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The French government has approved the use of a barge on the River Seine in Paris to serve as a vertiport for electrically-powered flying taxis during the Olympic Games. However, Paris City Hall opposes the project, and it is uncertain whether the flying taxis will be allowed to fly during the Olympics. European startup Volocopter GmbH, which failed to win European regulatory certification in time for the Olympics, will still be allowed to conduct demonstration flights. The vertiport will operate until December 31, with limited flight hours and a maximum of 900 flights during the experimentation period. Paris City Hall plans to take legal action against the authorization, citing concerns about noise pollution and environmental impact. [Extracted from the article]

The French government has approved the use of a barge on the River Seine in Paris to serve as a vertiport for electrically-powered flying taxis during the Olympic Games. However, it is uncertain whether the flying taxis will be allowed to fly during the Olympics. European startup Volocopter GmbH, which failed to win European regulatory certification in time for the Olympics, will still be allowed to conduct demonstration flights. The vertiport will operate until December 31, with limited flight hours and a maximum of 900 flights overall. Concerns about noise levels, energy consumption, and greenhouse emissions have been taken into account, although Paris City Hall opposes the vertiport due to concerns about noise pollution and exclusivity. Volocopter aims to address these concerns and has secured financing for the certification of its VoloCity aircraft. [Extracted from the article]

French battery startup Verkor has secured over €1.3 billion ($1.4 billion) in green loans to complete a plant in northern France. The new factory, which is under construction at the port of Dunkirk, will contribute to the growing electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem in northern France. Verkor has now received more than €3 billion in financing to build its first EV battery factory and a research center. The factory is one of five planned in France as President Emmanuel Macron aims to compete with China in the EV market. The site is expected to start operations next year with an initial capacity to supply around 200,000 vehicles annually. [Extracted from the article]

French aviation authorities have issued a warning about potential travel disruptions due to a protest campaign by air-traffic controllers over work-rule changes ahead of the Summer Games in Paris. Airlines have been asked to reduce their flight schedules at various airports, with significant cancellations and delays expected. The air-traffic control unions are protesting the government's attempt to include them in labor rules requiring timely strike notice. While one union has lifted its strike notice, other strikes and protests are still ongoing. Similar strikes last year caused widespread flight cancellations and delays across Europe. [Extracted from the article]

Renault SA has announced plans to build electric vans at its Sandouville site in northern France as part of its joint venture with Flexis SAS. The company will hire 550 permanent and fixed-term staff over the next four years and invest an additional ¿300 million ($324 million) in the plant. This move is part of Renault's efforts to increase local production and expand its electric vehicle lineup. Production of the new battery van models is set to begin in 2026. [Extracted from the article]

Renault SA has announced plans to build electric vans at its Sandouville site in northern France as part of its joint venture with Flexis SAS. The company will hire 550 permanent and fixed-term staff over the next four years and invest an additional ¿300 million ($324 million) in the plant. This move is part of Renault's efforts to increase local production and expand its electric vehicle lineup. Production of the new battery van models is set to begin in 2026. [Extracted from the article]

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are strengthening business ties between their countries, which has led to France being left out. Meloni's recent visit to Berlin marked the highest-level gathering between Italy and Germany in seven years. The warm relationship between Meloni and Scholz has resulted in closer business dealings, including vetoing a French aerospace takeover and progressing with the sale of a stake in ITA Airways to Deutsche Lufthansa. While Italy and France have made progress in improving relations, tensions still exist when it comes to business deals. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Ardian SAS, CVC and other investment firms teamed up to help finance medical research as well as education in impoverished areas of France using the private-equity model for philanthropy as the past week's riots underscore the desperate state of some Paris suburbs. The fund, called Invest for Childhood and led by the French responsible finance pioneer Raise, stands out in a country with a long tradition of financing schools and health care with public money. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Ardian SAS, CVC and other investment firms are teaming up to help finance medical research as well as education in impoverished areas of France using the private-equity model for philanthropy as the past week's riots underscore the desperate state of some Paris suburbs. The companies set up a fund that raised €25 million ($27 million) in its first closing and will donate as much as 80% of its capital gains to the Institut Imagine, a Paris research and care center focused on rare genetic diseases that afflict children, and Esperance Banlieues, a school network for poorer neighborhoods, the partners said in a statement. [Extracted from the article]

