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☆ Germany's far-right AfD party is finding success on TikTok — as its popularity among young voters grows
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Cardboard stands with the AfD logo lie on the chairs in the Wiesenhalle before the start of the AfD Brandenburg state party conference. Traditionally, young voters are seen as more left-leaning, but the voting data suggests some divergences, with experts pointing to social media and what they describe as online echo chambers. A study published earlier this month showed that over half of those aged 14-29 in Germany use social media to stay updated about news and politics. But Berendsen told CNBC that it is one of the social media platforms where the tunnel-effect can be an issue. An AfD spokesperson confirmed to CNBC that its videos and texts posted on social media are tailored to young people.

Persons: Monika Skolimowska, Infratest Dimap, Eva Berendsen, Anne Frank, Baerbock, Maximilian Krah, TikTok, Berendsen Organizations: Getty, Russia, Anne, CNBC Locations: Hesse, Germany

☆ Israeli Response to Iran Attack Seems Inevitable, Despite Allies’ Pleas
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Matthew Mpoke Bigg | Michael Levenson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

European diplomats traveled to Israel on Wednesday to make one more plea for restraint in response to the aerial attack that Iran launched this weekend, but Britain’s foreign secretary acknowledged that an Israeli reprisal seemed inevitable. “It is clear that the Israelis are making a decision to act,” the British foreign secretary, David Cameron, told the BBC, just before he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But Mr. Netanyahu, after meeting with Mr. Cameron and Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, said that Israel would “do everything necessary to defend itself.”He thanked Israel’s allies for their “support in words and support in actions” in remarks before a cabinet meeting, according to his office. But, he added: “They also have all kinds of suggestions and advice. But I want to make it clear — we will make our own decisions.”

Persons: David Cameron, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ”, Netanyahu, Tehran’s, Cameron, Annalena Baerbock, Israel, Israel’s Organizations: BBC Locations: Israel, Iran, United States, Britain, Germany

☆ World leaders call for restraint in the aftermath of Iran’s unprecedented air attack against Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty ImagesWorld leaders have called for calm in the aftermath of Iran's large-scale air attacks on Israel on Saturday, with many expressing deep concern over the prospect of a broader regional conflict. Ahead of a war cabinet meeting on Monday, Israel has pledged to "exact a price" from Iran in response to the Saturday attack. watch nowU.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday said that he condemned "in the strongest possible terms" Iran's unprecedented air attack against military facilities in Israel. 'No one wants to see more bloodshed'European leaders castigated Iran's attack against Israel and vowed to work to de-escalate the situation. France and the U.K. intercepted some of Iran's strikes on Israel on Saturday.

Persons: Israel, Joe Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran's, Emmanuel Macron, Rishi Sunak, Annalena Baerbock, Baerbock, Sunak, Yoko Kamikawa, Kamikawa, Gustavo Petro, Petro, Nicolas Maduro Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, CNBC, NBC News, Downing, German, NBC, Israel, Saudi Arabia's Foreign, United Nations Security Council, Sunday, UN, UNRWA, Kyodo, Japan's, United Nations, Colombia's, Bloomberg Locations: Israel, Tehran, Iran, Syria, Gaza, Syrian, Damascus, France, London, England, Germany, East, North Africa, Saudi, Egypt, Asia, China, Beijing, Palestine, Tokyo, Japan, South America, U.S, Miraflores, Caracas, Venezuela

CNN —As Sudan marks the grim anniversary of a year-long conflict, aid agencies have warned that the country teeters on the edge of collapse, facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that has been largely ignored by the rest of the world. The situation in Sudan is dire, with over 8.4 million people, including 2 million children under the age of 5, forced to flee their homes in the wake of the conflict, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF). Despite these alarming figures, the international response has been woefully inadequate, with only 5% of the 2024 humanitarian response plan for Sudan funded thus far, Islamic Relief said in a statement. A lack of responseDoctors Without Borders on Friday called on leaders attending the Paris conference “to immediately scale up the humanitarian response” in Sudan. “The warring parties in Sudan have inflicted tremendous suffering on Sudanese from all walks of life,” he said.

