BBC Studios has introduced an “inclusion rider” for all new productions, which will mean that all new productions have to meet a 20% diversity target.
On all new BBC and third-party shows, the Doctor Who and Top Gear producer will ensure that a fifth of on-screen talent and production teams come from a BAME – Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic – background, have lived experience of a disability, or are from a low-income background. Source BBC
A Greek-managed tanker was hit by a mine in Saudi Arabia, while the explosion caused extensive damage to the tanker.
An explosion damaged the Agrari tanker off the coast of Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, near the border with Yemen, according to a private insurance company. Source Greek City Times
A Pennsylvania state court issued an injunction Wednesday blocking any potential further certification of election results in the state, pending a hearing to be held Friday.
The order from Judge Patricia McCullough comes in the case brought by Pennsylvania voters including Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., in which they allege that a state law allowing for no-excuse absentee voting violated the Pennsylvania constitution, which outlines specific cases where absentee voting is allowed. Source FoxNews
In “S ***** P ***”, rapper Maka makes particularly shocking remarks. The music video for the song was broadcast on YouTube on November 12 and has nearly 27,000 views as of Wednesday. The rapper’s words directly refer to the assassination of Samuel Paty , this 47-year-old teacher was beheaded during the conflict in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine (Yvelines) on October 16, by a terrorist. Source Actu17
The government plans to implement tax incentives for long-term foreign residents as part of efforts to turn the country into a major international financial hub, official sources said Wednesday.
Under the current system, Japan imposes an inheritance tax on foreign nationals’ overseas assets if they live in the country for more than 10 years, but the special measure to be introduced will make them exempt from the imposition, according to the sources. Source The JapanTimes
France last year applied a 3 percent levy on revenue from digital services earned in France but suspended collection of the tax. The French Finance Ministry has sent out notices to big tech companies liable for its digital service tax to pay the levy as planned in December, the ministry said on Wednesday. Source NBCNews
Russia says one of its warships caught and chased off a US Navy destroyer after it entered territorial waters in the Sea of Japan on Tuesday.
Moscow accused the USS John S McCain of travelling 2km (1.2 miles) across its maritime border in Peter the Great Gulf and says it threatened to ram the ship. Source BBC
The measures are included in the final draft of the 2021 defense policy bill. Work on the €9.5 billion pipeline, which has been halted for a year because of the threat of sanctions, is scheduled to restart on Saturday. Source Deutsche Welle
Judges in The Hague will on Tuesday start hearing claims that oil giant Shell has not done enough to combat climate change in a case brought by environmental groups and supported by over 17,000 private individuals. Source Dutch News
The President of the Republic wants to put the learning of Arabic “in the Republic” for the sake of the fight against separatism but also of recognition. “It has something to contribute for our country”. Asked this Friday evening on the Brut media, Emmanuel Macron pleaded for the teaching of Arabic at school, especially for students who already practice this language in their families. Source BFMTV
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday he hopes France will get rid of Emmanuel Macron as soon as possible, the latest salvo in an escalating war of words between the two leaders. Turkey is embroiled in a series of disputes with France and its EU partners, from tensions in the eastern Mediterranean to the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region. Source France24
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority says it may be forced to lay off hundreds of full-time workers to make up for millions of dollars in lost revenue caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to its latest budget update. Source NBC
World food prices have risen for the sixth month in a row, hitting the “highest level since December 2014” according to the FAO. A UN report said the coronavirus pandemic has been a major driver of food inequality. Source Deutsche Welle
Australia and the United States will jointly develop hypersonic cruise missiles, the Australian defence minister announced on Tuesday, pledging to invest in “advanced capabilities” that will give the country’s military “more options to deter aggression” against its interests.
