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☆ Dutch pick for EU climate job to face tough hearing
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Hoekstra needs to win a positive assessment from the EU Parliament and pass a potentially close vote in the assembly with majority support. If appointed, Hoekstra is expected to assume responsibility for climate change policies in the EU Commission. He belongs to the Dutch Christian-Democratic CDA party, part of the European People's Party group in the EU Parliament. Bas Eickhout, a Green EU lawmaker, said Hoekstra would need to prove his commitment to Europe's climate change agenda. He'll have a tough time convincing the European Parliament that he's the right man for the job," said Paul Tang, a Dutch Socialist member of the EU Parliament.

Persons: Wopke Hoekstra, Hoekstra, Frans Timmermans, Timmermans, Maros Sefcovic, Eickhout, Hoekstra's, Paul Tang, Kate Abnett, Bart Meijer, Giles Elgood Organizations: EU, Parliament, Dutch Christian, Democratic CDA, European People's Party, EPP, EPP Group, Green Deal, European, Socialist, Dutch Finance, Socialists, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Netherlands, Dutch, Europe, EU, The Hague, New EU, Bas, Southern Europe, Spain, Italy

☆ This Dutchman moved to San Francisco a year ago to help tech giants prepare for new EU rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

De Graaf, a 30-year veteran of the European Commission, was tasked with resurrecting the EU office in the Bay Area. The generative AI boomGenerative AI was a virtually foreign concept when de Graaf arrived in San Francisco last September. In June, the European Parliament cleared a major step in passing the EU AI Act, which would represent the EU's package of AI regulations. Tech companies that have for years criticized the EU for overly aggressive regulations are now asking, "Why is it taking you so long?" The rapidly changing landscape of generative AI makes it tricky for the EU to quickly formulate regulations.

Persons: Yves Herman, Gerard de Graaf, De Graaf, de Graaf, Union hasn't, Mark Zuckerberg, Mandel Ngan, Thierry Breton, Elon Musk, Breton, we've, We've, who's, they've, Aneesh Chopra Organizations: EU, European Commission, Digital Services, Nasdaq, Meta, Google, Apple, DSA, EC, Valley Bank, Irish Consulate, The, Union, U.S, Facebook, Financial, Financial Services, AFP, Getty, Twitter, Digital Markets, Washington , D.C, European, Tech, Stanford, Nvidia, White Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Europe, San Francisco, Bay, U.S, Silicon Valley, Silicon, Rayburn, Washington , DC, Poland, Graaf, Washington ,, United States

The logo of Google is seen at the high profile startups and high tech leaders gathering, Viva Tech,in Paris, France May 16, 2019. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Google will provide more information on targeted advertisements and give researchers more access to data on how its products work, to comply with landmark European Union online content rules, the Alphabet (GOOGL.O) unit said on Thursday. "We will increase data access for researchers looking to understand more about how Google Search, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Play and Shopping work in practice, and conducting research related to understanding systemic content risks in the EU," she said. It will roll out a new Transparency Center for people to access information about its policies on a product-by-product basis. Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Charles Platiau, Laurie Richardson, Foo Yun Chee, Devika Organizations: Google, Viva Tech, REUTERS, Rights, European Union, Digital Services, Microsoft, Twitter, HK, DSA, Center, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, U.S

For investors looking to weed out climate laggards from portfolios, these are vital questions but existing guidelines on emissions reporting and new rules due to come in for the United States and Europe are unlikely to provide hard answers. The United States is on track to announce similar rules this year and the corporate standard, first launched in 2001 and revised in 2004, is also embedded in other international emissions reporting standards. Nonetheless, many investors scrutinise carbon emissions data to gauge how polluting a company is, how it compares with rivals and how this might affect its bottom line and share price. Another area of investor concern is how companies account for their own energy use, or Scope 2 emissions. The GHGP allows companies to buy green energy to offset their emissions, using contractual instruments such as renewable energy certificates, and reflect this in their reporting.

