Latest news with #Julienne
CNBC
11-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
U.S. tariffs take center stage but China and the EU are quietly clashing
The U.S. tariff saga has stolen global spotlight from trade tensions between China and the European Union, which are now heating up. Accusations and investigations over each other's trade practices have long been a staple of EU-China trade relations, underpinned by concerns over how domestic economies are likely to be impacted by competing imports. In recent weeks, EU restrictions on Chinese companies taking part in public tenders for medical devices were quickly met with China imposing import curbs on such products. Separately, long-threatened Chinese duties on brandy from the EU came into force earlier this month, and both Beijing and Brussels have ramped up criticism of each another. Altogether, EU-China trade relations are now "quite poor," according to Marc Julienne, director of the Center of Asian Studies at the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri). "What was once a domain of great opportunity and enthusiasm for the bilateral relationship has now become more about risks than opportunities," he told CNBC earlier this week. EU and China relations are encumbered by many challenges and risks often linked to clashing economic positions, Grzegorz Stec, senior analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies, suggested. "The EU and China are broadly on a colliding trajectory in terms of their trade and industrial policy concerns," he told CNBC. Bones of contention include the challenge of China's overcapacity and trade diversion to Europe, Stec, who is also head of the Mercator Institute's Brussels office, explained. "Beijing's increasingly pressing need to export contradicts the EU's need to protect its own industrial base," he added. China's economy is facing a gap between its production capacity and demand. It is also struggling with sluggish growth, while exports, which long boosted the economy, have been under pressure amid global trade tensions and lower demand. Ifri's Julienne also flagged a series of concerns that make the EU-China relationship tricky, including an increasingly difficult environment for foreign companies operating in China and Europe's growing trade deficit. Additionally, he said Beijing was "weaponizing" trade to put pressure on Europe — like they did with the brandy tariffs. China first started investigating European brandy imports after the EU began slapping levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles last year, which pose steep competition to Europe-made alternatives. U.S. President Donald Trump's recent tariff regime could have been an opportunity for China and the EU to improve their relations, according to Ifri's Julienne. "It should have had a positive impact on the bilateral relationship, in the sense that — facing economic coercion from the United States — [the EU and China] — might have been expected to negotiate and compromise in order to make the most of their trade relationship amid the US tariff war," he said. This has yet to materialize. Jean-Marc Fenet, senior fellow at the ESSEC Institute for Geopolitics & Business, suggested one reason for this failure could be that Beijing feels it has come out on top in its own trade drama with Washington. "The need for a common front with the EU is therefore less necessary," Fenet said. "In fact, the fear now in Beijing is rather that the EU will accept an alignment with an anti-Chinese line that the American administration would impose on the sidelines of the trade negotiations." After initial sharp escalations and tense negotiations, China and the U.S. confirmed a trade framework agreement in June, including provisions around hotly contested rare earths and tech regulations. Earlier this year, Beijing had imposed export restrictions on several rare earth elements and magnets, which are often used in the automotive, defense and energy sectors, as part of its response to initial U.S. tariffs. The Mercator Institute's Stec argued that a solution is "unlikely to be found" on the lingering points of trade contention between Beijing and Brussels, instead foreseeing further issues. "The overcapacity and trade diversion issues paired with Beijing's willingness to use rare earths export controls as leverage in EV tariffs negotiations signal more turbulences to come," he said. Tensions over the EU's measures to boost its autonomy and China's attempts to prevent these efforts can also be expected according to Stec. Fenet struck a similarly skeptical tone. "The significant hardening of the European Commission's positions and the increase in the power of the protection tools it has equipped itself with in recent years, make it likely that there will be growing frictions, as shown by the recent measures taken against Chinese medical equipment and as we will undoubtedly see at the EU-China Summit on July 24th in Beijing," he added. His hopes for the summit — which sources told CNBC will include a meeting between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Chinese President Xi Jinping — are also low. "The two parties already seem to be anticipating a difficult and probably inconclusive meeting," Fenet said.
