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☆ French government condemns 'disgusting' Marseille fan violence
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

French Interior and Overseas Minister Gerald Darmanin leaves following the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, October 18, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 30 (Reuters) - France's government condemned on Monday "disgusting" weekend violence around the Olympique de Marseille soccer stadium and said nine people had been arrested after visitors Olympique Lyonnais' bus was attacked and their Italian coach injured. Sunday's Ligue 1 match between the arch-rivals of France's south east, who have a history of fan violence, was cancelled. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said nine people had been detained so far. Darmanin denied authorities had failed to prepare for the risk, saying 500 police officers were present.

Persons: Gerald Darmanin, Sarah Meyssonnier, Fabio Grosso, Amelie Oudea, Castera, Darmanin, Tassilo Hummel, Sudip Kar, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Overseas, REUTERS, Rights, Olympique de Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais, Sunday's Ligue, France, Stade Velodrome, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, France's

☆ French food group Danone raises sales goal as Q3 beats forecasts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Dominique Vidalon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dairy products of French food group Danone are seen in a supermarket in Nice, France, January 9, 2023. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 26 (Reuters) - French food group Danone (DANO.PA) raised its 2023 revenue growth forecast after its third-quarter sales beat analysts' estimates, as higher prices helped offset lower volumes. Overall, Danone increased its prices by 6.6% during the quarter while sales volume declined 0.3%, a sequential improvement led by Essential Dairy and Plant-based. Danone, like its rivals Nestle (NESN.S) and Unilever (ULVR.L), has increased prices to cope with higher commodities and supply chain costs. Last week, Nestle (NESN.S) posted lower-than-expected nine-month sales growth as higher product prices made shoppers balk.

Persons: Eric Gaillard, Antoine de Saint, Affrique, Dominique Vidalon, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Danone, REUTERS, Rights, Evian, Essential Dairy, Nestle, Unilever, Investors, Thomson Locations: Nice, France, Europe

☆ Carrefour confident over year-end even as Q3 sales growth slows
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Dominique Vidalon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A customer pushes a shopping trolley as she shops in a Carrefour supermarket in Montesson near Paris, France, September 13, 2023. Third-quarter sales reached 23.63 billion euros ($25 billion), marking like-for-like growth of 9% which was less than 10.3% growth in the second quarter, Carrefour said, adding it confirmed a cost savings target of 1 billion euros for the year. The sales growth moderation reflected a slowdown in food inflation in Carrefour's core markets of France and Brazil. In France, hypermarket sales rose 4.2% in the third quarter of 2023 compared with a 6.6% rise in the second quarter of 2023. The company said it had achieved 664 million euros out of its 800 million euros buyback programme for 2023.

Persons: Sarah Meyssonnier, Dominique Vidalon, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Mike Harrison Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Carrefour, Thomson Locations: Carrefour, Montesson, Paris, France, Brazil

☆ NATO boosts Baltic patrols after undersea infrastructure damage
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Navy ships sail during the Northern Coasts 2023 exercise in the Baltic Sea, September 18, 2023. REUTERS/Janis Laizans/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Oct 19 (Reuters) - NATO is stepping up patrols in the Baltic Sea following recent damage to undersea infrastructure in the region, the transatlantic military alliance said on Thursday. A fleet of four NATO minehunters is also being dispatched to the area," NATO said in a statement. "NATO will continue to adapt its maritime posture in the Baltic Sea and will take all necessary steps to keep Allies safe." The buildup illustrates that NATO allies are vigilant and ready for action, Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said.

Persons: Janis Laizans, Dylan White, Hanno Pevkur, Andrew Gray, Andrius, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Ed Osmond Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, NATO, Baltic, Estonian Defence, European Union, Andrius Sytas, Thomson Locations: Baltic, Rights BRUSSELS, Sweden, Estonia, Finnish, Estonian, Finland, Tallinn, Brussels, Vilnius

They spoke after paying tribute to the victims of Monday's attack in the Belgian capital, home to the EU institutions, and condemning what they branded a brutal terrorist attack. Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Europe's open-border Schengen zone would not survive unless the EU's external frontiers were better protected from unwanted immigration. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said the EU also needed a more effective system of returning unauthorised immigrants. The 45-year-old gunman arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa in 2011 and then lived in Sweden before claiming asylum in Belgium. EU migration ministers will discuss the plans in Brussels on Thursday, as will national leaders next week.