Persons: Elsadig Elnour, Volker Türk, Sudan “, “, Türk, Stéphane Séjourné, Annalena Baerbock, ”, Mohamed Badawi, ” Mohamed Osman, ” Osman, Sudan Tom Perriello, Perriello, Ramadan Organizations: CNN, Islamic, Sudanese Armed Forces, SAF, Rapid Support Forces, UN, Human, French, Sudan’s, African Center for Justice, Peace Studies, Paris, Human Rights Watch, “, US, State Department Locations: Sudan, France, Paris, ”, Jazira, Saudi Arabia

☆ Germany's refusal to send 'Taurus' missiles to Ukraine is highly contentious — but won't break the government
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

One key concern is that Ukraine may need on-the-ground help from German soldiers to work the Taurus missiles — a red line for Scholz. Since last November, the CDU has repeatedly tabled votes on sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine in Germany's parliament and failed. Annalena Baerbock, Green party foreign secretary, meanwhile, discussed Taurus missiles with U.K. foreign minister David Cameron. Separately, a high-profile Green party MP joined forces with a prominent CDU politician to pen an op-ed advocating for the delivery of Taurus missiles. "Unfortunately the Taurus debate keeps sucking up all the oxygen in the room, repeating itself over and over again.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Macron, Tusk, Christoph Soeder, Scholz, Chancellor Scholz, Frank Sauer, Annalena, David Cameron, Ulrike Franke, MBDA, Matthias Balk, Sauer, Franke Organizations: Polish, Federal, Getty, Taurus, Bundeswehr, Russia, Christian Democrats, Free Democrats, Greens —, Scholz's Social Democrats, CDU, Greens, Social Democrats, University of, Metis Institute for Strategy, Foresight, CNBC, European Council, Foreign Relations Locations: Ukraine, Germany, Russia, Germany's, Taurus, Bundeswehr Munich, Green, Swedish, Berlin

☆ Russia keeps threatening world leaders when they go to Ukraine. What happens if someone gets hurt?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In the two years since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion, allied dignitaries visiting Ukraine have been harried by strikes — and in one case, a drone — in the cities they've visited. "Definitely, I think Russia has been trying to be quite aggressive and intimidate Western leaders," he told Business Insider. President Joe Biden with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an unannounced visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 20, 2023. NATO's principle of collective defense — Article 5 — doesn't apply to armed attacks in this scenario as they would not be in NATO space, Loss told BI. Russia is 'greasing' a slippery slopeRussia is testing NATO's attitude to risk, Loss told BI, and the incidents involving leaders visiting Ukraine can be read as part of a much wider strategy of provocations.

Persons: —, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Mitsotakis, Vladimir Putin, they've, Joe Biden's, Josep Borrell, António Guterres, Frank, Walter Steinmeier, Cristian Nitoiou, Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Evan Vucci, Annalena Baerbock, scurrying, Nitoiou, Rafael Loss, Ukraine's, we've, JOHN THYS, Emmanuel Macron's, Putin Organizations: Service, Business, Reuters, UN, UK's Loughborough University, European Union, German Defense, European Council, Foreign Relations, NATO, Getty Locations: Russia, Ukrainian, Odesa, Mitsotakis, Ukraine, Kyiv, United States, Russian, Mykolaiv, Moscow, Poland, Baltic, Polish, AFP

☆ Cease-Fire Demand Grows Amid Questions Around Gaza Aid Convoy Deaths
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Victoria Kim | Raja Abdulrahim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

World leaders on Friday intensified their demands on Israel to get more aid into Gaza and provide more answers about the deaths of scores of Palestinians in a scene of chaos surrounding a humanitarian convoy its forces were securing. Many questions remained unanswered as the Israeli military and Gazan officials offered divergent accounts of one of the deadliest known disasters involving civilians in the nearly five-month war. “People in Gaza are closer to death than to life,” she said on social media. “More humanitarian aid must come in. Immediately.”France’s foreign minister, Stéphane Séjourné, called for an independent investigation and said the deadly chaos surrounding the convoy was the result of a humanitarian catastrophe that has left Gazans “fighting for food.”

