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A UBS logo is seen next to Credit Suisse at the Bahnhofstrasse before a news conference of Swiss bank UBS in Zurich Switzerland, August 30, 2023. The court, which also upheld the guilty verdict against the bank, said a new trial would need to take place at the Paris appeals court to determine a new fine, if any. UBS's shares, which were already up on the day, spiked as much as 3% more after news broke that the 1.8 billion-euro fine was struck down. The decision by the Cour de Cassation, France's highest judicial court, means the guilty verdict on UBS is final. France's top court reviewed whether the Paris appeals court ruling had complied with the law, not the facts that underpinned its decision.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, UBS's, " Keefe, Woods, Tassilo Hummel, Mathieu Rosemain, Stefania Spezzati, Silvia Aloisi, Mark Potter Organizations: UBS, Credit Suisse, Swiss, REUTERS, of, Cassation, Thomson Locations: Zurich Switzerland, Paris, PARIS, Cour, Swiss, France, United States, Mozambique

☆ Alstom to cut 1,500 staff, sell assets
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A logo of Alstom is seen at the Alstom's plant in Semeac near Tarbes, France, February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 15 (Reuters) - Alstom (ALSO.PA) on Wednesday said it would cut jobs, sell assets and was considering a capital increase in a bid to boost its balance sheet and alleviate investor concerns over high debt. The maker of France's iconic TGV trains said it aimed to cut about 1,500 staff to help meet its confirmed mid-term targets. Alstom plans to cut its net debt by 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) by March 2025. As of Sept. 30, it had a net debt of 3.43 billion euros.

Persons: Regis, Henri Poupart, Lafarge, Philippe Petitcolin, Safran, Olivier Sorgho, Milla Nissi, Silvia Aloisi Organizations: Alstom, REUTERS, Traders, Thomson Locations: Semeac, Tarbes, France, Gdansk

☆ France's supreme court annuls penalties against UBS in tax evasion case - ruling
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A UBS logo is seen next to Credit Suisse at the Bahnhofstrasse before a news conference of Swiss bank UBS in Zurich Switzerland, August 30, 2023. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Nov 15 (Reuters) - France's supreme court on Wednesday annulled penalties of 1.8 billion euros ($1.96 billion) imposed on Swiss bank UBS (UBSG.S) in 2021 in a major tax fraud case. The case will now go back to a lower court for a new decision on the penalties, the court said in its ruling. The court partially accepted an appeal by UBS against a decision taken by a lower court in 2021, which had imposed the penalties of 1.8 billion against the bank for allegedly helping wealthy clients in France evade taxes. ($1 = 0.9207 euros)Reporting by Tassilo Hummel, editing by Silvia AloisiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Tassilo Hummel, Silvia Aloisi Organizations: UBS, Credit Suisse, Swiss, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Zurich Switzerland, Swiss, France

☆ Renault seeks to charge up investors for EV unit IPO
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Gilles Guillaume | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

De Meo has targeted a valuation of 8-10 billion euros ($8.6-10.7 billion) for the initial public offering (IPO) of Ampere, which has already been delayed once and is now slated for spring 2024. Two of the sources said Renault was unlikely to go ahead with the IPO if the valuation falls below 7 billion euros, and one said the cut-off point could be closer to 6 billion euros. UBS analysts have valued Ampere at just 3-4 billion euros, and others have questioned the rationale of listing the EV business to raise funds. On Wednesday, De Meo will argue his case for what could be the first attempt by a traditional automaker to unlock value from an EV business via an IPO. Over the first nine months of 2023, Renault brand EV sales fell by around 5% in Europe, having been up 2.5% in the first half, weighed down by a limited line-up.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, Ampere, Luca de Meo's, De Meo, Renault, BEV, de Meo, Elon Musk's Tesla, Zoe, Silvia Aloisi, Mark Potter Organizations: Renault, Viva Technology, Porte de, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, UBS, ICE, Jefferies, Nissan, Elon, EV, Thomson Locations: Porte, Paris, France, Europe

☆ Renault to launch new Slovenia-made electric city car - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Gilles Guillaume | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A logo of Renault is seen on a car during the French carmaker Renault's 2022 annual results presentation in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris, Feburary 16, 2023. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Renault (RENA.PA) will reveal the launch of an additional "affordable" city electric car during this week's capital markets day for its new EV unit Ampere, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Ampere targets 600,000 produced electric vehicles in 2026 and one million in 2031. The company sold just under 50,000 electric Megane and Kangoo vehicles, its current models, last year. It flagged the arrival of electrified Scenic and R5 models for 2024, followed by the R4, in 2025.