Persons: Ulf Kristersson, Alexander De Croo, Yves Herman Acquire, Margaritis Schinas, Abdesalem Al Guilani, RTBF, Abdesalem, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Johnny Cotton, Anna Ringstrom, Benoit van Overstraeten, Gabriela Baczynska, Gareth Jones, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Swedish, Belgian, REUTERS, Sweden's, EU, STV, European Commission, Islamic State, Thomson Locations: Sweden, Brussels, Belgium, BRUSSELS, Tunisia, Swedish, Belgian, Europe, Lampedusa, Israel

☆ French school where teacher was stabbed evacuated over bomb alert
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Pascal Rossignol | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] French police and firefighters stand in front of the Gambetta-Carnot school, where French teacher Dominique Bernard was killed in a knife attack on Friday, after the school was evacuated following a bomb alert in Arras, northern France, October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol Acquire Licensing RightsARRAS, France, Oct 16 (Reuters) - A high school in Arras, northern France, where a French teacher was fatally stabbed on Friday, was evacuated on Monday morning following a bomb alert, according to a Reuters photographer who was at the location. After the bomb alert on Monday, teachers, some of them in tears and holding each other, left the building, as did pupils who had come to lay flowers in tribute to Bernard. As a police bomb squad arrived, teachers and students gathered in the courtyard of a building opposite their school as civil protection personnel comforted them. Reporting by Pascal Rossignol; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Toby Chopra, Sudip Kar-Gupta and Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Gambetta, Carnot, Dominique Bernard, Pascal Rossignol, Gerald Darmanin, Lycee Gambetta, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Bernard, Ingrid Melander, Toby Chopra, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Bernadette Baum Organizations: REUTERS, Lycee, Thomson Locations: Arras, France, ARRAS, Israel

☆ French retailer Casino agrees initial deal to sell stake in Exito Group
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A logo of French retailerÊCasinoÊis pictured outside aÊCasinoÊsupermarket in Nantes, France, July 27, 2023. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Indebted French supermarket chain Casino (CASP.PA) said on Monday it had agreed an initial deal to sell its stake in Latin American retailer Almacenes Exito (IMI.CN) to Grupo Calleja. Casino's board on Friday approved a pre-agreement to sell its entire stake in Almacenes Exito to Grupo Calleja, a leading grocery retailer in El Salvador, it said. Casino is in the midst of a restructuring after years of debt-fuelled acquisitions had brought it to the verge of default. The price per share may be reduced by extraordinary dividend distributions, asset transfers or similar transactions made by Exito, Casino added in a statement.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, Almacenes, Exito, Sudip Kar, Olivier Sorgho, Jacqueline Wong, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Grupo Calleja, Casino, Thomson Locations: aÊCasinoÊsupermarket, Nantes, France, El Salvador, Almacenes

Sundar Pichai, Chief Executive Officer of Alphabet, gestures as he speaks during a session of the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2020. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Oct 13 (Reuters) - EU industry chief Thierry Breton on Friday warned Alphabet (GOOGL.O) Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai to adhere to EU tech rules after the spread of disinformation on YouTube following Hamas' attacks in Israel, the latest company to be rebuked. False content about the Israel and Hamas conflict has proliferated on the major social media platforms over the past several days. According to Alphabet's YouTube, the company has quickly worked to remove harmful content after Hamas' attack and was prepared to take additional action. It has also rolled out a crisis resource panel in search with information from Israeli authorities for viewers in Israel.

Persons: Sundar Pichai, Denis Balibouse, Thierry Breton, Breton, Pichai, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Shou Zi Chew, Foo Yun Chee, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Sheila Dang, Louise Heavens, Diane Craft Organizations: Economic, REUTERS, Rights, YouTube, Twitter, Digital Services, Google, DSA, Thomson Locations: Davos, Switzerland, Rights BRUSSELS, Israel, Dallas

☆ LVMH shares tumble, hit fashion sector as luxury giant's sales growth slows
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A LVMH luxury group logo is seen prior to the announcement of their 2019 results in Paris, France, January 28, 2020. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 11 (Reuters) - LVMH's (LVMH.PA) shares slumped on Wednesday, to their lowest level since December, knocking other shares in the fashion sector, after the French luxury giant posted slower third-quarter revenue growth. Shares in Gucci-owner Kering fell 3.2% at the market open while Hermes (HRMS.PA) also shed more than 3%. "An end to the roaring 20s," Berenberg analysts wrote in a briefing note as they cut their target price for LVMH. Investors have recently questioned the appetite for shares in the luxury goods sector, in the face of a Chinese slowdown and interest rate uncertainty.