Persons: Annalena, ”, Stéphane Séjourné Locations: Israel, Gaza

☆ Live updates: Russia-Ukraine war rages on second anniversary of invasion
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Chris Lau | Andrew Raine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Bernd von Jutrczenka/picture alliance/Getty ImagesAs Russia's war in Ukraine nears its second anniversary, world leaders continue to urge for support and aid in Ukraine. “We have learned, unfortunately, over the two years, this is not only a war against Ukraine, it's a war against the European peace order. United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the free world must renew its determination to stand behind Ukraine. “When Putin launched his illegal invasion two years ago, the free world was united in its response. And on this grim anniversary, we must renew our determination," Sunak said, according to a statement released late Friday.

Persons: Annalena Baerbock, Bernd von Jutrczenka, Vladimir, Putin, ” Baerbock, Baerbock, Rishi Sunak, “, Sunak, Laurent Bili, ”, Justin Trudeau, Canada’s Organizations: United Nations Security, Ukraine, United Nations, United, Prime, European Union, NATO, Canadian Locations: Ukraine, New York, Here's, Europe, United States, it's, Kyiv, Trudeau, Canada, Russia

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, Israeli jets strike Lebanon after rocket fire
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a media conference in Tel Aviv on October 12, 2023. Jacquelyn Martin/AFP/Getty ImagesIsrael's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday reiterated his intention to order concerted military operations in Rafah, vowing that his country will fight “until the absolutely victory.”Netanyahu said “powerful action” would come in the southern Gazan city after the evacuation of civilians from "battle zones." German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock condemned Israel's planned ground offensive, saying it would create a "humanitarian catastrophe.”It comes as the Israeli military said Wednesday that it has struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, as the Israel Defense Forces chief of staff warned of an ongoing offensive against targets in the neighboring country. The strikes follow an earlier deadly rocket attack from Lebanon on a northern Israeli city. Here are the latest headlines:

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Jacquelyn Martin, “, ” Netanyahu, Annalena Baerbock, Israel's Organizations: Getty, Israel's, Red Cross, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Tel Aviv, AFP, Rafah, Gazan, Israel, Lebanon, Israeli

☆ Israeli Offensive on Rafah Would Be a Humanitarian Catastrophe, Says Germany
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - An Israeli offensive on the Gaza city of Rafah where 1.3 million people have sought refuge would be a humanitarian catastrophe, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Wednesday. Speaking at a news conference in Jerusalem, Baerbock said: "1.3 million people are waiting there in a very small space. If the Israeli army were to launch an offensive on Rafah under these conditions, it would be a humanitarian catastrophe." War in Israel and Gaza View All 206 Images"Let's agree on sanctions together in Europe. Photos You Should See View All 22 Images(Reporting by Riham Alkousaa in Berlin; Editing by Sandra Maler)

Persons: Annalena Baerbock, Baerbock, Riham Alkousaa, Sandra Maler Organizations: Reuters, German, European Union, West Bank Locations: Gaza, Rafah, Jerusalem, Germany, France, Washington, Britain, Israel, Europe, Berlin

☆ Inconclusive Gaza Truce Talks Dent Hopes of Palestinians in Rafah
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

By Nidal al-MughrabiCAIRO (Reuters) - Palestinians jammed into their last refuge in Gaza voiced growing fear on Wednesday that Israel will soon launch a planned assault on the southern city of Rafah after truce talks in Cairo ended inconclusively. Said Jaber, a Gaza businessman who is sheltering in Rafah with his family, told Reuters via a chat app. We've had enough of this war, and we will need decades to rebuild Gaza and regain our lives. Rafah residents said on Tuesday that dozens of displaced people had begun to leave Rafah after Israeli shelling and air strikes in recent days. At least 28,576 Palestinians have been killed and 68,291 injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza since Oct.7, the health ministry in Gaza said on Wednesday.