Both China and Russia are developing similar missiles. Source ALjazeera
European Union lawmakers lashed out Tuesday at the head of Frontex over allegations that the border and coast guard agency helped illegally stop migrants or refugees entering Europe, calling for his resignation and demanding an independent inquiry. Source Ekathemarini
SMIC, one of largest chip makers in the world, is among several companies that the Department of Defense plans to designate as being owned or controlled by the Chinese military, reports Reuters. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order, set to go into effect on January 11, that would bar U.S. investors from buying securities from companies on the defense blacklist. Source The Crunch
The municipal police station of Rilleux-la-Pape (Rhône) was the target of attackers on two occasions during the weekend. Damage has been committed. About fifteen individuals with hidden faces stoned the municipal police station of Rilleux-la-Pape, a town located in the metropolis of Lyon (Rhône), this Saturday evening around 6.15 p.m. The facts lasted for more than an hour in the rue Jacques Prévert. Tear gas and police reinforcements were necessary to put the attackers to flight. Source ACtu17
BBC Studios has introduced an “inclusion rider” for all new productions, which will mean that all new productions have to meet a 20% diversity target.
On all new BBC and third-party shows, the Doctor Who and Top Gear producer will ensure that a fifth of on-screen talent and production teams come from a BAME – Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic – background, have lived experience of a disability, or are from a low-income background. Source BBC
An estimated 28,637 cuts were reported in the industry by late October, Variety, citing data from Challenger, Gray & Christmas, reported, nearly as many as the record 28,803 reported in the media sector in 2008. By comparison, the sector saw just over 10,000 job losses in 2019 and 15,474 in 2018. Source The Hill
Walt Disney Co said on Wednesday it would lay off about 32,000 workers, primarily at its theme parks, an increase from the 28,000 it announced in September, as the company struggles with limited customers due to the coronavirus pandemic. Source EconomicsTimes
Southwest Airlines warned 6,800 employees Thursday they may be furloughed in the spring, the airline told CNN.
If the layoffs do take place, they would be the first in the carrier’s nearly 50-year history. Source 11 News
Construction on the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the Baltic Sea is set to resume next week, a company spokesman said on Saturday.
Work on the pipeline was at a standstill for a year as companies working on the project pulled out under the pressure of sanctions from the United States.
The company leading the project told news agency DPA it aims to get back to work by December 5.
The 1,230-kilometer (764-mile) pipeline will bring natural gas from Russia’s Siberian gas fields to Germany, Europe’s biggest economy. Source Deutsche Welle
France last year applied a 3 percent levy on revenue from digital services earned in France but suspended collection of the tax. The French Finance Ministry has sent out notices to big tech companies liable for its digital service tax to pay the levy as planned in December, the ministry said on Wednesday. Source NBCNews
The European Commission issued on Wednesday a warning to Athens that the market support measures during the pandemic should not be excessive so that they do not jeopardize the sustainability of the public debt. It also highlighted that the debt will remain at risk unless growth is supported, which makes it imperative that reforms continue and the Next Generation EU resources are put to full use. Source Ekathimerini
The investment will extend a subsidy for electric vehicles and attempt to secure jobs that are in jeopardy due to the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement follows talks between Chancellor Merkel and industry heads. Source Deutsche Welle
Rome is preparing a new spending package worth 15-20 billion euros likely to be presented this week which will push up the deficit in 2021, one of the sources said, asking not to be named. Source Investing
The two countries have followed through on their threat to block spending plans through to 2027. The EU needs a unanimous vote from all 27 members in order to pass the budget and coronavirus economic recovery fund.
Hungary and Poland blocked approval of the EU’s long-term budget on Monday, diplomatic sources revealed. The spending plans also include a €750-billion ($888 billion) coronavirus rescue package. Source Deutsche Welle
The presidency of Joe Biden paves the way for a deal between Germany and the United States to resolve the conflict over Nord Stream 2 and complete its construction in exchange for the EU commitments to expand LNG purchases from the US, Simonas Vileikis, a Brussels political adviser to the British consulting company Portland Europe, told TASS on Monday. Source TASS
Gefira tracks the global players in Europe, the USA, Russia and China and anticipates the consequences of their policies
Gefira No. 9 is now available at a discount. 160 euros for 10 issues a year plus access to our archives.
Europe's geopolitical situation resembles that of 1913.
The enlargement of the European Union to the east, Germany's Ostpolitik, economic power and its reluctance to align its policy with France's and Italy's make the break-up of the Union unavoidable. While Germany is gaining a status of a financial superstar, German society is starting to disintegrate.
Nobody dares to ask, but the ECB board is bracing itself for the upcoming break-up of the euro. The Gefira team explains why France or Italy will leave the euro and we investigate how the ECB is preparing for the looming euro collapse.
