Italy ‘moving on anti-takeover law’
The Italian government is reportedly going to move to block foreign takeovers of what it considers to be “strategic” Italian companies. The restrictions are backed by the economy minister Giulio Tremonti and a government source said they could apply to Italian food, energy, defence and telecoms firms. This could block any attempt by French dairy giant Lactalis to gain control of rival Parmalat in which it has a 29 percent stake – just below the level at which it would have to make a full takeover bid under Italian law. Italy’s second largest power group Edison is also engaged in a battle for control with French shareholders. And the French luxury group LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA is buying Italian jeweller Bulgari. The country’s junior industry minister Stefano Saglia, said the measure would “identify certain sectors the government believes to be strategic on which it reserves the right to intervene when it discovers the investors come from protected markets.” He was speaking at a conference in Ravenna. Italian newspapers have reported that under the proposals foreign investors acquiring Italian companies would need to obtain government approval 60 days in advance. The Italian stock market regulator Consob would also be given equivalent powers to France’s AMF to require clarification of potential hostile offers. Italy’s tax agency this week said it was checking whether the sales of stakes in Parmalat and jeweller Bulgari were in line with tax rules. In another move, Italian antitrust chief Antonio Catricala has asked Parmalat and Lactalis for more information about possible changes in control of Parmalat.
- Oct 05 Wed 2011 02:21
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- Oct 05 Wed 2011 02:21
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Russia starts privatisation push with VTB
Russia has kicked off its biggest privatisation drive since the collapse of the Soviet Union with the sale of ten percent in the country’s second biggest bank VTB. It raised the equivalent of 2.4 billion euros. The bank’s chief executive Andrei Kostin, as he met with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, said the placing was twice oversubscribed. Putin said: “According to financial experts, the privatisation was conducted well and was successful.” He called it a clear demonstration of investors’ confidence in the Russian financial system and its economic policies. But critics said the Kremlin could have got much more if it had handled the sale better. The bank’s share price fell over 10 percent in two weeks from later January because the government changed its mind on how many to sell and finally went for a sale via the open market rather than directly to a consortium of investors. However analysts said the success of the sale – the first step in Russia’s massive privatisation drive — boded well for coming public offering of shares. Sberbank, Russia’s biggest lender, will follow VTB later this year or in 2012. Moscow needs to raise money through such share sales to help reduce its budget deficit.
- Oct 05 Wed 2011 02:20
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Italy allows use of air bases
Italy is one a growing number of countries willing to take part in UN, EU and Nato backed military action against Libya. Its air bases, such as the one at Sigonella in Sicily, are likely to play a key role in implementing the resolution. On Thursday the UN voted to authorise a no-fly zone over Libya and to use “all necessary measures” to protect civilians from Colonel Gaddafi’s forces. Italy, which has close ties with its former colony , has already suspended a 2008 “friendship treaty” prohibiting its bases being used for military action against Libya. France, the country that led the calls for action, has confirmed that it will take an active part in military operations. Denmark and Norway have now joined the list which also includes the UK and the USA. A number of Arab countries are also expected to play a role. Do you agree with the UN resolution authorising military action in Libya? A Javascript enabled browser that accepts cookies is required in order to participate in the poll. yes (52%) no (45%) i don't know (3%) // pollTS[0]) { pollTS = cookie; cValid = true; }; }; warning.parentNode.removeChild(warning); if(cookie && cValid) { for(var i = 1; i < pollTS.length; i++) { votes += parseInt(pollTS[i], 10) || 0; }; var total = 0; for(var i = 1; i < pollTS.length; i++) { per = pollTS[i] > 0 ? Math.round(pollTS[i] / (votes / 100)) : 0; if(total + per > 100) { per = 100 - total; total = 100; } else { total += per; }; output[output.length] = '' + questions[i - 1] + ' (' + per + '%) '; }; pollHTML += "" + output.join("") + ""; }; if(!cookie) { pollHTML = ' yes no i don’t know'; }; if(pollHTML) { content.innerHTML = pollHTML; }; })();// ]]>
- Oct 05 Wed 2011 02:19
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Uganda’s President wins disputed poll
Uganda’s long-time President Yoweri Museveni has won a fourth term in office, extending his 25 years in charge. Official results show Museveni secured victory by a huge margin, just over 68 percent, compared to his rival Kizza Besigye who could only muster around a quarter of the total vote. The opposition, however, called the election a sham and claim massive sums of money had been used to buy votes and bribe polling agents. Besigye has threatened to call street protests. Although the vote passed peacefully, EU observers said an unnecessary military presence on voting day had created an uneasy, intimidatory feeling.
