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Decision time in France as lawmakers look set to oust Michel Barnier’s government

4Dec

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World News

Decision time in France as lawmakers look set to oust Michel Barnier’s government

By Elizabeth Pineau and Michel Rose, Reuters Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government is expected to be France's first to be forced out by a no-confidence vote in more than 60 years. Photo: AFP / Hans Lucas / Amaury Cornu French lawmakers are all but certain to oust the government with a no-confidence motion on Wednesday, plunging the euro zone's second-biggest economic power deeper into political turmoil. Barring a last-minute surprise, Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government will be France's first to be forced out by a no-confidence vote in more than 60 years, at a time when the country is struggling to tame a massive budget deficit. If the vote does indeed pass, President Emmanuel Macron plans to name a new prime minister very quickly, possibly even before the grand reopening...

Canada Post strike is ‘highly disrespectful of Canadians’: minister – National

4Dec

By Aditi PawarNo Comments

Politics

Canada Post strike is ‘highly disrespectful of Canadians’: minister – National

As the Canada Post strike nears the three-week mark, the federal labour minister called the nationwide mail stoppage “highly disrespectful” of Canadians. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday, Steven MacKinnon said he has been in regular contact with special mediator, Peter Simpson, to see where both parties stand after mediated talks were temporarily suspended last week.“I’ve been in daily discussions with … the mediator who is shuttling between the parties to see if there is a reasonable prospect that mediation, if it resumes, it will succeed. He has not yet given me that advice,” MacKinnon said.“The parties are still very far apart, and that is in my view, among other things, highly disrespectful of Canadian who are suffering through this work stoppage, small businesses, people i...

Trump considers replacing Pete Hegseth, his embattled secretary of defense pick, with Ron DeSantis

4Dec

By Aditi PawarNo Comments

Business

Trump considers replacing Pete Hegseth, his embattled secretary of defense pick, with Ron DeSantis

Presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks to a crowd on June 2, 2023 in Gilbert, South Carolina.Sean Rayford | Getty ImagesPresident-elect Donald Trump is considering replacing embattled defense secretary choice Pete Hegseth with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to two sources familiar with the decision-making. DeSantis is "very much in contention," one source said.Another told NBC News that Trump and DeSantis directly spoke about the issue."Trump talked to the governor and wants him to do it," a source familiar with the conversation told NBC News on Tuesday night.NBC News reported Tuesday that Hegseth's nomination is in jeopardy because as many as six GOP senators are wavering in their support for him.The Wall Street Journal first reported Tuesday night that DeSa...

Could France’s government fall? Vote of non-confidence to be held today – National

4Dec

By Aditi PawarNo Comments

Politics

Could France’s government fall? Vote of non-confidence to be held today – National

France’s far-right and left-wing forces are expected to join together Wednesday to oust Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government in a historic no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes. If the motion succeeds, it would mark the first time a French government has been toppled this way in more than 60 years. President Emmanuel Macron insisted he will serve the rest of his term until 2027 despite growing opposition calls for his departure amid the turmoil. However, Macron will need to appoint a new prime minister for the second time after his party’s losses in July’s legislative elections.Macron, on his way back from a presidential visit to Saudi Arabia, said discussions about him potentially resigning were “make-believe politics,” according to French media reports.“I’m here because I’...

Private payrolls grew by 146,000 in November, less than expected, ADP says

4Dec

By Aditi PawarNo Comments

Business

Private payrolls grew by 146,000 in November, less than expected, ADP says

Private payrolls growth was less than expected in November, reflecting a slowing labor market, according to a report Wednesday from ADP.Companies added 146,000 jobs on the month, below the downwardly revised 184,000 in October and less than the Dow Jones estimate for 163,000.Education and health services led job creation, adding 50,000 positions on the month. That was followed by construction with 30,000 new jobs, trade, transportation and utilities with 28,000 additions, and the other services category, which contributed 20,000 jobs.Manufacturing lost 26,000 positions on the month. Businesses with fewer than 50 employees also reported a drop of 17,000.Wage growth accelerated, by 4.8%, a faster gain than October, the first time that has happened in 25 months."While overall growth for the m...

