris Pistorius, German Airforce Base Holzdorf, Annegret, Sabine Siebold, Friederike Heine, Rachel More Organizations: German, German Airforce Base, REUTERS, Rights, Hamas, UNIFIL, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Holzdorf, Germany, Lebanon, Israel, Palestinian, Berlin, Gaza

☆ Exclusive: China's Nio considers tapping dealers to boost EV sales in Europe - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But the company has started assessing dealers in key European markets, two of the sources said, after the company's president last month said sales in Europe were not meeting expectations. One person said Nio had found that Europe had its "peculiarities", without elaborating, and that the company was planning to expand into more European countries. Its Firefly project, however, is evaluating its channel model for Europe, including direct sales, agency or dealers. Nio, which ranks ninth by sales volume among manufacturers of electric and hybrid cars in China, does not break down its sales in Europe. Nio does not use dealers in China but instead relies on a direct sales model similar to one pioneered by Tesla (TSLA.O).

Persons: Annegret, Nio, Qin Lihong, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, HK, European Commission, Tesla, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, HK, Europe, Norway, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, BYD, Nio, France, Italy, Hungary, Switzerland, Austria, China, Southeast Asia

☆ Infineon signs semiconductor supply deal with automakers Hyundai, Kia
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Infineon Technologies AG logo is seen during German Economy Minister Robert Habeck and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's visit, in Dresden, Germany July 13, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Oct 18 (Reuters) - German chip manufacturer Infineon (IFXGn.DE) said on Wednesday it has signed a multi-year agreement with Hyundai and Kia to supply power semiconductors for the production of electric cars. Infineon will build and reserve manufacturing capacity to supply silicon carbide and silicon power modules and chips to Hyundai and Kia until 2030, with the two carmakers to support the project with financial contributions, Infineon said in a statement. "This partnership not only empowers Hyundai Motor and Kia to stabilise its semiconductor supply but also positions us to solidify our leadership in the global EV (electric vehicle) market," Heung Soo Kim, Hyundai's Executive Vice President, said in a statement. Reporting by Rachel More, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Robert Habeck, Annalena Baerbock's, Annegret, Heung Soo Kim, Rachel More, Louise Heavens Organizations: Infineon, REUTERS, Rights, Hyundai, Kia, Hyundai Motor, Thomson Locations: Dresden, Germany

☆ King Abdullah on Gaza: 'No refugees in Jordan, no refugees in Egypt'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Jordan's King Abdullah II go to shake hands, as they attend a press conference, at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, October 17, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Jordan's King Abdullah on Tuesday warned against trying to push Palestinian refugees into Egypt or Jordan, adding that the humanitarian situation must to be dealt with inside Gaza and the West Bank. "That is a red line, because I think that is the plan by certain of the usual suspects to try and create de facto issues on the ground. No refugees in Jordan, no refugees in Egypt," King Abdullah said at a news conference following a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin. Reporting by Riham Alkousaa, Editing by Rachel MoreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Jordan's King Abdullah II, Annegret, King Abdullah, Riham Alkousaa, Rachel More Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Egypt, Jordan, Gaza

☆ Aliyev raises Azerbaijan's flag in former breakaway region of Karabakh
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Sunday raised the national flag in the capital of the former breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh after a lightning military operation last month brought the territory back under Azerbaijan's control. "President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has raised the national flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the city of Khankendi and delivered a speech," the presidential office said. In Soviet times is remained as part of the Azeri Soviet Republic but with autonomy. In 2020, after decades of skirmishes, Azerbaijan began a military operation which became the Second Karabakh War swiftly breaking through Armenian defences. Then in September of this year, Aliyev launched a military operation against the ethnic Armenian fighters of the region, defeating them.

Persons: Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Olaf Scholz, Annegret, Ilham Aliyev, Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Aliyev, Guy Faulconbridge Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Karabakh, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Azerbaijan, Berlin, Germany, Nagorno, Karabakh, Republic of Azerbaijan, Khankendi, Armenia, Artsakh, South Caucasus, Russian, Azeri Soviet Republic, Soviet Union, Karabakh's, Turkey