Persons: Christian Hartmann, Ampere, Gilles Guillaume, Tassilo Hummel, Silvia Aloisi Organizations: Renault, REUTERS, Rights, Ampere, Reuters, Nissan, Thomson Locations: Boulogne, Billancourt, Paris, French, Mesto, Slovenia

☆ This US couple sold their house and moved to Italy for good
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Silvia Marchetti | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The pandemic’s enforced period of no travel led an American couple to rethink their life and retire to sunny southern Italy. “We decided to sell our home, our car and all superfluous possessions and make Italy our retirement home for good. The couple looked at different southern Italian regions offering a 7% flat tax for new immigrant retirees, before picking Puglia. The unexpected rising temperatures in southern Italy are too much even for Louisiana natives. “There is a great amount of work that goes into the legal preparations in Italy if you want to actually live there,” says Glenda Tuminello.

Persons: we’ll, Stanley Tucci, Seventysomethings Glenda, Randy Tuminello, Covid, ” Glenda Tuminello, “, –, ”, Glenda Tuminello Randy Tuminello, it’s, Glenda Tuminello, they’ve, Michal Ludwiczak, they’re Organizations: CNN, intel, CNN Travel, “, Louisiana Locations: American, Italy, Spokane , Washington, Polignano, Puglia, Adriatic, Cefalù, Louisiana, Italian, Mare

☆ France's Macron urges Israel to stop bombing Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Christophe Ena/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Israel must stop bombing Gaza and killing civilians, French President Emmanuel Macron told the BBC in an interview published late on Friday. Macron said there was "no justification" for the bombing and saying a ceasefire would benefit Israel. He said that France "clearly condemns" the "terrorist" actions of Hamas, but that while recognising Israel's right to protect itself, "we do urge them to stop this bombing" in Gaza. When asked if he wanted other leaders - including in the United Sates and Britain - to join his calls for a ceasefire, Macron said: "I hope they will." So we do urge Israel to stop," he said.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Christophe Ena, Macron, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Silvia Aloisi, Rami Ayyub, Alistair Bell, Diane Craft Organizations: Rights, BBC, United, Thomson Locations: Cairo, Egypt, Israel, Gaza, France, Britain, Paris , New York, Paris

[1/2] The branch of Credit Agricole bank is seen in Warsaw, Poland, July 3, 2018. Its net income jumped 33% to 1.75 billion euros ($1.87 billion), above the 1.37 billion expected by analysts in a company-compiled poll. Group revenue rose 19% to 6.34 billion euros, topping the 5.99 billion expected by analysts. It reported lower-than-expected provisions of 429 million euros, helping its bottom line. Credit Agricole controls Europe's largest fund manager Amundi (AMUN.PA) and recently announced plans to acquire Belgian wealth management firm Degroof Petercam.

Persons: Marcin Goclowski, Morgan, Amundi, Degroof, Mathieu Rosemain, Augustin Turpin, Silvia Aloisi, Jason Neely Organizations: Credit Agricole, REUTERS, Credit, Credit Agricole Group, Societe Generale, BNP, Deutsche Bank, Barclays, Thomson Locations: Credit, Warsaw, Poland, PARIS, Italy, France

PARIS (AP) — Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators demanding a halt to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza marched in Paris, Berlin and other European cities on Saturday. The Palestinian death toll in the Israel-Hamas war has reached 9,448, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza. In Israel, more than 1,400 people have been killed, most of them in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that started the war. Several thousand protesters also marched through the west German city of Duesseldorf. In its Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel, Hamas employed paragliders to get some fighters across the border between Gaza and southern Israel.

