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☆ Malta PM Turns up at Farmers’ Protest to Hear Complaints
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

VALLETTA (Reuters) - Farmers in Malta staging a demonstration on Friday against EU agricultural policies as part of Europe-wide protests were surprised when Prime Minister Robert Abela turned up in person to hear their complaints. The farmers drove tractors and trucks from a vegetable market in the centre of the tiny Mediterranean island to Floriana, a town near the capital Valletta, waving banners and placards that accused the EU of "killing its own farmers". "No farmers, no food, no future," read one placard attached to a tractor. Farmers have also protested in several European capitals and blocked streets in Brussels on Thursday while EU leaders were holding a meeting there. On Friday farmers blocked the Dutch-Belgian border and occupied roads in Greece, though French farmers started lifting their blockades after the government in Paris made concessions.

Persons: Robert Abela, Christopher Scicluna, Gareth Jones Organizations: Reuters, Farmers, European Union Locations: VALLETTA, Malta, Europe, Floriana, Valletta, Brussels, Belgian, Greece, Paris

☆ Hungary Far-Right Would Lay Claim to Neighbouring Region, if Ukraine Loses War
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary's far-right Our Homeland party would lay claim to a western region of Ukraine that is home to about 150,000 ethnic Hungarians if Ukraine loses its statehood due to Russia's invasion, the party's leader said late on Saturday. "Regarding the war in Ukraine, our message is very simple: immediate ceasefire, peace and a resolution through talks," Toroczkai said in a video posted on his party's website, calling for autonomy for ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine. "If this war ends up with Ukraine losing its statehood, because this is also on the cards, then as the only Hungarian party taking this position, let me signal that we lay claim to Transcarpathia," he said, drawing applause from the crowd. Budapest has clashed with Kyiv over what it says are curbs on the rights of roughly 150,000 ethnic Hungarians to use their native tongue. Last month all European Union states except Hungary, which is also a member of NATO, agreed to start EU accession talks with Ukraine.

Persons: Laszlo Toroczkai, Toroczkai, Viktor Orban, Zoltan Kovacs, Peter Szijjarto, Dmytro Kuleba, Denys Shmyhal, Boldizsar Gyori, William Maclean Organizations: Homeland, Dutch Forum for Democracy, Ukraine, Hungarian Foreign Ministry, Hungarian, Union, NATO Locations: BUDAPEST, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Budapest, Hungarian, Hungary

☆ Splitting the check is no longer restaurant etiquette — in 2024 it's every diner for themself
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Kieran Press-Reynolds | Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Recently, TikTok users have been gaining traction with the idea that people shouldn't feel guilty about paying for their own food and not splitting the check. Diners say splitting the bill can be unfairSome of the recent bill-splitting discourse posts are grouped under the hashtag "groupdinner," which has 9.6 million views. splitting the bill. AdvertisementIn sticking to etiquette norms when paying for one's own meal, it's crucial that guests repay their portion promptly. More than anything, communication between the hosts and guests is essential and can help thwart nightmare bill-splitting mishaps like the ones described in the viral TikTok videos.

Persons: —, @finegalnopimple, TikToker @remiandryan, Nick Leighton, fleeced, Leighton, OnePoll, It's, it'll, it's Organizations: Service, Business, Louisiana Federal Credit Union, New York Times, Forbes Locations: Dutch, Louisiana

☆ Belarus adopts new military doctrine involving nuclear weapons
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Mariya Knight | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Belarus on Friday adopted a new military doctrine that – if approved – would be the first step toward deploying nuclear weapons across the country. The Union State of Belarus and Russia Treaty sets up a legal basis for a wide-ranging alliance between the two countries. Baltic states reinforce bordersThe move by Belarus came as neighboring Baltic states signed an agreement to reinforce their borders with Belarus and Russia. During an interview with state news agency Belta in August last year, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said his country did not “bring nuclear weapons here in order to scare someone.”“Nuclear weapons represent a strong deterring factor. But these are tactical nuclear weapons, not strategic ones.

