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Background: Through medicare, residents in Canada are entitled to medically necessary physician services without paying out of pocket, but still many people struggle to access primary care. We conducted a survey to explore people's experience with and priorities for primary care. Methods: We conducted an online, bilingual survey of adults in Canada in fall 2022. We distributed an anonymous link through diverse channels and a closed link to 122 053 people via a national public opinion firm. We weighted completed responses to mirror Canada's population and adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics using regression models. Results: We analyzed 9279 completed surveys (5.9% response rate via closed link). More than one-fifth of respondents (21.8%) reported having no primary care clinician, and among those who did, 34.5% reported getting a same or next-day appointment for urgent issues. Of respondents, 89.4% expressed comfort seeing another team member if their doctor recommended it, but only 35.9%, 9.5%, and 12.4% reported that their practice had a nurse, social worker, or pharmacist, respectively. The primary care attribute that mattered most was having a clinician who 'knows me as a person and considers all the factors that affect my health.' After we adjusted for respondent characteristics, people in Quebec, the Atlantic region, and British Columbia had lower odds of reporting a primary care clinician than people in Ontario (adjusted odds ratio 0.30, 0.33, and 0.39, respectively; p < 0.001). We also observed large provincial variations in timely access, interprofessional care, and walk-in clinic use. Interpretation: More than 1 in 5 respondents did not have access to primary care, with large variation by province. Reforms should strive to expand access to relationship-based, longitudinal care in a team setting., Research over decades has shown that health systems with strong primary care have better health outcomes, better equity in outcomes, and lower costs. (1,2) Yet, worldwide, countries have struggled with [...]

If I Didn't Have YOU Alan Katz ILLUSTRATED BY Chris [...]

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of brachial plexus birth palsy (BPBP) in a large, single cohort and stratify clinical 1-year outcomes. Study design: A cohort study of all births occurring at a single institution between 2011 and 2015. Hospital discharge papers were analyzed, and structured telephone interviews were conducted. Results: Among 76,000 livebirths, 98 (0.13%) cases of BPBP were diagnosed. Of cases who fully responded to interview (66/98), at 3 months of age 77% infants made a complete recovery, and by 1 year of age an additional 20% had recovered completely. Only 3% of infants had residual longer-term neurological deficits. Conclusions: Predictors of a longer course of recovery were the presence of shoulder dystocia (p&lt; 0.04) and right-sided palsy (p&lt; 0.02). Birth weight, neonatal head circumference, and sex were not correlated with outcome. Future reports of BPBP should differentiate between infants showing early recovery from those with true BPBP.

The left-wing parties in France that won the most seats in the recent election are struggling to come together and agree on a candidate for prime minister. President Emmanuel Macron is expected to accept the resignation of current premier Gabriel Attal and his government next week, but it may take some time for a successor to be appointed. The internal disagreements within the left-wing alliance are providing an opportunity for other parties, including Macron's centrist group, to attract more moderate members. France is currently facing political paralysis as no faction has an outright majority in the National Assembly. Macron has called for a broad coalition, but both left-wing parties and right-wing parties have rejected his appeal. The choice of prime minister is delicate as parliament has the power to topple the government. The current government will continue to function with limited powers until a new one is formed. A poll shows that 43% of respondents favor a coalition government, while 29% prefer a technocratic administration. [Extracted from the article]

The left-wing parties in France, who won the most seats in the recent election, are struggling to come together and agree on a candidate for prime minister. This internal disagreement provides an opportunity for other parties, including President Emmanuel Macron's group, to attract more moderate members. The New Popular Front, the largest faction in the National Assembly, is far from having a majority, so some form of alliance with other political groups would be necessary to form a stable government. Macron has the power to appoint the prime minister, but parliament can overthrow the government, making the choice delicate. A recent poll showed that a coalition government is favored by 43% of respondents, while 29% prefer a technocratic administration. [Extracted from the article]

Emmanuel Macron's attempt to resolve the political crisis in France following the parliamentary elections has been met with resistance from various political parties. Macron called for a coalition of "republican forces," but both the left-wing alliance and the center-right Republicans rejected his appeal. The election results left the French National Assembly divided among three main factions, making it difficult for Macron to form a governing coalition. Macron's efforts to court both the center-left and center-right have been criticized, and there is disagreement over the nomination of a prime minister. The uncertainty surrounding the formation of a government has raised concerns about the country's economic future. [Extracted from the article]

