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Erotica And Politics: Scandal In France Around Finance Minister’s New Steamy Novel

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Erotica And Politics: Scandal In France Around Finance Minister’s New Steamy Novel

It actually isn’t an “erotic novel” because the media has been clamoring. Fairly, it’s only a very express passage within the final novel by Bruno Le Maire, France’s Minister of Finance, that has brought about the most recent scandal in President Emmanuel Macron’s cupboard.

The novel, “Fugue Américaine,” the latest by the writer-minister and revealed by Gallimard. Not too long ago launched in bookstores and devoted to the pianist Vladimir Horowitz, who died in 1989, it tells the story of two brothers, Franz and Oskar Wertheimer, who journey to Cuba to attend one of many pianist’s concert events and discover their lives turned the other way up.

The web page that has triggered particular consideration — aside from the query of how a really busy minister has time to write down books — is about one of many protagonists “describing excessive sexual arousal in essentially the most express phrases,” as defined by Le Level.

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“These strains made the rounds on social media, prompting an abundance of sarcasm and mockery,” in keeping with the journal. “And so they have revived political questioning: Is the federal government not out of step with the temper of the nation, plunged into the pension disaster, marked by new demonstrations on Monday, Could 1?”

The torrid passage

“The intercourse scene in Bruno Le Maire’s e-book provokes ridicule and anger amongst opposition politicians,” The Guardian reported. “It has left the federal government going through recent accusations it isn’t listening to the issues of the nation simply because it tries to include anger over the unpopular rise within the pension age.”

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In line with the paper, the intercourse scene in chapter 11 that instantly went viral in social media and prompted French satirists and protesters to ridicule Le Maire, entails a personality referred to as Julia.

“Julia’s declaration, ‘I’ve by no means been this dilated’, sparked ridicule and have become the subject of anti-government indicators and graffiti at Could day demonstrations throughout France,” The Guardian writes.

The French version of the Huffington Publish headlined its story “Bruno Le Maire has written about an anus and nobody was prepared for this.”

The place does he discover the time?

Le Maire had already been topic of controversy with one other e-book, a memoir revealed in 2004 “about his time as a political advisor to the then-foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin, when he wrote about his spouse touching his penis on a visit to Venice,” The Guardian famous.

Actually, as a scholar the minister wrote erotic novelos below the pseudonym Duc William.

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It’s the second erotica-tinged incident currently for the embattled president. The April difficulty of Playboy triggered outrage for its cowl photograph of Secretary of State for the Social and Solidarity Economic system Marlène Schiappa linked to an interview and different suggestive pictures (not bare).

MORE FROM FORBESFrench Minister, Marlene Schiappa, On The Cowl Of Playboy, Quel Scandale!

The Finance Minister mustn’t have “a minute, an hour, every week of his time to dedicate to writing a e-book when the French are experiencing large worries about inflation,” a journalist and consultant within the Nationwide Meeting (the decrease home of Parliament) from the leftist, populist occasion La France Insoumise, François Ruffin, stated concerning the Finance’s Minister new novel, reflecting one of many predominant critiques among the many public.

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“If there was solely politics with out the liberty that offers literary and romantic creation, politics wouldn’t be sufficient,” La Maire, who has been Finance Minister since Macron took workplace in 2017 and authored 13 different novels, 5 of which appeared throughout his time working the nation’s financial system, advised Agence France-Presse.

MORE FROM FORBESThe 20 Finest Locations In Europe To Go to In 2023: Warsaw Tops Checklist By European Finest Locations

In social media, the minister defined that writing is his interest — simply as others wish to backyard or hike — and his method to preserve private steadiness in his life. He additionally defined that he writes throughout weekends, holidays and after getting up at 5 a.m.

Different erotica-writing politicians

In an article entitled “7 French politicians who’ve written erotic literature, ” The Native explains that in Francehaving a sure literary aptitude is broadly thought to be an necessary talent for politicians, and it is quite common for ministers to write down books earlier than, throughout and after their phrases in workplace.

