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Lufthansa declined to comment on Rome's decision to offer an initial minority stake. Some of Italy's politicians consider ITA as the heir to cultural icon Alitalia, which they want to preserve. Some also say that ITA does not have to worry so much about losing its national identity should Lufthansa take over. The Certares-led alliance was willing to pay 350 million euros for a 50% stake plus one share of the state-controlled airline, sources had said. ($1 = 0.9412 euros)Reporting by Angelo Amante in Rome and Joanna Plucinska in London; additional reporting by Giuseppe Fonte in Rome.

☆ Orange finance head Fernandez to join transport group CMA CGM
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, Dec 20 (Reuters) - French telecoms group Orange's (ORAN.PA) deputy chief executive and head of finance, Ramon Fernandez, is leaving the company to join shipping and transport company CMA CGM as finance director. Fernandez will Orange at the end of the first quarter of 2023, the company said on Tuesday, adding that a successor will be named soon. French transport group CMA CGM said in a separate statement that Fernandez would start his new role at the start of the second quarter next year. "I would like to thank Ramon for his unfailing commitment to the group," Orange CEO Christel Heydemann said in statement. "We will continue to work together and in confidence over the coming weeks to finalise our next strategic plan."

☆ EU countries make final push for gas price cap deal this year
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Dec 19 (Reuters) - European Union countries' energy ministers meet in Brussels on Monday to attempt to agree a cap on gas prices - their latest idea to tame Europe's energy crisis but one that countries are still split over. With a few countries' positions still unclear, some EU diplomats said both sides may have enough votes to block a deal. Under the latest proposal, once triggered, the EU gas price cap would prevent trades being done on the front-month to front-year TTF contracts at a price more than 35 eur/MWh above a reference level comprised of liquefied natural gas (LNG) price assessments. The EU price cap would not drop below 188 eur/MWh, even if the LNG price fell to far lower levels. The fate of other EU energy policies also hinges on the gas price cap.

Policymakers hope an ambitious deal can spur nature conservation in the same way that an international pact in Paris in 2015 helped mobilize efforts to limit planet-warming carbon emissions. However, the text mentions only that $20 billion to $30 billion per year comes from developed countries by 2030. "Probably we will have to reach an agreement between $30 billion and $100 billion," Colombia's Muhamad told reporters. The draft deal does not mention setting up a separate facility. Lastly, risks from pesticides and highly hazardous chemicals would be reduced by at least half, but the text does not address slashing their overall use.

Opposition politicians said Tunisia's lowest ever turnout stripped away any facade of democratic legitimacy for Saied's political project and called directly for his ouster. Saturday's dismal turnout strongly reinforced a perception of scant public support for his plans. As a political independent, Saied lacks the nationwide support of a party apparatus that can mobilise on his behalf. "Politics has become a luxury that we cannot afford," said Lamia Gharbi, who was queuing for bread at a Tunis bakery. Successive coalition governments have failed to find a fix for public finances that can satisfy lenders without prompting a domestic backlash.

☆ Thales-Hitachi rail signal deal delayed as UK raises competition concerns
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 9 (Reuters) - Britain's competition watchdog is concerned Japan's Hitachi (6501.T) acquisition of France's Thales (TCFP.PA) railway signalling business may result in higher fares for passengers, it said on Friday. As a result, Thales (TCFP.PA) expects the sale to close in the second half of next year, compared to the previous plan to finalise the deal in early 2023. Britain's principal customer for mainline signalling, Network Rail, is putting in place a tendering process for its next major signalling procurement, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said. A deal between Hitachi and Thales could eliminate a credible competitor from the new tendering process, it said. It said both companies were committed to working with all regulatory bodies to ensure the deal closed as quickly as possible.

After signing the deal, military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said civilians should control politics and guide foreign policy. Last year's military coup halted a power-sharing arrangement between the military and the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition, and Sudan has been without a prime minister since the start of the year. The takeover led to more than a year of mass protests against the military, during which security forces killed more than 100 civilians, according to a tally by medics. [1/5] Signatory parties stand and raise signed copies of the agreement between military rulers and civilian powers in Khartoum, Sudan December 5, 2022. International partners, who helped mediate the framework deal, say a credible civilian government is needed before assistance can be restored.