Persons: Viktor Khrenin, ”, Khrenin, “, Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko, Hanno Pevkur Organizations: CNN, ” Belarusian, Belarus ’, Collective Security, Organization, Union State, NATO, The Union, The Union State of, Russia Treaty, Belarusian People’s Assembly, Novosti, UN, OSCE, ” Minsk, Estonian Defense Ministry, Estonian Minister of Defense, Belta Locations: Belarus, Republic of Belarus, Russian, Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, The Union State, The Union State of Belarus, Ukraine, NATO, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Baltic, Estonia, Estonian

☆ Sports Illustrated lays off most, possibly all, of its staff
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —The future of Sports Illustrated was uncertain Friday after the publisher of the iconic magazine and website laid off most or “probably all” of its guild-represented staff, its union said. In a memo sent to staff viewed by CNN, the magazine’s publisher said it is “laying off staff that work on the SI brand.”Authentic Brands Group has owned the magazine and website since 2019. “This is another difficult day in what has been a difficult four years for Sports Illustrated under Arena Group (previously The Maven) stewardship,” the union said in a statement on X. The union said it expects the Arena Group to honor its union contract and for all of its employees to be treated fairly. Levinsohn was replaced, effective immediately, by interim chief executive Manoj Bhargava, the 5-Hour Energy founder who owns a majority stake in The Arena Group, said Vince Bodiford, a spokesperson for Bhargava.

Persons: ABG, Manoj Bhargava, Mitch Goldich, It’s, Ross Levinsohn, Levinsohn, Vince Bodiford, Bhargava, CNN’s Oliver Darcy, Liam Reilly Organizations: New, New York CNN, Sports, CNN, SI, Arena Group, Sports Illustrated, ”, Hour Energy, Group, The Locations: New York

SEATTLE (AP) — Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson on Monday sued to block the proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons, two of the nation's largest grocery chains. Kroger and Albertsons have more than 300 locations in the state and account for more than half of its grocery sales, according to the suit. “This merger is bad for Washington shoppers and workers,” Ferguson said in a news release Monday. "Workers, shoppers and our communities need to prevent this proposed mega-merger from taking place,” Yasmin Ashur, a union member who works in an Albertsons grocery store, said in a union statement Monday. The grocery chains say they must merge to compete with Walmart, Amazon and other major companies that have stepped into the grocery business.

Persons: Bob Ferguson, Ferguson, ” Ferguson, ” Kroger, Fred Meyer, Kroger, ” Yasmin Ashur Organizations: SEATTLE, Kroger, Albertsons, King County Superior Court, Seattle Times, “, Safeway, Federal Trade Commission, United Food & Commercial Workers, The Seattle Times, Workers, S Wholesale Grocers, Walmart, Amazon Locations: Washington, King County, Cincinnati, Boise , Idaho, Oregon, Idaho

☆ EU clears up to 1.2 bln euros of aid for cloud computing
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

European flags fly outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Dec 5 (Reuters) - The European Commission approved on Tuesday up to 1.2 billion euros ($1.30 billion) of state aid for a European cloud computing project to try to boost the involvement of EU business in a field dominated by U.S. companies. Those countries will provide up to 1.2 billion euros in public funding, which in turn is expected to unlock 1.4 billion euros in private investments, the European Commission said. The European cloud technology project features 19 companies, including French companies Atos (ATOS.PA) and Orange (ORAN.PA), Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE) and Germany's SAP (SAPG.DE), Telecom Italia (TLIT.MI) and Telefonica Espana (TEF.MC). The three biggest players in cloud computing are Amazon (AMZN.O), Microsoft (MSFT.O) and Google (GOOGL.O).

Persons: Yves Herman, Didier Reynders, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Piotr Lipinski, Philip Blenkinsop, Barbara Lewis Organizations: European Commission, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Infrastructure, Services, IPCEI CIS, Union, Deutsche Telekom, SAP, Telecom Italia, Telefonica Espana, Microsoft, Google, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain

☆ Europe Moves to Fill Weapons Gap Amid Doubts About U.S. Commitment to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Lara Jakes | More About Lara Jakes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Faced with growing American reluctance to send more military aid to Ukraine, European leaders are moving to fill the gap, vowing new support for Kyiv as it battles Russia in a war in Europe’s backyard. Several countries — including Germany, Britain and Norway — are increasing production of weapons, especially the artillery ammunition that Ukraine so badly needs. Germany, once a laggard in providing aid to Ukraine, announced a week ago that it planned to double its support to $8.5 billion in 2024 and would deliver more crucial air-defense systems by the end of this year. And European Union states are gearing up to train an additional 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers, bringing the total so far to 40,000. But that may be little comfort to Ukraine, where a counteroffensive against invading Russian forces has stalled as winter approaches, and officials say more support is needed now, even as many countries turn their attention to the Israel-Gaza war.