President Emmanuel Macron is calling on parties that represent "republican forces" to form a broad majority in order to overcome the divided parliament and lack of a stable government in France. Macron's definition of appropriate parties excludes both the far right and the far left. The split parliament has left Macron in a position to potentially form a majority government, but no party has a clear path to a majority. The jockeying for power continues, with different parties advocating for their preferred candidates for prime minister. The political uncertainty is causing concern for the economy, with the Bank of France Governor warning about the negative impact on businesses. The current government will continue to operate in the interim, and work is ongoing to prepare the budget for next year. [Extracted from the article]

French President Emmanuel Macron attended a NATO summit in Washington, leaving behind a fragmented French National Assembly and no clear timeline for naming a new prime minister. The left-wing New Popular Front has the most lawmakers but falls short of a majority. Macron has the freedom to choose a prime minister, but they must be acceptable to a broad range of parties. Various candidates have emerged, including Jean-Luc Melenchon from France Unbowed and Olivier Faure from the Socialist Party. Former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe suggested a center-right alliance. The process of forming a government could take weeks. [Extracted from the article]

President Emmanuel Macron has called for parties representing "republican forces" to form a broad majority from the political center in order to overcome the divided parliament and lack of a stable government following snap elections in France. Macron excluded both the far right and far left parties from his definition of appropriate parties. He emphasized the need for sincere and loyal dialogue to build a diverse majority that aligns with republican institutions, the rule of law, parliamentarianism, a European orientation, and the defense of French independence. Macron is currently attending a NATO summit in Washington and will wait to name a prime minister to allow for discussions to take place. The left-wing New Popular Front, which includes the Socialists, the Greens, and the far-left France Unbowed, has the most lawmakers in the lower house of parliament but falls short of a majority. Macron is attempting to court both the center-left and center-right parties simultaneously in the hopes of forming a majority government. [Extracted from the article]

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for talks among parties that represent the "republican forces" in France to build a majority after the recent snap election resulted in a divided parliament. Macron stated that he would wait for these discussions to take place before appointing a prime minister, and in the meantime, the current government will continue to operate. He urged all political forces that align with republican institutions, the rule of law, parliamentarianism, a European orientation, and the defense of French independence to engage in sincere and loyal dialogue to form a diverse majority for the country. Macron made this call while attending a NATO summit in Washington. [Extracted from the article]

The head of France's Medef business lobby, Patrick Martin, has expressed concerns about the economic impact of the program proposed by the left-wing alliance that won the most seats in the recent parliamentary elections. Martin stated that since French President Emmanuel Macron dissolved parliament in June, decision-making on investments and hiring has been delayed, and fundraising in venture capital has been interrupted. He believes that implementing the program of the leftist alliance, known as the New Popular Front, would be detrimental to the French economy. The French National Assembly is currently facing a complex split, leading to efforts to form a coalition government. However, the New Popular Front does not have an outright majority. [Extracted from the article]

France is facing political gridlock after Marine Le Pen's far-right party suffered a defeat in the recent elections, resulting in a divided parliament with no clear majority. A left-wing alliance, including the far-left group France Unbowed, emerged as the largest group but fell short of an absolute majority. The outcome makes it difficult to form an effective government, and both Le Pen and Jean-Luc Melenchon will be unable to implement their plans. The situation in France reflects a trend of political fragmentation seen across Europe, and it is likely that a government with minimal policies will be formed to maintain stability. [Extracted from the article]

France is facing political gridlock after Marine Le Pen's far-right party was defeated in Sunday's elections, resulting in a divided parliament with no clear majority. A left-wing alliance, including the far-left group France Unbowed, will be the largest group in the lower house but still falls short of an absolute majority. The result means that neither Le Pen nor Jean-Luc Melenchon of France Unbowed will be able to implement their plans, making it difficult to form an effective government. The most likely outcome is a government with minimal policies that can keep the country running without major changes. [Extracted from the article]

According to estimates from think tank Institut Montaigne, the left-wing alliance in the French legislative election has proposed campaign promises that would cost nearly €95 billion ($102 billion) per year, largely due to their plan to lower the retirement age. In comparison, the far-right National Rally's plans would cost about €48 billion, while President Macron's party and its allies would incur extra spending of close to €15 billion over time. These estimates focus on tax and retirement proposals and do not include every aspect of each party's platform. However, France is already facing financial difficulties, as it has been placed under a special procedure for excessive deficits by the European Union. [Extracted from the article]