Persons: “ Israel, “, Emmanuel Macron, “ Macron, ”, Stéphane Drai, paragliders, Matteo Salvini, Yara, John Leicester, Stephen McGrath, Brian Melley, Frances D’Emilio, Silvia Stellacci, Kirsten Grieshaber Organizations: PARIS, Ministry, ”, BFM, Police, London, Metropolitan Police, Prosecutors, Hamas, Palestinian, Gaza University, Associated Press Locations: Gaza, Paris, Berlin, Europe, Israel, France, London, Palestine, ” Paris, République, French, Lyon, German, Duesseldorf, Bucharest, ”, Milan, Rome, Italy, Le Pecq, Romania

NII at the French retail division fell by 27% in the quarter, excluding two regulated savings accounts, "well below expectations," JP Morgan said in a note to clients. The French lender said it now saw NII of its French retail, private banking and insurance division falling by more than 20% in 2023. The French retail division's earnings also suffered from hedging contracts against the risks of low interest rates. SocGen's shares had edged up 0.6% by 0924 GMT. The bank has also finalised the merger of its two French retail networks.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, JP Morgan, SocGen, Slawomir Krupa, Jefferies, Krupa, ALD, Mathieu Rosemain, Silvia Aloisi, Ingrid Melander, Emelia Organizations: Societe Generale, La Defense, REUTERS, European Central Bank, BNP, Deutsche Bank, Barclays, Thomson Locations: La, Paris, France

☆ The surprising thing that helps you cope with change
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Opinion Maggie Jackson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The arousal sparked by uncertainty puts us right where we should be in times of flux, at the raw edge of change. “It means we’re in tune with the environment.”In other words, it pays to lean into uncertainty in times of change. It pays to lean into uncertainty in times of change. Maggie JacksonPeople whose stress levels were most attuned to the game’s fluctuating levels of uncertainty made the most accurate predictions. It may seem surprising that people who can cope with and are even drawn to disquieting not-knowing take such delight in life.

Persons: Maggie Jackson’s, Maggie Jackson Karen Smul, Nicholas Bloom, Maggie Jackson, ”, Joseph Kable, Robb Rutledge, Rutledge, Todd Kashdan, Paul Silvia, Stephanie Gorka of, disquieting, Nicholas Carleton, Stephen Bird, Stephen Organizations: Prometheus Books, CNN, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, George Mason University, “, University of North, Stephanie Gorka of Ohio State University, University of Regina, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Rhode Island, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, Canada

☆ Europe is at an impasse over fiscal reform — and Italy's bond market may have the most to lose
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The 27 member states of the EU have been at odds over new debt rules for several months. "Higher perceived risk of a return to old, stringent fiscal rules forcing a faster deficit reduction would worsen medium-term growth expectations for the EU, weighing on the euro. The old rulesEuropean member states have had to comply with fiscal rules that require they respect a 60% debt-to-GDP threshold and a public deficit of 3%. In 2020, the fiscal rulebook was frozen so member states could deviate from their fiscal targets and spend on pandemic-related matters, such as protecting jobs. And with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the fiscal rules were kept on hold because governments were faced with new energy costs and inflationary pressures.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Antonio Masiello, Davide Oneglia, Oneglia, Goldman Sachs Organizations: Italian, Getty, European Union, Lombard, Goldman, European Commission Locations: Italy, Ukraine

One of them said that the cut off point could be closer to 6 billion euros ($6.33 billion). Some analysts had already questioned Renault's hoped-for valuation of up to 10 billion euros, with some suggesting the carmaker should pursue alternative options to raise cash. De Meo said in September that the listing could value Ampere at between 8 and 10 billion euros, above the French carmaker's own current market capitalisation of 9.55 billion euros. Other EV makers have seen their market value fall sharply in recent months. The Ampere IPO would include a mix of Renault's shares and new shares and could happen as early as April 2024, one of the people said, depending on market conditions.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, Ampere, France's, Tesla, Renault's, Luca de Meo, China's Geely, IPOs, De Meo, Bernstein, de Meo, Elon Musk's Tesla, Mathieu Rosemain, Silvia Aloisi, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Gilles Guillaume, Anousha Sakoui, Alexander Smith Organizations: Renault, Viva Technology, Porte de, REUTERS, Reuters, DKV Mobility, HK, Saudi Arabia's Aramco, Nissan, IPOs Renault, EV, Commission, UBS, Barclays, Ampere, Mitsubishi, Thomson Locations: Porte, Paris, France, LONDON, China, Saudi, Europe, Ampere, Elon

☆ Michelangelo's 'secret room' in Florence to open for visitors
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Artist Michelangelo's sculpture known as Vatican Pieta is displayed at Opera del Duomo Museum next to its other versions in Florence, Italy, February 23, 2022. Michelangelo's "secret room" is located inside the Museum of the Medici Chapels and contains charcoal sketches of human figures which have been attributed to the artist, who is said to have taken refuge there in 1530. Dal Poggetto believed the artist had taken refuge in the room after falling foul of Pope Clement VII. Small guided groups of four people will be able to visit the room from Nov. 15 for a maximum of 15 minutes. The room is accessed via a cramped and narrow stairway and the number of weekly visitors will be capped at 100 people.