Persons: Kajsa Ollongren Organizations: Kyiv, Union, Clingendael Institute Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Germany, Britain, Norway, Israel, Gaza

"Coal in North Macedonia represents 40% of the energy source, so it's very big, it's very important," EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso told Reuters. Both of its coal-fired plants are ageing, outdated and run on lignite, the most polluting type of coal. An IFC spokesperson said the green transition, including in North Macedonia, was one of its key priorities, but that it was not in a position to confirm any plan details. "The world's richest countries need to work with the multilateral development banks to find effective, structural ways to channel significantly scaled up energy transition finance," he said. North Macedonia joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance, a group of countries committed to phasing out coal-fired power, in 2021.

Persons: Odile Renaud, Basso, COP27, REK, Renaud, Leo Roberts, E3G, Kate Abnett, Kirsten Donovan, Louise Heavens Organizations: European Bank for Reconstruction, World Bank, Reuters, Investment, United Nations, Climate Investment Funds, International Finance Corporation, IFC, Bank, Past Coal Alliance, Union, Thomson Locations: Dubai, wean, Macedonia, North Macedonia, South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam, Senegal, North, Skopje, Europe, Macedonian, Pakistan, Colombia, Ukraine

The deal, which is expected to be announced at the COP28 climate talks in Dubai beginning on Nov. 30, will lay out a plan to close the country's two coal power plants and replace them with 1.7 gigawatts of renewable energy. "Coal in North Macedonia represents 40% of the energy source, so it's very big, it's very important," EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso told Reuters. Both of its coal-fired plants are ageing, outdated and run on lignite, the most polluting type of coal. An IFC spokesperson said the green transition, including in North Macedonia, was one of its key priorities, but that it was not in a position to confirm any plan details. North Macedonia joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance, a group of countries committed to phasing out coal-fired power, in 2021.

Persons: Odile Renaud, Basso, REK, Renaud, Kate Abnett, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: European Bank for Reconstruction, World Bank, Reuters, Investment, United Nations, Investment Funds, International Finance Corporation, IFC, Bank, Past Coal Alliance, Union, Thomson Locations: Dubai, wean, Macedonia, North Macedonia, South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam, Senegal, North, Skopje, Europe, Macedonian, Ukraine

☆ Bernie Sanders scoffs at Dean Phillips' apology for dismissing his 'rigged' primary claims: 'He's changed his views now that he's a candidate?'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rep. Dean Phillips claims the 2024 Democratic primary is rigged against him. AdvertisementAdvertisementRep. Dean Phillips is offering an apology to Bernie Sanders — but the Vermont senator isn't all that interested. "I had long dismissed his complaints about the rigged Democratic Party primary system," Phillips wrote on X. I have an apology to make to @BernieSandersI had long dismissed his complaints about the rigged Democratic Party primary system. AdvertisementAdvertisementAs for ballot access, Phillips launched his campaign on October 27, missing the October 16 deadline to file in the early state of Nevada.

Persons: Dean Phillips, Bernie Sanders, who's, Sanders, Phillips, —, Bernie Sanders —, isn't, Bernie, He's, I'm, Dean Phillips 🇺🇸 ( Organizations: Democratic, Service, Democratic Party Locations: Vermont, Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A deal was reached Sunday to end a week-long strike that had shut down a major shipping artery in the Great Lakes, halting the flow of grain and other goods from the U.S. and Canada. The strike shut down 13 locks on the seaway between Lake Erie and Montreal, bottling up ships in the Great Lakes and preventing more ships from coming in. The St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes are part of a system of locks, canals, rivers and lakes that stretches more than 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers) from the Atlantic Ocean to the western tip of Lake Superior in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Ships that travel it include oceangoing “salties” and “lakers” that stick to the lakes. It’s the first time that a strike has shut down the vital shipping artery since 1968.

