France, US, OECD 'closer' to tax agreement on tech mega-companies: Mnuchin
Washington is inching toward an agreement with Paris and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development on taxing global tech giants, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Wednesday.
Posted: by France 24
French government may go for Plan B in pension reform
The French government is reportedly considering an alternative to its proposed pension reform in a bid to avert protests and strikes. President Emmanuel Macron has already watered down a planned overhaul of the country’s generous state pension scheme, but has continued to face stiff opposition from unions. Plus, hundreds of tubes of Pringles crisps have been confiscated in Italy for violating the EU’s denomination of controlled origin rules. Authorities likened the brand’s “Prosecco & Pink Peppercorn” flavour to identity theft.
Posted: by France 24
French nuclear plant gets green light but watchdog says severe risks remain
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a press release on Monday that safety in the 3600 megawatt Bugey plant, one of France’s biggest “sees significant progress,” but local critics say the plant is too old to be safe.
Posted: by RFI
Hong Kong faces first recession in decades after months of protests
As Hong Kong faces its first recession since the 2008 financial crisis, the city’s embattled leader Carrie Lam says she will focus on housing and land issues as she prepares for a key annual policy address before the Legislative Council. Months of protests have hit Hong Kong’s economy hard, particularly in the tourism and retail sectors. Plus, Facebook put on a brave face as it officially launched its digital currency project Libra in Geneva. The meeting came amid an exodus of partners who have abandoned the scheme over regulatory concerns.
Posted: by France 24
IMF downgrades global growth outlook to lowest level since financial crisis
The world economy is set to grow at its slowest pace this year since the 2008 financial crisis – that’s according to the International Monetary Fund. The IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook predicts global growth of just 3 percent, down 0.2 percent from the previous forecast in July. The IMF also expects Iran’s economy to shrink by almost 10 percent because of US sanctions. Plus, Google announces a host of new products, including a Pixel 4 smartphone equipped with motion detection and facial recognition features.
Posted: by France 24
Mara opens South Africa smartphone factory to serve tech-crazy Africa, and beyond
Mara Group’s CEO Ashish Thakkar has invited South African president Cyril Ramaphosa to cut the ribbon at the company’s smartphone factory in Durban this Thursday, ten days after he flanked Rwanda’s Paul Kagame at the opening of Mara’s first manufacturing plant in Kigali.
Posted: by RFI
Nobel Prize in Economics awarded to three researchers for their work on poverty
Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer have jointly won this year’s Nobel Prize in Economics for their work on fighting global poverty. French-born Duflo is only the second woman to win the prize that has been dominated by American men over the past 50 years. Plus, Facebook is under pressure amid an exodus of partners as its digital currency project, Libra, holds its first board meeting.
Posted: by France 24
US tariffs on French wine, Airbus and Scottish whisky come into force
The United States imposed tariffs on a record 7.5-billion dollars worth of European Union goods on Friday, despite threats of retaliation, with Airbus, French wine and Scottish whiskies among the high-profile targets.
Posted: by RFI