Czech Investor Kretinsky Proposes €1.1 Billion Investment in France's Casino (Bloomberg) -- Czech investor Daniel Kretinsky proposed a €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion) equity investment in debt-laden French grocery operator Casino Guichard-Perrachon SA that could end Jean-Charles Naouri's control over the struggling company. Kretinsky's proposal would include cash repurchases of Casino's debt, converting it into equity, potentially leading to a change of control and a big dilution of existing shareholders. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Czech investor Daniel Kretinsky proposed a €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion) equity investment in debt-laden French grocery operator Casino Guichard-Perrachon SA that could end Jean-Charles Naouri's control over the struggling company. Czech Investor Kretinsky Proposes €1.1 Billion Investment in France's Casino Kretinsky's proposal would include cash repurchases of Casino's debt, converting it into equity, potentially leading to a change of control and a dilution of existing shareholders. [Extracted from the article]

Czech Investor Kretinsky Proposes €1.1 Billion Investment in France's Casino (Bloomberg) -- Czech investor Daniel Kretinsky proposed a €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion) equity investment in debt-laden French grocery operator Casino Guichard-Perrachon SA that could end Jean-Charles Naouri's control over the struggling company. Kretinsky's proposal would include cash repurchases of Casino's debt, converting it into equity, potentially leading to a change of control and a dilution of existing shareholders. [Extracted from the article]

Czech Investor Kretinsky Proposes €1.1 Billion Investment in France's Casino Les Mousquetaires and InVivo are considering an investment of invest €300 million, with Casino and Teract in ongoing talks with other potential investors to pump in a total of €500 million, the companies said. (Bloomberg) -- Czech investor Daniel Kretinsky proposed a €1.1 billion equity investment in debt-laden French grocery operator Casino Guichard-Perrachon SA that could end Jean-Charles Naouri's control over the struggling company, which said it's also pursuing a deeper tie-up with French rival Intermarche. [Extracted from the article]

In France, air traffic controllers aren't required to provide a 48-hour notice before strikes, making detailed planning harder and forcing DGAC to cut flights even on some days when no one ultimately walks out. (Bloomberg) -- Walkouts among French air traffic controllers have led to thousands of flight cancellations since the start of the year, raising worries for Easter travel and further denting the image of a country that's been wracked by protests. The French civil aviation authority DGAC has asked airlines to limit the number of flights on and off for weeks at Paris Orly and some other airports, at a time when the nation is being roiled by strikes over an unpopular pension reform. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- France's government is open to more concessions on its plan to raise the retirement age by two years, said spokesman Olivier Veran, hinting at a bigger work-from-home push after labor unions threatened to bring the nation to "a halt." President Emmanuel Macron's government is redoubling its efforts to secure a parliamentary majority as citizens increasingly take to the streets to protest a reform to raise the retirement age to 64 from 62. [Extracted from the article]

No disruption is expected for international travel on Thalys and Eurostar trains during the period, SNCF added, aside from that caused by UK strikes. (Bloomberg) -- France is bracing for another Christmas of travel disruption after the state-owned railway operator SNCF was forced to cancel one in three TGV high-speed trains because of strikes. [Extracted from the article]

No disruption is expected for international travel on Thalys and Eurostar trains during the period, apart from Eurostar on Dec. 26 due to a UK strike, SNCF added. (Bloomberg) -- France is bracing for another Christmas of travel disruption after the state-owned railway operator SNCF was forced to cancel one in three TGV high-speed trains because of strikes. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- France's CAC 40 Index fell into a bear market this week amid aglobalequity rout triggered by concern that a recession is looming. Energy Macron's government has been considering a nationalization of thetroubled utility Electricite de France SA and big investments in nuclearpower, while also providing continued support to households strugglingwith soaring electric and gas prices. Grocers, Other Retailers Investors have been expecting consolidation to finally happen amongFrench food retailers following the re-election of Macron in April afterthe government stopped Canadian convenience-store operator AlimentationCouche-Tard Inc. from acquiring grocer Carrefour SA. [Extracted from the article]

France's outgoing foreign affairs minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, said he's pleased that Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison lost Saturday's election, a swipe at the sudden decision last year to dump a $64 billion French submarine deal. "I can't stop myself from saying that the defeat of Morrison suits me very well", Le Drian said in Paris during a ceremony in which he handed over to his successor, Catherine Colonna. [Extracted from the article]

Orpea Should Adopt "Purpose-Driven" Model, ESG Investor Says (1) "We take note of the measures announced by the government, which of course we will apply with rigor and transparency", Orpea said in an emailed statement on Tuesday. (Bloomberg) -- The French government unveiled a sweeping plan to step up oversight and transparency at nursing homes after a scandal involving the alleged mistreatment of elder people at Orpea SA. [Extracted from the article]

