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☆ Meta strikes deal to sell VR headset in China - WSJ
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

The logo of Meta Platforms' business group is seen in Brussels, Belgium December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 9 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms (META.O) has struck a deal with Tencent Holdings (0700.HK) to sell a new, lower-priced version of its virtual-reality (VR) headset in China, a return to the country 14 years after Facebook was shut out, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. The preliminary deal will make Tencent the exclusive seller of Meta's headsets in China, the Journal said, citing sources. Meta and Tencent did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Reporting by Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Mrigank DhaniwalaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yves Herman, Tencent, Shubham, Rashmi Aich Organizations: REUTERS, Tencent Holdings, HK, Facebook, Wall Street, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, China, Bengaluru

☆ Best ways to counter the harmful effects of sitting, according to research
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Sitting too much may send you to an early death, likely from chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and more, according to research. “The question is, if you have a restorative or recharging sleep, is that better than sitting on the couch eating and watching TV? While the study found swapping sitting for sleep improved health, benefits were not equal, the authors said. More vigorous exercise is best, but standing, walking and even sleeping is better than just sitting, experts say. “Since most songs average at least 3 minutes, you can dance off the negative impact of too much sitting.

Persons: ”, Andrew Freeman, ” Freeman, Mark Hamer, ” Hamer, Emmanuel Stamatakis, Kobus, “, Jo Blodgett, James Leiper, ” Leiper, that’s, Dana Santas, ” Santas, Santas Organizations: CNN’s, CNN, BMI, Jewish Health, Institute of Sport, Health, University College London, University of Sydney, British Heart Foundation Locations: waistlines, Denver, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Spain, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States

Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont delivers a statement after a deal was signed with Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) for Spanish government support, which is expected to include an amnesty law for Catalan separatist activists, in Brussels, Belgium November 9, 2023. The promise of a wide amnesty for Catalan separatists, including himself, that the 60-year-old fugitive from Spanish justice won in return is already dividing the country where protests have erupted in recent days. Puigdemont made his intentions clear in his inauguration speech, vowing to start "the constituting process of an independent state". A year and a half later, following an October 2017 independence referendum deemed illegal by Spanish courts, the same parliament declared Catalonia's independence. But he appears to have changed his tune since an interview published by Catalan newspaper ARA a week before Spain's election last July.

Persons: Carles Puigdemont, Yves Herman Acquire, Catalonia's, Pedro Sanchez, Puigdemont, Artur Mas, Spain's, Mariano Rajoy, Sanchez, Junts, Andrei KhalipMacfie Organizations: Spanish Socialist Workers ' Party, PSOE, Catalan, REUTERS, Rights, Spanish, Catalonia's, Spain's, ARA, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Rights BARCELONA, Spain, Spanish, Madrid, Girona, Germany, Italy, Catalonia

☆ Spanish conservative politician shot in face in Madrid. Gunman escaped on a motorbike, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Vice-President of the European Parliament Alejo Vidal-Quadras from Spain meets the media at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, Tuesday Jan. 27, 2009. Veteran Spanish right-wing politician Alejandro Vidal-Quadras has been taken to a hospital in Madrid after being shot on a street in the capital, police said Thursday. After he broke away, he helped found the far-right Vox party. Vox President Santiago Abascal said he believed Vidal-Quadras' life wasn't in immediate danger. Popular Party President Alberto Núñez Feijóo deplored the shooting and wished for his recovery.

Persons: Alejo Vidal, Quadras, Tuesday Jan, Alejandro Vidal, EFE, Vidal, Mariano Rajoy, Vox, Santiago Abascal, Abascal, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, Pedro Sánchez, Sánchez, Quadras hasn't Organizations: Tuesday, Veteran Spanish, Police, Popular Party, Vox, Spanish Locations: Spain, Brussels, Belgium, Madrid, Spanish, Quadras, Catalonia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan

