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Stellantis CEO asks EU to support the car sector
In order to protect the automotive industry, the new CEO of Stellantis, a carmaker in Greece, has called on the European Union (EU) to be flexible when it comes to the transition to electric cars. "A strategic dialog is important, but it's now vital to act urgently." Antonio Filosa became CEO of Stellantis in June. On September 12, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will host executives from the automotive industry to discuss the future. The sector is under threat due to the Chinese competition with electric vehicles, and U.S. Tariffs. Filosa is the head of Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Peugeot brands. Chrysler, Jeep and Opel are also part of the group. Filosa has called on the European Commission (EC) to encourage the sale of hybrid cars to reduce the average age of the vehicles on the roads. In a joint interview, he told Italy's Il Sole 24 Ore as well as France's Les Echos that a European policy encouraging the replacement of older vehicles with new ones and a wider range of powertrains could have a greater effect on global CO2 emission than an annual new car market. Filosa stated that the Light Commercial Vehicles sector is facing an urgent situation and suggested that the CO2 emission period for this category should be increased to five years, from three. As he reviewed the brand portfolio, he also tried to dispel speculation that Stellantis might seek a buyer of Maserati. He said: "I would like to be clear that Maserati was not for sale. We need to know which products we should develop and what long-term strategies to adopt for our iconic brand."
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Daniel Craig reprises his role as Benoit Blanc, the detective in "Wake Up Dead Man: a Knives Out Mystery"
In "Wake Up Dead Man, A Knives Out Mystery", the third installment of the franchise, Daniel Craig's charismatic and sharply dressed Benoit Blanc is back to solve yet another murder case. It's dark, big and fun. The latest installment of the Whodunit genre from writer-director Rian Johnston takes place in a small town church in Upstate New York, with a more grounded tone. Johnson said on the red carpet before the Toronto International Film Festival premiere that they were trying to "do something different every time". "The first was a cozy mystery. The second was a broad, kind of vacation comedy mystery. "This one has a darker tone and is more gothic, but it's still fun," said he. Craig couldn't be more in agreement. "It is a departure. It's an entirely different movie. "But it's still Benoit blanc mystery", the former James Bond actor said. The ensemble cast includes Josh O'Connor (left), Glenn Close (right), Josh Brolin (center), Mila Kunis (right), Jeremy Renner and Kerry Washington. Also included are Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church, and Andrew Scott. O'Connor was awash with praise for Johnson who he called his "idol". He said that Johnson was a "genius writer and director". The young British actor who played Prince Charles on the TV show "The Crown" received the most applause for his performance of a young priest following the premiere. Spaeny said that she was grateful to have the chance to play a cellist and enjoyed every moment on the set. The American actress, who learned the cello in preparation for her part, stars in her first comedy. She said, "It felt like we weren't being paid for this work." Craig also praised the cast for their "bubbly" nature. He said, "We have been extremely lucky in the entire series. We nailed it once again." The film will be released in limited theaters on November 26, before being streamed on Netflix starting December 12. (Reporting from Bhargav Asharya in Toronto, Editing by Caroline Stauffer & William Mallard
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China's central banks buys gold for the 10th consecutive month in August
China's central banks added gold to their reserves in August, continuing purchases for a 10th consecutive month, according to official data released on Sunday. Gold, traditionally viewed as a safe asset in times of uncertainty, is up 35% on the year. It reached a record-high last week amid strong demand for investments and purchases from central banks, including those in China. China's gold reserves increased to 74.02 millions fine troy-ounces by the end August from 73.96 at the end July. According to the data released by the Central Bank, they were valued at 253.84 billion dollars, an increase from $243.99 at the end the previous month. The People's Bank of China, which is the head of research for online marketplace BullionVault, said that while China's gold purchasing has slowed down in 2025, it has increased its bullion reserve at prices ever higher. Beijing's continued accumulation of gold is a signal that it has faith in the metal as a reserve for long-term. This also boosts the confidence of China's investors and private households in gold. The demand for gold was low in the world's biggest producer and consumer this week due to the high price. Dealers offered discounts above the global benchmark, to lure buyers. (Reporting from Amy Lv and Polina Devitt in London for the Beijing Newsroom. Editing by Clarence Fernandez.)
