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☆ France and EU to spend $215 million shoring up struggling wine producers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Joshua Berlinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Paris CNN —The French government and the European Union will spend 200 million euros ($215 million) to help the country’s wine producers, who are struggling to cope with falling prices and waning demand. High demand for the voluntary buyback program, which was announced in June, prompted authorities to stretch its budget to $200 million, the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement Friday. France was, as of 2020, the world’s second-biggest wine producer and its biggest wine exporter. EU wine exports from January to April this year are also 8.5% lower than last. The French government is also encouraging wine growers to look to alternative crops to cope with climate change and changing market forces.

Persons: rosés Organizations: Paris CNN, European Union, French Ministry of Agriculture, distillers, Agriculture Ministry Locations: France, Europe, EU, Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal

☆ A Los Angeles Home That Channels the Magic of ‘Fantasia’
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Max Berlinger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

By her own admission, the actor Anastasia Graff is a maximalist who loves “girlie things,” so it’s not altogether surprising that she wanted a periwinkle kitchen for her 1930s-era West Hollywood home. Still, such a bold choice could send some interior designers into a tailspin. Clad in white-painted wood siding with a wide porch, it had appealed to Graff because it reminded her of the traditional wooden homes on the East Coast, where she grew up. But it didn’t hurt that the place is part of local lore: It once belonged to the Russian-born composer and conductor Igor Stravinsky, who lived in Los Angeles from 1940 to 1969, while he conducted the L.A. Philharmonic both downtown and at the Hollywood Bowl. “You realize in Los Angeles, there’s a story behind every house,” says Graff.

Persons: Anastasia Graff, “, ”, Frances Merrill, Graff, ” Merrill, Igor Stravinsky, Merrill, gravitas, there’s, Marilyn Monroe’s Organizations: Hollywood Locations: East Coast, Russian, Los Angeles

Paris CNN —At least nine people were killed and two are missing after a fire broke out at a vacation home in eastern France early Wednesday morning, authorities said. Christophe Marot, a senior official in Haut Rhin, told CNN affiliate BFMTV that those inside the building could not escape from the blaze. “It’s very tragic.”The 500 square-meter (5,400 square-foot) house had been hosting people with disabilities during the summer holidays. Authorities do not have any leads on what caused the blaze, but an investigation has been opened, Hauwiller said. Sebastien Bozon/AFP/Getty ImagesOne official said that those inside the building could not escape from the blaze.

Persons: Firefighters, Philippe Hauwiller, Hauwiller, hadn’t, Christophe Marot, ” Marot, “, Leroy, Sebastien Bozon, Gerald Darmanin, Emmanuel Macron, Elisabeth Borne, ” Organizations: Paris CNN —, Authorities, CNN, BFMTV, Getty, Getty Images, Solidarity Locations: France, Wintzenheim, Paris, Haut Rhin, Nancy, AFP

Niamey, Niger CNN —Niger’s armed forces have been bringing in reinforcements to the capital to prepare for a potential invasion, a military source told CNN, just hours after the military junta running the country refused to abide by an influential regional bloc’s deadline to cede power. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) responded days later by enacting sanctions and issuing an ultimatum to the ruling military junta: stand down within a week or face a potential military intervention. A junta leader said Sunday that Niger’s armed forces would be closing the country’s airspace due to the threat of military intervention. Wagner forces have been contracted to help local defense forces against rebellions and insurgencies, and suppress opposition. Both countries are sending delegations to Niger’s capital Niamey, “in solidarity with the people of Niger,” according to the Malian Armed Forces.

Persons: Niger CNN —, Mohamed Bazoum, Bazoum, insurgencies, Wagner, “, ”, Yevgeny Prigozhin Organizations: Niger CNN, CNN, West African States, National Council for, French Foreign Ministry, Nigerien, Malian Armed Forces, Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Niamey, Niger, France, United States, Russia, West Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso, “, ”, Burkina

CNN —The European Union suspended all security cooperation and will no longer provide financial support to Niger following the coup in the West African country, the bloc’s top diplomat said. Abdourahamane Tiani, a general who leads the country’s presidential guard, was declared the country’s new leader after President Mohamed Bazoum was detained earlier this week. “President Bazoum was democratically elected; he is and remains the only legitimate President of Niger. The African Union on Saturday demanded that Nigerien military personnel “immediately and unconditionally return to their barracks and restore constitutional authority,” within 15 days. Niger lies at the heart of Africa’s Sahel region, which has seen numerous power grabs in recent years including in Mali and Burkina Faso.

