The most interesting events of the week 23-29 September
James Yarema, Unsplash
The French authorities are preparing for risky changes to cope with the country's financial problems. Not so long ago, the French have already gone on strike against raising the retirement age. However, this measure is clearly not enough to fully solve the current crisis.
France may increase taxes on the rich
"The French people want and need fiscal justice," Michel Barnier said after his recent appointment as French Prime Minister, looking at ways to reduce the budget deficit.
Barnier suggested the possibility of raising taxes on the wealthy and large corporations, saying he had no plans to raise taxes on all French people but did not rule out the participation of the wealthiest in efforts to stabilise the economy. France faces a high budget deficit of 5.5 percent of GDP in 2023, exceeding the government's target and the EU limit, which has sparked criticism from both left-wing parties and among the right wing to which the new prime minister belongs.
Despite the pressure, Barnier emphasised that France needs to remain fiscally sound in international markets. However, his proposals could complicate the political situation, as there is resistance within Macron's own party to possible tax changes, and the budget plan for next year must be presented by 1 October.
Amazon employees prepare to quit
Amazon employees are set to return to full-time offices by January 2025, but many aren't going to wait for that deadline. According to a survey of 2,585 workers on anonymous platform Blind, 73% are considering changing jobs following CEO Andy Jassy's recent memo about returning to a five-day office week. About 80 per cent of respondents said their colleagues are also considering leaving because of the decision.
The innovation has hit employee morale hard, especially those who have benefited from flexible hours, including parents and carers. Many are hoping management will reconsider the policy as employee discontent grows and an employee survey showed massive opposition to the changes.
In response to the criticism, Jassy said the return to office work has already improved team collaboration and efficiency, which has boosted confidence in the need for the new schedule.
The oldest cheese on the planet has been found
The world's oldest cheese discovery, some 3,600 years old, has been discovered in China. Back in 2003, during excavations at the Xiaohe cemetery in Xinjiang, archaeologists discovered a coffin with a substance on the neck of a mummy, which at first was mistaken for jewellery. However, scientists later determined that it was the oldest sample of cheese.
Paleogeneticist Qiaomei Fu of the Chinese Academy of Sciences explained that the cheese has dried out severely over millennia, becoming hard and dense. The coffin was perfectly preserved thanks to the dry desert climate of the Tarim Basin, which allowed the cheese itself and other finds to be preserved.
The researchers found that this cheese was made from goat and cow milk by fermentation with kefir grains.