☆ Google to pay German publishers 3.2 mln eur per year on interim basis
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A woman passes the logo from the web search engine provider Google during the digital society festival 're:publica', at the Arena Berlin in Berlin, Germany June 9, 2022. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Google (GOOGL.O) has agreed to pay German publishers 3.2 million euros ($3.38 million) a year for its publication of news content pending a decision from the German patent office (DPMA) on the issue, the sides said in separate statements on Thursday. The U.S. search engine operator reached the agreement with Corint Media, an umbrella organisation that represents the interests of German and international publishers including Sat.1, ProSieben, RTL, Axel Springer and CNBC. The sides had previously agreed on a one-off payment of 5.8 million euros by Google for the period since the introduction of new press ancillary copyright legislation in 2021. ($1 = 0.9481 euros)Reporting by Klaus Lauer, Writing by Friederike Heine, Editing by Miranda MurrayOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Annegret, Axel Springer, Christine Jury, Fischer, Klaus Lauer, Friederike Heine, Miranda Murray Organizations: Google, Arena, REUTERS, Rights, Corint Media, Sat, RTL, CNBC, Spiegel, Zeit, Corint, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, U.S

☆ Tesla to offer German workers pay rise this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Tesla (TSLA.O) said on Thursday it will offer a pay rise to workers at its German plant, where unions have said they earn below the industry average. The U.S. electric vehicle maker said it will inform staff in November of the level of the pay rise, adding it raised wages by 6% last year. Under last year's agreement, workers at Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE) and BMW (BMWG.DE) were offered a 5.2% pay rise in June 2023 and a 3.3% pay rise in 2024 as well as an inflation premium for full-time workers of 3,000 euros ($3,160). German union IG Metall has previously said that Tesla wages were around 20% below those offered under the collective bargaining agreement. IG Metall said Tesla told workers of the upcoming raise at a series of meetings held at the plant this week.

Persons: Annegret, Tesla, Metall, Victoria Waldersee, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Benz, BMW, Metall's, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Brandenburg, Gruenheide, Germany, U.S

Major technology companies like Google have been investing heavily in generative AI and racing to incorporate it into their products. Google said its new policy applies to software, including its Vertex AI development platform and Duet AI system, which generates text and images in Google Workspace and Cloud programs. The press release did not mention Google's more well-known generative AI chatbot program Bard. The new wave of lawsuits over generative AI has generally targeted the companies that own the systems, including Google, and not individual end users. AI defendants have said that the use of training data scraped from the internet to train their systems qualifies as fair use under U.S. copyright law.

Persons: Annegret, Bard, Blake Brittain, David Bario, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Google, Arena, REUTERS, Microsoft, Adobe, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Washington

☆ Azerbaijan's president says France will be to blame if new conflict starts with Armenia
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev speaks during a news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany March 14, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Azerbaijan's president scolded the European Union and warned that France's decision to send military aid to Armenia could trigger a new conflict in the South Caucasus after a lightening Azerbaijani military operation last month. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev last week pulled out of an EU-brokered meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at which Brussels said it was standing by Armenia. President Ilham Aliyev said "that due to the well-known position of France, Azerbaijan did not participate in the meeting in Granada," the Azerbaijani presidential office said. She declined to elaborate on what sort of military aid was envisaged for Armenia under future supply contracts.

Persons: Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Olaf Scholz, Annegret, Ilham Aliyev, Nikol, Aliyev, Charles Michel, Catherine Colonna, Emmanuel Macron, Guy Faulconbridge Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Union, Armenian, European Council, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Azerbaijan, Berlin, Germany, European, Armenia, South Caucasus, EU, Brussels, France, Granada, Yerevan, Baku, Nagorno, Karabakh

☆ Puma tumbles as analysts flag possible earnings disappointment
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A pair of Puma sports shoes is shown at an event in Berlin, Germany February 21, 2019. Analysts at brokerage Stifel said Puma's third-quarter earnings before interest and tax might decline by a low double-digit rate compared with last year, a worse performance than consensus expectations for a 6% decline. The drop in Puma's shares put them on course for their worst day since March 2020. Puma said it was fully on track to achieve its full-year guidance, while declining to comment on its share price movement. Puma is targeting EBIT of between 590 million euros and 670 million euros for 2023, from 641 million euros in 2022.

Persons: Annegret, Stifel, Puma, overstock, Jefferies, Danilo Masoni, Helen Reid, Linda Pasquini, Alexander Huebner, Susan Fenton, Jane Merriman Organizations: REUTERS, Nike, Adidas, Puma, RBC, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, North America, China, U.S, London, Gdansk, Munich

☆ Kenya panel urges shutdown of Worldcoin's crypto project within country
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Worldcoin was rolled out in various countries around the world by Tools for Humanity, a company co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The project still has a virtual presence in Kenya and can be accessed via the Internet, even after the August suspension. It also called for the suspension of the companies' "physical presence in Kenya until there is a legal framework for regulation of virtual assets and virtual services providers." The panel also asked government ministries to develop regulations for crypto assets and firms that provide crypto services and called on the police to investigate Tools for Humanity and take any necessary legal action. Reporting by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Aaron Ross and Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Annegret, Sam Altman, Duncan Miriri, Aaron Ross, Hugh Lawson Organizations: REUTERS, Humanity Corp, Kenyan, Humanity, Communications Authority, Humanity GmbH, National Assembly, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, NAIROBI, Britain, France, Kenya