Persons: Fabrizio Bensch, Vanessa Bingle, David Lubin, Subaru, SCA's Lubin, Laura Kane, Kane, Jimmy Jia, Jia, abrdn, Pedro Faria, Faria, Pankaj Bhatia, Douglas Gillison, Sumanta Sen, Dan Flynn, David Clarke Organizations: REUTERS, Toyota, Shell, Greenhouse, World Business, Sustainable Development, World Resources Institute, Reuters, Alpha Financial Markets Consulting, Analytics, Subaru, North, Voya Investment Management, Voya, EU, Sustainability, IFRS, Oxford Smith School of Enterprise, Reuters Graphics, U.S . Securities, Exchange, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, United States, Europe, Japan, North America, U.S, Britain, British, EU

☆ What’s Happening in Giorgia Meloni’s Italy Is Scary - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( David Broder | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

In recent weeks, Ms. Meloni spearheaded a European Union deal with Tunisia, whose authoritarian regime promotes the great replacement conspiracy theory, to curb migration in exchange for financial support. The new director general, Giampaolo Rossi, is a pro-Meloni hard-liner who previously distinguished himself as an organizer of an annual Brothers of Italy festival. Burying the antifascist legacy of the wartime Resistance matters deeply to the Brothers of Italy, a party rooted in its fascist forefathers’ great defeat in 1945. No matter its novelty, Ms. Meloni’s administration has every chance of imposing enduring changes in the political order. Instead, in galvanizing the political right behind a resentful identity politics, it risks becoming something else entirely: Europe’s future.

Persons: Ms, Meloni’s, ”, — Ms, Meloni, Giampaolo Rossi, ’, It’s, Éric, Democrats ’ Organizations: Union, Amnesty, RAI, “, Brothers, Conservatives, Democrats Locations: Italy, Tunisia, Libya, of Italy, Britain, Germany

LONDON/NEW YORK, July 27 (Reuters) - Chocolate and coffee makers including Italy's Lavazza and Cadbury-maker Mondelez are concerned about the "practicalities" of a new European Union law aimed at stopping deforestation. Several major investors told Reuters last month that concerns about their exposure to the issue could lead them to quit consumer goods makers with "risky" supply chains. Oreo-maker Mondelez told Reuters it is "not clear on how they (EU authorities) will control or implement this" law. "It is entirely possible to trace coffee supply chains, despite their complexity. Italian confectionary group Ferrero wants the EU to provide specific guidance on compliance for each commodity because supply chains vary greatly between them.

Persons: Italy's, Mondelez, Giuseppe Lavazza, Lavazza, Christophe Hansen, Dirk Van de, Solidaridad, Julia Christian, Fern, Van de, Ferrero, Snorre, Matthew Scuffham, Catherine Evans Organizations: Cadbury, European Union, Reuters, European Commission, EU, Thomson Locations: EU

☆ Apple reportedly considers raising the price of its new iPhone Pros
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Apple is considering raising the price of its high-end iPhone Pros when new models come out this fall, according to Bloomberg. Since 2019, Apple has sold a high-end iPhone Pro that starts in the U.S. at $999 and a Max model with a bigger screen for at least $1099. Now, Apple's newest high-end models could reportedly receive a price increase that would boost Apple's overall revenue by increasing the average selling price of a new iPhone. The new iPhone models could have a USB-C charger, instead of a proprietary Lightning charger, after new European regulations passed last year. The new Pro models could come with a titanium case and thinner bezels, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Persons: Ming, Chi Kuo, Sidney Ho Organizations: Apple, Bloomberg, Deutsche Bank Locations: Kolkata, U.S

☆ TikTok allows Europe to access research software, with eye on EU online content rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, July 20 (Reuters) - Short-video app TikTok on Thursday opened up its research software to researchers in Europe ahead of new EU rules requiring Big Tech to do more to police online content. "TikTok is proactively rolling-out its Research API ahead of further technical guidance and launching a commercial content library ahead of the DSA compliance deadline," the social media app said in a statement. "All researchers will need to have their own TikTok for Developers account and be located in the United States or Europe to access our Research API." The company released an initial version of its Research API to academic researchers in the United States earlier this year. TikTok on Thursday also allowed researchers access to its commercial content API.

