France’s highest court on Wednesday ordered a re-trial of Papa Massata Diack, the son of the disgraced former head of global athletics Lamine Diack.Diack, whose father headed the IAAF — now called World Athletics — from 1999 to 2015, was one of six men convicted in France in 2020 for hushing up 23 Russian doping …
Son of ex-global athletics chief Diack to face new trialWed, 06 Nov 2024 15:13:24 GMT Read More »
Senegal’s former president Macky Sall has accused the new administration of seven months of “catastrophic” inaction, in a letter published Wednesday, less than two weeks before elections.Sall’s candidate to take over from him after 12 years in power lost to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye in the first round of a March presidential ballot.Faye appointed Ousmane …
Protéger les “toutes petites retraites” (moins de 1.200 euros mensuels) du gel de six mois des pensions prévu dans le budget 2025 coûterait 500 millions d’euros, soit un impact “pas extrêmement élevé”, a estimé mercredi le directeur général de la Cnav, Renaud Villard.Parmi les mesures prévues pour réduire le déficit public en 2025, le gouvernement a décidé de décaler de six mois la revalorisation des pensions de retraite, indexée sur l’inflation, qui intervient habituellement au 1er janvier.Devant la fronde des parlementaires comme des syndicats, l’exécutif s’est finalement dit prêt à “protéger” les “petites retraites”. “Ce sera au débat parlementaire de fixer le seuil, par exemple de 1.200 euros (…) en dessous duquel les retraités pourraient avoir une compensation de ce décalage”, avait commenté, le ministre du budget Laurent Saint-Martin, fin octobre dans Le Parisien.Comme prévu initialement, le décalage de six mois doit permettre d’économiser environ “4 milliards d’euros, tous régimes” de retraite compris, dont “2,4 milliards pour le régime général”, a rappelé mardi le directeur général de la Caisse nationale d’Assurance vieillesse (Cnav), Renaud Villard. Il était auditionné par la Commission des Affaires sociales, dans le cadre de l’examen au parlement du projet de loi de financement de la Sécurité sociale (PLFSS).Si le législateur décide d’épargner les “toutes petites retraites”, “la perte (serait) de l’ordre de 10 à 15%” de ce montant, donc “pas extrêmement élevée”, a-t-il poursuivi.L’impact “dépend du seuil” qui sera choisi pour déterminer ce qu’est une “petite retraite”: tous régimes de base inclus, cela coûterait 300 millions d’euros pour protéger les retraites inférieures ou égales à 1.050 euros, ou 500 millions d’euros pour les retraites de moins de 1.200 euros, selon les estimations de la Cnav.Toutefois, revaloriser uniquement ces “petites pensions” au 1er janvier n’est pas possible techniquement, car la mesure demande des calculs complexes, et le coup de pouce ne pourra être effectué que “rétroactivement”, a précisé M. Villard.Si ce choix est fait, les retraités à faibles pensions bénéficieront donc, au 1er juillet d’un “rappel”, c’est-à -dire un rattrapage de la somme que l’Assurance retraite n’a “pas été en capacité technique” de verser pendant six mois, a-t-il dit.
The dollar surged, stocks rallied and bitcoin struck a record high Wednesday as the world gears up for a Donald Trump presidency that analysts say could rekindle inflation.The Republican candidate made a stunning political comeback as he defeated Vice President Kamala Harris to return to the White House, four years after losing it to Joe Biden.Well before several US media declared Trump the winner, Wall Street stock futures soared hours ahead of the market’s opening bell as the former president confidently claimed a “magnificent” victory.Europe’s main equity indices jumped in morning deals, while Asia diverged, with Chinese stocks hit by expectations that Trump would impose tariffs on Chinese imports.Market focus was also on plans to stimulate China’s economy, the world’s second biggest after the United States.”Trump trade is in full swing,” noted Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank.A Trump win is expected to result in sweeping US tax cuts, seen as inflationary and therefore leading to fewer interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in the coming months.That boosted the dollar against main rivals, with the greenback up more than 1.5 percent against the euro.The Fed announces its latest rate decision on Thursday.”With the Federal Reserve expected to announce a likely 25 basis-point cut tomorrow, we are already seeing expectations reined in for the December meeting given the perception that Trump’s policies are inherently inflationary,” forecast Joshua Mahony, analyst at traders Scope Markets.US Treasury yields also won support Wednesday.”Investors are bracing for tariffs and a clampdown on (US) immigration, policies considered to be inflationary which are likely to mean interest rates may be more elevated in the years to come,” said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown.                   . She added that “expectations are high that a Trump presidency will mean fewer regulations on big tech and big finance”.Shares in Tesla soared more than 15 percent in pre-market US trading after Trump praised the electric car maker’s boss Elon Musk, a key campaign backer, as a “star” during his victory speech.