☆ Ethiopia's Tigray forces say they have withdrawn 65% of fighters from frontlines
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NAIROBI, Dec 4 (Reuters) - More than half of Tigrayan forces have withdrawn from the frontlines, the forces' top commander said, a month after a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the two-year conflict in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region. "We have accomplished 65% disengagement of our army," Tadesse Wereda, commander-in-chief of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) said in a video posted on the forces' official Facebook page late on Saturday. War erupted in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region in November 2020, pitting the Tigrayan forces against federal troops and their allies that included fighters from the Amhara region that borders Tigray and Eritrean soldiers. Tadesse said TPLF was still maintaining fighters in some locations "where there is a presence of anti-peace forces". "Our forces are still on the ground in those places due to the problems they (anti-peace forces) are creating for our people.

☆ NZ's Fonterra plans to implement new capital structure by late March
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 25 (Reuters) - New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd (FCG.NZ) said on Friday it would implement its new capital structure, intended to make it easier for new farmers to join the co-operative, in late March next year. The dairy firm's farmer shareholders in December last year gave the go-ahead for the capital restructuring that aims to claw back domestic market share and retain existing farmers by reducing the minimum supply requirement for farmer owners. "We believe late March is the best date for implementation because it avoids our share trading black-out period associated with the Co-op's interim results," Fonterra Chairman Peter McBride said. "It also gives shareholders time to fully digest the detailed information we will be sending through ahead of the implementation date, and to seek advice from their financial advisors." Fonterra will finalise the implementation date at its interim results, currently scheduled for mid March.

☆ The world can harness trade to save the planet
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

But the right trade policies can also do a lot to save the planet. The first step is to have even-handed carbon tariffs. The World Trade Organization is worried that imposing carbon tariffs in an uncoordinated way could damage global trade and is working on a framework to avoid this. Global trade is struggling following the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and tension between China and America. By COP28, they and other countries should drive forward trade policies to save the planet.

☆ Tapped to head new hard-right government, Netanyahu pledges Israeli unity
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Dan Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Ronen ZvulunJERUSALEM, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received an official mandate on Sunday to form a new government and pledged that he would seek national consensus after an election in which Jewish far-rightists surged, drawing concern at home and abroad. Tasking Netanyahu with building the next coalition, President Isaac Herzog noted that Israel's longest-serving premier had received enough recommendations from like-minded parties to secure 64 of parliament's 120 seats. Dismissing what he called "fear-mongering" about the health of Israel's democracy, Netanyahu said the country would continue to be a "beacon" for the region. Herzog noted Netanyahu's trial but said it posed no legal obstacle to him serving as prime minister again. But he looks likely to finalise the talks this week, having launched them semi-formally right after the Nov. 1 election.

"Humanity has a choice: cooperate or perish,” Guterres told delegates gathered in the seaside resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh. And our planet is fast approaching tipping points that will make climate chaos irreversible,” he said. Signatories to the 2015 Paris climate agreement pledged to achieve a long-term goal of keeping global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Guterres said that goal will only stay alive if the world can achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The World Trade Organization, meanwhile, said in a report published on Monday that it should tackle trade barriers for low carbon industries to address the role of global trade in driving climate change.

☆ Ukraine set to finalise IMF agreements after Nov. 11-17 fund mission
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

KYIV, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Ukraine is set to finalise new agreements with the International Monetary Fund after a new IMF mission from Nov. 11-17, Ukrainian central bank governor Andriy Pyshnyi said on Monday. The governor told a briefing Ukraine had already held substantive and constructive talks with the IMF in Vienna on a whole range of issues. Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; writing by Tom Balmforth; editing by Timothy HeritageOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Time to finalise Sweden's and Finland's entry to NATO, Stoltenberg says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