Persons: Jennifer Lorenzini, Michelangelo, Paolo Dal Poggetto, Dal Poggetto, Pope Clement VII . Small, Silvia Ognibene, Keith Weir, Alvise Armellini, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: del Duomo Museum, REUTERS, Rights, Museum, Thomson Locations: Florence, Italy, Rights FLORENCE, Medici

Third-quarter net profit was 1.031 billion euros ($1.06 billion), above an analyst consensus of quarterly net profit attributable to shareholders of 997 million euros, according to LSEG data. The bank's third-quarter net profit was down 8% on the previous year and up 35% on the quarter, amid ongoing struggles in the lender's investment unit. It also said it had scope to release up to an additional 3 billion euros in capital and would increase and accelerate shareholder distributions. The provision for credit losses was 200 million euros, compared to 350 million in the same quarter of last year. Analysts at UBS said Deutsche Bank had delivered a "major improvement in capital" and "robust operational performance," flagging that pre-tax profit of 1.723 billion euros was 9% above consensus.

Persons: James von Moltke, CNBC's Silvia Amaro, von Moltke Organizations: Deutsche Bank, UBS Locations: London

☆ French payment company Worldline slump nearly 40% as it cuts targets
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 25 (Reuters) - Shares in Worldline (WLN.PA) slumped nearly 40% on Wednesday after the French payment company cut its full-year targets as the economic slowdown hurt its business in key markets including Germany. The group also said it had cut ties with some of its merchants to reduce risks "in light of an increase in cybercrime." The group now sees organic sales growth in 2023 of between 6% and 7%, compared with 8% to 10% previously. It also forecast a 150 basis point drop in its operating margin before depreciation and amortization for 2023, compared with a previous forecast of a 100 bps increase. "Worldline missed sales estimates in every division...These results are a disappointment in terms of the full-year miss and also that long-term targets have been discarded," JPMorgan analysts said.

Persons: Worldline, Lina Golovnya, Silvia Aloisi Organizations: JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: Germany

☆ Kering sales down 9% as luxury slowdown stalls revamp
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Mimosa Spencer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of French luxury group Kering is seen at Kering headquarters in Paris, France, February 13, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 23 (Reuters) - French luxury group Kering(PRTP.PA) reported a bigger-than-expected drop in third quarter sales, underperforming major rivals as its top brand Gucci and other fashion labels all suffered from a slowing appetite for high-end clothes and accessories. LVMH (LVMH.PA), the world's biggest luxury group and one of Europe's biggest companies by market value, this month also reported a slowdown in third-quarter sales -- although it still clocked an increase in revenues with sales at its fashion and leather goods division up 9%. And Birkin bag-maker Hermes on Tuesday reported a rise in sales of 15.6%. Kering has undertaken a sweeping overhaul aimed at reviving Gucci, which has struggled to capitalise on the strong post-pandemic rebound in luxury goods sales and lost ground to rivals like LVMH's Dior and Louis Vuitton.

Persons: Sarah Meyssonnier, Yves, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, Jean, Marc Duplaix, Kering, Birkin, Hermes, LVMH's Dior, Louis Vuitton, Mimosa Spencer, Silvia Aloisi Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Gucci, Yves Saint, Bottega, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Bottega, Milan

☆ Argentina's Peronists soar in election to seal run-off with radical Milei
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Javier Milei, presidential candidate of the Liberty Advances coalition, speaks at his campaign headquarters after polls closed for general elections in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Oct. 22, 2023. Argentina's ruling Peronist coalition smashed expectations to lead the country's general election on Sunday, setting the stage for a polarized run-off vote next month between Economy Minister Sergio Massa and far-right libertarian radical Javier Milei. "We have never had so much polarization," said 72-year-old pensioner Silvia Monto as she voted in Buenos Aires on Sunday. "He is the only one who understands the situation in the country and understands how to save it," said Buenos Aires student Nicolas Mercado, 22. Silvana Dezilio, 37, a housewife in Buenos Aires province, said it was hard to see a positive outcome whoever won.