☆ Japan's efforts to foster chip sector are 'impressive' -research org head
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Sam Nussey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Japan's efforts to regain its position as a leading manufacturer of chips are "impressive", the head of a leading chip research organisation said on Thursday. "Japan this time has taken a bold approach and has implemented very quick decision making," Luc Van den hove, CEO of Belgium-based Imec told reporters in Tokyo. One key initiative is chip foundry venture Rapidus, which is led by veteran chip executives and hopes to manufacture cutting-edge chips by partnering with IBM (IBM.N) and Imec. "What Rapidus is trying to do is extremely difficult," said Van den hove, adding that "the Japanese team and government are very motivated to make it a success, so I'm positive." Imec, an important part of chipmaking research efforts funded by industry and governments, is considering opening offices in Hokkaido, where Rapidus production will be located, and in Tokyo, Van den hove said.

Persons: Florence Lo, Luc Van den hove, Imec, Taiwan's TSMC, Van den, Sam Nussey, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, IBM, Samsung Electronics, U.S, Thomson Locations: Japan, Belgium, Tokyo, South, Van den hove, Hokkaido, Van, China

☆ Spanish Socialists and Catalan Junts reach deal for government support, amnesty
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A law granting amnesty to those prosecuted over Catalonia's attempt to secede from Spain was included in the deal, political leaders said and the deal text showed. The agreement included Junts lending its votes in parliament to support legislation for a full four-year term, he said. But Junts, which seeks another independence referendum, said supporting each law would depend on progress in talks involving Catalonia's political conflict. As a deal between Junts and the Socialists edged nearer in the past week, the mood in the country has become increasingly febrile, with protesters clashing with police outside the Socialists' headquarters in Madrid. An amnesty could exculpate as many as 1,400 activists and politicians involved in the attempt to separate Catalonia from Spain.

Persons: Junts, Feijoo, Puigdemont, Pedro Sanchez, Santos Cerdan, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, Sanchez, Carles Puigdemont, Jaume Clotet, Belen Carreno, Joan Faus, Graham Keeley, Aislinn Laing, Charlie Devereux, Alison Williams, Toby Chopra, Bernadette Baum, Sharon Singleton, Alex Richardson Organizations: Companies Spain's Socialists, Conservative, Socialist Party, PSOE, Socialist, Socialists, Police, People's Party, Spanish Socialist Workers ' Party, Basque Nationalist Party, Thomson Locations: Catalan, Madrid, MADRID, Spain, Brussels, Junts, Catalonia, Belgium, Waterloo

The EU's proposed "Euro 7" law would tighten limits on health-harming pollutants from combustion engine cars. The European Commission, which drafts new EU laws, has said the health benefits would far outweigh the costs. However, EU countries and lawmakers - which are in charge of negotiating the final law in the coming months - have each agreed to weaken the rules. Green lawmakers criticised the vote as a missed chance to reduce the roughly 70,000 premature deaths per year in Europe attributed to vehicle pollution. "The EU is missing the opportunity to be the future leader in green technology," Green EU lawmaker Bas Eickhout added.

Persons: Yves Herman, Alexandr Vondra, Bas Eickhout, Adolfo Urso, Kate Abnett, Alvise Armellini, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, New, European Commission, Commission, Italy's Industry, EU, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Rights BRUSSELS, Union, Europe, Italy, Czech Republic

☆ Thailand, Toyota to jointly develop domestic EV industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A Toyota Logo is seen at a Toyota dealership in Zaventem, Belgium, November 25, 2022. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Thailand will work with Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) in developing the country's electric vehicle (EV) industry, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said after a meeting with the automakers' executives. "Toyota said it sees the potential of Thailand's auto manufacturing industry especially in pick-up trucks and eco-cars," the government said in a statement on Thursday. The announcement comes as Toyota plans to trial its first EV pick-up truck in Thailand in a fresh attempt to boost EV sales in the country where it faces rising competition from Chinese rivals. For decades, the world's 10th largest auto hub has been dominated by Japanese firms like Toyota Motor and Honda Motor Co (7267.T), which use Thailand as a major export base.

