Latest news with #GeertDeClercq
The Star
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Belgium probing NATO staff over defence contract irregularities
FILE PHOTO: The logo of NATO is seen at a meeting of the North Atlantic Council in the NATO defence ministers' session together with Sweden as the invitee, at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium February 15, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian judicial authorities said they are investigating former and current NATO staff and have arrested one suspect over possible irregularities in awarding contracts for NATO military equipment. The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office said in a statement on Wednesday that, as part of an investigation into membership of a criminal organisation, corruption and money laundering, police arrested and questioned two suspects in Belgium on Monday. One remains in custody, while the other has been released. The arrests were made as part of criminal investigations in Belgium, with offshoots to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Spain, and in the Netherlands - coordinated by the EU agency for criminal justice cooperation Eurojust. The investigations focus on possible irregularities in awarding NATO contracts to defence contractors for equipment such as ammunition and drones, notably the possible passing-on of confidential information by employees of the Luxembourg-based NATO Support & Procurement Agency (NSPA) to defence contractors. Belgian prosecutors added that several former or current NSPA employees could be involved and that there were indications that money obtained from the illegal practices was laundered, partly by setting up consultancy companies. They added that NATO was cooperating with the investigations. A NATO spokesperson said that, thanks to an investigation initiated by NSPA, law enforcement authorities in a number of countries had arrested several individuals accused of corrupt activities related to NATO contracts. "NATO is working closely with law enforcement to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice," the spokesperson said. Late on Tuesday, the Dutch Public Prosecution office said it had arrested a former Dutch defence ministry employee on corruption charges. The suspect - who was arrested on Monday at Schiphol Airport - was responsible for international purchase contracts. The man is suspected of having taken bribes in 2023 over the awarding of purchase contracts, together with others, some of them outside the Netherlands. Two other Dutch suspects - who were not civil servants - were also arrested as part of the case. (Reporting by Geert De Clercq and Andrew Gray. Editing by Mark Potter)
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
EU spokesperson says China is key enabler of Russia's war in Ukraine
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A European Commission spokesperson said on Wednesday that China continues to be the key enabler of Russia's war in Ukraine and that without China's support, Russia would not be able to wage the war to the same extent. On Tuesday, official Chinese news agency Xinhua reported Beijing was ready to work with European Union leaders to expand mutual openness and properly handle frictions and differences. (Reporting by Geert De Clercq; Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten and Toby Chopra)
BreakingNews.ie
24-04-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Boy (15) who killed one and injured three in French high school stabbing sent email to students
A 15-year-old boy killed a fellow pupil and wounded three others in a stabbing attack at a high school in the western French city of Nantes on Thursday, before he was overpowered by teachers, police said. BFM TV reported that the student who died was a girl and that the three injured students were boys. Police did not confirm the age or gender of the victims. Advertisement Teaching staff subdued the attacker at the Notre-Dame-de-Toutes-Aides, a private Catholic school, before police arrived, a police spokesperson said. She said there was nothing to indicate a terrorist motive. Students were held inside the school after the attack but allowed to leave in the mid-afternoon under police protection. Dozens of parents waited outside. "We're waiting to be able to hold them in our arms ... to help them deal with the stress this will have caused," said Nicolas, a parent at the school. Advertisement Police did not name the suspect or give any motives for the attack. Local newspaper Ouest France said the attacker was dressed all in black, and wore a helmet and balaclava. Two knives were found lying next to his belongings, it said. BFM and other media reported that the suspected attacker, using his email account, had emailed a document to all students in the school in which he painted a bleak picture of society, but had not made any mention of a possible attack. French broadcaster franceinfo said the stabbing followed a conflict among students. Police did not immediately confirm the media reports. (Reporting by Geert De Clercq in Paris and Stephane Mahe in Nantes Editing by Makini Brice, Timothy Heritage and Frances Kerry)
Irish Independent
24-04-2025
- Irish Independent
Nantes school stabbing: French student killed and three others injured
BREAKING | Geert De Clercq ©Reuters A student at a French high school stabbed four other students at his school Thursday, killing at least one and injuring three others before being arrested, police said. The circumstances of the attack were not immediately clear.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Carrefour offers 20% premium to take Brazil unit private
By Andre Romani and Geert De Clercq SAO PAULO/PARIS (Reuters) -French grocer Carrefour SA on Tuesday proposed to take private its Brazilian unit Atacadao SA, also known as Carrefour Brasil, offering 5.3 billion reais ($920 million) in cash or shares for the one-third stake it does not already own. The unit operates Carrefour supermarkets and wholesale stores under the Atacadao and Sam's Club brands, contributing about 20% of the group's global gross sales. "Delisting the company will allow it to manage operations with more agility and enhanced focus on execution," Carrefour said in a statement. Under the proposal sent to Carrefour Brasil's management, the French parent company offered to pay 7.70 reais ($1.34) per share of the Brazilian unit, an almost 20% premium over Monday's closing price. Minority shareholders would be entitled to payment in listed shares of Carrefour, cash or both. The deal could be worth some 5.3 billion reais at that price. Shares in Carrefour Brasil rose around 10% on Tuesday. Carrefour owns about 67% of the Brazilian unit, controlling the company together with Peninsula Participacoes, the holding company founded by the late Abilio Diniz. Peninsula supports the deal and has decided to select the alternative to convert all its Carrefour Brasil stake into Carrefour shares, according to the Carrefour statement. Peninsula, also one of the largest shareholders of France's Carrefour, directly holds about 7% of Carrefour Brasil. Santander analysts including Ruben Couto said they believe the offer undervalues Carrefour Brasil but that minority shareholders' ability to block the deal are limited since Peninsula is aligned with Carrefour. "We see limited space for the deal not progressing, though the valuation could potentially be adjusted for Carrefour France to fully take Carrefour Brasil private," they wrote in a note to clients. The deal, which is pending approval from Carrefour Brasil's shareholders, is expected to be finalized in the second quarter, and would increase its earnings per share from the first year, Carrefour added. "We are convinced that this decision represents an excellent opportunity for the group's capital allocation and will generate sustainable value for our customers, employees, partners and shareholders," Carrefour's Chief Executive Alexandre Bompard said in a statement. Instead of cash, Carrefour Brasil shareholders could also choose to receive one Carrefour share for every 11 shares of the Brazilian unit. The offer also included an option for compensation in both cash and shares. ($1 = 5.7651 reais) Sign in to access your portfolio