- Bitcoin record -Bitcoin sprung $6,000 higher to a record $75,371.67, topping its previous peak of nearly $74,000 in March.Trump has pledged to make the United States the “bitcoin and cryptocurrency capital of the world” and to put tech billionaire Musk in charge of a wide-ranging audit of governmental waste.Elsewhere, oil prices slid “amid expectations that under Trump more crude will flow from US wells”, Streeter added. “Another Trump presidency is likely to place emphasis on energy independence and his policies are likely to favour fossil fuels, promoting deregulation in the oil, gas, and coal industries,” she said. – Key figures around 1030 GMT -Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0751 from $1.0930 on TuesdayPound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2894 from $1.3035Dollar/yen: UP at 154.00 yen from 151.60 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.40 from 83.82 penceLondon – FTSE 100: UP 1.4 percent at 8,289.58 pointsParis – CAC 40: UP 1.7 percent at 7,531.34Frankfurt – DAX: UP 1.1 percent at 19,464.15Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 2.6 percent at 39,480.67 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 2.2 percent at 20,538.38 (close)Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 3,383.81 (close)New York – Dow: UP 1.0 percent at 42,221.88 (close)West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.7 percent at $70.79 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.7 percent at $74.26 per barrelburs-bcp/lth
Mozambique’s capital was tense Wednesday ahead of a “freedom” march called by the opposition leader following weeks of protests against election results that have left at least 18 people dead.Shops and banks in Maputo closed early and the streets were emptier than usual, while police and military vehicles were stationed at various points, AFP reporters …
Mozambique tense ahead of opposition ‘freedom’ marchWed, 06 Nov 2024 11:01:49 GMT Read More »
Le Rassemblement national a salué sobrement mercredi le choix “clair” de la “démocratie américaine” tandis que le reste de la classe politique – à l’exception de LFI –  a appelé à un sursaut européen en réponse au retour de Donald Trump au pouvoir. “La démocratie américaine s’est clairement exprimée et les Américains se sont donné en toute liberté le président qu’ils ont choisi”, a réagi sur X Marine Le Pen. La triple candidate à la présidentielle qui, contrairement à 2016 et 2020, n’avait pas fait ouvertement campagne pour Donald Trump, s’est contentée d’adresser ses “voeux de succès” au futur président américain. De son côté, Jordan Bardella a adressé ses “félicitations à Donald Trump” tout en appelant “à repenser notre rapport à la puissance et à l’autonomie stratégique”. “Puisque Donald Trump nous invite à nous défendre par nous-mêmes, prenons-le au mot”, écrit-il.Plus enthousiaste, leur allié Eric Ciotti, qui était un des rares partisans au Parlement de Donald Trump, a salué sur X “une magnifique victoire du peuple américain contre un système”, y voyant “un chemin pour les droites en France comme en Europe”.Tout comme le fondateur de Reconquête! Eric Zemmour se réjouissant que les Américains aient fait “le choix de la civilisation contre le wokisme, la décroissance et la déconstruction de leur identité”.Dans le reste de la classe politique, qui ne soutenait pas Donald Trump, c’est la nécessité d’une Europe plus forte et plus autonome face aux Etats-Unis qui domine.”Nous devons nous préparer à nous armer économiquement et militairement pour relever les défis qui attendent désormais une Europe qui ne pourra plus s’en remettre automatiquement aux États-Unis”, a réagi ainsi la LR Valérie Pécresse.Dans la lignée des réactions gouvernementales, les macronistes, à l’image du vice-président de l’Assemblée Roland Lescure, ont estimé que l’Europe avait “un devoir de rassemblement et de réveil collectif”.Même appel à l’UE chez les socialistes.”Le moment n’est pas aux larmes. Il est à la réaction. Il n’est pas aux leçons de morale mais à l’affirmation d’un projet pour la France et l’Union européenne. L’Union européenne n’est pas le 51e Etat américain”, a commenté le Premier secrétaire du PS Olivier Faure.L’élection de Trump “est l’un de ces moments de bascule qui façonnent l’histoire”, a réagi l’eurodéputé socialiste Raphaël Glucksmann pour qui “nous sommes désormais, en Europe, seuls face à notre destin”.Une analyse réfutée par LFI selon qui la défaite de Kamala Harris s’explique avant tout par un projet pas assez à gauche.  “On ne bat pas l’extrême droite réactionnaire sans un projet alternatif clair. On ne mobilise pas le peuple sur une ligne néolibérale et sans ruptures sociales et géopolitiques”, a estimé Manuel Bompard, appelant à méditer ces leçons pour éviter de nouvelles gueules de bois électorales.Difficile cependant à gauche d’évacuer la désillusion générale.”Nos démocraties sont minées par les fakes news, la violence, les injures, la remise en cause permanente de l’État de droit. Donald Trump y prend toute sa part. Cette nouvelle élection restera tristement gravée dans nos mémoires”, a déploré la maire socialiste de Paris Anne Hidalgo.Résumant la consternation générale à gauche, la patronne des écologistes Marine Tondelier a souhaité “courage aux Américaines et aux Américains” et “courage à nous toutes et tous” face “à cet enfer qui se profile”.