Scottish Sun
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Hollywood A-lister forced to find new hotel after blundering staff double booked her £25k a night suite with Beyonce
Scroll down to find out how the 'total nightmare' was finally resolved SUITE ROW Hollywood A-lister forced to find new hotel after blundering staff double booked her £25k a night suite with Beyonce BEYONCE hired all of the suites of one of London's poshest hotels for her Cowboy Carter tour - leaving Sydney Sweeney and Julienne Moore out in the cold. An insider said Sydney, 27, and Julienne, 66, were supposed to have two of the £25,000-a-night pads when they flew into London this week to promote their new film Echo Valley. 5 Beyonce hired all of the suites of one of London's poshest hotels for her Cowboy Carter tour - leaving two Hollywood stars out in the cold Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 Sydney Sweeney was supposed to have one of the £25,000-a-night suites when she flew into London this week Credit: Getty 5 Actress Julienne Moore was also left without a suite after the blunder Credit: Getty But an error at the hotel, which we are not naming, meant it clashed with Beyonce's 12-night stay - with bosses fumbling to find the Hollywood actresses a place to stay. A source said: 'Sydney and Julienne were supposed to be staying in the suites but Beyonce had booked out every single one. 'Her whole family and team have taken over the penthouse suites and she moved in last week for her Cowboy Carter tour. 'It was only when Sydney and Julienne were on their way that the error was picked up. 'It was the talk of the hotel because they had to cancel on Sydney and Julienne and find them somewhere else to stay. 'Sydney ended up in the Peninsula 15 minutes away, while Julienne was put up in Raffles - which is close to where she was booked in originally. 'Beyonce was totally unaware all of this was happening but it caused a meltdown at the hotel because someone dropped the ball at their end. 'It was a total nightmare.' Sydney and Julienne were seen together at the Echo Valley premiere which was held at the BFI on London's Southbank on Tuesday. Julienne later flew to New York and yesterday was seen promoting the film alone in the Big Apple. Beyonce 'giving away' Cowboy Carter tour tickets in London after struggling to fill seats Beyonce, 43, will play her penultimate show in London's Tottenham stadium tonight before her final show on the UK leg of her Cowboy Carter tour on Monday. She will then fly across the channel to play three shows in the Stade de France before heading to the US for the final leg, including two massive shows in her hometown Houston, Texas. Her twins, Rumi and Sir Carter, turned eight yesterday and on Thursday night Beyonce asked the 50,000 strong crowd to wish them happy birthday. As Rumi joined her on stage alongside her other daughter Blue Ivy, 13, Beyonce said: 'Mummy loves you.' 5 Sydney ended up in the Peninsula Hotel 15 minutes away Credit: Rex 5 Julienne was put up in Raffles - which is close to where she was booked in originally Credit: Alamy Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
The Sun
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Hollywood A-lister forced to find new hotel after blundering staff double booked her £25k a night suite with Beyonce
BEYONCE hired all of the suites of one of London's poshest hotels for her Cowboy Carter tour - leaving Sydney Sweeney and Julienne Moore out in the cold. An insider said Sydney, 27, and Julienne, 66, were supposed to have two of the £25,000-a-night pads when they flew into London this week to promote their new film Echo Valley. 5 5 5 But an error at the hotel, which we are not naming, meant it clashed with Beyonce 's 12-night stay - with bosses fumbling to find the Hollywood actresses a place to stay. A source said: 'Sydney and Julienne were supposed to be staying in the suites but Beyonce had booked out every single one. 'Her whole family and team have taken over the penthouse suites and she moved in last week for her Cowboy Carter tour. 'It was only when Sydney and Julienne were on their way that the error was picked up. 'It was the talk of the hotel because they had to cancel on Sydney and Julienne and find them somewhere else to stay. 'Sydney ended up in the Peninsula 15 minutes away, while Julienne was put up in Raffles - which is close to where she was booked in originally. 'Beyonce was totally unaware all of this was happening but it caused a meltdown at the hotel because someone dropped the ball at their end. 'It was a total nightmare.' Sydney and Julienne were seen together at the Echo Valley premiere which was held at the BFI on London's Southbank on Tuesday. Julienne later flew to New York and yesterday was seen promoting the film alone in the Big Apple. Beyonce 'giving away' Cowboy Carter tour tickets in London after struggling to fill seats Beyonce, 43, will play her penultimate show in London's Tottenham stadium tonight before her final show on the UK leg of her Cowboy Carter tour on Monday. She will then fly across the channel to play three shows in the Stade de France before heading to the US for the final leg, including two massive shows in her hometown Houston, Texas. Her twins, Rumi and Sir Carter, turned eight yesterday and on Thursday night Beyonce asked the 50,000 strong crowd to wish them happy birthday. As Rumi joined her on stage alongside her other daughter Blue Ivy, 13, Beyonce said: 'Mummy loves you.' 5 5
Wall Street Journal
08-05-2025
- Wall Street Journal
Fiction: ‘The Remembered Soldier' by Anjet Daanje