The French government, which had already announced a total of 2.6 billion euros ($2.8 billion) in investments to modernize nursing homes and 2.8 billion euros to bolster the attractiveness of retirement-home jobs, has come under pressure for not putting an adequate system of checks and balances in place. (Bloomberg) -- The French government unveiled a sweeping plan to step up controls and transparency at nursing homes after a scandal involving the alleged mistreatment of elderly people at Orpea SA rocked the country this year. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- The French government is starting a series of probes into Orpea SA, after a book alleging mistreatment of elderly residents at its nursing homes created an uproar. The book, which trounced the shares of Orpea and dominated prime-time talk shows in France, has forced the government to act. France Probes Orpea as "Gravedigger" Book Sparks Outrage. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- The French government is starting a series of probes into Orpea SA, after a book alleging mistreatment of elderly residents at its nursing homes created an uproar. The book, which trounced the shares of Orpea and dominated prime-time talk shows in France, has forced the government to act. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Eastman Chemical Co. plans to invest as much as $1 billion to build the world's biggest molecular-plastics recycling facility in France, helping to cut consumption of fossil fuels -- and boosting President Emmanuel Macron's credentials, less than three months before the presidential election. Read more: France's Stunning Economic Rebound May Seal Macron's Re-Election The investment is substantial and shows France's "willingness to embrace innovative technologies", Ecology Minister Barbara Pompili said in the statement. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Eastman Chemical Co. plans to invest up to $1 billion to build the world's biggest molecular-plastics recycling facility in France, helping to cut consumption of fossil fuels. Read more: France's Stunning Economic Rebound May Seal Macron's Re-Election The investment is substantial and shows France's "willingness to embrace innovative technologies", Ecology Minister Barbara Pompili said in the statement. [Extracted from the article]

Macron, who faces re-election next year, also has an eye on the tourism sector, which had just started to recover before the emergence of the new virus strain. (Bloomberg) -- France said it has detected nine cases of the omicron variant, even as President Emmanuel Macron's government steps in with fresh promises to support the country's hard-hit tourism industry. [Extracted from the article]

"As long as the talks go on and our fishermen aren't given all the licenses requested and that they are owed, it's clear we need to accompany them", Attal said in an interview on Europe 1 radio on Sunday. (Bloomberg) -- France will continue supporting its fishermen as talks with the U.K. on post-Brexit fish licenses drag on, according to Gabriel Attal, the spokesman for the French government. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- France is pledging 1.91 billion euros ($2.2 billion) to help boost the country's appeal as a tourism destination in a plan presented by Prime Minister Jean Castex on Saturday. While there are reassuring signals in France with regard to bookings for winter sport resorts, "the context remains fragile" due to the new pandemic wave hitting Europe, Castex said in his speech today. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- France is pledging 1.9 billion euros ($2.2 billion) to help boost the country's appeal as a tourism destination, Le Figaro reported, citing Prime Minister Jean Castex, who is presenting the plan on Saturday. While the hospitality sector was one of the most impacted by the pandemic, France had been losing out to destinations such as Spain and the U.S. even before Covid-19, Le Figaro said. [Extracted from the article]

LVMH, the owner of the Louis Vuitton and Moet brands, Hermes and Kering, which owns Gucci, account for almost a quarter of the CAC's combined weighting. France's benchmark CAC 40 Index posted its first record close since the dot-com era, helped by booming demand for luxury goods, and a rebound in energy and banking stocks. [Extracted from the article]

LVMH, the owner of the Louis Vuitton and Moet brands, and its luxury rivals Hermes and Kering account for almost a quarter of the CAC's combined weighting. French stocks climbed, poised for their first record close since the dot-com era, helped by booming demand for luxury goods, and a rebound in energy and banking stocks. [Extracted from the article]

Call-center operator Teleperformance SA, which touched a fresh record high this week, last year replaced the caterer Sodexo SA in the benchmark index after getting a boost from work-from-home trends. (Bloomberg) -- Eurofins Scientific SE will join France's benchmark CAC 40 Index after the Covid-19 pandemic caused a boom in laboratory testing that resulted in the company's market value almost tripling. [Extracted from the article]

France will limit the use in shopping malls of a contested digital "health pass" that provides evidence of Covid status, even as the spread of the coronavirus accelerates again. Macron's tougher stance has had some success in pushing up vaccination rates. [Extracted from the article]

