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☆ Serbia unearths mass grave from Kosovo war
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.99 time to read: +2 min

KIZEVAK, Serbia (Reuters) - Human remains believed to be the bodies of over a dozen ethnic Albanians killed during the 1998-99 war in Kosovo have been found just inside Serbia, a Serbian official said on Friday. More than two decades after the conflict in Kosovo ended, the search for the victims remains a major obstacle to the improvement of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. The investigators used satellite imagery to find the mass grave in a remote open-cast mine at Kizevak in Serbia’s south. More than 13,000 people are believed to have died during the war in Kosovo, Serbia’s former southern province. The largest mass grave from the war found so far, containing the bodies of more than 800 Kosovo Albanians, was found in 2001 in a police compound near Belgrade.

Persons: Veljko Odalovic, Suzana Matejic, Ibrahim Makolli Organizations: Serbia’s, NATO, International Committee, Kosovo Albanians, European Union Locations: KIZEVAK, Serbia, Kosovo, Serbian, Belgrade, Pristina, Kizevak, Serbia’s, Yugoslavia

☆ Germany: U.S. soldiers are still welcome here
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com + 0.97 time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas speaks during a virtual news conference where he informed about a virtual meeting of EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers and an upcoming NATO Foreign Ministers meeting, at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin, Germany, December 1, 2020. Clemens Bilan/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoBERLIN (Reuters) - Germany is glad that there appears to be agreement among U.S. lawmaker that President Donald Trump’s July decision to move troops out of Germany should be revisited, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said. “But we are glad that there appears to be agreement between Republicans and Democrats in Washington on revisiting this decision,” he added. “American soldiers are welcome here. They contribute not just to Germany’s but also to Europe’s security.”U.S. legislators from both parties on Thursday approved the final version of an annual defense policy bill that included text expressing support for the continued stationing of soldiers in Germany.

Persons: Heiko Maas, Clemens Bilan, Donald Trump’s, ” Organizations: EU, ASEAN Foreign Ministers, NATO, Federal Foreign Office, BERLIN, Republicans, Democrats Locations: Berlin, Germany, Washington, U.S

☆ Erdogan says he hopes France will get rid of Macron 'burden' soon
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +1 min

Slideshow ( 4 images )ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday he hoped France would soon get rid of President Emmanuel Macron, describing him as a burden on France which was going through dangerous times. Ties between Turkey and France, both NATO members, have been particularly tense in recent months over policy differences on Syria and the publishing of caricatures about Prophet Mohammad in France. Macron and France are going through a very dangerous period actually,” Erdogan told reporters, referring to protests in French cities. “My hope is that France gets rid of the Macron trouble as soon as possible.”Ankara and Paris have also traded accusations over their roles in the Nagorno-Karabkah conflict. France says Turkey fueled fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but populated by ethnic Armenians.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, Emmanuel Macron, Prophet Mohammad, “, ” Erdogan, Erdogan, Ilham Aliyev, ” Organizations: NATO, Paris Locations: ANKARA, France, Turkey, Syria, Macron, Ankara, Paris, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno, Karabakh, Minsk, Marseilles

☆ Norway central bank deputy chief steps down over security clearance
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Terje Solsvik | Nora Buli | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: Jon Nicolaisen, Deputy Governor of Norges Bank, waits for the start of the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming August 22, 2014. REUTERS/David Stubbs/File PhotoOSLO (Reuters) - Norwegian deputy central bank governor Jon Nicolaisen will resign with immediate effect after his application for a renewed security clearance was rejected, the central bank said in a statement on Friday. “The Norwegian Civil Security Clearance Authority informs me that the reason that I will not receive a renewed security clearance is that my wife is a Chinese citizen and resides in China, where I support her financially,” Nicolaisen said. Nicolaisen was first appointed deputy governor in 2014 and was re-appointed to a second term in April of this year. “I will miss Jon Nicolaisen in his post as deputy governor, where he performed his duties superbly as a close colleague and competent professional,” Central Bank Governor Oeystein Olsen said.