Whereas most stick with political topic issues, there are additionally loads who department out into literature. And amongst these writers, erotica is a well-liked material.”

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Social Economic system Minister Schiappa was a widely known feminist blogger and writer earlier than launching her political profession, with quite a few books in her identify — a few of them erotic novels.

“Utilizing the pseudonym Marie Minelli, she has written erotic and uninhibited novels on feminine sexuality like Osez les Sexfriends (Dare the Hookup), Sexe, Mensonge et Banlieues Chaudes (Intercourse, Lies and Sizzling Suburbs) and Remark Transformer Votre Mec en Brad Pitt en 30 Jours (Easy methods to Remodel Your Man into Brad Pitt in 30 Days,)” notes Le Level.

The second on The Native’s record is former prime minister Edouard Philippe, presently the mayor of Le Havre and a widely-rumored 2027 presidential candidate.

“He has additionally written a number of books, together with Dans l’Ombre (Within the Shadows) through which the hero — a younger politician on the marketing campaign path — has a number of erotic encounters and likewise treats the reader to an nearly forensic degree of element on the precise kind of breasts that he prefers. (We’ll spare you the complete passage but it surely appears he is a Goldilocks kind — not too large, not too small.)”

Former president Valéry Giscard d’Estaing additionally wrote a number of steamy novels after he vacated the Elysée Palace in 1981. “The one that actually set tongues wagging was La Princesse et le Président – along with the intercourse scenes set within the presidential palace, it amplified rumors about an affair between the ex-president and Princess Diana.”

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Aurélie Filippetti, the nation’s tradition minister between 2012 and 2014, was a printed writer with a number of books to her identify earlier than getting into politics, in keeping with the paper.

“Her novel Un Homme dans la poche (A Man within the Pocket) was extra of a romance than erotica, but it surely included a number of express intercourse scenes that had been broadly republished in newspapers as soon as she grew to become a minister.”

She’s now in control of cultural issues for Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo “and continues to write down, though her later works are extra political in nature.”

Then are rumors about an unpublished novel by President Macron himself: “The President is believed to have, when very younger, written a novel about his budding relationship with Brigitte Trogneux (now Madame Macron) though it isn’t clear whether or not this a romance or one thing slightly smuttier and only a few folks declare to have really learn it,” the paper teases.

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KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. to Announce Fourth Quarter 2024 Results

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KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. to Announce Fourth Quarter 2024 Results

NEW YORK, January 17, 2025–(BUSINESS WIRE)–KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (“KREF”) (NYSE: KREF) announced today that it plans to release its financial results for the fourth quarter 2024 on Monday, February 3, 2025, after the closing of trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

A conference call to discuss KREF’s financial results will be held on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. ET. The conference call may be accessed by dialing (844) 784-1730 (U.S. callers) or +1 (412) 380-7410 (non-U.S. callers); a pass code is not required. Additionally, the conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet and may be accessed through the Investor Relations section of KREF’s website at http://www.kkrreit.com/investor-relations/events-and-presentations. A slide presentation containing supplemental information may also be accessed through this website in advance of the call.

A replay of the live broadcast will be available on KREF’s website or by dialing (877) 344-7529 (U.S. callers) or +1 (412) 317-0088 (non-U.S. callers), pass code 4697062, beginning approximately two hours after the broadcast.

About KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc.

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. is a real estate finance company that focuses primarily on originating and acquiring senior loans secured by commercial real estate properties. KREF is externally managed and advised by an affiliate of KKR & Co. Inc. For additional information about KREF, please visit its website at www.kkrreit.com.