France's leftist alliance, the New Popular Front, has proposed raising the top marginal income tax rate to 90% if they were to take over the government after the legislative elections. Eric Coquerel, a member of the alliance, stated that this proposal would only affect the highest portion of a taxpayer's income and would be considered constitutional. While the specific income level at which the 90% rate would apply was not mentioned, a previous plan by the far-left France Unbowed party suggested it would be on taxable income over €411,683. Currently, the top income tax rate in France is 45% on income over €177,106. The New Popular Front is currently in second place in polls for the parliamentary election. In the past, a similar proposal for a 75% rate on incomes over €1 million was rejected by France's constitutional court, leading to it being transformed into a levy on companies. The leftist alliance has also unveiled plans for increased taxation and public spending, which has been criticized by the French business community. [Extracted from the article]

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a snap legislative election following the success of Marine Le Pen's National Rally in the European Parliament vote. Le Pen's party won with 32% of the vote, while Macron's Renaissance party trailed with 15%. Macron's warnings about authoritarianism and appeal for European unity did not resonate with voters, as concerns about inflation, security, and immigration boosted Le Pen's support. The new election will not affect Macron's position as president. The first round of the election will be held on June 30, with a second round on July 7. [Extracted from the article]

US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Paris to discuss the need for better cooperation in countering China's economic practices. Macron expressed concerns about China's unfair practices and the need for coordinated action. Biden mentioned his recent conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where he defended US tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. The leaders also discussed Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, which European leaders worry could disadvantage European firms. The visit also marked the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, and both leaders emphasized the importance of defending democracy. [Extracted from the article]

US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Paris to discuss the need for better cooperation in countering China's economic practices. They expressed concerns about China's unfair practices and the creation of overcapacity, emphasizing the importance of coordinated action. Biden mentioned his recent conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where he defended US tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. However, Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, aimed at fighting climate change, has raised concerns among European leaders, including Macron, who fear it could disadvantage European firms. The meeting also addressed the need to defend democracy against new threats, such as Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. [Extracted from the article]

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has emphasized the importance of TotalEnergies SE, a French oil major, maintaining its primary listing in France. Le Maire argues that France's ability to regulate fuel prices and keep them capped at a maximum of €2 per liter is contingent on TotalEnergies remaining in the country. TotalEnergies' CEO, Patrick Pouyanne, had previously mentioned the possibility of moving the company's primary listing to New York due to the weight of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies in Europe. However, Le Maire is determined to fight for TotalEnergies to stay in France for the benefit of the French people. [Extracted from the article]

France has pledged to provide €100 million in loans or guarantees to support farmers through the state-owned investment bank Bpifrance, according to Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's office. This commitment comes in response to protests by farmers earlier this year over rising costs, strict regulations, and cheap imports. The government has also promised a reduction in land tax and simplified approvals for water-retention projects. [Extracted from the article]

The French government has made an offer to Atos SE to acquire certain parts of the company that it deems strategic, including its supercomputer, quantum computing, and cyber products operations. The offer price has not been disclosed, but the annual sales of these businesses are approximately €900 million. If the offer proceeds, the government intends to bring private French companies into a consortium. Atos, once a leading tech company in France, has faced challenges such as accounting errors and profit warnings, leading to the need for interim financing and a conciliation process with creditors and banks. [Extracted from the article]

French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested including nuclear weapons in discussions about European defense. Macron believes that Europe needs to develop its own defense plan in order to protect itself in a more hostile world. He argues that nuclear weapons should be part of this plan for countries that possess them or have American nuclear weapons on their soil. Macron has previously called for a discussion on European nuclear defense, but progress has been limited. He emphasizes the need for Europe to go beyond relying solely on NATO for protection, as Europe may not be a geopolitical priority for the US in the future. [Extracted from the article]

French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed openness to discussing nuclear weapons as part of the creation of a credible European defense. In a recent interview, Macron added nuclear weapons to the list of topics up for debate regarding Europe's defense strategy. He has previously emphasized the need for Europe to develop its own defense strategy, stating that the American security umbrella is no longer sufficient. Macron suggested that Europe may need to produce its own anti-missile shield and other equipment to protect itself in a more hostile geopolitical context. [Extracted from the article]