Persons: Johanna Geron, Srettha Thavisin, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Toyota, REUTERS, Rights, Toyota Motor Corp, Honda Motor, EV, Thomson Locations: Zaventem, Belgium, Rights BANGKOK, Thailand, Southeast Asia

☆ Belgium wants sanctions against Israel for Gaza bombings - deputy PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Marine Strauss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from Sderot in southern Israel, November 7, 2023. REUTERS/Ammar Awad/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Belgium's deputy prime minister called on the Belgian government on Wednesday to adopt sanctions against Israel and investigate the bombings of hospitals and refugee camps in Gaza. “It is time for sanctions against Israel. Israel struck at Gaza in response to a Hamas raid on southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which gunmen killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and took about 240 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Terror costs money and there must be sanctions on the companies and people who provide Hamas with money," De Sutter said.

Persons: Ammar Awad, Petra De Sutter, ”, Israel, De Sutter, Marine Strauss, Chizu Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, Belgian, Israel, Nieuwsblad, European Union, EU, International Criminal, UN, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Sderot, Rights BRUSSELS, European, Belgium, The Hague

If accepted, EU officials expect formal accession talks with Kyiv to start next year. A top aide to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Budapest would not support Ukraine's EU integration unless Kyiv changes its laws on minorities, in particular as regards education. "Moldova is firmly on the path for EU membership and we will continue working relentlessly towards this goal," the country's president, Maia Sandu, said in welcoming the move. The Commission said the EU should also begin membership talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina once a long list of extensive conditions are met. In 2020, Britain was the first country to ever leave the EU, a major setback for European integration following World War Two.

Persons: Yves Herman, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Ursula von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, Viktor Orban, Maia Sandu, von der Leyen, enlargements, Andrew Gray, Yuliia, Olena, Alexander Tanas, Gabriela Baczynska, Nick Macfie, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, European Commission, EU, Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Brussels, Belgium, Moldova, Bosnia, Georgia, BRUSSELS, KYIV, Hungary, Kyiv, Hungarian, Budapest, EU, Moscow, Tbilisi, Herzegovina, Sarajevo, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Netherlands, Britain

So don't miss out on a free Arsenal vs Sevilla live stream that you can watch from anywhere. Just a heads-up: if you're not in the country showing the free Arsenal vs. Sevilla live stream from the guide below, you'll hit a geo-block when you try to watch. *Belgium's RTL Club is free, but you must create a free login to access the free Champions League streams. Then get stuck in and enjoy this free Champions League live stream. How to watch Arsenal vs. Sevilla live stream with a VPNSign up for a VPN if you don't have one.

Persons: Mikel Arteta's, they're, you'll, we've, Stan, Stan Sport, ExpressVPN, you've, Stan Sport's, You'll Organizations: Mikel Arteta's Gunners, Sevilla, Spanish Europa League, Arsenal, Lens, La Liga, Europa League, PSV, League, RTL, Rugby, RTL Club, BT Sport, TNT Sport, BT, TNT, Discovery, Amazon, Amazon Prime, Champions League, Champions, Stan Sport, Sport, country's Champions League, Paramount Plus, Paramount, CBS, Netflix, PayPal Locations: La, Europe, Belgium, Belgian, Australia, USA

☆ Ukrainian president Zelenskiy's interview comments
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group ahead of a two-day NATO Defense Ministers Council at the alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, October 11, 2023. Olivier Matthys/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 8 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke at the Reuters NEXT conference in New York in an interview by video link on Wednesday. Of course, we need it to become member of the EU, but we do it for us, we need it." We don’t need to surprise everybody in the world, we need this for ourselves." WAR ENDING"Why do you think the country in war, the country which has been attacked, should be ready for compromise?

