France Seeks EU Approval for ‘Shrinkflation’ Move.
France has submitted plans for new rules to require the country’s retailers to alert shoppers to so-called shrinkflation.
Paris has asked the EU to clear a move that would oblige grocers to tell consumers if a product has been reduced in size but its price has stayed the same.
Under the plans, a retailer would have to state how much a product had been cut in size “directly on the packaging or on a label attached to or placed near this product”.
Read ahead at:
https://www.just-drinks.com/news/france-seeks-eu-approval-for-shrinkflation-move/
French Embassy in Niger Officially Closed Until Further Notice.
Paris cited in a statement what it called grave impediments on the embassy's missions which go against the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
The ministry listed: “a blockade around the embassy, movement restrictions imposed on staff and an entry ban on diplomatic personnel traveling to Niger"
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From Submarines to Fighter Jets: Big-Ticket Defense Deals on Agenda as Modi Set to Host Macron on R-Day.
New Delhi and Paris may finalize deals on India procuring 26 Rafale Marine combat aircraft from France as well as on the construction of three submarines in India with the transfer of technology from France.
The two sides are also expected to adopt a roadmap for defence-industrial cooperation.
Read ahead at:
France Finalizes Action Plan for Geothermal Sector Developme
France’s Ministry of Energy Transition has officially published the finalized action plan to accelerate the development of the geothermal energy sector.
The finalized action plan was published on 22 December 2023, following a first version that had been published in February 2023. The official launch was headed by Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher.
Read ahead at:
https://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/france-finalizes-action-plan-for-geothermal-sector-development/
EU Mobilizes Flood Assistance for Germany and France.
After heavy rainfall the regions of Lower Saxony and Thuringia in Germany and Nord-Pas-de-Calais in France are facing floods and river overflows. In the past days, both countries have requested assistance via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism that has quickly mobilized emergency support.
For Germany, 39 responders from France with flood containment barriers and 16 vehicles have started response activitie
Germany Builds up LNG Import Terminals.
German utility RWE on Jan. 1 handed over floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure at Brunsbuettel on the North Sea to state-owned Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET) as agreed when first imports arrived 10 months ago, it said.
DET is now the sole operational manager and markets the capacity of the Brunsbuettel Elbehafen LNG project.
Germany's quest to increase LNG capacity for regasification on its shores has intensified as it seeks to end reliance on Russian pipeline gas, on which Europe depended heavily prior to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine last year.
Italy-Austria Powerline Interconnection Enters Operation. 
A new 220kV underground powerline interconnection between Italy and Austria has entered into operation.
The fully underground interconnection extends for 28km along the Italian-Austrian border, linking the power substations of Glorenza in northern Italy and Nauders, the first city on the Austrian side of the Reschen Pass.
Read ahead at: https://www.powerengineeringint.com/smart-grid-td/td-infrastructure/italy-austria-powerline-interconnection-enters-operation/
Austria Considers Imposing Entry Ban on Violent Israeli Settlers.
- Austrian Foreign Minister is considering banning violent Israeli settlers, with the Middle East country being in a multi-fronted war with Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Iran.
- Austria preferred an EU-wide approach, indicating that all EU countries should introduce more stringent measures for Israelis who have committed violence.
- Germany and France are also considering similar measures while the United Kingdom has already introduced restrictions for the settlers.
Italian Hospitals Collapse: Over 1,100 Patients Waiting to be Admitted in Rome.
- In cities such as Turin, hospital overcrowding has even led to a shortage of stretchers for patients.
- Emergency departments in Italian hospitals are in chaos and on the verge of collapse.
- The worst situation is in Rome and its region, where more than 1,100 patients are waiting to be admitted, according to the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine and Urgent Care (Simeu).
- According to Simeu, the number of patients waiting in Piedmont has reached some 500, while in Lombardy and its capital, Milan, normal hospital admissions have been suspended in order to "free up" some beds for emergencies.
Read ahead at: https://www.euronews.com/2024/01/03/italian-hospitals-collapse-over-1100-patients-waiting-to-be-admitted-in-rome
EU adds Russia's Biggest Diamond-Mining Company and CEO to Sanctions List.
- PJSC Alrosa, which is owned by the Russian state, accounts for over 90% of all Russian diamond production, representing a highly valuable revenue stream for the Kremlin.
- "The company constitutes an important part of an economic sector that is providing substantial revenue to the government of the Russian Federation," it added.
- Around 1950 companies and individuals have now been slapped with EU sanctions since Russia moved its troops into Ukraine in February 2022.
- The ban is part of a broader effort coordinated by the G7 countries to further choke the Russian state's revenue in a bid to hamper its war efforts in Ukraine.
Read ahead at: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/01/03/eu-adds-russias-biggest-diamond-mining-company-and-ceo-to-sanctions-list
Kosovo Celebrates its Long-Awaited Joining of the Schengen Zone.
- The Western Balkan nation was the last in the region to access free travel within the European Union.
- Kosovars are celebrating this week after visas for Europe's open-border Schengen zone were waived for the first time in the small nation’s history.
- Previously, Kosovo was the only country in the Western Balkan region whose citizens still needed visas to travel to countries within the European Union.
- The Schengen area allows some 400 million people to travel freely between member countries in the EU, without the need to go through border controls.
- Back in 2018, the EU said all requirements were fulfilled for Kosovo to get rid of visa travel, but both France and the Netherlands made objections over the decision, fearing a new wave of migration.
- Kosovo has been a free nation since declaring independence from Serbia in 2008 - but it has yet to become a UN member state due to objections from Serbia - as well as Russia and China.
Read ahead at: https://www.euronews.com/2024/01/03/kosovo-celebrates-its-long-awaited-joining-of-the-schengen-zone