Persons: Jon Nicolaisen, David Stubbs, “, ” Nicolaisen, Nicolaisen, ” Central Bank Governor Oeystein Olsen Organizations: Norges Bank, Jackson, REUTERS, Norwegian Civil Security, Authority, Reuters, NATO, ” Central Bank Governor Locations: Jackson Hole , Wyoming, OSLO, Norwegian, Chinese, China, Oslo, Norway

☆ Norway central bank deputy chief quits after security snub over Chinese wife
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Terje Solsvik | Nora Buli | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +2 min

OSLO (Reuters) - Norwegian deputy central bank governor Jon Nicolaisen announced on Friday he was resigning, saying his application for renewed security clearance had been rejected because he has a Chinese wife. FILE PHOTO: Jon Nicolaisen, Deputy Governor of Norges Bank, waits for the start of the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming August 22, 2014. REUTERS/David Stubbs/File Photo“The Norwegian Civil Security Clearance Authority informs me that the reason that I will not receive a renewed security clearance is that my wife is a Chinese citizen and resides in China, where I support her financially,” Nicolaisen said. Nicolaisen was first appointed deputy governor in 2014 and was re-appointed to a second term in April of this year. The central bank said he and his wife had married in 2010.

Persons: Jon Nicolaisen, David Stubbs, ” Nicolaisen, “, ”, Nicolaisen’s, Nicolaisen, ” Central Bank Governor Oeystein Olsen Organizations: Norges Bank, Jackson, REUTERS, Norwegian Civil Security, Authority, NATO, Reuters, ” Central Bank Governor Locations: OSLO, Norwegian, Jackson Hole , Wyoming, Chinese, China, Norway, Oslo, Russia

☆ Turkish lira slips as U.S. moves closer to sanctions over S-400s
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Jonathan Spicer | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +2 min

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey’s lira briefly slipped on Friday after U.S. lawmakers included mandatory Turkish sanctions in a defence spending bill that moves Washington a step closer to punishing its NATO ally for buying Russian S-400 missile defences last year. U.S. President Donald Trump, who is set to step down next month, has said he will veto the bill over separate provisions. Sanctions could harm a Turkish economy already struggling with a coronavirus-induced slowdown, double-digit inflation and badly depleted foreign reserves. The defence bill includes sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which are designed in part to deter cooperation with Russia. “If Trump chooses from among the lighter sanctions I think given the global risk appetite we still can see a benign performance in the lira,” said one Turkish trader.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, Tayyip Erdogan, ”, Chris Van Hollen, Erdogan Organizations: NATO, House, BIDEN, Democratic, The U.S, Republicans, Democrats, Trump, Republican, Democratic U.S Locations: ISTANBUL, Washington, Russia, Turkey, Ankara, Turkish, The

☆ Russia protests charges against state media journalists in Latvia
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-04 | by ( Andrius Sytas | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.99 time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov listens during Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual end-of-year news conference in Moscow, Russia December 19, 2019. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/File PhotoVILNIUS (Reuters) - Russia protested on Friday after Latvia charged several journalists from the Rossiya Segodnya news agency with violating European Union sanctions. The journalists were charged because of their association with Dmitry Kiselyov, who heads Rossiya Segodnya, said Sputnik Latvia, a subsidiary of Rossiya Segodnya. “We consider such actions of intimidation against journalists unacceptable”, Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s press secretary, was quoted as saying by Baltnews, another Rossiya Segodnya outlet. Rossiya Segodnya said it intended to ask international and European organisations to react “to actions by the Latvian government against journalists” which it said violated freedom of speech.