Persons: “, Terence Bowles, Unifor, ”, Bruce Burrows Organizations: Lawrence Seaway Management Corp, Seaway Management, Seaway, Lawrence Seaway, Ships, “ lakers, Marine Commerce, U.S Locations: MINNEAPOLIS, Great, U.S, Canada, Ontario, Quebec, Unifor, Lake Erie, Montreal, The St, Lawrence, Lake Superior, Minnesota, Wisconsin

☆ Moscow will confiscate EU assets if Brussels 'steals' frozen Russian funds, Putin ally says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Russia will confiscate assets belonging to European Union states it deems unfriendly if the bloc "steals" frozen Russian funds in a drive to fund Ukraine, a top ally of President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said on Friday that the EU executive was working on a proposal to pool some of the profits derived from frozen Russian state assets to help Ukraine and its post-war reconstruction. Vyacheslav Volodin, the chairman of the State Duma, the Russian lower house of parliament, said Moscow would retaliate in a way that would be more costly to the bloc if the EU moved against Russian assets, many of which are held in Belgium. In that case, far more assets belonging to unfriendly countries will be confiscated than our frozen funds in Europe," he said. Von der Leyen said on Friday that the value of frozen Russian sovereign assets was 211 billion euros ($223.15 billion) and recalled that the bloc had decided that Russia must pay for Ukraine's reconstruction.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Ursula von der Leyen, Vyacheslav Volodin, Putin, Von der Leyen, Volodin, Andrew Osborn Organizations: Union, European Commission, EU, State Duma, Russian Federation, Reuters, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Moscow, Belgium, Kyiv, Europe

☆ Estonia's Kallas Dismayed by Hungary's Orban Handshake With 'Criminal' Putin
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

With great pomp, Viktor Orban and Putin held talks in China on Tuesday. Broadcast on Russian television, Orban told Putin that he had never wanted to oppose Moscow and is trying to salvage bilateral contacts. "It was very, very unpleasant to see that," Kallas, one of Ukraine's staunchest defenders, told Reuters in an interview in Paris. At least 2,600 Hungarians and 600 Soviet troops were killed in the fighting. This is the reality, but it doesn't mean that we should lose our interest in these areas," Kallas said.

Persons: John Irish PARIS, Vladimir Putin, Kaja Kallas, Viktor Orban, Putin, Orban, Ukraine's, Kallas, Emmanuel Macron, he's, John Irish, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Union, Ukraine, Reuters, Criminal Court, ICC, Republicans, Hamas Locations: Moscow, Estonian, Hungary, Russia, China, Paris, Ukraine, Soviet, Kyiv, U.S, Israel, Nagorno, Karabakh, Western Balkans, Middle East

Alamo employees worked with United Auto Workers Local 2179 and this week voted to unionize, with nearly two-thirds in favor. They join Alamo employees at the Brooklyn theater, who voted last month to become part of Local 2179. At a time of labor action in the movie industry and beyond, union activity is expanding at movie theaters themselves, a trend which began during the pandemic. Within days, Brooklyn employees voted to unionize, by a margin of more than 2-to-1. “For years the workers of Brooklyn Alamo have tried to solve problems through dialogue with management, to no avail,” the union statement read in part.

Persons: “ Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, Barbenheimer ”, Maggie Quick, ”, Tyler Trautman, “, Quick, it's, Olga Brudastova, Chad Bolton, Tim League, Alamo, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Bernie, I’m, Michael Kusterman, Shelli Taylor, It'll Organizations: Alamo, Manhattan, United Auto Workers, Film, Amherst Cinema, Film Forum, UAW, The Associated Press, Vermont, League, Karrie League, Democratic Party, America, Hollywood, Gallup, Rice University, Entertainment, League . Altamont Capital Partners, Fortress Investment, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Alamo Locations: Manhattan, Brooklyn, New York, Massachusetts, San Francisco, Austin , Texas, Amherst, “, Alamo, Texas, U.S, Austin

[1/7] Healthcare workers strike in front of Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, as more than 75,000 Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers go on strike from October 4 to 7 across the United States, in Los Angeles, California, U.S. October 4, 2023. Kaiser said its hospitals and emergency departments remained open, staffed by doctors, managers and "contingency workers." They are represented by the SEIU United Healthcare Workers West. The Kaiser labor coalition, made up of eight unions representing medical professionals and support staff, insists the company needs to hire 10,000 new healthcare workers to fill current vacancies. Kaiser nationwide employs 68,000 nurses and 213,000 technicians, clerical workers, and administrative staff, alongside its 24,000 doctors.