Persons: TikTok, Foo Yun Chee, Alex Richardson Organizations: Big Tech, Digital Services, European Commission, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Europe, United States

☆ TikTok ‘stress test’ shows it’s not ‘fully ready’ for looming EU social media rules, commissioner says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Washington CNN —TikTok has “more work” to do to meet tough new European standards that are coming for social media and content moderation, according to a top EU official who performed a “stress test” of the company this week. “TikTok is dedicating significant resources to compliance,” Breton said, pointing to changes TikTok has made to its recommendation algorithms and its transparency procedures as evidence the company appears to be taking its obligations seriously. TikTok didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the test results. TikTok isn’t the only large tech platform to submit to an EU stress test. Last month, European officials evaluated Twitter’s platform for DSA compliance and also announced plans to stress test Facebook-parent Meta’s services.

Persons: Washington CNN — TikTok, Thierry Breton, Breton, Shou Chew, “, ” Breton, TikTok, didn’t Organizations: Washington CNN, EU, Digital Services, European Commission, DSA Locations: Dublin

☆ EU Commission sticks to US economist pick for senior antitrust job
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, July 14 (Reuters) - The European Commission stuck to its guns on Friday, saying it was not reconsidering EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager's pick of a U.S. economist to a senior job helping to oversee Big Tech despite criticism from French ministers and EU lawmakers. Fiona Scott Morton, 56, the former chief economist at the U.S. Department of Justice during former President Barack Obama's tenure, will take up her three-year stint on Sept. 1 when the current chief economist, Pierre Regibeau, retires. She will be the first non-EU national, first U.S. national and first woman for the job. They cited the strategic importance of the post, potential conflicts of interest due to Scott Morton's previous work with Big Tech, and her previous public antitrust comments. Head of the centre-right group European People's Party Manfred Weber, president of the liberals' group Renew Europe Stephane Sejourne, head of the socialists group Iratxe Garcia Perez and the heads of the green party Philippe Lamberts and Terry Reintke said they opposed the new hire.

Persons: Margrethe Vestager's, Fiona Scott Morton, Barack Obama's, Pierre Regibeau, Vestager, Scott Morton's, Dana Spinant, European People's Party Manfred Weber, Europe Stephane Sejourne, Iratxe Garcia Perez, Philippe Lamberts, Terry Reintke, Scott Morton, Foo Yun Chee, Jan Harvey Organizations: European Commission, Big Tech, U.S . Department of Justice, EU, European People's Party, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, U.S, Europe

☆ EU Parliament backs landmark law to restore Europe's nature
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Caolán Magee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The European Parliament on Wednesday voted in favor of legally binding targets to protect and restore nature in the European Union, despite strong opposition from some policymakers. The flagship EU nature law will also require countries to introduce measures to restore nature on a fifth of their land and sea by 2030. It is the first major piece of legislation to protect biodiversity in the EU in the last 30 years, according to Greenpeace. Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg reacts as she attends a voting session on EU nature restoration law during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Frederick Florin/AFP/Getty ImagesEU lawmakers and member countries will now negotiate the final text, aiming for a deal before EU Parliament elections in 2024.

Persons: what’s, Špela, Manfred Weber –, Manfred Weber, Mykhaylo Palinchak, ”, Ireland’s Frances Fitzgerald, “, ” Fitzgerald, Greta Thunberg, Frederick Florin Organizations: CNN, European Union, Greenpeace, Greenpeace’s, European People’s Party, EPP, EU Parliament’s, Twitter, Socialists, Democrats, Greens, Getty, European Environment Agency Locations: EU, Greenpeace’s Central, Eastern Europe, Europe, Swedish, Strasbourg, AFP

☆ Europe and the U.S. finally agree a landmark data-sharing pact — and it's already under threat
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

CNBC runs through all you need to know about the new EU-U.S. privacy framework, why it matters, and its chances of success. What's the new EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework? Schrems said that revelations from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden about U.S. surveillance meant that American data protection standards couldn't be trusted. Instead, individual U.S. states have come up with their own respective regulations for data privacy, with California leading the charge. The approval of a new data privacy framework means that businesses will now have certainty over how they can process data across borders going forward.