ISTANBUL, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Sweden and Finland have delivered on the demands Turkey has set for their accession to NATO and time has come to welcome them to the alliance, NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday. "It's time to welcome Finland and Sweden as full members of NATO," Stoltenberg said at a news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Istanbul. "In these dangerous times it is even more important to finalise their accession, to prevent any misunderstanding or miscalculation in Moscow." Reporting by Bart Meijer Editing by Peter GraffOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Israel, Lebanon finalise maritime demarcation deal without mutual recognition
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Israeli and Lebanese leaders finalised a U.S-brokered maritime demarcation on Thursday, bringing a measure of accommodation between the enemy states as they eye offshore energy exploration. Leaders from Lebanon, Israel and the United States have all hailed the deal as "historic" but the possibility of a wider diplomatic breakthrough remains slim. Prime Minister Yair Lapid signed separately in Jerusalem, saying the deal was a "tremendous achievement" that had produced Lebanon's de facto recognition of Israel. But Aoun later said the deal was purely "technical" and would have "no political dimensions or impacts that contradict Lebanon's foreign policy". Lower-level delegations from each country headed to the United Nations' peacekeeping base at Naqoura along their contested land border, which has yet to be delineated.

☆ UK PM Rishi Sunak says he's a 'visual representation' of links with India
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Britain's new prime minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday described himself as a "visual representation" of historic links between Britain and India, during a call with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, Sunak's office said. Sunak, Britain's first leader of Indian descent, also conveyed his hope to Modi that the two nations could continue to make further progress towards a trade deal. "The Prime Minister hoped the UK and India could continue to make good progress in negotiations to finalise a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement," Sunak's office added. read moreMeanwhile, Britain missed its stated deadline of Diwali this year to finalise a free trade agreement with India, a pact that aims to double bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar; editing by William JamesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

LONDON/WASHINGTON, Oct 23 (Reuters) - A failure to secure meaningful progress on a debt relief for the world's poorest nations at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meeting in Washington has left policymakers, campaigners and investors frustrated. Two years ago the Group of 20 launched the Common Framework - a mechanism designed to provide a swift and comprehensive debt overhaul to nations buckling under debt burdens after COVID-19 shock that would reach beyond temporary debt payment moratoriums. The Common Framework is a good start, but you need some fixes." China's role as a lender to poorer nations and Beijing's foot-dragging on debt relief drew much ire at the Washington meeting. JPMorgan's Joyce Chang, whose bank held an investor seminar alongside the IMF World Bank gathering, said asset managers had more discussions on repayment challenges and restructurings for emerging markets than at any time since the 1990s.

A clock is seen near the logo of Swiss bank Credit Suisse at the Paradeplatz square in Zurich, Switzerland October 5, 2022. Credit Suisse is also considering spinning off part of its advisory and investment banking business, which could bring in outside investors and be named First Boston, Bloomberg has reported. If such deals do not materialize or fall short of expectations, Credit Suisse will go for a capital increase, said that person. "I am more worried that Credit Suisse will be bought at a bargain price by an American bank," he said. Ray Soudah, Chairman of Swiss mergers and acquisitions specialist Millenium Associates, said disposals risked making Credit Suisse "an even greater target".

☆ Serie A seeking to triple overseas media revenue
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Elvira Pollina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Under a scenario drafted by Serie A Chief Executive Luigi De Siervo, the league sees international broadcasting revenue potentially growing to some 1.1 billion euros in the 2024-2027 cycle, to reach about 1.9 billion euros in the 2027-2030 period. Projections for the league's domestic rights point to a potential target of 3.2 billion euros over the 2024-2027 period from some 2.9 billion euros Serie A pocketed thanks to existing TV deals expiring in 2024. Serie A's domestic TV revenues could increase slightly to hit 3.4 billion euros in the 2027-2030 period. The estimates for Serie A's media business are included in a document presented to the 20 clubs as the league prepares to kick-off its upcoming round of broadcasting tenders next year. Such a move could allow the entrance of private equity firms interested in investing in the development of the league's media business, a route which Spain's La Liga and France's Ligue 1 have already taken.