Persons: Abdourahamane, Mohamed Bazoum, ”, Josep Borell, Bazoum, “, ” Borell, Emmanuel Macron, insurgencies Organizations: CNN, European Union, Nigerien, African Union, Saturday, Economic, West, Niger Locations: Niger, West, Washington, Moscow, West African States, Sahel, Mali, Burkina Faso, United States, France

CNN —Russia has a stockpile of cluster munitions and will consider using them against Ukraine “if they are used against us,” President Vladimir Putin said. “Russia has a sufficient supply of various types of cluster munitions,” the Russian leader said during an interview with a pro-Kremlin journalist. What are cluster munitions? Cluster munitions contain multiple explosives that are released over an area up to the size of several football fields. Putin also claimed that Russia has not yet used cluster munitions, despite evidence to the contrary.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, “, ”, Connie Chen, Henrik Pettersson, Joe Biden, Putin, Biden, Jen Psaki Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, Geneva International Centre, US Defense Department, White House, United Nations Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Kharkiv, Ukraine’s

☆ Violent protests challenge French view on race
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Joshua Berlinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Nanterre, France CNN —What does it mean to be French? That vigorous adherence to equality often prevents the government from doing anything that would appear to categorize French citizens based on race, including collecting statistics. “We’re talking people who have been in France for 100 years or half a century, but are still considered foreigners, strangers foreign to France, even though they are French citizens,” she said. French people often use anglicisms to address issues of race rather than the French equivalent – for example, Black people are referred to as “Black” rather than “noire,” the French word for black – despite the aversion of the francophone world to the rising usage of English in French culture. Workers clear a street filled with charred cars in Nanterre, France, on Friday.

Persons: It’s, Nahel, Adama Traore, rebuts, Rokhaya Diallo, –, ”, Daniele Obono, Mame, Fatou Niang, “ We’re, Niang, Joshua Berlinger Organizations: France CNN, Fifth, CNN, “, France Unbowed, Center for Black European Studies, Atlantic, Carnegie Mellon University, Elysee, French Foreign Ministry, Workers Locations: Nanterre, France, French, Fifth Republic, Paris, Africa, Caribbean, Asia, Republic, France’s, United States, ” Suburbs

☆ France protests: Nationwide demonstrations are sweeping the country. Here's what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Sana Noor Haq Joshua Berlinger Tara John Barry Neild Xiaofei Xu | Sana Noor Haq | Joshua Berlinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Protesters clash with police in Nanterre, France, on Friday, June 30. Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters A firefighter extinguishes a car that was burnt during clashes between protesters and police in Roubaix, France, on June 30. Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images People look at burning tires blocking a street in Bordeaux, France, on Thursday, June 29. There was no disruption to the Eurostar service connecting London, Lille and Paris as a result of the protests. Further afield, the US State Department issued a security alert on June 29 covering France.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Nahel, Pascal Prache, Prache, Gonzalo Fuentes, Pascal Rossignol, Bertrand Guay, Kenzo Tribouillard, Philippe Lopez, Firas Abdullah, Zakaria Abdelkafi, Benjamin Girette, Antoine Gyori, Stephanie Lecocq, ”, Gerard Darmanin, Macron, Elton John, Yves Herman, TikTok, Snapchat Organizations: CNN —, Reuters, Fort, Getty, AFP, Anadolu Agency, Police, Bloomberg, Firefighters, Overseas, Rights, Europe, Amnesty, Twitter, UN, Human Rights, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Interior Ministry, Metro, Eurostar, US State Department Locations: CNN — France, Paris, Nanterre, France, Roubaix, Lille, Aubervilliers, AFP, Bordeaux, Cayenne, French Guiana, Brussels, Clamart, Neuilly, Marne, Préfecture, Marseille, London, Britain, “

☆ Nanterre shooting: More than 600 arrested as France sees third night of violence after 17-year-old shot dead by police
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Joshua Berlinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The boy, Nahel, was shot dead during a traffic stop Tuesday morning in the Paris suburb of Nanterre. The officer said he fired his gun out of fear that the boy would run someone over with the car, according to Nanterre prosecutor Pascal Prache. He is currently facing a formal investigation for voluntary homicide and has been placed in preliminary detention, CNN affiliate BFMTV reported Thursday. This screengrab from video posted on Twitter shows the moment when police interacted with a 17-year-old teen during a traffic stop in a Paris suburb. Fires were set in the Paris suburb of Montreuil early Friday morning.