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Olivier Matthys, Yuliia Dysa, Alison Williams Organizations: Ukraine Defense Contact, NATO Defense, Reuters NEXT, Reuters, reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Brussels, Belgium, New York

Last year, Taiwan's chip industry generated T$4.837 trillion ($150.27 billion) in revenue, nearly half of which came from TSMC, compared with Taiwan's GDP of T$22.667 trillion ($704.21 billion). "Taiwan's limited land and limited energy have always created a lot of pressure," GlobalWafers (6488.TWO) CEO Doris Hsu told reporters. 'FIVE SHORTAGES'The chip industry has long complained about Taiwan's "five shortages": land, water, energy, labour, and talent. Taiwan's government - determined to keep its crown jewel's most advanced technology at home - has said it will provide alternative options. The Longtan expansion had proposed acquiring 159 more hectares in the north, where TSMC and many chip companies are based.

Persons: Wei Hsin, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Taiwan's, Wang Mei, TSMC, Doris Hsu, Hsu Shih, Rich, Chen Ting, Chen, Liao Chen, Cliff Hou, Isaiah, Lucy Chen, Chen Chi, Sarah Wu, Yimou Lee, Ben Blanchard, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, Taiwan's, National Chengchi University, Hsinchu Science Park, Reuters, Residents, TMSC's, Thomson Locations: Longtan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Rights HSINCHU, LONGTAN, Hsinchu, United States, Japan, Germany, TSMC, Belgium, Arizona, Kaohsiung

The fishermen and women's proximity to the coastal waters has made them front-line witnesses of how climate change is altering the ecosystem of the North Sea. Oceans have absorbed 90% of the global warming that humans have caused in the last few decades, according to NASA. In the North Sea, surface temperatures have increased by around 0.3 degrees Celsius per decade since 1991. While shrimp populations fluctuate during short-term changes like heatwaves, fishermen and scientists report increases in lesser weever fish and squid, traditionally found further south but which have moved north into Belgium's warming waters. North Sea cod populations have plummeted since the 1980s, which scientists attribute to rising sea temperatures and overfishing.

Persons: Gunther Vanbleu, Martha, anorak, Vanbleu, Eddy D'Hulster, Ilias Semmouri, Hans Polet, ILVO, Polet, I'm, Kate Abnett, Bart Biesemans, Bernadette Baum Organizations: UNESCO, Reuters, NASA, Ghent University, Thomson Locations: Belgian, Oostduinkerke, BRUSSELS, Flanders

Israel has accused Hamas of using civilians and civilian structures including hospitals as shields; Hamas and several hospitals in the enclave have denied that. Since Saturday, Israel has opened up a humanitarian corridor for four hours each day, allowing Gazans in the north to leave for the south. Eyewitnesses described multiple explosions in central and southern Gaza on Tuesday morning that they said were caused by Israeli airstrikes. Yet Netanyahu insists he will not permit a ceasefire until Hamas releases the hundreds of hostages it still holds in Gaza. It’s not good for Israel; not good for the Israeli people,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told CNN.

Persons: Alexander de Croo, Leo Varadkar, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Mira Ziydeh, Joe Biden, Biden, Israel, “, It’s, John Kirby, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Mark Regev, CNN’s Abeer Salman, Eyad Kourdi, Niamh Kennedy, Andrew Carey Organizations: Jerusalem CNN —, UN, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, ”, CNN, UNRWA, ABC, National Security Locations: Jerusalem, Gaza, Belgium, Belgian, Brussels, Latin America, Africa, Israel, United States, United Kingdom, Israel’s, Ramallah, ”, Gazan, Deir, Wadi Gaza, Southern Gaza

☆ EU proposal may accelerate pharma innovation decline, industry group says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Julia Payne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Any changes to our incentives system would equally affect EU-based and foreign-based companies which bring medicines to the EU and, therefore, it would not put EU firms at a disadvantage," an EU Commission spokesperson said. Medication was the single biggest contributor to the EU’s trade surplus, with 235 billion euro ($252.13 billion) worth of exports in 2021. The EFPIA said small biotech companies have already moved to the United States and China. The Commission said its proposal would reduce new medicine approval times to 180 days from 400 days. Germany, Belgium and France would be the hardest hit by the proposed rules, the EFPIA said citing research by Dolon that it commissioned.