Persons: Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin's, Evgenia, Dmitry Kiselyov, Rossiya Segodnya, “, Vladimir Putin’s, Baltnews, Latvia’s Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Sputnik, Kremlin, EU, State Security Service, NATO, RT Locations: Moscow, Russia, VILNIUS, Latvia, Sputnik Latvia, Rossiya, Crimea, Ukraine, Russian, Latvian, Baltic States, Lithuania, Estonia, Soviet, Kiselyov

BRUSSELS/PARIS/ANKARA (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used his final NATO meeting this week to sharply criticise Turkey, saying its purchase of a Russian weapons system was “a gift” to Moscow, according to five diplomats and officials. FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks to the media prior to meeting with Kuwait's Foreign Minister in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 24, 2020. The meeting tone was described as “measured” but “more confrontational” than is usually the case at NATO. “We had to purchase (a weapons system) from Russia because we could not from our allies,” he added. Turkish sources with knowledge of the meeting said that Pompeo made “unjust accusations” and that were was no united front against Turkey.

Persons: Mike Pompeo, Saul Loeb, Pompeo, Pompeo’s, Donald Trump’s, Mevlut Cavusoglu, ”, Jean, Yves Le Drian, Turkey’s Cavusoglu, “, Jens Stoltenberg, Emmanuel Macron, Stoltenberg Organizations: NATO, Kuwait's, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Turkish, U.S . Defense Department, U.S, Union Locations: BRUSSELS, PARIS, ANKARA, Turkey, Russian, Moscow, Washington ,, Greece, Cyprus, U.S, Syria, Libya, Nagorno, Karabakh, France, Luxembourg, United States, Russia

☆ U.S., EU must end trade disputes, Brussels says in Biden wish-list
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-02 | by ( Robin Emmott | Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union and the United States should resolve their trade disputes after U.S. President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January in a “new transatlantic agenda”, the EU executive said on Wednesday, laying out its wish-list for better ties. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borell speaks during a news conference in Brussels, Belgium, December 2, 2020. The United States and the EU “must work closely together on solving bilateral trade irritants”, the European Commission said in a proposal to EU governments, noting that EU-U.S. commerce accounts for a third of world trade. The two sides also have differing views on the value of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its system of settling disputes, which Washington has paralysed by blocking the appointment of judges. Under Trump, the United States rejected proposals put forward by the EU and others to resolve a crisis at the WTO’s Appellate Body, effectively the supreme court of worldwide trade.

Persons: Joe Biden, Josep Borell, Johanna Geron, Donald Trump’s “, Biden, Josep Borrell, Ursula von der Leyen Organizations: European Union, REUTERS, EU, European Commission, NATO, Biden, World Trade Organization, Trump Locations: BRUSSELS, United States, Brussels, Belgium, Washington, EU

☆ U.S., EU must end trade conflict, Brussels says in Biden wish-list
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-02 | by ( Robin Emmott | Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union and the United States should resolve their trade disputes after U.S. President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January in a “new transatlantic agenda”, the EU executive said on Wednesday, laying out its wish-list for better ties. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borell speaks during a news conference in Brussels, Belgium, December 2, 2020. The United States and the EU “must work closely together on solving bilateral trade irritants”, the European Commission said in a proposal to EU governments, noting that EU-U.S. commerce accounts for a third of world trade. The European Union is awaiting a ruling from the WTO on its challenge to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium. Both the EU and the United States have imposed tariffs in a dispute over aircraft subsidies.

Persons: Joe Biden, Josep Borell, Johanna Geron, Donald Trump’s “, Biden, Josep Borrell, ” Borrell, Borrell, Ursula von der Leyen Organizations: European Union, REUTERS, EU, European Commission, World Trade Organization, European, WTO, NATO, Biden Locations: BRUSSELS, United States, Brussels, Belgium, Washington, EU

☆ Putin says opposing forces in Belarus need to resolve crisis via talks
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-02 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.98 time to read: +2 min

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Belarus was facing unprecedented meddling by external forces and he called on opposing political forces to try to resolve their differences through talks. FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Chairman of the Management Board of Novatek company Leonid Mikhelson and Chairman of the Management Board of Sibur company Dmitry Konov in Tobolsk, Russia December 1, 2020. Lukashenko has ruled Belarus, a former Soviet republic of 9.5 million that Russia sees as a security buffer against NATO, for 26 years. He has often played Moscow off against the West to extract political and economic dividends from the Kremlin. Speaking at the online Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) meeting on Wednesday, Lukashenko blamed the unrest on outside meddling, singling out Poland and the Baltic states in particular.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Leonid Mikhelson, Dmitry Konov, Alexei Nikolsky, Alexander Lukashenko, ” Putin, Lukashenko Organizations: Management, Sputnik, NATO, Security, Organisation Locations: MOSCOW, Belarus, Tobolsk, Russia, Kremlin, Russian, Moscow, Soviet, Minsk, Poland, Baltic