Persons: Javier Milei, Argentina's, Sergio Massa, Massa, Patricia Bullrich, Milei, Carlos Gutierrez, Bullrich, Silvia Monto, Nicolas Mercado, Silvana Dezilio Organizations: Liberty Advances, Peronist, International Monetary Fund Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, Milei, China, Brazil

☆ Why the world needs Morocco's desert rock
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Chakib Jenane from the World Bank said: "Fertilizers are responsible for about 50% of our global production of food." CNBC visited a mine in Ben Guerir, Morocco owned by OCP – the largest producer of phosphates in the world. Ilias El Fali, the chief operating officer at OCP, said that the African continent holds the key to global food security. The average the yields in Africa are a quarter of the global average. Watch the video to learn more about phosphates and their significance to the food on our tables, and the energy transition.

Persons: Jenane, Ilias El Fali Organizations: World Bank, CNBC, OCP – Locations: Ben Guerir, Morocco, Africa

☆ Technip Energies shares plunge after Le Monde report on Russian gas project
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Oct 19 (Reuters) - Technip Energies (TE.PA) shares plummeted on Thursday after French newspaper Le Monde said the oil and gas company may have failed to comply with European Union sanctions against Russia by continuing to supply equipment to a Russian gas project. Technip Energies said in a statement after its shares fell as much as 22% that it had always respected international sanctions and its contractual obligations regarding the Arctic LNG2 project in Russia. "Technip Energies has worked with the relevant authorities and has complied with sanctions gradually imposed by the European Union, the United States and Britain," it said. The equipment delivered by Technip involved two modules for the construction of a liquefaction train worth around 450 million euros, Le Monde said, citing Russian customs records, maritime data and satellite images. "$800 million of market cap came off, it's a very harsh response, and suggests the news scared investors out there," said the analyst, who spoke on condition of anonymity, referring to the Le Monde story.

Persons: Le Monde, Monde, Technip, China's CNPC, Piotr Lipinski, Nathan Vifflin, Benjamin Mallet, Silvia Aloisi, David Evans Organizations: Union, Russia, European Union, Le, Japan, Mitsui & Co, Thomson Locations: Russian, Russia, United States, Britain, Paris, EU, Ukraine, Gdansk

☆ Renault sales up 7.6% thanks to higher prices but forex weighs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Gilles Guillaume | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A logo of Renault is seen on a car during the French carmaker Renault's 2022 annual results presentation in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris, Feburary 16, 2023. Revenues came in at 10.51 billion euros ($11.07 billion), a touch above an analyst consensus forecast of 10.46 billion euros distributed by the company. Like other European carmakers it is facing strong competition in the EV market from Tesla (TSLA.O) and cheaper Chinese models. Renault confirmed its targets for 2023, adding it now expected a group operating margin closer to 8% for the year from a previous 7-8% forecast. ($1 = 0.9497 euros)Reporting by Gilles Guillaume, editing by Silvia AloisiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Christian Hartmann, carmaker, Ampere, Gilles Guillaume, Silvia Aloisi Organizations: Renault, REUTERS, Companies Renault SA, Tesla, carmaker Renault, Turkish, Thomson Locations: Boulogne, Billancourt, Paris, Turkey, Argentina

☆ Top economists unanimous on 'higher for longer' rates as inflation threats linger
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Pedestrians walk past a billboard announcing the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund annual meetings, on the side of the International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington DC on October 5, 2023. Mandel Ngan | Afp | Getty ImagesTop economists and central bankers appear to be in agreement on one thing: interest rates will stay higher for longer, clouding the outlook for global markets. Despite the pause, Fed officials have signaled that rates may have to remain higher for longer than markets had initially expected if inflation is to sustainably return to the central bank's 2% target. The European Central Bank last month issued a 10th consecutive interest rate hike to take its main deposit facility to a record 4% despite signs of a weakening euro zone economy. "We may have more shocks that may drive inflation up, and that's why of course we have to remain very cautious about inflation developments."