Persons: Pavlo Gonchar, Max Schrems, Schrems, Edward Snowden, Cambridge Analytica, Holger Lutz, Clifford Chance, Meta Organizations: Getty, European Union, CNBC, EU, U.S, European Commission, Protection, European Court of Justice, Facebook, Irish Data Protection, Data, Meta, Google, Cambridge, General Data Locations: America, EU, Europe, U.S, California, Austrian

☆ Amazon, Google, Apple, Meta, Microsoft say they meet EU gatekeeper status
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, July 4 (Reuters) - Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) Google, Amazon (AMZN.O), Apple (AAPL.O), Meta Platforms (META.O) and Microsoft (MSFT.O) have notified the European Commission that they qualify as gatekeepers under new EU tech rules, EU industry chief Thierry Breton said on Tuesday. Samsung and TikTok owner ByteDance also said they meet the EU thresholds, Breton said. "Europe is completely reorganising its digital space to both better protect EU citizens and enhance innovation for EU startups and companies," Breton said in a statement. They will then have six months to comply with the DMA rules. Booking.com (BKNG.O) said it expects to meet the gatekeeper threshold by the end of the year and will then notify the EU executive.

Persons: Thierry Breton, ByteDance, Breton, Foo Yun Chee, Louise Heavens Organizations: Google, Apple, Microsoft, European Commission, Digital Markets, Samsung, EU, Companies, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Europe

☆ U.S. Companies Face EU Deforestation Rules on Coffee, Wood and Other Everyday Goods
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Dieter Holger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

The nonprofit estimates at least 37 big U.S.-based companies, including Starbucks and Kellogg, will be covered by the new rules. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, and forest loss and damage has caused around 10% of global warming, according to nonprofit World Wildlife Fund. The EU rules apply to companies meeting the bloc’s broad definition of an “operator,” which includes a business importing into the EU, exporting from it, or putting products on the bloc’s market. The EU rules are expected to become stricter over time. Sen. Brian Schatz, a Hawaii Democrat who is spearheading the effort, said the U.S. needs to follow the EU in enacting deforestation regulations on trade.

Persons: haven’t, “, Starling, —, Kellogg, ” Frans Timmermans, Guillaume Croisant, Sen, Brian Schatz, ”, Dieter Holger Organizations: European Union, EU, Global, Starbucks, Kellogg, Labs, Airbus, Companies, World Resources Institute, Consumer Goods, New, World Wildlife Fund, Cargill, Bunge, Sustainable Business, Barclays, Hawaii Democrat, dieter.holger Locations: European, Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, New York, Brussels, Linklaters, U.S, Hawaii, Europe

☆ Businesses criticise new EU data rules, consumer group sees missed opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, June 28 (Reuters) - Businesses and Big Tech on Wednesday criticised European Union data rules agreed between EU countries and lawmakers, saying they could hinder data flow and contractual freedom, while a pan-European consumer group said they did little for Europeans. The Data Act, agreed on Tuesday, sets out rights and obligations for how Big Tech and companies use European consumer and corporate data, focusing on that generated in smart devices, machinery and consumer products. Revelations by former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden in 2013 of mass U.S. surveillance have led to EU concerns about data transfers. Tech lobbying group Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) said the new rules disadvantage Big Tech -labelled as large online platforms under separate newly adopted EU tech legislation - and hence limits consumers' choice. The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) lamented the agreement as a missed opportunity to do more for users.

Persons: Edward Snowden, Cecilia Bonefeld, Dahl, CCIA, Ursula Pachl, Foo Yun Chee, Alex Richardson Organizations: Big Tech, European Union, EU, Airbus, Google, Nokia, Qualcomm, Philips, SAP, Siemens, Sony, Tech, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Digital Markets, European Consumer Organisation, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, EU

☆ EU official visits Twitter headquarters to ‘stress test’ its ability to handle content moderation
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

On Thursday, EU Commissioner Thierry Breton and a team of staff descended on Twitter’s headquarters in San Francisco to perform a “stress test” of the company’s ability to moderate online content. Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty ImagesBreton did not say whether he believes Twitter passed its stress test, but described the session as a “constructive dialogue” that Twitter voluntarily agreed to undertake. “Europe is very important to Twitter and we’re focused on our continued partnership.”In a speech Thursday, Breton said Twitter is not the only company that will be receiving a stress test. “Compliance with European rules is not a punishment. Concerns about Twitter’s ability to handle hate speech, misinformation and other challenges have grown since Musk’s purchase of the company last year.