☆ European Union and ASEAN to form strategic partnership: Germany
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-01 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com + 0.99 time to read: +1 min

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas speaks during a virtual news conference where he informed about a virtual meeting of EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers and an upcoming NATO Foreign Ministers meeting, at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin, Germany, December 1, 2020. Clemens Bilan/Pool via REUTERSBERLIN (Reuters) - The European Union and the ASEAN group of southeast Asian countries have agreed to upgrade their relationship to a strategic partnership, current EU president Germany said on Tuesday. “Together, we represent more than a billion people and almost 25 per cent of global economic power. Together, we have a strong voice in this world,” said Maas, who gave no specific details on what the strategic partnership would entail. ASEAN groups Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Persons: Heiko Maas, Clemens Bilan, Germany, ”, Maas Organizations: EU, ASEAN Foreign Ministers, NATO, Federal Foreign Office, REUTERS BERLIN, European Union, ASEAN, “, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Comprehensive Economic Locations: Berlin, Germany, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand

☆ NATO must focus more on challenge of rising China, report to say
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-01 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

The report "NATO 2030," prepared by a group of so-called wise persons and containing 138 proposals, comes amid growing doubts about the purpose and relevance of an alliance branded last year by French President Emmanuel Macron as "brain dead." The 30-member alliance could also forge closer ties with non-NATO countries such as Australia and focus more on deterrence in space, where China is developing assets, the report suggests. NATO should consider including China in NATO's official master strategy document, its "Strategic Concept", diplomats cited the report as saying, though it will stop short of declaring the country an adversary. TensionsIn other recommendations, the report will suggest that NATO foreign ministers meet more regularly and will call for a strengthening of the secretary-general's role as an international mediator. The report will be discussed by NATO foreign ministers on Tuesday before being presented to the alliance's heads of state and government next year.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Jens Stoltenberg, China's, Donald Trump's, Joe Biden, — Organizations: NATO, NBC, NATO —, Trump Locations: China, Russia, NATO, Africa, Australia, Russian, Soviet, Crimea, Ukraine, Europe

☆ Further withdrawal from Afghanistan must be tied to peace talks progress: Germany
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-01 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com + 0.99 time to read: 1 min

BERLIN (Reuters) - NATO must not jeopardize the peace negotiations for Afghanistan by withdrawing troops prematurely from the war-torn country, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said ahead of a virtual meeting with his NATO colleagues. “As NATO partners, we want to ensure that we tie further troop reductions in Afghanistan to clear conditions,” he added on Tuesday. “To safeguard what we have reached so far, we must not take any rash actions,” Maas said. “This is why we call on the alliance to have a very close look at how far the conditions for a further withdrawal have been met to avoid sending a wrong message regarding the peace process.”

Persons: Heiko Maas, “, ” Maas Organizations: BERLIN, NATO, German Locations: Afghanistan

☆ China says ready to talk to NATO, urges correct outlook
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-01 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com + 0.72 time to read: 1 min

FILE PHOTO: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying attends a news conference in Beijing, China October 9, 2020. REUTERS/Thomas SuenBEIJING (Reuters) - China hopes NATO will adopt the correct outlook toward the country and stands ready to engage in dialogue with the group, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said during a regular briefing on Tuesday. NATO is formally known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Persons: Hua Chunying, Thomas Suen BEIJING Organizations: Foreign Ministry, REUTERS, NATO, Atlantic Treaty Organization Locations: Beijing, China

☆ NATO Should Expand Its Focus to Include China, Report Says
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-01 | by ( Michael R. Gordon | James Marson | ) www.wsj.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: 1 min