Persons: Christian Hartmann, LVMH, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Morgan, JP Morgan, Kering, Berenberg, Mimosa Spencer, Sudip Kar Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Swatch, Burberry, Dior, Gucci, Investors, U.S, Gupta, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, United States, Europe, China

via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Oct 10 (Reuters) - The EU's industry chief told Elon Musk that disinformation was spreading on his X messaging platform since Palestinian Islamist group Hamas' surprise attack on Israel, urging him to take counter-measures in line with new EU online content rules. Thierry Breton said on Tuesday he had indications that X, formerly known as Twitter, was being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation in the European Union. "I therefore invite you to urgently ensure that your systems are effective and report on the crisis measures taken to my team," Breton told Musk in a letter dated Oct. 10 and seen by Reuters. Responding to Breton's X posting, Musk said his company's policy was that everything is open source and transparent. "Please list the violations you allude to on X, so that the public can see them," he said on X.

Persons: Elon, Thierry Breton, Breton, Musk, Foo Yun Chee, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Mrinmay Dey, Chris Reese, Mark Heinrich, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Twitter, European Union, Reuters, Digital Services, DSA, Thomson Locations: Rights BRUSSELS, Israel, Bengaluru

☆ ECB's Lagarde: confident over 2% inflation target and Europe's winter gas situation
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummary Interview done on Oct 2, published on Oct 8Lagarde: confident over ECB's 2% inflation targetLagarde relatively confident over Europe's gas situationPARIS, Oct 8 (Reuters) - European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said in an interview published on Sunday that she was confident the ECB would meet its target of getting inflation back down to 2%, and relatively confident over Europe's gas reserves situation. Lagarde added the fact that inflation was "currently falling significantly" was one of several reason as to why she was not pessimistic regarding the short-term economic outlook. She added that other reasons for this were economic reforms underway in Europe, and because Europe's gas reserves situation was better than before. And, just one year ago, who would have thought that we would succeed in replenishing more than 90% of our gas reserves by September 2023?," said Lagarde. "This allows us to look towards the coming winter, if not calmly, then at least with a lot more confidence," she added.

Persons: Christine Lagarde, Yves Herman, Lagarde, Sudip Kar, Toby Chopra Organizations: European Central Bank, European Parliament's, Economic, Monetary Affairs, REUTERS, Central Bank, ECB, Tribune, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, PARIS, Europe

☆ French retailer Casino finalises rescue deal led by Czech tycoon
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Dominique Vidalon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A logo of French retailer Casino is pictured outside a Casino supermarket in Nantes, France, May 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 5 (Reuters) - French supermarket group Casino (CASP.PA) said on Thursday that it had finalised a deal to avert bankruptcy through a debt restructuring agreed with its main creditors, led by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. Casino was brought to the verge of default after years of debt-fuelled acquisitions and recent losses in market share to rival supermarket operators. It said the binding debt deal was reached with the consortium led by Kretinsky's company EPGC alongside Casino's biggest creditor Attestor, its second-biggest shareholder Fimalac and the retailer's secured creditors. "Casino has reached a major milestone in its financial restructuring process by obtaining the agreement of its main creditors on a financial restructuring plan," Casino CEO and controlling shareholder Jean-Charles Naouri said in a statement.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, Daniel Kretinsky, Jean, Charles Naouri, Naouri, Dominique Vidalon, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Casino's, Fimalac, Thomson Locations: Nantes, France, Czech

☆ France to begin troop withdrawal from Niger this week
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Mahamadou Hamidou Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 5 (Reuters) - France will begin withdrawing its troops from coup-hit Niger this week after President Emmanuel Macron said last month he refused to be "held hostage" by the putchists and was ending military cooperation with the West African country. The decision to pull 1,500 troops from Niger leaves a gaping hole in Western efforts to counter a decade-long Islamist insurgency. In a statement on Thursday, the French Armed Forces Ministry said the troops would return to France and that the military exit should be complete by the end of the year. Niger was the West's last key ally in the central Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert until a July 26 coup brought in a military junta which called for France to leave. Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Nicolas Delame; Editing by Richard Lough and Gareth JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mahamadou, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Nicolas Delame, Richard Lough, Gareth Jones Organizations: French Army, REUTERS, Rights, West, French Armed Forces Ministry, Thomson Locations: France, Nigerien, Niamey, Niger, Russia

☆ Call centre software company Aircall in no rush for IPO as revenues rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Sudip Kar-Gupta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Aircall, a call centre software company that has been valued at around $1 billion, said on Thursday it was in no rush for a stock market flotation, as it unveiled a new product to help smaller-sized businesses and added that its revenue had risen. The company has often been touted as a likely stock market candidate. Pailhes said that while an initial public offering (IPO) remained an option, it was something the company could examine once it reached annual recurring revenue of $200 million, which Aircall hopes to achieve in the next 18 months. Within two years, we'll talk about it again, but we don't need to rush," said Pailhes, speaking via Zoom from Spain, regarding any stock market flotation plans. Aircall, launched in Paris in 2014, is viewed as a success story from France's technology sector, although the company is now headquartered in New York.