Amazon sued by DC AG over slow deliveries in low-income areas

4Dec

By Aditi PawarNo Comments

Business

Amazon sued by DC AG over slow deliveries in low-income areas

Washington, D.C.'s attorney general sued Amazon on Wednesday, accusing the company of covertly depriving residents in certain ZIP codes in the nation's capital from access to Prime's high-speed delivery.The lawsuit from AG Brian Schwalb alleges that, since 2022, Amazon has "secretly excluded" two "historically underserved" D.C. ZIP codes from its expedited delivery service while charging Prime members living there the full subscription price. Amazon's Prime membership program costs $139 a year and includes perks like two-day shipping and access to streaming content."Amazon is charging tens of thousands of hard-working Ward 7 and 8 residents for an expedited delivery service it promises but does not provide," Schwalb said in a statement. "While Amazon has every right to make operational cha...

South Korean president faces impeachment motion over martial law – National

4Dec

By Aditi PawarNo Comments

Politics

South Korean president faces impeachment motion over martial law – National

South Korea’s opposition parties Wednesday submitted a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over the shocking and short-lived martial law that drew heavily armed troops to encircle parliament before lawmakers climbed walls to reenter the building and unanimously voted to lift his order. Impeaching Yoon would require the support of two-thirds of parliament, and at least six justices of the nine-member Constitutional Court would have to endorse it to remove him from office. The motion, submitted jointly by the main liberal opposition Democratic Party and five smaller opposition parties, could be put to a vote as early as Friday.Yoon’s senior policy advisers and Defense Minster Kim Yong Hyun offered to resign as the nation struggles to make sense of what appeared to be a poorly-thought-o...

4Dec

By Aditi PawarNo Comments

Business

CRM, FL, PSTG, PSQH and more

Check out the companies making headlines before the bell: Salesforce — Shares rallied more than 12% after the enterprise software company posted a third-quarter revenue beat. Salesforce reported $9.44 billion in revenue, better than the $9.35 billion expected by analysts, according to LSEG. Subscription revenue also beat analyst expectations. Dollar Tree — The stock rose more than 4% following the discounter's better-than-expected third-quarter results . Dollar Tree earned $1.12 per share on revenue of $7.56 billion. That's better than the LSEG consensus estimates of $1.07 per share on $7.44 billion in revenue. The company also announced that CFO Jeff Davis would step down from his role. Pure Storage — Shares surged 21% after Pure Storage beat fiscal third-quarter estimates and highlighted...

Canada Post strike disrupts health screenings, document renewals – National

4Dec

By Aditi PawarNo Comments

Politics

Canada Post strike disrupts health screenings, document renewals – National

The average number of letters people receive has dropped significantly over the years — down to just two per week compared to seven per week in 2006, according to Canada Post. Nevertheless, when you do get the odd envelope, it’s likely for a good reason: a government notice, bank update or other crucial missive that can’t be transmitted online.The ongoing postal strike is highlighting just how important that mail can be, said Marvin Ryder, a professor with McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business in Hamilton.“People forgot,” Ryder suggested of the key role provided by snail mail.“They simply forgot about things like renewing a passport. There are over 80,000 passports waiting in Mississauga. They’ve been printed, they’re ready to go, but we deliver them by letter mail.” St...

Roku will be bought for a large premium in the next year, says Needham analyst Laura Martin

4Dec

By Aditi PawarNo Comments

Business

Roku will be bought for a large premium in the next year, says Needham analyst Laura Martin

Don't be surprised if Roku gets scooped up by a competitor in 2025, according to Needham. "The top 6 reasons to acquire Roku (our view) include its installed base, unique data sets, pricing power, shelf space, buy vs build advantages, and the fact that it's now the only scaled CTV platform that can be purchased," wrote analyst Laura Martin. She expects the company to be bought for a "large premium" over the next 12 months as Republicans take control of regulatory agencies. Shares popped about 5% before the bell. Despite a 17% year-to-date slump, Martin holds a buy rating and $100 price target, reflecting 32% upside from Tuesday's close. The potential buyers include a slew of streamers such as Netflix , connected TV advertising companies such as The Trade Desk , retailers and large language...