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization should devote much more of its time and resources to security threats posed by China even while seeking to deter Russian aggression, a high-level assessment of the alliance’s future says in a report to be made public Tuesday. The study commissioned by NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg followed criticism last year by French President Emmanuel Macron that the alliance was experiencing “brain death” because of difficulties coordinating among its 30 members and uneven U.S. leadership.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Emmanuel Macron Organizations: Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO’s Locations: China

☆ Fact check: Photos do not show presidents with troops on Thanksgiving eve
▼ + stars: | 2020-11-30 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +4 min

BUSHThe photograph of President Bush appears on the U.S. Department of Defense website here . The photograph was not taken on Thanksgiving eve, but Obama did call troops to thank them for their service and served Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless and veterans on Thanksgiving 2015, according to CNN here and here . In 2019, he made a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Thanksgiving eve to visit troops ( here and here ). None of the photographs shown were taken on Thanksgiving eve. While President Trump did play golf on Thanksgiving Day in 2020, he also spoke to members of the military and thanked them for their service.

Persons: Bill Clinton, George W, Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Trump, ”, George Bush, Donald J, CLINTON, Clinton, William Jefferson Clinton, BUSH, Camp, David, OBAMA, Obama, TRUMP, “ Donald Trump, Read Organizations: United, Trump, Joint Endeavor, “, NATO, Force, U.S . Department of Defense, Task Force, U.S . News, Bagram, CNN, T, Congressional Country Club, Reuters, Trump National Golf Club, White House Locations: Tuzla AB, Bosnia, Herzegovina, “ Bosnia, Croatia, Hungary, Bondsteel, Kosovo, Camp Bondsteel, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bethesda , Maryland, Bethesda, Md, Washington, Virginia

☆ NATO must focus more on challenge of rising China - report
▼ + stars: | 2020-11-30 | by ( Robin Emmott | Sabine Siebold | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -0.98 time to read: +2 min

It is the rising power of our century and NATO must adapt,” said one NATO diplomat who has seen the report, pointing to Chinese activity in the Arctic and Africa and to its heavy investments in European infrastructure. The 30-member alliance could also forge closer ties with non-NATO countries such as Australia and focus more on deterrence in space, where China is developing assets, the report suggests. NATO should consider including China in NATO’s official master strategy document, its “Strategic Concept”, diplomats cited the report as saying, though it will stop short of declaring the country an adversary. TENSIONSIn other recommendations, the report will suggest that NATO foreign ministers meet more regularly and will call for a strengthening of the secretary-general’s role as an international mediator. The report will be discussed by NATO foreign ministers on Tuesday before being presented to the alliance’s heads of state and government next year.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, ”, Donald Trump’s ‘, Joe Biden Organizations: NATO, Trump Locations: BRUSSELS, BERLIN, China, Russia, “ China, NATO, Africa, Australia, Russian, Soviet Union, Crimea, Ukraine, Europe

PARIS/BRUSSELS/MADRID (Reuters) - NATO has asked members for more money to finance a salary hike for staff, a request some alliance nations deem disproportionate given the COVID-19 hit to their economies and are refusing, three European diplomats said. Some 1,000 civilians work within NATO’s international staff, which is composed solely of nationals from NATO member countries. “NATO salaries are subject to annual adjustment, based on a methodology agreed by all nations. Two NATO diplomats confirmed salary negotiations were under way and that there was unhappiness. According to the NATO website the salary is adjusted once a year on Jan. 1 at the time of the annual NATO salary review.

