Hanging up my Reuters hat, a strange feeling after many years of news agency adventures. Excited to be starting a new job at the
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in Paris today, covering energy, cars, finance and other French stories in the run-up to election year.
Renault’s statement was sparse but significant - after weeks of silence the group signalled it could walk away from its stake in Lada maker AvtoVaz, Russia’s biggest carmaker. Very few options to make that happen outside of a Russian takeover
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It’s wildly popular and full of fun attractions. But France’s Puy du Fou theme park, founded by Philippe de Villiers, also has a strong subtext to it and some unnerving moments. I went to its grandiose Cinescenie show to find out more
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TotalEnergies’ Patrick Pouyanné is pushing on with some of the world’s most controversial oil and gas projects while investing more in clean energy than his rivals. How long can this juggling act last? A deep dive with
@thomas_m_wilson
A compulsive vaper, the daughter of a resistance fighter, and an engineer who worked her way through an astonishing variety of high profile jobs - Our profile of France's new prime minister is on the new FT Edit app today
Zemmour, in London, has drawn a 400-strong mix of expat sympathizers, a smattering of curious students and a few protestors to an Ibis conference centre - and makes light of the fact his original Mayfair venue was cancelled: “It’s more republican”
In other news, all hail Sally Gabori, the Australian artist who first picked up a paint brush in her 80s and gave us these stirring riffs on nature - at the Fondation Cartier
Lockdown 2.0 in Paris and a barge goes by on the Seine. Inside, a full-on jazz band, people in black tie and sparkly tops milling about, joyful salsa dancing. Caught between outrage and pang of envy - until it becomes clear it’s a film set, for a make-believe scene of real life.
France is going to town on nuclear power and trying to carve out a place for the technology in discussions that will shape European energy policies for decades to come. Its push is ruffling feathers along the way / via
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For all the merits of nuclear power - and with France poised to announce new reactors - one dilemma that doesn’t always get huge play: how to handle the most lethal waste. A tiny part of the residue, a mind-boggling problem. With
@AnnaSophieGross
The political and commercial risks are mounting for Renault in Russia as it stays put. But with 40,000 workers and one factory in particular that a whole province relies on for jobs, leaving is fraught with problems too.
Once upon a time in the not-so-distant past, we wrote about the upending of Spanish politics and traditional parties by new leaders like Pablo Iglesias on the left, and Albert Rivera at Ciudadanos. Both are now gone.
EXCL: Boris Johnson and wife Carrie are planning big wedding bash at Chequers within weeks - with sources saying it's part of reason he wants to stay as caretaker.
Spain, the healthiest country in the world. Moves up five places and overtakes Italy. The country life expectancy is already the highest in the EU. ¡Viva aceite de oliva (virgen) y gazpacho!
Highly recommended reading to nurse your brain fog. From the doctoral candidate "who asked that her full name not be used because she did not want her employers to hear how her workdays are going" to the HR manager now drinking from a mug that says “Apathy Is the Best Whatever.”
Boom - Shipping group CMA CGM looks like it’s only getting started with an ambitious acquisition drive, this time with a stake in Air France-KLM no less
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Under a beating Marseille sun, Macron appeals to a “city of youth” in his bid to rally voters. One of today’s aims is to try and persuade disappointed left wing supporters he has heard them on issues like the environment
Wow. The scenario the Républicains do not appear to have contemplated - such a poor election showing that they have a funding nightmare. Pecresse now calling for donations
All for one and one for all - Valérie Pecresse’s rallying cry as she hails the other “musketeers” of Les Républicains’ primary race. Big show of unity in Paris as France’s centre-right looks to stamp out any internal doubts or divisions.