- Oct 05 Wed 2011 02:19
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Gaddafi still in control in Tripoli as unrest grows
A police station in Tobruk is set ablaze by anti-government protesters – scenes of unrest have spread across Libya with the east of the country appearing more and more to be under the control of protesters. But international condemnation is growing at the reported violence being meted out against demonstrators in Tripoli. A flag of liberation may have been flown in Benghazi, but elsewhere Gaddafi’s forces are continuing to fight an increasingly bloody battle to keep him in power with shootings and bombings. The UN Security Council in new York is to meet in closed session to discuss the crisis at the request of Libya’s own disaffected diplomats. If you are in Libya, contact us and tell us what you see and witness. witness@euronews.net, twitter@euronews or facebook
- Oct 05 Wed 2011 02:18
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Strain starts to tell on Yemen
At least four protesters were killed in Yemen yesterday and violence continued overnight as anti-government crowds called for an end to President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s three decades in power. Protests spread beyond the capital Sanaa to Taiz, Ibb, Hodeidah and Baidah, although the demonstrators were in their hundreds and not the some 1,500 that marched in Sanaa and the some 3,000 that came out onto the streets in Aden in the south. The deaths were in Aden, but dozens of people were injured in trouble-spots across the country, and every protest was met with a counter-demonstration by government loyalists. After a month of protests, the already unsteady government looks shakier with marches now a daily event. Yemen’s ally, the USA, worries no institution, not even the army, is ready to take over should the government fall, and the country’s al-Qaeda branch could take advantage of the situation.
- Oct 05 Wed 2011 02:17
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From Russia with kisses: police embrace reforms
“We don’t need police”. It was not the most subtle – or clever – of slogans to parade anywhere in Russia, never mind outside the Interior Ministry; the lone protester who was brave or foolish enough to carry such a sign was duly dispatched by a group of officers into a nearby van. But the government has acknowledged that there is widespread resentment towards the forces of law and order. A vast reform of the institution notorious for corruption and violence was signed into law on March 1. Initiated by President Medvedev last year after numerous scandals, the aim is to change the image of a force whose employees – in the words of an analyst – “rob, rape, murder, drink-drive expensive cars, and run over other people.” Officers will have to re-apply for their jobs, numbers are to be cut by 20 percent, and the official name “militia” in place since the revolution is to be changed to “police”. Revolutionary? “No, why should anything change?” asked one Muscovite. “It would have been easy if you could do so by just writing something. The police must change their habits,” he said. While opinion polls suggest many agree with him, a new video has been posted on the internet by a group known as “war”. It shows young women approaching female police officers in the street or the metro – and planting kisses on their mouths or cheeks. Whether it will work is another matter. But the “Kiss A Cop” campaign is designed to encourage police to embrace the reforms.
- Oct 05 Wed 2011 02:17
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Yemen leader increasingly isolated as allies defect
Men in uniform are switching sides at an increasingly high level as pressure mounts on Yemen’s embattled President to stand down. Top diplomatic and tribal allies of Ali Abdullah Saleh are also deserting him in droves but it is the military defections that are making most headlines. Powerful general Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar went on television to declare his and his unit’s support for what he called “the youths’ revolution” and its demands. With tanks deployed at strategic points in the capital Sanaa, Yemen’s defence minister was quick to insist the army was standing by Saleh. But, despite meeting loyalists, the president is more isolated than ever. He sacked his cabinet after anti-government protests on Friday ended in dozens of deaths. Now Yemen’s UN representative has resigned, becoming the latest in a string of the country’s ambassadors to defect over the killings.
- Oct 05 Wed 2011 02:16
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EU fears immigration through Libya
The turmoil in Arab countries finds the European Union states struggling to find common positions. Meeting in Brussels, the 27 foreign ministers have been considering the possibility of mass uncontrolled migration from the troubled region. Britain’s William Hague spoke specifically about action by the authorities in Tripoli: “We want to see proper protection for foreign nationals in Libya and in particular assistance for them as they are trying to leave the country.” Libya has threatened to suspend cooperation with Europe in fighting illegal immigrant departures from its territory. Italy is in the front line of the receiving end. Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said: “I’m extremely concerned about the self proclamation of these so-called Islamic Emirate of Benghazi. Would you imagine to have an Islamic Arab Emirate at the borders of Europe? This would be a very serious threat.” European Union foreign policy high representative Catherine Ashton is scheduled to visit Egypt on Tuesday, the day after Prime Minister David Cameron did so, becoming the first leader to got to Egypt since Hosni Mubarak was forced out as president.
- Oct 05 Wed 2011 02:15
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French FM defends Tunisia links once again
French Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie has again been forced to defend her links to the regime of ousted Tunisian president Zine Al-Abdine Ben Ali. Alliot-Marie holidayed in Tunisia in December during anti-government protests. She flew there on a private jet belonging to Aziz Miled, a Ben Ali associate. Her office admitted she spoke with Ben Ali during her stay, contradicting her earlier account that her visit was a purely personal affair. Le Canard Enchaine newspaper also reported on Wednesday that her parents bought a stake in a property company from Aziz Miled. Alliot-Marie has refused to resign and has attacked the French media for dragging her parents into the matter.