Persons: Nidal, Israel, Said Jaber, We've, Annalena Baerbock, Benjamin Netanyahu, Khan Younis, Nasser, Dr Haitham Ahmed, William Burns, Nidal al, Dan Williams, Emily Rose, Timothy Heritage, Ros Russell Organizations: Reuters, Israeli, Nasser Hospital Locations: CAIRO, Gaza, Rafah, Cairo, inconclusively, United States, Israel, Egypt, Qatar, hideouts, Berlin, Rafa, Hamas, Khan, Jeruslame

☆ Gaza mediators and others warn Israel of disaster if it launches a ground invasion on crowded Rafah
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Israel's neighbors and key mediators warned Saturday of disaster and repercussions if its military launches a ground invasion in Gaza's southern city of Rafah, where Israel says remaining Hamas strongholds are located — along with over half the besieged territory's population. There's even increasing friction between Netanyahu and the United States, whose officials have said a Rafah invasion with no plan for civilians there would lead to disaster. He fears even worse with a ground invasion of Rafah, and said the world's silence has enabled Israel to proceed. Later on Saturday, an Israeli airstrike on a home in Rafah killed at least 11 people, including three children, according to Ahmed al-Soufi, head of Rafah municipality. Two other strikes in Rafah killed two policemen and three senior officers in the civil police, according to city officials.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Sameh Shoukry, Read, Netanyahu, Annalena Baerbock, Khan Younis, Fadel, Ghannam, Ahmed al, Samir Abu Loulya, Ahmed Maghrabi, Ashraf al, Qidra, Herzl Halevi Organizations: Hamas, Associated Press, Nasser Hospital, Health Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Rafah, Gaza, Gaza's, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United States

☆ Germany’s far-right AfD face mounting protests over plan to deport migrants
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Sophie Tanno | Nadine Schmidt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Protests of up to 30,000 people have already taken place in cities including Berlin, Leipzig, Rostock, Essen and Cologne. Demonstrators gathered outside the capital’s redbrick town hall on Wednesday holding placards reading “Nazis out” and chanting slogans against far-right AfD politician Björn Höcke. The gathering of AfD members, neo-Nazis and other far-right extremists took place at a lakeside hotel outside the city of Potsdam on November 25. The AfD told CNN that the two “separated with mutual agreement.”However, the idea of a “mass deportation plan” was openly supported by one AfD representative in the state of Brandenberg. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/picture alliance/dpa/Getty ImagesAsked whether he thought the protests would encourage people to stop voting for the AfD, Abaci was hopeful.

Persons: Björn Höcke, Annalena Baerbock, Olaf Scholz, Sebastian Christoph Gollnow, Correctiv, ”, Alice Weidel, Roland Hartwig –, René Springer, Christian Dürr, Rika von Gierke, “, ” “, ’, It’s, ” Kazin, ” Chancellor Scholz, Baerbock, Abaci, Scholz, Robert Habeck, Stern, –, Nadine Schmidt, Sophie Tanno Organizations: Berlin CNN, Potsdam Sunday, CNN, Free Democrats Party, ” Locations: Germany, Berlin, Leipzig, Rostock, Essen, Cologne, Potsdam, Brandenberg, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Nazi, Thuringia, Saxony, Brandenburg, London

BERLIN (AP) — Thousands of people gathered in Germany on Sunday for demonstrations against the far right, among them Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his foreign minister, following a report that extremists recently met to discuss the deportation of millions of immigrants, including German citizens, if they took power. There were protests in Potsdam, just outside Berlin, and at the Brandenburg Gate in the German capital. The furor has prompted some calls for Germany to consider seeking to ban AfD, which has moved steadily to the right since its founding in 2013. AfD is currently second in national polls, behind the mainstream center-right opposition and ahead of the parties in the center-left Scholz 's unpopular coalition. Germany faces the European Parliament election in June and then state elections in September in three eastern regions where AfD is very strong.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Annalena Baerbock, Baerbock, ”, Martin Sellner, Mike Schubert Organizations: BERLIN, Identitarian, Germany, Identitarian Movement, Austrian, Potsdam Locations: Germany, Potsdam, Berlin, Duisburg, Brandenburg

☆ EU is ill-equipped to meet growing global threats
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The snag is that EU countries are ever more reluctant to give up their right to block collective actions. Meanwhile, rivalry between the United States and China – and a green subsidy race between the world's two largest economies – is undermining the world trading system. The response of EU countries to the Gaza conflict has also been shambolic, both individually and collectively. Yet EU countries are also grappling with nationalistic currents, the latest demonstration of which is last week’s election victory by Geert Wilders, the Dutch politician who has long campaigned on an anti-immigrant and anti-EU ticket. But it is not clear that EU countries want to find a way to speed up collective decision-making.