Persons: EFPIA, Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen, Jorgensen, Ozempic, " Jorgensen, Julia Payne, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: European Commission, European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries, EU, Commission, Novo Nordisk, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, United States, China, Danish, Boston, U.S, Europe, EU, Germany, Belgium, France

☆ Wall Street analysts fall back in love with Starbucks. We're glad to see them coming around
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Barclays on Monday raised its price target on Starbucks to $123 a share, up from $116, while maintaining an overweight rating on the stock. The call came after analysts at the bank met with Starbucks executives, who reportedly painted a bullish picture looking out to fiscal year 2024. Meanwhile, Wedbush on Monday also raised its price target on Starbucks, to $106 a share, up from $100, while reiterating a neutral rating on the stock. RBC Capital raised its price target to $111 a share, up from $99, with a sector perform rating. And Citi on Sunday took its price target to $110 a share, up from $100, maintaining a neutral rating on the stock.

Persons: Laxman Narasimhan, Narasimhan, Jim Cramer, Wedbush, Jim Cramer's, Jim, Jakub Porzyck Organizations: Street, Barclays, Starbucks, RBC Capital, Citi, Sunday, CNBC, Nurphoto, Getty Locations: China, Charleroi, Belgium

Learn moreLooking for the latest on how to watch the Brazil F1 live stream for free? Where to Watch a free Brazil F1 live streamThis weekend's simplest option for a free F1 live stream is using a VPN to tune into one of the free European streams mentioned above. How to watch the Brazil F1 live stream with a VPNSign up for a VPN if you don't have one. Turn it on and set it to a country with a free live stream. How to watch an F1 live stream in the USESPN carries coverage of Formula 1 racing throughout the season, and there's plenty of it left to enjoy.

Persons: we've, Verstappen, Leclerc, Aston Martins, Alonso, Aston, We've, ExpressVPN Organizations: Aston, BBC, RTL, AWST, US ESPN, ESPN Locations: Brazil, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, TV's

☆ Isabeau Levito, 16, wins first major international figure skating competition
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —American teenager Isabeau Levito has won her first senior major international figure staking competition, claiming the Grand Prix de France title on Saturday to set up a potential US clean sweep this weekend. Despite finishing third in the Free Skate, the 16-year-old’s overall total of 203.22 was enough for victory and qualification to December’s Grand Prix Final. Thankfully for Levito, the top three from the Short Program all failed to dazzle on Saturday. Grand Prix de France is the third of the six Grands Prix of the season. The 18-year-old is in first place after the Short Program.

Persons: Isabeau Levito, Belgium’s Nina Pinzarrone, Rion Sumiyoshi, “, I’m, ” Levito, Levito, Ashley Wager, Ilia Malinin Organizations: CNN, Prix de France, Prix, Skate, NBC, Skate America Locations: Japan, Angers, France

ANGERS, France (AP) — Isabeau Levito's quest for a first Grand Prix victory is over. The 16-year-old American figure skater won the Grand Prix de France on Saturday with a total of 203.22 points for her two programs. Teenager Levito had previously claimed four runner-up finishes at other Grand Prix events, including at Skate America last month. The Grand Prix de France is the third of six events in the ISU Grand Prix series. The best skaters qualify for the Grand Prix Final in Beijing from Dec. 7-10.

Persons: Nina Pinzarrone, Rion Sumiyoshi, Levito, Ilia Malinin Organizations: Prix de France, Japan, Skate America, ISU, Paris Locations: ANGERS, France, Belgium, Beijing, paris

☆ Storm Ciaran Rips Through Western Europe, Killing at Least 11
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Gareth Vipers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Montemurlo, Italy, suffered damage as it was hit by Storm Ciaran. Photo: federico scoppa/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesViolent winds battered much of Western Europe, leaving at least 11 people dead, dozens injured and millions without power. The storm, named Storm Ciaran by the U.K.’s Met Office, brought high winds and torrential rain to large parts of France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, the U.K., Italy and Spain, forcing school closures and disruption to rail and air travel.