The dollar surged and bitcoin hit a record high Wednesday before Donald Trump claimed victory in the US election, with traders ramping up bets on fresh tax cuts, tariffs, and rising inflation.While polls had shown the race on a knife edge, the Republican fared far better than his Democratic opponent Vice President Kamala Harris as results rolled in.Both candidates picked up expected wins in safe states, but indications that the business tycoon was on course for a second term boosted the so-called Trump Trade.While victory is not yet official, Trump claimed it in a speech in Florida, saying: “We are going to help our country heal… We have a country that needs help and it needs help very badly.”News that the former president’s party had won control of the Senate boosted the prospect of sweeping tax cuts, more tariffs, and deregulation — seen as a boost for the greenback.The dollar jumped 1.5 percent to 154.38 yen, its highest since July, while it was also up more than one percent against the euro and more than three percent against the Mexican peso.Bitcoin sprung $6,000 higher to a record $75,371.69, topping its previous peak of $73,797.98 in March.Trump has pledged to make the United States the “bitcoin and cryptocurrency capital of the world” and to put tech billionaire Elon Musk in charge of a wide-ranging audit of governmental waste.”The price of bitcoin has closely followed Trump’s position in the polls and on betting markets,” Russ Mould, an analyst at AJ Bell, said ahead of Tuesday’s US election.Investors are “potentially taking the view that a Republican victory would lead to a surge in demand for the digital currency”, he added.Analysts said a clean sweep of Congress and the White House for Trump and Republicans would likely boost the dollar and Treasury yields owing to his plans to cut taxes and impose tariffs on imports.Peter Esho, economist and founder at Esho Capital, said: “The markets are scrambling to figure out what happens next, but for the time being, the market is pricing in a higher growth and higher inflation outlook.”- ‘Trade and tariffs and taxation’ -And Neil Wilson at Finalto trading group said: “Trade and tariffs and taxation would be the three Ts of the Trump Trade, followed by deregulation.”But he added: “Bear in mind as a caveat that the House is still up for grabs and Trump had complete control of Congress last time and it didn’t mean he could do everything he said he world.”Such an outcome could provide a headache for Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell as he continues his battle to bring inflation to heel, with Trump’s plans considered inflationary.The election comes as the central bank prepares to deliver its latest policy decision Thursday amid expectations it will cut interest rates by 25 basis points, having lowered them by 50 points in September.The dollar’s surge against the yen rallied stocks more than three percent in Tokyo at one point thanks to gains in exporters, while markets Sydney, Singapore, Taipei, Mumbai and Bangkok also rose.However, there were losses in Shanghai, Seoul, Wellington, Manila and Jakarta.Hong Kong was also well down — at one point diving almost three percent — on worries about the impact of a Trump presidency on China’s economy and relations between Beijing and Washington.London, Paris and Frankfurt all rose at the open.US futures also rallied.Traders had been given a strong lead from Wall Street, where all three main indexes climbed more than one percent.While the result of the election is being closely followed globally, it is of real interest in China after Trump vowed to ratchet up a trade battle with the economic titan by imposing massive tariffs on goods from the country.The vote comes as Chinese leaders hold a key meeting to hammer out a package of stimulus measures aimed at kickstarting growth and providing support to the colossal property sector, which is mired in a painful debt crisis.Beijing said Wednesday it hoped for “peaceful coexistence” with the United States as Trump looked set for victory.- Key figures around 0810 GMT -Dollar/yen: UP at 154.00 yen from 151.60 yen on TuesdayEuro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0735 from $1.0930Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2871 from $1.3035Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.40 from 83.82 penceTokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 2.6 percent at 39,480.67 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 2.2 percent at 20,538.38 (close)Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 3,383.81 (close)London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.7 percent at 8,225.33West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.2 percent at $71.13 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.3 percent at $74.56 per barrelNew York – Dow: UP 1.0 percent at 42,221.88 (close)