Persons: Olivier Pailhes, Pailhes, Aircall, Sudip Kar, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Thomson Locations: Spain, Paris, New York, United States

☆ TotalEnergies says will pay more to shareholders as oil, gas output rises
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of French oil and gas company TotalEnergies is seen at the company's headquarters skyscraper in the financial and business district of La Defense, near Paris, France September 14, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Sept 27 (Reuters) - French energy goup TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA) said on Wednesday that it would increase returns to shareholders and planned to raise its oil and gas production by 2 to 3% per year over the next five years. The group said at an investor day that it expects to distribute about 44% of its cash flow to shareholders in 2023 and set a target of more than 40% beyond 2023. TotalEnergies also announced positive results at an exploration well in Namibia, to be confirmed by another flow test, and said further appraisal wells and prospects would be drilled. Analysts had said they were particularly keen to hear more about the French energy group's recent exploration activity offshore Namibia - which has no oil and gas output now but could become one of the top 15 oil producers by 2035.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, TotalEnergies, Benjamin Mallet, Forrest Crellin, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Ingrid Melander, Emelia Sithole Organizations: La Defense, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: La, Paris, France, Namibia

☆ Renault ends common purchasing agreement with Nissan and Mitsubishi
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logos of car manufacturers Renault and Nissan are seen in front of dealerships of the companies in Le Coteau, France, July 13, 2023. Renault and Nissan finalised at the end of July the terms of a restructured alliance after months of negotiations. Talks dragged on months longer than expected due in part to Nissan, which was concerned about protecting its intellectual property in future collaborations. The July agreement freed both companies to focus on the more pressing problem of navigating the fast-changing industry landscape. Reporting by Dominique Vidalon;additional reporting by Gilles Guillaume Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, carmaker, Dominique Vidalon, Gilles Guillaume, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Mark Potter Organizations: Renault, Nissan, REUTERS, Rights, carmaker Renault, Mitsubishi, Thomson Locations: Le Coteau, France, China

☆ EU ministers weaken position on vehicle emissions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A sign directing towards electric vehicle charging points is seen in a car park in Manchester, Britain, September 8, 2023. The European Union has progressively tightened road vehicle emission limits since 1992. Spain, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, presented a compromise text agreed by the Council of the European Union, the grouping of EU ministers. The EU countries agreed not to change the existing "Euro 6" test conditions and emissions limits for cars and vans, although they will be lower for buses and heavy vehicles. They also accepted new particle emissions limits for brakes and tyres.

Persons: Phil Noble, Hernández, Adolfo Urso, Roberto Vavassori, Sudip Kar, Alvise Armellini, Giulio Piovaccari, Philip Blenkinsop, Hugh Lawson, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Union, European Union, of, The, European Commission, EU, Italian Industry, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Thomson Locations: Manchester, Britain, Rights BRUSSELS, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Spain

☆ 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

[1/2] Cars are shown lined up at the valet parking area outside the Creative Artists Agency building in Los Angeles, California, September 24, 2012. REUTERS/Jonathan Alcorn Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Sept 7 (Reuters) - French luxury goods billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault has reached an agreement for a majority stake in Creative Artists Agency (CAA), adding Hollywood's premiere talent agency to his family empire which spans fashion, wine and contemporary art, parties involved said on Tuesday. The presence of stars like Beyonce, Zendaya and Rihanna have become key to drawing the spotlight to fashion shows, and Kering's larger rival LVMH(LVMH.PA) recruited Pharrell Williams to head menswear designs for Louis Vuitton. TPG first invested in CAA in 2010 and, in 2014, increased its stake to 53% in a deal valuing the agency at $1.1 billion. Global investment firm Temasek will remain a minority investor in the agency while CMC Capital will remain a "strategic partner", according to a statement.