Persons: Storm Ciaran ., federico scoppa, Storm Ciaran Organizations: Agence France, U.K Locations: Montemurlo, Italy, Western Europe, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain

☆ In diamond centre Antwerp, Russian gems are already shunned
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Julia Payne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/5] Cut diamonds are seen at the diamond exchange in Antwerp, as the G7 weighs a ban on Russian diamond imports to reduce revenues for Moscow's war in Ukraine, Antwerp, Belgium, October 30, 2023. Other diamond firms in Antwerp, the world's biggest centre of trade in rough diamonds and cutting of the biggest gems, were asked to avoid Russian stones. Now, Western powers want to make the boycott official with a formal ban on Russian stones. Imports of Russian rough diamonds are now at less than 5% of pre-war levels, the source said. Most proposals under consideration by the G7 now focus on rough diamonds of 1 carat and above initially.

Persons: Johanna Geron, Thierry Tugendhaft, Van Cleef, Tugendhaft, De Beers, It's, Julia Payne, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European, World Diamond Council, EU, Thomson Locations: Antwerp, Ukraine, Belgium, Rights ANTWERP, Russia, Paris, Tiffany's, Cartier, Canada, Lesotho, South Africa, Botswana, India, United States, Japan, European Union, France, Antwerp . New

☆ Volvo Cars' sales of fully electric vehicles jump in October
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

STOCKHOLM, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Volvo Cars' (VOLCARb.ST) sales in October grew 10% from a year earlier to 59,861 cars as fully electric car sales jumped but hybrid models fell, the Sweden-based group said on Friday. Volvo Cars said in a statement sales of fully electric cars rose 29% to account for 18% of all its cars sold in the month. Sales of hybrid cars, however, fell 8%. In total, all recharge models were up 7% to account for 36% of total sales. Volvo Cars said on Friday that sales in the biggest market Europe were up 13% in October.

Persons: China's Geely, Yves Herman, Jim Rowan, BEV, EVs, Anna Ringstrom, Terje Solsvik, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Volvo, China's, HK, REUTERS, Motors, Ford, Volkswagen, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Brussels, Belgium, Europe, U.S, China

☆ New routes, old coaches: Europe's night trains struggle to pick up speed
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Rachel More | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

They travelled with European Sleeper, a Dutch-Belgian startup whose launch in May is part of a renaissance of night train travel. CHALLENGESYears of decline in Europe's night train network coincided with the rise of low-cost airlines. Supporters of night trains are pushing for more state help to compete against budget airlines, such as a value-added tax exemption on cross-border routes and lower track access charges. At night, trains compete with freight traffic and construction works, and during the busy morning hours they vie for arrival slots at stations with commuter services. Sarah and Sonia's train, European Sleeper's ES453 service, pulled in at 7.57 a.m., one hour and nine minutes late.

Persons: Bart Biesemans, Sarah, Sonia, Chris Engelsman, Engelsman, Alberto Mazzola, Sonia didn't, Victoria Klesty, Matthias Williams, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Berlin Central Station, Reuters Graphics, Reuters, OBB, Siemens Mobility, European Union, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Brussels, Belgium, Dutch, Belgian, Europe, Paris, Zurich, Norwegian, Oslo, Copenhagen, Prague, Amsterdam, Barcelona, France

☆ Irish PM says Israel actions in Gaza resemble 'something approaching revenge'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Juan Medina/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDUBLIN, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Friday described Israel's actions in Gaza as "something approaching revenge", in some of the strongest criticism of Israel by a leader of a European Union member state. Gaza health authorities say at least 9,061 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its assault on the enclave of 2.3 million people in retaliation for deadly attacks by Hamas militants on southern Israel. And I don't think that's how Israel will guarantee future freedom and future security," he said. Asked by a journalist whether Israel's actions were war crimes, Varadkar said "that's not for me to determine." The Gaza war has highlighted foreign policy divisions within the EU.

Persons: Leo Varadkar, Juan Medina, Israel, Varadkar, that's, Conor Humphries, Christina Fincher Organizations: Ireland's, REUTERS, Rights, Irish, European Union, RTE, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, Gaza, Israel, South Korea, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Ireland, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Western

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