Persons: Mandel Ngan, Ajay Banga, Greg Guyett, Guyett, Boris Vujčić, Vujčić, Mārtiņš Kazāks, CNBC's Joumanna Bercetche, Silvia Amaro, Austrian National Bank Governor Robert Holzmann Organizations: World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund, Washington DC, Afp, Getty, U.S . Federal Reserve, World Bank, IMF, Bank, Labor Department, U.S ., HSBC, CNBC, European Central Bank, Council, Croatian National Bank, U.S, Bank of Latvia, ECB, Governing Council, Austrian National Bank Governor Locations: Washington, Central, U.S, Marrakech, Morocco, ECB's, Europe, Marrakech ., Israel

☆ Italy's Ponza island and its cave homes are drawing Americans to live in them
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Silvia Marchetti | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Attilio Avellino – one of his nine children, and born on Ponza – joined his father in the Big Apple in 1946. But now, after decades in the US, their descendants are back on the island – living inside their old casa grotta (cave home), which they’ve renovated to a modern standard. Homes sculpted from the rockBrigida Avellino and Loredana Romano have swapped the US for their ancestral 'cave home' on Ponza. Loredana RomanoBrigida Avellino, 70 – Attilio’s daughter – lives with her daughter Loredana Romano, 44, in one of Ponza’s most beautiful cave homes. Ponza, on the other hand, is a small island which makes Romano feel safer.

Persons: we’ll, Stanley Tucci, CNN —, they’ve, Luigi Avellino, Ponza, Attilio Avellino –, Ponza –, Loredana Romano, Loredana Romano Brigida, –, ” Romano, Attilio Avellino, Loredana Romano Avellino, I’ve, ”, Avellino, “, Romano, Silverio, Loredana, she’s, She’s, wasn’t, Romano –, Brigida Avellino, there’s, we’re Organizations: CNN, intel, Big Apple, Avellino, Loredana Romano Brigida Avellino, CNN Travel, Ponza, Apple, Alamy Locations: Rome, Ponza, Naples, New York, Loredana, Avellino, York City, Le Forna, Florida, Ponza’s, Italian

☆ Two Swedes shot dead in Brussels, Belgium raises terror alert to top level
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The suspected assailant fled the scene after the shooting as a football match between Belgium and Sweden was about to start, triggering a massive manhunt and prompting Belgium to raise its terror alert to the highest level. The federal prosecutor said the third victim, who was wounded but not in life-threatening condition, was a taxi driver. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo confirmed on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that the victims were Swedish. "I have just offered my sincere condolences to the Swedish PM following tonight’s harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels," de Croo said on X. France is tightening controls at the border with Belgium after the deadly attack in Brussels, Belgian media said.

Persons: Abdesalem Al Guilani, Alexander de Croo, de Croo, Gunnar Strommer, Ulf Kristersson, King, Yves Herman Acquire, King Baudouin, Emmanuel Macron, Allahu Akbar, Al Guilani, hamdoulelah, Salam Aleykoum, Philip Blenkinsop, Marine Strauss, Anna Ringstrom, Terje Solsvik, Richard Lough, John Cotton, Jan Strupczewski, Silvia Aloisi, Hugh Lawson, Matthew Lewis Organizations: State, Palestinian, European Commission, Belgian, PM, Sweden's, Reuters, Government, Swedish, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Brussels, Belgium, Sweden, Belgian, Israel, jihadists, Swedish, France, Islamic State

☆ Two Swedes shot dead in Brussels; Belgium raises terror alert to top level
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The likely motive for the attack was the Swedish nationality of the victims, the prosecutor said. The suspected assailant, calling himself Abdesalem Al Guilani, claimed in a video on social media that he was a fighter for Allah. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo confirmed on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the victims were Swedish. "I have just offered my sincere condolences to the Swedish PM following tonight’s harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels," de Croo said on X. France is tightening controls at the border with Belgium after the deadly attack in Brussels, Belgian media said.

Persons: Abdesalem Al Guilani, Alexander de Croo, de Croo, Gunnar Strommer, King, Yves Herman Acquire, Ulf Kristersson, Emmanuel Macron, Allahu Akbar, Al Guilani, hamdoulelah, Salam Aleykoum, Philip Blenkinsop, Marine Strauss, Anna Ringstrom, Terje Solsvik, Richard Lough, John Cotton, Gabriela Baczynska, Stephanie Lecocq, Tassilo Hummel, Benoit van Overstraeten, Tommy Lund, Jan Strupczewski, Silvia Aloisi, Hugh Lawson, Matthew Lewis, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Islamic State, Palestinian, European Commission, Belgian, Twitter, PM, Sweden's, Reuters, Swedish, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Brussels, Belgium, Sweden, Belgian, Israel, Swedish, France, Islamic State

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