French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested including nuclear weapons in discussions about a credible European defense. Macron emphasized the need for Europe to develop a plan to defend itself in a more hostile world and called for a debate that includes missile defense, long-range missiles, and nuclear weapons. He stated that France's doctrine is that nuclear weapons can be used when the nation's vital interests are threatened, including a "European dimension." Macron has previously called for a discussion on European nuclear defense and believes that Europe needs to go beyond relying solely on NATO for protection. [Extracted from the article]

Amazon.com Inc. is appealing a ¿32 million ($34.6 million) fine imposed by the French data protection watchdog CNIL for implementing a system to monitor employee activity and performance that was deemed "excessively intrusive." Amazon disagrees with the CNIL's conclusions and has appealed the decision to France's top administrative court. The CNIL stated that Amazon's monitoring systems were more extensive and permanent than traditional methods, while Amazon argues that warehouse management systems are necessary for safety, quality, efficiency, and package tracking. [Extracted from the article]

France's top court has upheld a decision that Bloomberg LP, a news organization, can be sanctioned for publishing information from a fake press release in 2016 that caused Vinci SA shares to drop. The court agreed with a previous ruling that Bloomberg could be penalized, even though they did not benefit from the release and did not intend to mislead the market. The court also deemed the €3 million fine imposed by the appeals court to be appropriate. Bloomberg expressed disappointment with the decision, citing concerns about press freedom and stating that their journalists reported on what seemed to be newsworthy information. They plan to consider further appeals. [Extracted from the article]

Paris is set to triple parking fees for SUV drivers after a referendum was approved by voters. The new fees will rise above €100 ($108) for just a few hours of parking in the city center. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo aims to make the city more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly, and the parking measure is intended to discourage the use of SUVs, which take up more space and are considered more dangerous for pedestrians. However, the referendum has faced criticism for unfairly targeting families from the outskirts of the city who rely on their vehicles. Other cities, such as Lyon in France and Tübingen in Germany, have also started incorporating vehicle weight into parking tariffs. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Former Credit Suisse chief Tidjane Thiam resigned from the board of France's Kering SA in order to focus on politics in the Ivory Coast, the company said in an e-mailed statement.Thiam won a vote in December to lead the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast, which ruled the West African nation for decades after independence in 1960 but has been out of power since 1999.Read more: Ex-Credit Suisse CEO Thiam Seeks to Unseat Ivorian Ruling PartyThiam had been an independent director at Kering since June 2020.©2024 Bloomberg L.P.By Alan KatzReported by Author [Extracted from the article]

French President Emmanuel Macron is looking to revitalize his administration after a challenging year by replacing Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne with Education Minister Gabriel Attal. The new prime minister will be responsible for forming a government, although many current ministers are expected to retain their positions. Macron is concerned about the growing popularity of nationalist party leader Marine Le Pen and is already considering his legacy. Despite the change in leadership, Macron's policies are unlikely to change, as he plans to continue attracting companies to France and advancing major programs in nuclear power, artificial intelligence, and transportation. Borne, who struggled to build a coalition and faced weak polling figures, will continue to run the government until her replacement is named. [Extracted from the article]

French President Emmanuel Macron is looking to revitalize his administration after a challenging year by replacing Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne with a younger successor. Education Minister Gabriel Attal, 34, is reportedly the frontrunner for the position. Macron is concerned about his legacy and the potential rise of nationalist party leader Marine Le Pen, who has been outpacing him in polls. Regardless of the new prime minister, Macron's policies are expected to remain unchanged, focusing on attracting companies to France and advancing programs in nuclear power, artificial intelligence, and transportation. Borne, who struggled to build a coalition and faced weak polling figures, will continue to run the government until her replacement is named. [Extracted from the article]

French new car registrations experienced a 14.5% increase in December, marking a year of overall market growth, according to the PFA auto association. Sales for the entire year rose by 16.1% to reach 1.77 million vehicles. While Volkswagen AG and BMW AG saw significant increases in registrations, Renault Group only experienced a 1.7% rise, and Stellantis faced a 7.6% decline due to a sharp drop in sales at its Citroen brand. Additionally, electric and rechargeable hybrid vehicles accounted for 30% of new car sales in December and represented 26% of registrations for the year as a whole, up from 22% in 2022. [Extracted from the article]