Persons: Thierry Breton, “, ” Breton, Elon Musk, Josh Edelson, Breton, Twitter, ”, Linda Yaccarino, we’re, Sundar Pichai, Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, Jensen Huang Organizations: CNN, European Union, Twitter, Facebook, Digital Services, DSA, Internal, Getty, ”, “, Nvidia Locations: San Francisco, San Francisco , California, AFP, “ Europe, Europe

☆ New EU Sanctions Target Russia Loopholes
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Laurence Norman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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Persons: Dow Jones Locations: russia

☆ UK minister says talks to restore Northern Ireland government moving slowly
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 20 (Reuters) - Britain's Northern Ireland minister said on Tuesday talks to restore the province's devolved government were moving slowly because there was a lack of clarity on the right legislative approach to end the impasse. Northern Ireland's devolved executive collapsed in February last year when the Democratic Unionist Party pulled out in protest at Britain's post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union. They then also rejected a revised deal, the Windsor Framework, reached last February. The British government is in talks with the DUP on restoring the power-sharing system but Northern Ireland minister Chris Heaton-Harris declined to be drawn on the details of how those talks were going. Speaking separately in Dublin, U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy said that while there is real interest from U.S. companies to invest in Northern Ireland, they want to see how that Windsor Framework is implemented.

Persons: Chris Heaton, Harris, Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy, Kennedy, Alistair Smout, Padraic Halpin, Jonathan Oatis, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Northern, Democratic Unionist Party, European Union, DUP, Heaton, Good, Northern Ireland, Windsor, Thomson Locations: Northern Ireland, Northern, Windsor, London . London, United Kingdom, Dublin, U.S, British, Ireland, Stormont, London

☆ Late push for coal subsidies upsets EU deal on energy reforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

EU countries' energy ministers meet in Luxembourg on Monday to agree a joint stance on new EU power market rules, aimed at expanding low-carbon power and avoiding a repeat of last year's energy crisis, when record-high gas prices left consumers with soaring energy bills. Poland - which could prolong its support scheme for coal plants beyond 2025 under the proposal - said last week the idea had majority support. Some EU countries say they need more flexibility in how fast they exit the fuel and support new industries in communities that have long relied on coal sector jobs. The official said they expected ministers to approve the power market reforms - but that it was not clear if the coal carve-out would make it into the final deal. Once EU countries agree their stance, they must negotiate the final power market upgrade with EU Parliament, aiming to pass the law before EU Parliament elections next year.

Persons: Kate Abnett, Giles Elgood Organizations: Union, EU, Reuters, EU Parliament, Thomson Locations: LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg, Sweden, Poland

☆ French digital minister: Twitter actions not reassuring us it will comply with new EU rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | 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 EmailFrench digital minister: Twitter actions not reassuring us it will comply with new EU rulesFrench Digital Minister Jean-Noel Barrot speaks to CNBC's Charlotte Reed at the VivaTech conference in Paris.

Persons: Jean, Noel Barrot, CNBC's Charlotte Reed Organizations: French Digital Locations: Paris

An internal Union Investment document seen by Reuters shows that the firm received just 30 responses to its outreach. Although consumer goods manufacturers are particularly exposed, other sectors that import goods associated with deforestation, including commodities houses and industrials companies, will also face scrutiny. Consumer goods makers are counting on technology such as satellites and artificial intelligence to help eradicate deforestation from their supply chains. Several large consumer goods companies say they are close to meeting their ambitious zero-deforestation goals. "The EU rules make deforestation a financial risk as well as an environmental risk."

