Articles by Mathieu Rosemain and Kane Wu

BNP Paribas to Acquire Fosun’s Stake in Belgian Insurer Ageas

BNP Paribas, the euro zone’s biggest bank, has agreed to buy a 9% stake in Ageas from China’s Fosun Group for about 730 million euros ($780 million), making it the biggest shareholder in the Belgian insurer. The deal ends months …

AXA’s 2023 Earnings Miss Forecasts on Higher Costs, Lifts Dividend 16%

France’s AXA, Europe’s second-biggest insurer, pledged on Thursday to deliver higher earnings and returns to shareholders by 2026 by growing its client base, automating processes and reducing labor costs. The new three-year plan, dubbed “Unlock the Future” — Thomas Buberl’s …

Apple Says iPhone 12 Meets Radiation Rules, Disputes Findings From French Watchdog

Apple defended its iPhone 12 model on Wednesday after a French watchdog ordered a halt to its sales citing breaches of European Union radiation exposure limits. The French move raised the prospect of further bans in Europe. Germany’s network regulator …

French Bank BNP Paribas Sued by NGOs Over Amazon Rainforest Deforestation Link

Environmental and human rights activist groups said on Monday they had sued BNP Paribas, the eurozone’s biggest bank, for providing financial services to companies they allege contribute to the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest. Brazilian NGO ComissΓ£o Pastoral da Terra …

Update: Activists Sue BNP Over Energy Loans, TotalEnergies Over Human Rights

Climate and human rights activists sued two of France’s biggest corporations over fossil fuel financing and alleged human rights abuses on Thursday, as campaigners increasingly turn to lawsuits to push big companies to change their behavior. Oxfam, Friends of the …

Deliveroo Found Guilty, Fined for Abusing Riders’ Rights in France

Two former managers of Deliveroo were given suspended one-year prison sentences and fined 30,000 euros ($32,380) by a French court on Tuesday for abusing the freelance status of cycle riders working for the British takeaway delivery platform. The company was …

France Data Privacy Watchdog Slaps €150M Fine on Google for Misusing ‘Cookies’

PARIS – France’s data privacy watchdog CNIL said on Thursday it had fined Alphabet’s Google a record 150 million euros ($169 million) for making it difficult for internet users to refuse online trackers known as cookies. Meta Platforms’ Facebook was …

Top EU Court Rules Mass Spying on Phone, Internet Data Is Unlawful

The European Union’s top court ruled on Tuesday that unrestrained mass surveillance of phone and internet data is unlawful, in a move which could curb the powers of spying agencies in France and other EU countries. Privacy rights advocacy groups …

Amazon’s French Warehouses to Reopen After Ending Virus Safety Dispute with Workers

Amazon’s French warehouses are set to reopen on Tuesday with about 30% of employees, three union officials said, ending a month-long dispute over whether the e-commerce giant was doing enough to protect workers from the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. retailer’s …

French Court Keeps Limits in Place for Amazon Deliveries, in Victory for Its Workers

A French court on Friday rejected Amazon‘s appeal against a ruling that restricts what it can deliver during the coronavirus crisis, handing a victory to unions which had criticized the U.S. e-commerce giant’s safety measures. Amazon must limit deliveries in …