Persons: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Geert Wilders, Olivier Costa, Jan Zielonka, Erik Jones, keener, Annalena, Shahin Vallée, Peter Thal Larsen, Streisand Neto, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, European, NATO, EU, United Nations General Assembly, Franco, Britain, IF, College of Europe, Oxford University, European University Institute, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, United States, China, EU, People's Republic, Gaza, Dutch, Washington, Beijing, Germany, France, Denmark, United Kingdom, Berlin, Franco, Russia

☆ Support for Germany's Greens falls amid budget crisis, poll shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Germany's Greens party co-leaders Omid Nouripour, Ricarda Lan, German Economy and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock applause during the 49th Greens party convention in Rheinstetten, near Karlsruhe, Germany, November 25, 2023. REUTERS/Wolfgang... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreFRANKFURT, Nov 26 (Reuters) - The Green Party's popularity with voters has fallen to its lowest in over five years, a poll showed on Sunday, as Germany's coalition government grapples with a big hole in its budget. A weekly poll conducted by the INSA institute for the Bild am Sonntag newspaper showed 73% of respondents were dissatisfied with the federal government. "The coalition falls to 34%, 18 percentage points less than in the 2021 federal election," said INSA's head Hermann Binkert. "At the moment it does not look like the SPD or the Greens will be able to lead the government after the 2025 general election."

Persons: Omid Nouripour, Ricarda Lan, Robert Habeck, Annalena, Wolfgang, Annalena Baerbock, Hermann Binkert, Olaf Scholz, Emma, Victoria Farr, Christina Fincher Organizations: Germany's Greens, Climate, German, 49th Greens, REUTERS, The Greens, Social Democrats, Free Democrats, SPD, Greens, CDU, CSU, Thomson Locations: German, Rheinstetten, Karlsruhe, Germany, FRANKFURT

☆ Infineon reports better-than-expected 2023 revenue on semiconductor demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Infineon Technologies AG logo is seen during German Economy Minister Robert Habeck and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's visit, in Dresden, Germany July 13, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Nov 15 (Reuters) - German chip manufacturer Infineon (IFXGn.DE) reported higher-than-expected revenue for its 2023 fiscal year on Wednesday as demand for semiconductors, particularly in the electromobility and renewable energy sectors, remains unabated. Revenue was 16.31 billion euros ($17.72 billion), up 15% from the year before, slightly beating company-provided analyst expectations of 16.22 billion euros. "Structural semiconductor growth in the areas of renewable energy, electromobility – especially in China – and microcontrollers for the automotive industry remains unabated," said Chief Executive Jochen Hanebeck. The company is forecasting slightly slower revenue growth for the 2024 fiscal year of 17 billion euros, plus or minus 500 million.

Persons: Robert Habeck, Annalena Baerbock's, Annegret, Jochen Hanebeck, Miranda Murray, Linda Pasquini Organizations: Infineon, REUTERS, Rights, Revenue, Thomson Locations: Dresden, Germany, China

☆ German foreign minister, in Israel, says humanitarian crisis must be contained
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's holds a press conference in Tel Aviv, Israel November 11, 2023, in this still image taken from a video. The trip has taken Baerbock to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. It was unclear how Israel in case of a general ceasefire would be able to defend itself, Baerbock said. The Middle East has been on edge since Hamas fighters rampaged into Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people. "I have assured my colleague Eli Cohen of Germany's unshakable solidarity with Israel," Baerbock said.

