Sarko urges web cooperation May 24, 2011 NICOLAS Sarkozy urged internet leaders gathered in Paris for the e-G8 talks to work with governments and share fairly the benefits of a revolution he compared to the discoveries of Columbus, Galileo and Newton. Opening a forum at which Google’s Eric Schmidt and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg will be among the speakers, Sarkozy heaped praise on [...]
Lagarde tipped as frontrunner for IMF top job May 22, 2011 FRENCH economics minister Christine Lagarde is the frontrunner to take over the post of managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Chancellor George Osborne said over the weekend he will formally nominate her for the position, which became vacant after Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned so he could fight sexual assault charges. Osborne said Lagarde was [...]
Sarkozy could be controversial figure at the e-G8 event in Paris May 22, 2011 THE internet world’s titans will alight in Paris next week for a two-day forum hosted by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. While the event is aimed at promoting the European digital economy, it could also see fierce debate over the perceived draconian laws in the EU. The US, with its flourishing internet hub in Silicon Valley, [...]
Sarkozy could learn from Internet billionaires May 22, 2011 NICOLAS Sarkozy has invited the great and good of the digital industry to pop round to Paris for a few days this week to chew the fat before the G8 summit. And I’m going along for the ride. You think Sarko would be busy, what with all those red carpets to shampoo in Deauville and [...]
IMF boss charged with sex assault May 15, 2011 ■ Bailout meeting with Angela Merkel is cancelled ■ Greek officials worry arrest could postpone rescue ■ Deputy managing director John Lipsky takes reins at IMF THERE were fears last night that crunch Eurozone bailout talks could be derailed following the arrest of the IMF chief on sex charges. Dominique Strauss-Kahn was hauled off a [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING April 27, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES GLENCORE POISED FOR TAX BILL SURGE Glencore is facing a big increase in its tax bill following its $60bn initial public offering after paying almost no corporate taxes on its trading business for years in spite of bumper profits, according to the banks underwriting its $60bn listing. The pre-IPO research, by banks including [...]
SHOCK DEBT RISE FUELS EURO FEARS April 26, 2011 As Mario Draghi emerges as ECB president frontrunner… BANK of Italy governor Mario Draghi looks set to take the helm of the European Central Bank after Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday voiced French support for his appointment. The news of Draghi’s (pictured) likely appointment as a successor to Jean-Claude Trichet, who steps down in October, comes at [...]
Parmalat jumps after Lactalis takeover bid April 26, 2011 SHARES in Italian dairy group Parmalat jumped more than 16 per cent yesterday, after French rival Lactalis launched a €3.4bn (£3.02bn) takeover bid for the company. Lactalis plans to pay €2.6 per Parmalat share to create the world’s biggest dairy group, with estimated combined annual revenues of €14bn. The French company’s purchase of 29 per [...]
Euro is close to suffering the knockout blow as trouble rises April 19, 2011 THE euro is facing so many existential threats that markets don’t know where to look: anti-bailout elections have rocked Finland; umbrage is growing across Germany; austerity tightening is squeezing Portugal; Greece is on the precipice; banks are junked in Ireland; and jitters grow in Spain. POPULISM IN FINLAND In Sunday’s Finnish elections, the True Finns [...]
LEADERS UNITE ON GADDAFI April 14, 2011 BARACK Obama (top left) has aligned himself with Nicolas Sarkozy (centre) and David Cameron by committing to support military action in Libya until dictator Gaddafi is gone. The leaders write that the world will be guilty of an “unconscionable betrayal” if the Libyan leader is left in place, putting the fate of citizens who have [...]