☆ Syrah Resources to explore graphite supply to LG Energy Solution, shares soar
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 20 (Reuters) - Australia's Syrah Resources Ltd (SYR.AX) said on Thursday it will evaluate supplying a key lithium-ion battery component to South Korea's LG Energy Solution Ltd (373220.KS), sending its shares to a more than four-year high. Graphite anodes' popularity has soared as companies race to secure supplies of battery materials used in electric vehicles amid a global push towards cleaner transportation and fuel. The company added that it was developing the facility as a natural graphite AAM supply alternative for U.S. battery supply chains, with production targeted to start in the September 2023 quarter. Shares of Syrah jumped as much as 17.6% to A$2.21, their highest level since October 2018. Last month, the South Korean battery maker inked cobalt and lithium supply deals with three Canadian miners.

☆ Egypt nears staff-level agreement with IMF on terms of its programme
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters building is seen in Washington, U.S., April 8, 2019. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File PhotoOct 16 (Reuters) - Egypt has finalised a staff-level agreement with the international monetary fund (IMF) on the components of its programme, and will issue an announcement "very soon," the country's finance minister said on Sunday. In its own parallel statement on Saturday, the IMF said it had agreed with Egyptian authorities to finalise work to reach a staff-level agreement "very soon." The policies discussed, according to the IMF statement, included monetary and exchange rate policies that "would enable Egypt to gradually and sustainably rebuild foreign reserves," public debt reduction, social safety net expansion, and increasing competitiveness in the economy. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Moataz Mohamed; writing by Nafisa Eltahir; Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ E-bus deal puts Oslo on track for zero-emissions public transport goal
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Victoria Klesty | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The transport push entails replacing its diesel-fuelled buses with 450 electric ones, under a 500 million crown ($47 million) programme that Sirin Stav, Vice-Mayor responsible for environment and transport, said will save the city money over the long term. "The maintenance is cheaper, it's also cheaper for the operators of the electric buses," she said. Ingvild Roerholt, an adviser on transport questions at ZERO, a Norwegian environmental group, said the bus rollout marked an important step forward for the city. "However, it is important that Oslo going forward makes sure there is transparency in how much emissions are associated with the production of these ferries and vehicles," she added. ($1 = 10.7344 Norwegian crowns)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Victoria Klesty, editing by Gwladys Fouche and John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Exclusive: NHS drafts stricter oversight of trans youth care
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Jennifer Rigby | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The guidelines are part of a wide-ranging review of treatment for young transgender people seeking NHS care. It was briefly uploaded to the NHS England website at the end of September, with plans for a 45-day public comment period, but later removed. "No-one should be purchasing illegal, unknown and potentially life-threatening drugs online," said NHS England medical director Dr Stephen Powis in a statement earlier this week. The drugs used in the UK are prescribed "off-label," which means they are not licensed for gender care. A lack of long-term scientific evidence around how to help transgender youth has contributed to a highly politicised fight in many countries.

☆ Some EU countries want billion-euro chip plan to also fund current chips
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Some EU countries want the bloc's billion-euro chip plan to fund the production of current cutting edge chips and not just first-of-its kind chips proposed by the European Commission, according to an EU document seen by Reuters. Unveiled this year, the Commission's European Chips Act aims to reinforce the European Union's chip industry and reduce its dependence on U.S. and Asian supply, triggered by the global shortage and supply chain bottlenecks. The EU executive however said the 45-billion-euro ($43.7 billion) plan allows state funding only for European "first-of-a-kind" production facilities. The proposal needs to be thrashed out with EU countries and lawmakers before it can become law. EU ambassadors may agree on a common position in early December, allowing them to kick off negotiations with EU lawmakers to finalise legislation.

☆ TIM's board set to meet Friday over request to extend network deal deadline-sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MILAN, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Telecom Italia's (TIM) (TLIT.MI) directors are expected to meet on Friday over a request from state lender CDP and its partners to extend a deadline to finalise a deal over the Italian phone group's network, two sources close to the matter said. CDP, infrastructure fund Macquarie and Open Fiber have asked for more time to clinch a deal to buy TIM's network assets, pushing back an initial deadline for a binding deal set at the end of this month. The multi-billion bid is part of a long-held plan to combine TIM's fixed network assets with those of CDP-owned rival Open Fiber to create a single national network operator under CDP's control. Telecom Italia declined to comment. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Elvira Pollina; editing by Valentina ZaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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