Author: Philibert Dupont

The Nikolaev public publish footage of the accumulation of police cars and ambulances at the site of the explosion. Earlier, an air alert was announced in a number of regions of Ukraine. Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak on a social network called on the citizens of the country not to ignore it.Interestingly, Vitaliy Kim, a protege of the Kyiv regime in Nikolaev, who is called the head of the “Nikolaev Regional Military Administration,” wrote on his Telegram channel about a Russian missile approaching Ukraine from the east. He then reported that “the target is missing.” Later…

Netflix series Transatlantic tells the story of Varian Fry, who helped more than 2,000 Jews flee the Nazis. When Julie Orringer wrote The Flight Portfolio in 2019, it never occurred to her that one day it would become a Netflix show. But Transatlantic, a seven-part series that begins streaming on April 7, is based on her book. “It’s wonderful and surreal to see my work being adapted for a Netflix series,” says Orringer, who was partly raised in Ann Arbor and graduated from Huron High School. “I’m delighted the way it turned out.” Transatlantic — like The Flight Portfolio (published by Alfred A. Knopf) — is the compelling…

Kazakhstan rose from 88th to 79th place out of 121 countries in the 2023 Global Soft Power Index by Brand Finance, the world’s leading independent brand valuation and strategy consultancy, according to the company’s report The ranking was announced on March 2 at Brand Finance’s Global Soft Power Summit in London, where delegates discussed the role of soft power in international politics and business. “This annual report into Soft Power covers the ability to influence others through attraction or persuasion rather than coercion. It encompasses a wide range of tools, including business and trade, governance, international relations, culture and heritage, media and…

Large countries in Europe may be moving away from the diktat issued by the European Securities and Market Authority (ESMA), the region’s most powerful financial market regulator, on the issue of regulating India’s financial market clearing corporations. On February 17, Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin and France’s Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) softened their stance by extending the deadline to October 2024 for their country’s banks acting as custodians in forcing a transition of their positions in Indian financial markets. ESMA had imposed a stricter deadline of April 2023. The whole issue started in October 2013 when ESMA de-recognised…

French stocks are the breakout stars of 2023, fueled by the relentless momentum behind luxury-goods producers LVMH, Kering and Hermes International. The benchmark CAC 40 Index is up 14% this year, outpacing other major markets and putting it on the cusp of eclipsing the record closing high set in January 2022. The trio of luxury companies, plus cosmetics maker L’Oreal SA, account for more than a third of the gain. Investors are betting their sales and earnings will hold up now that a key market, China, is open for business again. For now, the rally is confounding skeptics who expected…

Bulgarian prosecutors have charged six people with human trafficking after 18 Afghans were found dead inside a truck dumped on a dirt road near the capital Sofia on Friday. Prosecutors said the truck was abandoned near the village of Lokorsko after the driver and his companion found that many of the 52 migrants in the truck were dizzy and some had already died. The migrants were in hidden compartments of the truck which were isolated with foil. The truck driver and his companion were also charged over the deaths, prosecutors said. Despite strong and prolonged banging on the cabin, the driver refused to stop…

The Ligue 1 leaders gave away a two-goal advantage and were trailing with four minutes left before Mbappe and Messi turned things around to transform a fiasco in the making into a 4-3 win against Lille on Sunday. As PSG looked headed for yet another setback, Mbappe snatched a late equaliser at the Parc des Princes. Messi then slotted home the winner deep in added time from a free kick, with a lethal left-footed shot into the bottom right corner. “I will simply say that it’s a great relief,” PSG coach Christophe Galtier said. PSG kept a five-point lead over…

France’s two main ski lift unions have moved to reassure visitors about possible disruption next month. The Foreign Office today (25 January) issued a warning of potential difficulties following widespread protests in France aimed at reversing plans to raise the pension age. “Several unions have called for cross-sector strike action and demonstrations on Tuesday 31 January,” said the FCDO. “This may lead to disruption to services.” However, two unions, the CGT and Force Ouvriere, which represent resort workers, have said they do not wish to further damage France’s winter sports industry, which has had a bad start due to a…

France’s decision to send the AMX-10RC to Ukraine sparked pronouncements that the West is finally delivering tanks to Ukraine. The “tank” vs. “armored vehicle” debate is a long and often contentious one, but AMX-10RCs are armored reconnaissance vehicles and not tanks, which usually have large-caliber main guns, heavy-duty armor, and tracks. While the symbolism of delivering it to Kyiv is important, it remains to be seen how useful a thinly protected, 1970s-vintage armored vehicle will be on the battlefield in Ukraine. That France and Ukraine have described the AMX-10RC as a “light tank” is significant. Despite Ukraine’s pleas, the US…

Dozens of trade union members and disgruntled employees protested Thursday (Dec 22) at the ultra-luxury La Samaritaine shopping store in the heart of Paris, causing managers to shut its doors. Owned by the French LVMH luxury giant, La Samaritaine re-opened in June last year after a 750 million euros (US$800 million) facelift and renovation carried out over 16 years. “La Samaritaine is a symbolic place representing wealth. A lot of employees here cannot allow themselves to buy what they sell,” Amar Lagha, from the hard-left CGT union, told AFP. Around 200-300 protesters were involved, including union members and employees, the…