Growth of 0.3% had been expected in the institutes' spring forecasts. The so-called Joint Economic Forecasts are to be presented in Berlin on Thursday. The economics ministry usually updates its forecasts incorporating the results of the Joint Economic Forecasts. For 2024, the institutes - four German and one Austrian - forecast GDP growth of 1.3%, down from 1.5% previously. 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.

Persons: Annegret, Christian Kraemer, Rene Wagner, Maria Martinez, Rachel Armstrong, Kirsti Knolle, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Ifo Institute, Halle Institute for Economic Research, Kiel Institute, Institute for Economic Research, Austrian Institute of Economic Research, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany

☆ German transport minister rejects punitive tariffs in EU's China EV probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An NIO ET7 car model is presented at the NIO House, the showroom of the Chinese premium smart electric vehicle manufacture NIO Inc. in Berlin, Germany August 17, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Sept 25 (Reuters) - German Transport Minister Volker Wissing has rejected possible punitive tariffs as a result of the European Commission's investigation into Chinese electric vehicle (EV) subsidies. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this month announced a probe into whether to impose punitive tariffs to protect EU automakers against China's EV imports, which the commissions says are benefiting from excessive state subsidies. China blasted the probe as protectionist and warned that it would damage economic relations, a concern shared by Germany's car industry. German Economy Minister Robert Habeck, by contrast, has welcomed the step, saying action must be taken if massive breaches of competition rules are found by the EU probe.

Persons: Annegret, Volker Wissing, Wissing, Ursula von der, Robert Habeck, Miranda Murray, Friederike Heine Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Augsburger Allgemeine, Free Democrats, EU, China's EV, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, China

An NIO ET7 car model is presented at the NIO House, the showroom of the Chinese premium smart electric vehicle manufacture NIO Inc. in Berlin, Germany August 17, 2023. The company raised $500 million in a six-year put-four convertible bond and the same amount in a seven-year put-five bond. The shorter dated bond has a 3.875% interest rate, while the seven year bond's rate is 4.625%, Nio said in a Hong Kong Stock Exchange announcement. Nio posted a net loss of 6.12 billion yuan ($839.51 million) in the second quarter, versus a loss of 2.75 billion yuan in the corresponding period a year ago. Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Sydney; Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Annegret, Nio, Scott Murdoch, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Nio, HK, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Sydney

☆ No decision on European Investment Bank presidency expected this week, German finance minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner speaks during a plenum session of the lower house of parliament, Bundestag, to present the 2024 budget and financial planning of the Federal Government, in Berlin, Germany September 5, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Sept 15 (Reuters) - German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said at the informal EU finance ministers meeting on Friday that a decision is not expected this week on who will become European Investment Bank (EIB) president. "There are several well-qualified candidates, for example our host today, Nadia Calvino," Lindner said before the meeting of euro zone finance ministers. Lindner said the German government hasn't made a decision yet on which candidate to back, "but we have a clear picture of how the EIB should develop." Lindner said the bank should keep its AAA rating: "Sound banking is essential for us."

Persons: Christian Lindner, Annegret, Nadia Calvino, " Lindner, Lindner, hasn't, Maria Martinez, Miranda Murray Organizations: Bundestag, Federal Government, REUTERS, SANTIAGO DE, German Finance, European Investment Bank, AAA, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, SANTIAGO, SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

AfD members sit in voting booths on the day of the European election assembly 2023 of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Magdeburg, Germany, July 29, 2023. Thursday's vote in Thuringia's parliament, when the far right, the conservative Christian Democrats and the pro-business Free Democrats combined to push through a tax cut against the wishes of the left-wing coalition, is the latest sign of change. But, highlighting the dilemma, the regional CDU leader Mario Voigt said such a course of action would effectively deprive him of the right to oppose. The party's regional leader, Bjorn Hoecke, is currently on trial for hate speech after uttering a slogan that stems from a Nazi chant. "We democrats have to stop the finger-pointing, sit down together and find a position that lives up to that responsibility."