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After a four-day search, a Canadian soldier is found dead in Latvia
The Canadian military announced on Saturday that a member of the Canadian Armed Forces who was reported missing earlier this week in Latvia has been found deceased. The body of Warrant Officer George Hohl was discovered on Friday, after he disappeared on Tuesday, in the Baltic country where Canada has troops stationed as part a multinational brigade. Hohl worked as a Vehicle Technologist for the 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, based in Edmonton (Alberta). He was serving with the Aviation Battalion of NATO's Multinational Brigade - Latvia when he disappeared near the Adazi base. The Canadian Forces Military Police is assisting Latvian authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding Hohl’s death. Officials have stated that "there are no indications this incident poses a greater threat to the safety and security of our deployed members." Jennie Carignan, Chief of Defence Staff and General Jennie Carignan, said that the loss was devastating to the entire Canadian Armed Forces. She added that Hohl will be remembered for his dedication. The warrant officer has served in multiple deployments, including disaster relief operations at home and tours with Operation REASSURANCE (Canada's contribution to NATO’s enhanced forward presence established after Russia's 2014 annexation Crimea). Operation REASSURANCE is a rotation of approximately 2,200 Canadians in the Baltic State. According to a statement from the Canadian military, an investigation is underway into Hohl’s death. (Reporting and editing by Nick Zieminski in Washington)
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Ukraine drones hit training centre at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Russian management says
The Russian-installed management of the Russia-held nuclear plant in Ukraine announced on Saturday that Ukrainian drones had hit the roof at the Zaporizhzhia training centre. There was no damage to the building and there was no radiation increase. In a Telegram message, the administration stated that the strike took place about 300 meters (984 feet) away from a nuclear reactor. The statement stated that "This centre is unique - it houses the only full scale simulator of a nuclear reactor hall in the world, which is crucial for staff training." Although the station is Europe's largest nuclear power plant, with six reactors and no power, it still needs power to keep nuclear fuel cool. Administration officials said that the attack did not disrupt the operation of the plant. The administration stated that "operational safety limits have not been violated, and radiation levels are normal." Ukraine has not yet responded. We could not independently confirm the Russian report. In the early weeks of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian forces captured the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Both sides accuse the other of triggering a nuclear disaster by firing weapons or other actions. Reporting by Lidia Kelley in Melbourne
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Sources say that OPEC+ is likely to agree on a further increase in oil production on Sunday.
OPEC+ sources stated on Saturday that eight OPEC+ nations will likely increase oil production on Sunday, but they may add less oil in October than recent months due to the slowdown of global demand with the end driving season. OPEC+ reversed its April strategy of production cuts and has already increased quotas to about 2,4 million barrels a day (about 2.4% of the world's demand) to increase market share. This is in response to pressure from U.S. president Donald Trump, who wants to lower oil prices. These increases, however, have not had a significant impact on oil prices. They are currently trading at $66 per barrel, supported by Western sanctions against Russia and Iran. This encourages rivals like the United States to increase production. OPEC+ would start to unravel a second layer, averaging about 1.65 millions bpd. This would be more than a full year ahead of schedule. Two sources told me on Saturday that the focus of talks is to gradually unwind this entire cut, in monthly increments. On Sunday, 1230 GMT eight OPEC+ member countries will hold a virtual meeting. The focus of the discussion is likely to be October's output. An OPEC+ official said that the countries could increase their output by 135,000 bpd in October. Another said it might be closer to 200,000-350,000 bpd. The eight members increased production for September by 547,000 bpd at their last August meeting, giving a total of 2.5 million bpd increase for the entire year. This included an additional 300,000 bpd production allocation for the UAE. OPEC's headquarters and Saudi Arabian authorities did not respond to Wednesday's requests for comments. OPEC+ is the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries plus Russia, and other allies. Brent crude futures closed at $65.50 a bar on Friday, down by 2.2%. This was due to a disappointing U.S. employment report and the expectation of a production increase from OPEC+. It is still up since a low in 2025 of around $58 per barrel in April. Analysts have stated that sanctions and the fact that OPEC+ has not met its pledged amount have supported prices. OPEC+ has been reducing production to support the oil price for several years. The group has committed to a further 2 million bpd in cuts until 2026. (Reporting and editing by Alexandra Hudson, Olesya Almakhova, Alex Lawler Ahmad Ghaddar, Dmitry Zhdannikov)
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Gunmen kill Chinese security officials and Chinese workers in Nigeria
A spokesperson for the Nigerian security agency confirmed that gunmen kidnapped Chinese exatriate workers and killed eight officials in the southern state of Edo. The Chinese workers were rescued later, the spokesperson added. On Friday, a group suspected of being armed kidnappers attacked a convoy consisting of paramilitary Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps members and Chinese nationals who worked for BUA Cement. Afolabi Babawale, spokesperson for the NSCDC, said that four Chinese workers kidnapped by terrorists were rescued. However, one is still missing. He added that eight operatives of the agency had been killed and four others were injured seriously. Nigeria has seen a rise in gunman attacks, mainly in the north, but kidnapping groups are known to target civilians in the south.