Persons: Kaiser, Christina Andersen, Michael LeRoy, Ahmed Aboulenein, Bhanvi Satija, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, Permanente, REUTERS, Rights, Kaiser Permanente, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, District Columbia, Kaiser, Labor, Tenet Healthcare, SEIU United Healthcare Workers, SEIU, University of Illinois, D.C, Thomson Locations: United States, Los Angeles , California, U.S, Kaiser, California , Oregon, Washington , Colorado, Virginia, Claremont , California, California, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, University of Illinois Urbana, Champaign, Washington, California , Colorado , Oregon

[1/3] FILE PHOTO:Surgeon Rosanna Curinga walks out of Locri Hospital, in Locri, southern Italy, August 27, 2023. Italy's health ministry declined to provide further details. People are leaving Italy because of it," said Professor Foad Aodi, head of the Italian association of foreign doctors. The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the failings of the national health service in Italy, which suffered the second-highest death toll from the pandemic in Europe after Britain. Higher salaries and better working conditions elsewhere are also proving a lure for Italy's own medical professionals, Italy's health unions say, exacerbating staff shortages.

Persons: Rosanna Curinga, Curinga, Abdel Karim Boutimah, Elizabeth Balbuena Delgado, Delgado, Orazio Schillaci, Schillaci, Giorgia Meloni, Andrea Filippi, Foad Aodi, Roberto Occhiuto, Occhiuto, Lorenzo Grillo Della Berta, Antonio De Palma, Francesca Piscioneri, Crispian Balmer, Rupam Nair, Daniel Flynn Organizations: Locri, Cuban, Indian Health Ministry, Italian, Economic Co, Development, Reuters, Union, OECD, Thomson Locations: Locri, Italy, Calabria, Communist Cuba, Africa, Asia, South America, Europe, Santiago de Cuba, Italy's, India, Paris, France, Germany, Britain, Havana, COVID, Morbegno, Milan, Peru, Switzerland, Abu Dhabi, Antonio De Palma ., Cuba, Rome, Delhi

☆ Europe Made a Bold Pledge of Ammunition for Ukraine. Now Comes the Hard Part.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Lara Jakes | More About Lara Jakes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The pledge last March sounded as catchy as it was ambitious: European Union states would deliver a million rounds of 155-millimeter ammunition to Ukraine within a year. Europe’s shrunken military sector, they say, may simply be unable to ramp up production fast enough to achieve the million-shell goal. Since March, governments across Europe have become more aggressive about assessing — and replenishing — ammunition needs, not just for Ukraine, but also for their own military stockpiles. Manufacturers are building 155-millimeter rounds even before being fully paid. And European Union officials have fast-tracked at least eight contracts with producers on the continent to supply and reimburse states that jointly procure artillery ammunition instead of competing for it.

Organizations: European Union Locations: Ukraine, Europe

☆ EU states consider easing post-Brexit derivatives clearing plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But the Spanish EU presidency wants to water this down. Under the draft law, EU securities watchdog ESMA would determine minimum clearing thresholds. The European Parliament is also finalising its own position, before it meets with EU states to thrash out a final text. EU clearing customers "shall clear at least proportions" of euro derivatives in an active account, the compromises say, specifying no minimum clearing figure from the outset. If not enough clearing is being done in the EU within 18 months, ESMA should specify the proportion of clearing that each customer must undertake through their EU accounts, the compromises say.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Lawmakers, Huw Jones, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, European Commission, European Union, EU, London Stock Exchange, Deutsche Boerse's Eurex, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Britain, London, Frankfurt, Spanish, EU

☆ Belarus arms emergency ministry to be ready in case of armed conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 25 (Reuters) - The Belarusian ministry of emergency situations is completing the arming and military training of its personnel to be ready to aid the defence and internal ministries in the event of an armed conflict, the head of the emergency ministry said on Monday. Emergency Minister Vadim Sinyavsky told state Belarus 1 television that employees will be ready to assist the ministries "in the event of an armed conflict or some kind of riots in which a significant number of personnel must be involved." Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said earlier this year he wants "every man - and not only a man" to be able to at least handle weapons to respond to an act of aggression. While not sending his own troops to Ukraine, Lukashenko allowed Moscow to use Belarusian territory to launch its full-scale invasion on Ukraine in February 2022. Russia and Belarus are linked in a partnership called the "union state" in which Moscow is by far the dominant player.