They were called les morts vivants, or the living dead. These were survivors of the battlefields of World War I who were so severely shell-shocked that they no longer knew who they were. Some were catatonic, some schizophrenic. In rare cases, they suffered from post-traumatic retrograde amnesia, an inability to remember any of their past, and if their identity tags had gone missing they would have been rendered anonymous. The men were housed in asylums. Their photos were advertised in newspapers and desperately scrutinized by the countless parents and widows whose loved ones had gone missing at the front. The most famous case was that of a man known as Anthelme Mangin, who was claimed by upward of 20 families. A custody dispute continued into the late 1930s, almost until the end of Mangin's damaged life. The Dutch writer Anjet Daanje has borrowed loosely from the Mangin case for her big, powerful drama of love and memory, 'The Remembered Soldier.' The Flemish-speaking soldier of this novel is called Noon Merckem, because in 1917 he was discovered around midday, wandering around a battlefield near Merckem, a village in the Flanders region of Belgium (he appears to have been involved in the Battle of Passchendaele). Since the end of the war, he has lived in the Guislain Asylum in Ghent, alone and with no idea of who he used to be. But in 1922 Julienne Coppens, a Belgian woman responding to an advertisement, recognizes him as her missing husband. He is, she says, Amand Stephaan Coppens, the proprietor of a photography studio and the father of two. Amand, as he must now get used to being called, leaves the asylum with Julienne, and Ms. Daanje progresses patiently through the stages of their acclimation. Initially he resides in their home as a guest, anxious and uncomfortable. Julienne is standoffish as well, assailed by longings but fearful of scaring Amand away. Gradually they begin to work side by side in the photography studio. Proximity softens their doubts and an intimacy blooms. For Amand, who cannot remember their earlier married life, this is a newlywed's passion, and the novel revels in the excitement of his 'puppy love.' The rub is that, in his dreams, Amand's memories are slowly returning, but they are not of Julienne—they are nightmares of battlefield slaughter that he cannot reconcile with his newfound domestic happiness. Here 'The Remembered Soldier' begins to explore the gray area between performance and reality. Amand and Julienne embrace the roles of the joyful couple reunited by the hand of providence while papering over Amand's panic attacks and strange, dissociative episodes. As word spreads of his homecoming and Amand plays the part of 'the miracle man' returned from the dead, he feels surprised by 'how easily his life can be reshaped into an inspiring story, correct in every factual detail, yet a lie from beginning to end.'
Scotsman
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Call the Midwife film and WW2 spin-off announced
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now Call the Midwife is getting a WW2 set prequel and is heading to the big screen! 🤱 Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Call the Midwife is heading to the big screen. A film has been confirmed by the BBC. While a WW2-set prequel show has been announced. Call the Midwife's 'iconic' characters are heading to the big screen, it has been announced. The BBC has laid out its plans for the future of the beloved historical drama. A spin-off series set during World War II, featuring younger versions of familiar faces, has also been confirmed. It is due to be released next year - as well as a regular season of the hit show. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Beeb has also offered up a few morsels about this year's Christmas special. It is quite the busy time for the inhabitants of Nonnatus House. Here's all you need to know: BBC confirms exciting plans for Call the Midwife Christmas special Once again fans will be treated to a double dose of festive action this year as a two-part special has been announced. And in a major twist, much of the action will take place away from Poplar. The 2025 Christmas special of Call the Midwife will be set in Hong Kong - as well as its usual London home. It will be followed by a regular season in January 2026. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A brief tease reads: 'When senior members of the Nonnatus House staff head to Hong Kong on a mercy mission, the younger midwives are left to cope alone. As the Christmas action shifts between the sun-drenched Far East and a snowy East End, Sister Julienne suddenly finds herself excited about the Order's future. Call the Midwife cast on set of 2025 Christmas special | Neal Street / Olly Courtney 'After years of battling change, she decides to embrace it, work with it, and see what love can do. This change of energy reverberates throughout series 15. The new series kicks off in 1971 with several of the ladies embracing Women's Lib and burning their bras outside Nonnatus House. 'As the year unfolds, we see the team handle cases including premature birth, placenta previa, kidney cancer, tuberculosis and slavery.' Call the Midwife set for spin-off and a film However the news doesn't stop with an update on this year's Christmas special. The world of Nonnatus House will also be expanding. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A prequel TV series set in Poplar during World War Two will be made for the BBC in 2026. In addition, Neal Street, in development with BBC Film, are producing a Call the Midwife film. Not many details have been announced about the movie, except that it will be set overseas in 1972 and feature iconic characters from the show. Heidi Thomas OBE, creator and writer, says: 'The opening of new doors at Nonnatus House feels profoundly emotional, and yet just right. I have never run out of stories for our midwives, and I never will. 'But having wept, laughed, and raged my way from 1957 to 1971, I found myself yearning to delve into the deeper past. The Blitz years in the East End were extraordinary - filled with loss, togetherness, courage and joy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The bombs fell, the babies kept on coming, and the Sisters kept on going. There will be so much in the prequel for our wonderful, loyal fans, including the appearance of some familiar (if much younger!) faces.' She added: 'As the classic Call the Midwife series moves further into the 1970s, it also seems the perfect time for our much-loved regulars to take a short break from Poplar and test themselves in an unfamiliar landscape. The rise in hospital births, and changes in the NHS, have clipped their wings, and this is their chance to take flight and work out what really matters. 'Whilst the location of the film remains top-secret, I can say it is going to look absolutely fantastic on the big screen.' Have you got a story you want to share with our readers? You can now send it to us online via YourWorld at . It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.