Persons: Annalena Baerbock's, Joseph Campbell, Annalena Baerbock, Eli Cohen, Baerbock, rampaged, Germany's, Vera Eckert, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, West Bank, European Union, United Arab, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza, East, Brussels, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Ramallah, West Bank . Saudi Arabia

☆ German Foreign Minister, in Israel, Says Humanitarian Crisis Must Be Contained
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Saturday in Tel Aviv that the international community should focus on limiting the impact of military operations in Gaza on the civilian population. Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries called on Saturday for an immediate end to military operations in Gaza, rejecting Israel's justification of its actions against Palestinians as self-defence. It was unclear how Israel in case of a general ceasefire would be able to defend itself, Baerbock said. The Middle East has been on edge since Hamas fighters rampaged into Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people. "I have assured my colleague Eli Cohen of Germany's unshakable solidarity with Israel," Baerbock said.

Persons: Annalena Baerbock, Eli Cohen, Baerbock, rampaged, Germany's, Vera Eckert, Christina Fincher Organizations: West Bank, European Union, United Arab, Reuters Locations: FRANKFURT, Tel Aviv, Gaza, East, Israel, Brussels, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Ramallah, West Bank . Saudi Arabia

☆ China urges G7 to stop 'inciting confrontation'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A two-day G7 foreign minister meeting held in Tokyo ended on Wednesday and mainly called for humanitarian pauses in the Israel-Hamas war to allow in aid and help the release of hostages. "China will resolutely counter any smear campaigns from external forces," the embassy said, adding it strongly protested against other countries' intentions to curb China with regards to Taiwan. President Tsai Ing-wen, of the democratically governed Taiwan island, said she would continue to work with G7 members toward a free and open Indo Pacific. Critical comments on Taiwan and Hong Kong have long riled Beijing, which considers such criticism as outside interference in its domestic affairs. Democratically governed Taiwan, which China considers as part of its territory, is the most sensitive issue.

Persons: Josep Borrell, James, Annalena Baerbock, Antony Blinken, Yoko Kamikawa, Melanie Joly, Tsai Ing, Hong Kong, Albee Zhang, Ryan Woo, Ben Blanchard, Bernadette Baum Organizations: European Union for Foreign Affairs, German, Canadian, France's, Hong, Thomson Locations: British, U.S, BEIJING, China, Japan, Tokyo, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, Taiwan Strait, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Beijing, Hong

The statement gave no details of options being discussed if the Hamas militant group is ousted from Gaza as the result of an ongoing Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian enclave. Israel has so far been vague about its long-term plans for Gaza. Diplomats in Washington, the United Nations, the Middle East and beyond have also started weighing the options. The statement will present the G7's "united stance" on the Middle East situation, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Wednesday. The G7 group of wealthy, industrialised nations is made up of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, with the European Union also participating in the talks.

Persons: Josep Borrell, James, Annalena Baerbock, Antony Blinken, Yoko Kamikawa, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Eli Cohen, Hirokazu Matsuno, Netanyahu, John Geddie, Sakura Murakami, Satoshi Sugiyama, Lincoln, Gerry Doyle Organizations: European Union for Foreign Affairs, German, Foreign, Group, Wall Street Journal, Union, Gaza, Diplomats, United Nations, Reuters, European Union, Thomson Locations: British, U.S, TOKYO, Gaza, Tokyo, Japan, Israel, Ukraine, China, Washington, Palestinian, United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy

☆ EU's von der Leyen visits Kyiv ahead of report on accession progress
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen attends the UK Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Summit at Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Britain November 2, 2023. Joe Giddens/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Nov 4 (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Saturday ahead of a report the European Union is expected to present next week about Ukraine's progress in its membership bid, a Ukrainian lawmaker said. Parliamentary deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak said on his Telegram channel that von der Leyen was expected to speak in the Ukrainian parliament. Ukraine, which applied to join the European Union days after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, sees joining the trade bloc as a top priority. Von der Leyen's visit comes at a difficult moment for Ukraine as its troops battle fatigue and concerns swirl over the future of vital U.S. military assistance which Kyiv relies on heavily.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Joe Giddens, Yaroslav Zheleznyak, der Leyen, Ukraine's, Annalena Baerbock, Von der, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Olena, Tom Balmforth Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, Bletchley, Rights, European, German, Thomson Locations: Milton Keynes , Buckinghamshire, Britain, Kyiv, European Union, Ukrainian, Ukraine, European