Persons: France CNN —, Pascal Prache, ”, Mounia, Prache, BFMTV, Stephane Rouppert, Nael, Emmanuel Macron, Nahel, Laurent, Franck Lienard, “, ” Lienard Organizations: France CNN, France, CNN, Twitter, Interior Ministry, BFMTV, French, country’s Foreign, RTL Locations: Nanterre, France, Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, Roubaix, Marseille, Lille, Montreuil, Aubervilliers, ”

☆ Paris city government to study to what extent humans and rats can live together
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Joshua Berlinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Paris CNN —Can humans and rats live together? Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is forming a committee to study “cohabitation” – to what extent humans and rodents can live together – one of her deputies said Thursday during a city council meeting. Boulard had called upon the city government to outline a more ambitious plan against the proliferation of rats in public spaces. The study is being financed by the French government, though the city of Paris is a partner in the project. She added that she was asking the French High Council on Public Health to weigh in on the debate.

Persons: Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, –, Anne Souyris, Paris, Geoffroy Boulard, Boulard, Hidalgo, ” Boulard, Souyris, ”, Paris Animaux Zoopolis, “ Organizations: Paris CNN, Paris Mayor, Paris, Republican, Twitter, French High Council, Public Health, “, CNN Locations: Paris, PAZ

☆ At More Skate Parks, an ‘Aggressive’ Takeover
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Max Berlinger | Ben Pier | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On a May afternoon at a Venice Beach skate park, the drooping sun cast an amber glow on Kayla Dizon as she shot her way across the pavement on a pair of in-line skates. Ms. Dizon, 25, had not come to cruise leisurely along the Pacific Coast like many spandex- and swimsuit-clad skaters do. Wearing a T-shirt and cutoff shorts that revealed a massive purple-yellow bruise on her leg, Ms. Dizon instead was scraping her skates’ wheels on the edges of the park’s sinuous curves and sharp dips as her dyed-red hair thrashed in the air. Like many people, Ms. Dizon took up in-line skating — often called Rollerblading, thanks to a popular brand of skates — during the pandemic, after a friend gave her a pair of skates. It was that same friend, she said, who coaxed her into trying what’s known as aggressive or in-line street skating, a style heavy on tricks and stunts like grinding curbs, skidding on railings and spinning along half-pipes.

Persons: Kayla Dizon, Dizon Locations: Venice, Pacific

CNN —One of the worst train accidents in India’s history is raising questions over the safety of the country’s massive and outdated rail network, as the government invests in its modernization. India’s extensive rail network, one of the largest in the world, was built more than 160 years ago under British colonial rule. Decaying infrastructure is often cited as a cause for traffic delays and numerous train accidents in India. India has seen several similar deadly incidents involving train accidents in recent decades. The same year, Modi announced huge investments in India’s railway system aimed at improving safety and connectivity.

Persons: Rafiq Maqbool, Odisha, Narendra Modi, Modi’s, Albright, Modi, ” Mamata Banerjee Organizations: CNN, AP Authorities, Howrah, National Crime Records, Group, Indian, Rail Plan, India, Bharat Locations: Odisha, Shalimar, Chennai, Yesvantpur, India, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jammu, Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh

The country’s generous pension system and early retirement have long been a point of pride since they were enacted after World War II. Railway workers hold a banner reading "Until the withdrawal" during a demonstration a few days after the government forced the pension reform through parliament without a vote. Macron and his government have defended the retirement reform as necessary to keep the pension system funded. He also defended the decision to push through the reform as financially necessary, no matter how unpopular it was. Between opinion polls and the national interest, I chose the national interest,” Macron said.

☆ ‘Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street’ Review: Ponzi Scheme of a Sociopath
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( John Anderson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

The subject of director Joe Berlinger ’s captivating, penetrating, four-part “Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street” is described by one of its kinder voices as a “financial sociopath.” Later, someone just comes right out and calls him a “serial killer.” All of which may help explain our persistent obsession with the man who perpetrated the largest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history. After so many productions, dramatic and documentary, shouldn’t we be tired of Bernie Madoff ? One might as well ask if we’re tired of Charles Manson , or Jack the Ripper. It’s certainly not violence that makes the Madoff story magnetic, although the death toll does begin to resemble the post-heist body count in “Goodfellas” after Madoff’s nearly $65 billion rip-off goes belly up in 2008. Madoff, who died in 2021, is very matter-of-fact about the crimes he committed, dispassionate, even clinical.

☆ Bernie Madoff was a 'sociopath' with no empathy, says documentary director Joe Berlinger
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | 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 EmailBernie Madoff was a 'sociopath' with no empathy, says documentary director Joe BerlingerJoe Berlinger, series director, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss how Berlinger got access to confidential files regarding Bernie Madoff's deposition, what Berlinger makes of SBF's current situation and more.