Persons: Jonathan Alcorn, Francois, Henri Pinault, Pinault, Gucci, Beyonce, Zendaya, Rihanna, Pharrell Williams, Louis Vuitton, Pinault's, Salma Hayek, Valentino, perfumer, Bryan Lourd, Kevin Huvane, Richard Lovett, Lourd, Sudip Kar, Mimosa Spencer, Dawn Chmielewski, Jonathan Oatis, Tomasz Janowski, Timothy Gardner Organizations: Creative Artists Agency, REUTERS, Rights, CAA, Artemis, TPG, Global, CMC Capital, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Temasek, Paris

☆ 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

☆ Belgium raises record 22 billion euros from savers in 'clear signal' for higher bank rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Yoruk Bahceli | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

It marks the biggest funding drive from households in Belgium's history and is likely Europe's biggest retail bond sale, the country's debt agency said on Monday. Equivalent to around 5% of Belgian deposits, it eclipses the 5.7 billion euros raised from savers at the height of the euro zone debt crisis in 2011 and beats the 18 billion euros Italy raised from savers earlier this year. European lenders awash with cash have resisted raising savings rates while market interest rates have surged as central banks fight inflation, prompting withdrawals by households looking for better returns. While demand for the bond is high, the country's biggest lenders are yet to raise rates paid on savings accounts. "This will be different for every bank, but the financial stability of every bank needs to be monitored closely."

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Bonds, Vincent Van Peteghem, Jean Deboutte, Isabelle Marchand, Van Peteghem, Marchand, Febelfin, Yoruk Bahceli, Bart Meijer, Sudip Kar, Dhara Ranasinghe, Ed Osmond Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Europe, Belgium, BRUSSELS, Italy, Portugal, Belgian

☆ 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

☆ Emotional Tony Leung wins lifetime award at Venice
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] The 80th Venice Film Festival - Award Ceremony for Golden Lion award for lifetime achievement - Venice, Italy September 2, 2023. Actor Tony Leung Chiu-Wai reacts as he receives the Golden Lion award for lifetime achievement. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane Acquire Licensing RightsVENICE, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai received a Golden Lion Lifetime Achievement Award at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday, brushing away his tears as he was given a prolonged standing ovation. He also appeared in a trio of movies that won the top Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival -- "A City of Sadness" (1989), "Cyclo" (1995) and "Lust, Caution" (2007), directed by Ang Lee, who handed him his award on Saturday. In another major challenge, Leung said he was about to make his first European film, "Silent Friend", directed by Hungary's Ildikó Enyedi.

Persons: Tony Leung Chiu, Wai, Guglielmo Mangiapane, Leung, Wong Kar, Ang Lee, Andy Lau, Lau, Hungary's Ildikó, I'm, Hanna Rantala, Crispian Balmer, Ros Russell Organizations: Reuters, Golden, Thomson Locations: Venice, Italy, Hong Kong

☆ French President Macron: I talk 'every day' to Niger's ousted president Bazoum
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum before a meeting over security in the Sahel region at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, November 12, 2021. The REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Sept 1 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that he spoke on a daily basis with Niger's ousted president Mohamed Bazoum, who has been removed from power in a coup. "I speak every day to President Bazoum. The decisions we will take, whatever they may be, will be based upon exchanges with Bazoum," said Macron. Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Camille Raynaud; Additional reporting by Sofia Christensen in Dakar; Editing by Andy SullivanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Mohamed Bazoum, Gonzalo Fuentes, Niger's, Bazoum, Macron, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Camille Raynaud, Sofia Christensen, Andy Sullivan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Sahel, Paris, France, Dakar

REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies CNIL's checks took place on WednesdayWorldcoin is new project of ChatGPT founderPARIS, Aug 31 (Reuters) - France's data watchdog carried out "checks" at Worldcoin's Paris office this week, amid global regulatory pressure on the digital currency firm co-founded by ChatGPT-founder Sam Altman. France's CNIL watchdog said in July it was investigating Worldcoin as the legality of its biometric data "seemed questionable". "Checks took place at the Worldcoin offices," a CNIL spokesperson said on Thursday, confirming an earlier Politico report that the visit took place on Wednesday. Worldcoin requires users to provide their iris scans in exchange for a digital ID and, in some countries, in exchange for free cryptocurrency. The Worldcoin Foundation, a Cayman Islands-based entity, told Reuters via email: "The team at Worldcoin welcomes any opportunity to address questions regarding the project’s purpose and technology."

Persons: Ricardo Macieira, Annegret, PARIS, Sam Altman, France's, Worldcoin, Sudip Kar, Martin Coulter, Alexander Smith, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, ChatGPT, Politico, Worldcoin, Worldcoin Foundation, Microsoft, Thomson Locations: Europe, cryptocurrency, Berlin, Germany, Worldcoin's, Cayman Islands, London

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