☆ BMW says diversifying risks does not mean it is leaving China
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

WUHAN, CHINA - MAY 25: (CHINA OUT) Attendees wear protective masks as they look around the at BMW Ix3 during 2023 Central China International Auto Show on May 25, 2023 in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. More than 80 brands took part in the 2023 Central China International Auto Show which started on Thursday. (Photo by Getty Images)German automaker BMW Group said that diversifying its supply chains away from China does not mean it is leaving the country completely. "Especially the BMW Vision Neue Klasse, it will not be a small volume. BMW is not leaving China, he said, adding that free trade is "fundamental to our business model."

Persons: Oliver Zipse, CNBC's Martin Soong, Annalena Baerbock Organizations: BMW Ix3, China International, Getty Images, BMW Group, BMW, Neue, Japan, Neue Klasse, Tesla Locations: WUHAN, CHINA, Wuhan, Hubei province, China, Germany

EU officials also drafted a statement in support of the proposal for an EU summit later this week, although they cautioned the text could still change in the coming days. "There's a vital need to get water, to get food, to get medical supplies into Gaza," said Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin. Some questioned whether a pause would impede Israel's right to defend itself as it seeks to destroy Hamas positions in Gaza. But Israel has the right to self-defence," said Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky questioned "how such a ceasefire should be established with a partner inside Gaza, where the Hamas terrorist organisation now is controlling the situation".

Persons: Josep Borrell, Juan Medina, Antonio Guterres, Borrell, Micheal Martin, Annalena Baerbock, Israel, Alexander Schallenberg ., Jan Lipavsky, Andrew Gray, Bart Meijer, Jan Strupczewski, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Alison Williams Organizations: European Union for Foreign Affairs, REUTERS, Rights, Hamas, U.N, United Nations, Irish, Austrian, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, Rights BRUSSELS, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Egypt, Rafah, Luxembourg, France, Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, Germany, Alexander Schallenberg . Czech

☆ Cairo Peace Summit on Gaza conflict: who will attend?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Members of the military stand guard as people take part in a protest in support of Palestinians, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Old Cairo, Egypt, October 20, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany Acquire Licensing RightsOct 20 (Reuters) - Egypt is planning to host an international conference on Saturday to discuss the escalating war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza. The list of attendees expected so far at the Cairo Peace Summit include:Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-SisiPalestinian President Mahmoud AbbasJordanian King AbdullahBahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al KhalifaKuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-SabahItalian Prime Minister Giorgia MeloniSpanish Prime Minister Pedro SanchezGreek Prime Minister Kyriakos MitsotakisCypriot President Nikos ChristodoulidesSouth African President Cyril RamaphosaGerman Foreign Minister Annalena BaerbockFrench Foreign Minister Catherine ColonnaJapanese Foreign Minister Yoko KamikawaBritish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs James CleverlyNorwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth EideUnited Nations Secretary-General Antonio GuterresEuropean Council President Charles MichelEuropean Union foreign policy chief Josep BorrellReporting by Reuters bureaus; Editing by Edmund Blair, Gareth Jones and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mohamed Abd El Ghany, Abdel Fattah al, Mahmoud Abbas, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al, Ahmad al, Giorgia, Pedro Sanchez, Kyriakos, Nikos Christodoulides, Cyril Ramaphosa, Annalena Baerbock, Catherine Colonna Japanese, Yoko Kamikawa, Foreign Affairs James, Espen Barth Eide, Antonio, Charles Michel, Josep Borrell, Edmund Blair, Gareth Jones, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Palestinian, Cairo Peace, Pedro Sanchez Greek, State, Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide United Nations, Charles Michel European Union, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Old Cairo, Egypt, Gaza, Cairo, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah Bahraini, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Kuwaiti Crown, Sabah Italian, Spanish, Norwegian

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