Persons: Annegret, Germany's, Bodo Ramelow, Mario Voigt, Bjorn Hoecke, Stephan Kramer, Daniel Guenther, Thomas Escritt, Rachel More, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Christian Democrats, Free Democrats, CDU, Frankfurter Allgemeine, Thomson Locations: Germany, Magdeburg, Rights ERFURT, Thuringia's, Thuringian, Sonneberg, Saxony, Anhalt, Thuringia, East Germany, West Germany, Brandenburg, Berlin, Schlweswig, Holstein

Still, it could hurt perceptions of Chinese EV makers as they expand abroad, Bernstein analysts said in a client note. Nio and Geely declined to comment on the EU probe, while BYD, Xpeng and SAIC did not respond to requests for comment. Shares in European carmakers were also among the biggest fallers on the euro zone stock index (.STOXXE50) in early trading. STRAINED RELATIONSThe anti-subsidy probe, initiated unusually by the European Commission and not from any industry complaint, comes amid broader diplomatic strains between the EU and China. It accounted for 40.25% of EV exports from China between January and April 2023.

Persons: Annegret, Ursula von der Leyen, Bernstein, BYD, CATL, Cui Dongshu, EVs, Donny Kwok, Brenda Goh, Ryan Woo, Anne Marie Roantree, Tom Hogue, Jamie Freed, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, China, EV, EU, European, Ministry of Commerce, Eurasian Group, Reuters Graphics, Reuters Graphics Hong Kong, HK, Geely, SAIC, BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes, European Commission, China Passenger Car Association, EVs, for Strategic, Internal Studies, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Europe, China, SHANGHAI, BEIJING, Beijing, EU, Brussels, Southeast Asia, Reuters Graphics Hong, Shanghai, Xpeng, Shenzhen, SZ, Moscow, Russian, Ukraine, U.S, Hong Kong

☆ CEOs from Alphabet, Walmart, Pfizer meet White House officials on refugees
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Jeff Mason | Thomson Reuters | Jeff Mason Is A White House Correspondent For Reuters. He Has Covered The Presidencies Of Barack Obama | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Accenture PLC FollowAirbnb Inc FollowAlphabet Inc Follow Show more companiesWASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Chief executives from a wide array of U.S. companies will meet White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients on Thursday to discuss refugee resettlement and sponsorship programs, a White House official said. The CEOs will include Alphabet's Sundar Pichai, Walmart's Doug McMillon, Pfizer's Albert Bourla, HP's Enrique Lores and others. They are part of a council of leaders affiliated with Welcome.US, a group dedicated to helping support refugees in the United States. They will meet Zients and other White House officials "to discuss specific ways we can continue to work together to support safe, orderly pathways for people in need of safety to come to the United States, including through refugee resettlement and new, expanded humanitarian sponsorship programs," a White House official told Reuters. The White House, which says it wants to partner with the private sector to build a humane immigration system, worked with Welcome.US to help Afghan refugees coming to the United States after Biden pulled U.S. troops out of Afghanistan in 2021.

Persons: Annegret, Jeff Zients, Alphabet's Sundar Pichai, Doug McMillon, Pfizer's Albert Bourla, HP's Enrique Lores, Richard Dickson, Julie Sweet, David Risher, Hamdi Ulukaya, Mike Sievert, Goldman Sachs, Kathy Hochul, Zients, Biden, Donald Trump, Welcome.US, Jeff Mason, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Google, Arena, REUTERS, Accenture, White, Welcome.US, Reuters, Lyft, Mobile, Blackstone, Comcast, Meta, Republicans, Democrat, Republican, Biden, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, WASHINGTON, United States, Airbnb, New, New York City, United, Afghanistan

Here are the big questions about the move, which led to a slide in shares of Chinese EV makers on Thursday:WHY EXPORT TO EUROPE AND HOW MUCH HAS IT GROWN? That is mainly due to Beijing's decade-old industry promotion policy of incentives and subsidies that enabled China to become the world's biggest EV market and control the global EV supply chain, including raw materials. The single largest exporter is Tesla, accounting for 40% of China's EV exports between January and April, U.S. thinktank the Center for Strategic and International Studies says. Chinese state subsidies for electric and hybrid vehicles totalled $57 billion between 2016 and 2022, consultants AlixPartners have estimated. It paid out nearly $15 billion to encourage EV purchases through 2021, China Merchants Bank International has estimated.

Persons: Annegret, Bill Russo, EVs, BYD, AlixPartners, Brenda Goh, Ellen Zhang, Miyoung Kim, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Commission, EV, EU, Volkswagen, Renault, BMW, WHO, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Volvo, SAIC's, MG, HK, China Merchants Bank International, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, China, Shanghai, Europe, United States, CHINA, Netherlands, Denmark

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