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Edison CEO: Italy's Edison is ready to list in the event EDF goes ahead with its plan
Edison is willing to return to the Milan Stock Exchange if its parent company EDF in France decides so, said the CEO of the Italian Energy Group on Saturday. State-owned EDF, under the leadership of its new CEO Bernard Fontana has begun reviewing its assets in order to raise money to meet government requirements to stimulate investments in new reactors. Edison CEO Nicola Monti said to reporters at the annual TEHA forum: "At EDF they have a brand new management, and are reviewing their options... if that review also includes Italy, then we are prepared." Monti stated that the group already has the corporate structure in place to allow its shares to be traded publicly. EDF, for example, kept Edison's savings share listed on the Milan Stock Exchange when it took full control in 2012. The CEO confirmed that any listing of ordinary shares will also be held in Milan. He added that he was certain EDF would consider such a move, even though no advisors have yet been hired. Monti stated that Edison would need to hire its advisor if EDF decided to move forward with the project. Edison reported revenues last year of 15,4 billion euros ($18.3 billion) and core profits of 1.7 billion euro. ($1 = 0.8542 euro) (Reporting and editing by Francesca Landini)
Trump's DEI cuts require Davos elite to discover new words for variety
President Donald Trump's escalating pressure on the economic sector to ditch diversity programs has left some in Davos looking for new words to describe workplace practices they state are necessary to their organizations.
Trump has actually provided a series of executive orders cutting federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, which attempt to promote opportunities for ladies, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals and other typically underrepresented groups.
He has actually also sought to dissuade personal business that receive government contracts from factoring underrepresentation into employing choices.
Trump's proceed DEI have actually resounded through the corridors of the World Economic Online forum's yearly conference in Davos, where gender parity, varied workforces and much better representation of minorities worldwide continue to be crucial objectives.
While tech companies Meta and Amazon, which hold U.S. government agreements, say they are scaling back some initiatives, other executives at Davos informed Reuters they will remain, if by another name.
There's a great deal of talk and a great deal of maybe even debate around the names of things, stated Miguel Stilwell d'Andrade, CEO of Portugal's biggest utility company EDP,, which has 40% of its financial investments focused on renewable energy in the U.S.
The important thing is we want to have the very best skill in the business, from wherever it may be, men, ladies, different ethnic cultures, and we want to ensure that people ... have the best working conditions and feel comfortable, he stated.
We're not working for DEI tick package, Stilwell included.
Other policymakers and executives said the acronym DEI had become damaging, even as they doubled down on their dedication to diversity.
It became harmful, as has ESG, and there are some wrong reasons for that and there are some right factors for that, Luftey Siddiqi, Special Envoy of the Head of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, stated on a panel about gender parity.
However I'm more thinking about what works, how do we get to the result as opposed to the label, Siddiqi included.
DEI efforts were introduced by lots of business and governments worldwide to deal with historic injustices in the labor force. While some gains have actually been made in recent years, gender parity has not been reached in any country.
Advocates alert that continued rollbacks may threaten recent advances.
TECH AGREEMENTS
Reuters spoke to a minimum of 3 tech executives whose business have contracts with the U.S. federal government. They said they remained dedicated to diversity programs in the workplace.
Although the danger of losing contracts due to the fact that of Trump's. executive orders would force them to look for new methods to. explain DEI initiatives, they would not cut them totally.
One European tech company executive, who spoke on condition. of privacy, told Reuters that it would not be rowing back on. its commitment to addition and diversity.
For several years we have actually worked to shape a more sustainable,. fair world. It's rooted in our business culture, the individual. stated.
The world varies and worker base reflects that. variety. It is among the keys to fantastic development and is great. for company.
Not all in Davos share that belief.
Alexandr Wang, CEO of prominent start-up Scale AI,. cheered Trump's executive orders in a post on X and required. the promo of MEI (merit, excellence and intelligence) in. tech.
Nikki Haley, previous U.S. ambassador to the United Nations,. likewise invited what she said was a retreat from DEI.
In every organization, you are beginning to see drawing back. from DEI and I welcome that, I think it's actually essential,. Haley informed a panel on the sidelines of the WEF conference.
What we're seeing in America, everybody simply wants to be. Americans. They don't want to be a label. They do not seem like. they can take it any longer, Haley added.
One European industrial company with a large U.S. footprint. said it would continue with its variety and addition programs. because they was necessary to the business in addition to society.
We will adhere to our values of tolerance and regard;. inclusion is very important, a board member told Reuters, including:. Business need to persevere of the agenda in terms of. worths and policies, and that's what we're doing.
You desire varied viewpoints in the room and you desire every. viewpoint to have a similar weight. You want to move away from. group believe, particularly when the speed of modification is so rapid.
CASH FLOWS
Investment in variety is also not likely to dry up because. of Trump's relocations, said lenders at Davos.
For the investors of this world, ESG criteria-- of which. DEI belongs-- are very essential and will continue to be very. crucial, stated Bain & & Business's Alexander Schmitz, who heads. up the company's Personal Equity practice in EMEA.
When I take a look at it from a higher level, the overarching,. mega styles of ESG investing are still there: I haven't seen. much rolling back of that yet. If you are a private equity. fund and start rolling back DEI techniques, then-- to name a few. effects-- you will likely have an issue in fundraising and. that's not where you want to be.
Bank of America President Brian Moynihan explained. variety as having commercial logic.
There's going to be a great deal of good, courageous discussions. going on, Moynihan stated. Do we have the thoughtful balance. right in companies and institutions ... Do we have the balance. right that everybody feels included?.
(source: Reuters)