Persons: Ueslei Marcelino, Henrik Pontzen, Pontzen, Janus Henderson, Jonathan Toub, haven't, Snorre Gjerde, Christophe Hansen, Magdi Batato, Kit Kat, Nestlé, David Croft, Reckitt's, Arild Skedsmo, Richa Naidu, Kate Abnett, Matt Scuffham, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, EU, Germany's, Investment, Unilever, ESG, Union Investment, Nestle, Pepsico, Danone, L'Oreal, KLP, Aviva, Fidelity International, Reckitt, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Consumer, Thomson Locations: Uruara, Para State, Brazil, NBIM, Nescafe, London, Brussels

"This would be the nail in the coffin for Huawei in Europe," said Paolo Pescatore, an analyst at PP Foresight. China has asked for Huawei to be one of the main points on the agenda, one of the sources familiar with the matter said. Germany's China hawks expressed outrage in March when a Reuters story revealed that German state rail operator Deutsche Bahn was using Huawei gear to digitalise its operations. Berlin in 2021 passed a law setting high hurdles for makers of telecommunications equipment for the "critical components" of 5G networks. It is estimated it would cost billions of euros to rip out and replace Huawei equipment in European countries, potentially burdening telecom companies already sitting on huge debts.

Persons: Paolo Pescatore, Andrew Small, Mikko Huotari, Sweden's, Sarah Marsh, Andreas Rinke, Supantha Mukherjee, Foo Yun Chee, Sergio Goncalves, Mark Potter Organizations: European, Huawei, Deutsche Telekom, Foresight, Deutsche Bahn, Mercator Institute for China Studies, Telecom, Nokia, Sweden's Ericsson, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, STOCKHOLM, Germany, Brussels, Berlin, Beijing, Europe, China, China's, Denmark, Portugal, West, U.S, Stockholm, Lisbon

☆ Silvio Berlusconi’s memorable quotes and quips
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Here are some of his memorable quotes and quips:DEC 2022: Berlusconi tells players of his Monza soccer team he would bring "a bus of whores into the locker room" if they managed to beat a top Serie A rival. FEB 2006: "I am the Jesus Christ of politics," Italian media quoted Berlusconi as telling supporters. Mussolini sent people on holiday in (internal) exile," Berlusconi tells Britain's Spectator magazine, replying "yes" when asked if he thought the World War Two dictator was "benign". You'd be perfect," Berlusconi told German lawmaker Martin Schulz, who was heckling him during his debut at the European Parliament. OCT 2001: Berlusconi causes outcry in the Muslim world when he says the West "should be conscious of the superiority of our civilisation."

Persons: Silvio Berlusconi, Berlusconi, Vladimir Putin, Putin, de Silvio Berlusconi, Remo Casilli, Barack Obama, Christ, Tarja Halonen, Mussolini, Mr Schulz, You'd, Martin Schulz, Josep Pique, Conor Humphries Organizations: Monza, Serie, Food Safety Authority, Britain's Spectator, Rome, Thomson Locations: whores, West, Ukraine, Milan, Abruzzo, Rome, Italie, United States, Finnish, Italy, Spain

☆ The Truth About ‘Puberty Blockers’
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Gerald Posner | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Wonder Land: With athletes pushing back against woke agendas in basketball, swimming and football, the PC project may be running out of steam (02/09/22). Images: AP/AFP/Getty Images Composite: Mark KellyThe fashion for transgenderism has brought with it a new euphemism: “gender-affirming care,” which means surgical and pharmacological interventions designed to make the body look and feel more like that of the opposite sex. Gender-affirming care for children involves the use of “puberty blockers”: one of five powerful synthetic drugs that block the natural production of sex hormones.

Persons: Mark Kelly, transgenderism Organizations: Getty

☆ Australia's Canva expands A.I.-powered design business to Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Melanie Perkins, co-founder & chief executive of Australian graphic design firm Canva, says the business is in a "uniquely strong position" as it expands to Europe. LONDON — Australian graphic design company Canva believes it is in a "uniquely strong position" to withstand industry headwinds as it embarks on a European expansion. The Sydney-based software company opened its new Europe headquarters in London last month as it competes with tech heavyweights Adobe and Microsoft to attract individual and enterprise users to its design suite. Canva, which offers both free and paid tools for designing websites, presentations and social content, had annualized revenues of $1.5 billion in the year to May. Of its 135 million global users, 16% are in Europe.

Persons: Melanie Perkins, Canva, Perkins, We've Organizations: LONDON, Adobe, Microsoft, CNBC, WPP, Unilever, Rolls Royce Locations: Europe, Sydney, London

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