Persons: Vadim Sinyavsky, Alexander Lukashenko, Lukashenko, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Lidia Kelly, Chris Reese Organizations: West, Thomson Locations: Belarusian, Belarus, Ukraine, Moscow, Russia, Kyiv, Melbourne

[1/2] Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko meet people outside the Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Kronstadt near Saint Petersburg, Russia July 23, 2023. Sputnik/Alexander Demyanchuk/Pool via REUTERSJuly 23 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine's counteroffensive "has failed" as he hosted Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, his close ally, for talks in St Petersburg on Sunday. "There is no counteroffensive," Russian news agencies quoted Lukashenko as saying. Ukraine began its long-anticipated counter-offensive last month but has so far made only small gains against well entrenched Russian forces who control more than a sixth of its territory after nearly 17 months of war. Putin, in response, warned Poland on Friday that any aggression against Belarus would be considered an attack on Russia.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko, Nicholas, Alexander Demyanchuk, Lukashenko, Putin, Mark Milley, Russia's Wagner, Wagner, Mark Trevelyan, Felix Light, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Belarusian, Naval, Sputnik, REUTERS, U.S, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Telegram, NATO, Thomson Locations: St, Kronstadt, Saint Petersburg, Russia, St Petersburg, Russian, Ukraine, Poland, Warsaw, Rzeszow, Belarusian, Polish, Belarus, Moscow, Minsk, West

☆ Putin tells Poland any aggression against Belarus is attack on Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MOSCOW, July 21 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin on Friday accused NATO member Poland of having territorial ambitions in the former Soviet Union, and said any aggression against Russia's neighbour and close ally Belarus would be considered an attack on Russia. Moscow would react to any aggression against Belarus, which forms a loose "Union State" with Russia, "with all the means at our disposal", Putin told a meeting of his Security Council in televised remarks. On Thursday, Belarus said Wagner mercenaries had started to train Belarusian special forces at a military range just a few miles from the border with Poland. "But as far as Belarus is concerned, it is part of the Union State (with Russia); unleashing aggression against Belarus will mean aggression against the Russian Federation," Putin said. Poland denies any territorial ambitions in Belarus.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Russian Wagner, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Kevin Liffey, Andrew Osborn Organizations: NATO, Soviet Union, Council, Warsaw's Security, Union State, Russian Federation, Reuters, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Moscow, Russian, Ukraine, Africa, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Lithuanian

☆ Actors are poised to go on strike against studios and streaming services
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The actors could be on strike themselves without a last-minute deal with studios and streaming services on Wednesday. Production of many movies and television shows have already been shut down by the current writers strike. An actors strike would bring most remaining productions to a halt, other than on some independent films not associated with studios. This would be the first actors strike against television shows and movie productions since 1980. Just before the last deadline, it seemed as if an actors strike could be avoided.

Persons: haven’t, ”, Robyn Beck, It’s, Tom Nunan, Jonathan Handel, Handel, “, it’s, Blockbuster hadn’t, David Mumpower, Fran Drescher, —, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Jennifer Lawrence, Bob Odenkirk, Mark Ruffalo, Quinta Brunson, Rami Malek, you’ve, Theron, Joaquin Phoenix, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cobie Smulders, Pedro Pascal, Drescher, –, Vanessa Yurkevich Organizations: New, New York CNN, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Alliance, Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros ., Federal Mediation, Conciliation Service, SAG, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television, Writers Guild of America, Blockbuster, AMPTP, Gabbana’s Locations: New York, AFP, Moda, Southern Italy

☆ China's chipmaking export curbs 'just a start', Beijing adviser warns before Yellen visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Shares in some Chinese metals companies rallied for a second session as investors bet that higher prices for gallium and germanium, which Beijing's export restrictions target, could boost revenues. China is the world's biggest producer of rare earths, a group of metals used in EVs and military equipment. Asked about the metals export curbs, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday the government's actions were reasonable and lawful. WARNING SHOTSome larger chip manufacturers view China's export controls on gallium as more of a warning shot about what economic pain the country could inflict. China's germanium ingot was priced at 9,150 yuan per kg on Tuesday, also flat on the day and on the week, Refinitiv data showed.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Wei Jianguo, Wei, Yellen, Biden, China's, Wang Wenbin, Wang, Gecamines, Belgium's Umicore, Xi Jinping, Eikon, Brenda Goh, Amy Lv, Tian, Nick Carey, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Jacqueline Wong, Catherine Evans Organizations: Treasury, Thursday Analysts, Washington, Commerce, China Daily, China Center for International Economic, Independence, Analysts, Micron, Global Times, Union, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, AMS, Democratic, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Shanghai Metal Exchange, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, BEIJING, SHANGHAI, U.S, Japan, Netherlands, United States, Swiss, Teck Resources, North, Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, Washington, Yunnan, London

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