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250117176772/en/

Contacts

Investor Relations:
Jack Switala
(212) 763-9048
kref-ir@kkr.com

Media:
Miles Radcliffe-Trenner
Tel: (212) 750-8300
media@kkr.com

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Finance Director Bill Poole named to Presidential Leadership Scholars Program

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Finance Director Bill Poole named to Presidential Leadership Scholars Program

The Presidential Leadership Scholars Program announced that State Finance Director Bill Poole has been selected as a member of the Presidential Leadership Scholars Class of 2025. As one of 57 Scholars, Director Poole will join accomplished leaders in education, healthcare, public service, business, and other sectors to learn and hone leadership skills through interactions with former presidents, noted academics and industry leaders.

For the past decade, PLS has united a broad network of established public and private sector leaders to collaborate and create positive change in their communities and across the world. Chosen for their demonstrated leadership and support of projects aimed at addressing challenges and improving communities, Scholars will participate in a six-month program focused on core leadership skills, including: vision and communication, decision making, and strategic partnerships.

“It is an incredible honor to be named to the 2025 Class of Presidential Leadership Scholars,” said Director Poole. “I look forward to interacting with and learning from past presidents and industry leaders. I am excited to work alongside peers from across the country that are dedicated to promoting civic engagement and working on issues that will improve our communities.”

In addition to visiting four presidential centers, scholars will participate in a personal leadership project addressing local and global issues.

“I am proud to surround myself with a dedicated team of public servants to help propel Alabama forward, and I am certainly glad that includes Bill Poole. It is very exciting Bill has been selected for the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program, and I know he will represent our state well,” said Governor Kay Ivey. “Congratulations to Bill as he continues taking steps to develop and best serve the people of Alabama.”

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Bill Poole was appointed Finance Director for the State of Alabama on August 1, 2021. As Alabama’s chief financial officer, Poole serves as an advisor to the governor and the legislature on all financial matters and is charged with promoting and protecting the fiscal interests of the State of Alabama. He also serves as chairman of Innovate Alabama, the state’s first public-private partnership tasked with promoting entrepreneurship, technology and innovation. Poole was a member of the Alabama House of Representatives for eleven years, where he served as chairman of the House Ways and Means Education appropriations committee for eight of those years.

To learn more about the Presidential Leadership Scholars program, visit “Presidential Leadership Scholars.”

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US consumer finance watchdog fines payments firm Block over Cash App operations

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US consumer finance watchdog fines payments firm Block over Cash App operations

Block said the issues raised by the regulator were “historical” and did not “reflect the Cash App experience today” [File]
| Photo Credit: REUTERS

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on Thursday ordered payments firm Block to pay a penalty citing fraud and weak security protocols on its mobile payment service Cash App.

The regulator said Block, which is led by tech entrepreneur Jack Dorsey, directed Cash App users who experienced fraud-related losses to contact their banks for transaction reversals.

However, when the banks approached Block regarding these claims, Block denied that any fraud had occurred.

Cash App is one of the largest peer-to-peer payment platforms in the U.S. and allows consumers to send and receive electronic money transfers, accept direct deposits and use a prepaid card to make purchases.

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“When things went wrong, Cash App flouted its responsibilities and even burdened local banks with problems that the company caused,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra.

In response, Block said the issues raised by the regulator were “historical” and did not “reflect the Cash App experience today.”

“While we strongly disagree with the CFPB’s mischaracterizations, we made the decision to settle this matter in the interest of putting it behind us and focusing on what’s best for our customers and our business,” the company said.

The move is one of the final regulatory actions under the Biden administration as Washington awaits the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Billionaire Elon Musk, who is slated to co-head a new government agency to slash government spending, has called for the elimination of the CFPB.

The CFPB’s order includes up to $120 million in redress to consumers and a $55 million penalty to be paid into the CFPB’s victim relief fund.

The regulator also alleged that Block deployed a range of tactics to suppress Cash App users from seeking help in order to reduce its own costs.

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Block’s gross profit rose 19% to $2.25 billion in the third quarter ended Sept 30, with Cash App accounting for $1.31 billion of the total income.

On Wednesday, the company also agreed to pay $80 million to a group of 48 state financial regulators after the agencies determined the company had insufficient policies for policing Cash App.

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