Thousands took to the streets across France on Saturday to protest President Emmanuel Macron's move to pressure people into getting Covid-19 vaccinations -- even as large numbers of their fellow citizens are signing up. France recorded a record 879,597 vaccinations on Friday, Health Minister Olivier Veran tweeted. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- France is accelerating Covid-19 vaccinations after a slow start, according to government spokesman Gabriel Attal. Medical staff age 50 and older started being vaccinated this weekend, Attal told the Le Parisien newspaper in an interview published Sunday. France's government is under pressure after a much slower debut of the vaccination campaign than other European countries. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- France is accelerating Covid-19 vaccinations after a slow start, according to government spokesman Gabriel Attal. Medical staff aged more than 50 started being vaccinated this weekend, Attal told the Le Parisien in an interview published in the newspaper's Sunday edition. France's government is under pressure after a much slower debut of the vaccination campaign than most other European countries. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Bernard Arnault is the latest billionaire to invest in French media company Lagardere, backing the indebted heir of founder Jean-Luc Lagardere and taking a stake in the company, which also has interests in retail and publishing. Arnault is the third French billionaire to take a stake in Lagardere after activist fund Amber Capital UK LLP demanded major changes at the conglomerate. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Olivier Bertrand, who owns more than 850 eateries from the Burger King chain in France to famed Parisian brasseries, wants a rescue plan for the country's restaurant sector, one of the most hit from the coronavirus pandemic. While the French government has promised 18 billion euros to rescue the country's tourism industry, a separate aid package is needed for the restaurant sector, Bertrand said. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Data-analytics company Palantir Technologies Inc. is in talks to provide software to governments across Europe to battle the spread of Covid-19 and make strained health-care systems more efficient, a person familiar with the matter said. Palantir has signed a deal with a regional government in Germany, where it already has a 14 million euro ($15 million) contract with law enforcement in North Rhine-Westphalia, the person said. When a nation or company buys access to Palantir, it can use the data analytics software to pull far-flung digital information into a single repository and mine it for patterns. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses economic growth in France and French stocks. Topics discussed include views of Matteo Brancolini on the CAC Index, impact of the financial crisis on banking industry in France, and presence of companies such as BNP Paribas and Societe Generale in the U.S. and their presence in France.

UBS Group AG analysts are sticking by a prediction that a fifth of shops in French shopping centers will be empty by 2023. Vacancies in French malls have reached 11.2 percent and are on a pace to meet UBS's prediction from January 2018 for 20.6 percent by the end of 2023, analysts led by Charles Boissier and Osmaan Malik wrote in a report. Carrefour SA and Maisons du Monde SA are among the French retailers with a strong presence in suburban shopping centers that were hit by Yellow Vest protests in recent months. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on the anticipated budget shortfall of the French health care system in 2013 and the services that will be cut to close the budget gap. Topics include the life expectancy of the French, the need for health care reform in France, and taxpayer-funded benefits. Information is provided on the likelihood that health care cuts will lead to mass protests.

The article focuses on the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi and its announcement that it will cut its research and development units in France and shift operations to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Information is provided on the changes within the company under the leadership of Sanofi chief executive officer (CEO) Chris Viehbacher and the protests his plans have caused among workers.

The article discusses regulation of the medical-device industry in the European Union. It reports on a scandal involving a French manufacturer of breast implants, Poly Implant Prothèse (PIP), which used a cheap substitute instead of medical silicone in its implants and for several years successfully deceived inspectors. Following the scandal, both French and European Union regulators are considering imposing new, tighter rules.

To contact the reporters on this story:Rudy Ruitenberg in Paris at rruitenberg@bloomberg.net;Hugo Miller in Geneva at hugomiller@bloomberg.net;Albertina Torsoli in Geneva at atorsoli@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story:Lynn Thomasson at lthomasson@bloomberg.netGeraldine Amiel, Vidya Root Attribution Vidya Root: editor Geraldine Amiel: editor Rudy Ruitenberg: by reporter Hugo Miller: by reporter Lynn Thomasson: editor responsible Albertina Torsoli: by reporter. [Extracted from the article]

France's state health institute, Inserm, is in talks with Guinea authorities on the first clinical trials of experimental Ebola therapies to be used on patients in the West African country. Sakoba Keita, head of the epidemic prevention unit at Guinea's Health Ministry, confirmed that Guinea is in talks with France on the experimental Ebola treatments. The two mid-stage trials contemplated by Inserm would be designed to show whether the compounds have an "anti-Ebola activity on human beings, which we don't know yet right now", Delfraissy said. [Extracted from the article]