Kirby said the US was imposing new sanctions on three Russian entities involved in acquiring and using Russian drones. The US also authorized an additional $275 million in military aid for Ukraine on Friday. He said the several hundred drones Iran is providing to Russia are being used to kill innocent Ukrainians and destroy civilian infrastructure. He said Iran was providing Russia with an "unprecedented level" of military and technical support, including the potential sale of ballistic missiles and a new joint production line. He called the Tehran-Moscow pipeline a "full-fledged defense partnership" that the US expects to grow in the coming months.

☆ Normcore No More: This Season’s Best Fleeces Will Help You Stand Out
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Max Berlinger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

MARIUS JOHNSON spotted the indigo fleece pullover on the YouTube page of one of his favorite influencers back in February. Finished with crochet detailing, the woolly number was the work of Story mfg, a small British brand known for its crafty aesthetic. Mr. Johnson, 26, an account manager at a creative agency in Boston, was attracted to the obvious care put into the garment, which he subsequently purchased. “You can just tell they’ve mastered their craft, with the stitching, the feel of the pullover and the fit,” he said. “[It] feels very personal.”That particular fleece was inspired by Patagonia’s Snap-T pullover, said Saeed Al-Rubeyi, who founded Story mfg with his wife Katy.

☆ OPEC could tip the world economy into recession, warns IEA
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN Business —Western governments are furious after OPEC+ decided last week to slash oil production by the largest amount since the start of the pandemic. The IEA slashed its forecast for world oil demand growth next year by more than 20%, citing further downgrades to global growth expectations from major institutions. “The massive cut in OPEC+ oil supply increases energy security risks worldwide,” the IEA said. Typically, higher oil prices send non-OPEC producers into action, particularly US shale companies. Supply growth is set to “slow markedly” in 2023, although still reach a record of 100.6 million barrels a day.

☆ Saudis aren’t weaponizing oil like Americans claim, top official says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Joshua Berlinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Experts also fear that continued high oil prices could make it more difficult for the US to tamp down inflation, which has already skyrocketed this year. “Saudi Arabia is taking the side of trying to ensure the stability of the oil markets.”“Saudi Arabia does not politicize oil. Saudi officials have insisted that the production cut is being done to protect the country’s economic interests. Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut on Wednesday called for immediate action on his bill that would stop US arm sales to Saudi Arabia. When asked about growing calls in Washington to limit ties with Saudi Arabia, al-Jubeir said he hoped that such talk was motivated by domestic politics ahead of the midterms.

☆ Jeffrey Dahmer’s latest media moment continues in ‘Conversations With a Killer’
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-06 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

In an interview with CNN, Berlinger said he hasn’t watched “Monster,” in part because he didn’t want to field questions about it. Berlinger bristled at the suggestion that any of these productions might romanticize serial killers, noting that crime has always been a source of fascination. “I thought this was an important story to tell,” Berlinger said in regard to “The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes,” noting that Dahmer – unlike Bundy and Gacy – actually exhibited “a modicum of remorse” in the unearthed audiotapes. “We want to pretend that serial killers present themselves as evil monsters all the time,” he said, noting that those featured were able to gaslight and fool even those close to them. “But it’s a larger attempt to understand where they fit in the human condition.”“Conversations With a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes” premieres October 7 on Netflix.

☆ 'Shadowland' explores how conspiracy theories threaten our democracy
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | 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 Email'Shadowland' explores how conspiracy theories threaten our democracyDocumentary series 'Shadowland' director Joe Berlinger joins Shep Smith to discuss his new docu-series and why some people seem to be so susceptible to conspiracy theories in the U.S. 'Shadowland' is airing on Peacock, which is owned by CNBC parent company Comcast.

☆ Kathy Hilton’s Calling
▼ + stars: | 2021-08-18 | by ( Max Berlinger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Kathy Hilton — dressed in a black Valentino gown, gold belt, and studded stilettos for a photo shoot — was begging for some attention. Ms. Hilton sighed and shrugged. Set amid a season of heavy legal dramas and lighter histrionic fare, Ms. Hilton’s oddball asides and eccentric behavior has sent the internet into paroxysms of adulation. “And the words they used … they said, ‘You’re quirky and refreshing.’” Her sunny face went dumbstruck. I’ve been asking my friends lately, ‘Do you think I’m quirky?’”

Persons: Kathy Hilton —, Valentino, —, “, Moty, trepidation, Hilton sighed, ‘, Hilton, I’ve Organizations: Housewives, Beverly Locations: Beverly Hills

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