Persons: Yves Herman, Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, “, ”, Trump, Jens Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg Organizations: NATO, REUTERS, European, NATO Headquarters, OECD, of Europe, European Space Agency, ”, Foreign Ministry, Pew Research Center Locations: BRUSSELS, MADRID, Brussels, Belgium, COVID, Europe, Turkey, Canada, European, Spain

☆ Turkish exploration vessel back in port ahead of EU summit
▼ + stars: | 2020-11-30 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO: Turkish seismic research vessel Oruc Reis sails in the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, October 3, 2018. REUTERS/Yoruk IsikANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey’s seismic exploration vessel Oruc Reis returned to port on Monday from disputed Mediterranean waters, less than two weeks before a European Union summit where the bloc will evaluate possible sanctions against Ankara. Tensions flared in August when Ankara sent Oruc Reis to map out energy drilling prospects in waters also claimed by Greece. Turkey withdrew Oruc Reis from contested waters ahead of a previous EU summit in October to “allow for diplomacy”, but later sent it back after what it called unsatisfactory outcomes from the summit. Refinitiv ship tracking data confirmed Oruc Reis was back in port in Antalya on Monday morning.

Persons: Oruc Reis, Yoruk Isik, Hayreddin Pasa, Tayyip Erdogan’s Organizations: REUTERS, Ankara, NATO, EU Locations: Bosphorus, Istanbul, Turkey, Yoruk, Yoruk Isik ANKARA, Greece, Ankara, Antalya, Turkey’s, Cyprus, Athens, Northern Cyprus, France, Paris

☆ Canada blocks bulk exports of some prescription drugs in response to Trump import plan
▼ + stars: | 2020-11-28 | by ( Steve Scherer | ) www.reuters.com sentiment -1.00 time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File PhotoOTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada on Saturday blocked bulk exports of prescription drugs if they would create a shortage at home, in response to outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to allow imports from Canada to lower some drug prices for Americans. The Canadian measure went into effect on Friday, just days before a U.S. “Importation Prescription Drugs” rule that would eventually allow licensed U.S. pharmacists or wholesalers to import in bulk certain prescription drugs intended for the Canadian market. Trump touted the plan in his first debate with President-elect Joe Biden, who has also said during his campaign that he would set up a similar import plan to try to reduce prescription drug costs for Americans. “Canada is a small market, representing 2% of global drug sales, that sources 68% of its drugs internationally. Many of Canada’s drug suppliers opposed Trump’s plan, saying it could lead to shortages.

Persons: Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau, Kevin Lamarque, Donald Trump’s, Patty Hajdu, Trump, Joe Biden Organizations: Canada's, Atlantic, NATO, REUTERS, OTTAWA, Department of Health, Human Services, Canadian Locations: Watford, Britain, Canada, U.S

☆ Biden’s NATO Amity Sparks Debate Among European Allies
▼ + stars: | 2020-11-28 | by ( James Marson | ) www.wsj.com + 0.99 time to read: 1 min

BRUSSELS—President-elect Joe Biden told NATO’s secretary-general in a recent telephone call of the U.S.’s “enduring commitment” to the military alliance—a relief for European allies after President Trump’s browbeatings and threats to leave. But the impending transition to more soothing tones from Washington has also sparked fresh, public squabbles in Europe over how far and fast it should pursue a more independent path on security.

Persons: Joe Biden, NATO’s, Trump’s browbeatings Locations: BRUSSELS, Washington, Europe

☆ Turkey does not expect U.S. sanctions over Russian S-400s under Biden
▼ + stars: | 2020-11-26 | by ( Orhan Coskun | Tuvan Gumrukcu | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +2 min

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey does not expect ties with the United States to be strained under President-elect Joe Biden and does not anticipate sanctions over its purchase of Russia S-400 defence systems, a senior official in President Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party said. Turkey has relied on the good personal ties between Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump to smooth over divisions, but Biden is expected to be tougher on Turkey over foreign and defence policies and Ankara’s human rights record. “The U.S. President will most likely watch the balance in the Middle East very carefully for U.S. interests, and will not want to continue the tense ties with Turkey,” Kurtulmus said. Ankara says the S-400s will not be integrated into NATO and has called for a joint working group to discuss U.S. concerns. Kurtulmus repeated that Turkey would not bow to pressure to return the Russian systems, or leave them unused.

Persons: Joe Biden, Tayyip Erdogan’s, Erdogan, Donald Trump, Biden, Numan Kurtulmus, ” Kurtulmus, ”, Kurtulmus Organizations: Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party, NATO, Reuters, AK, U.S, European Union, Ankara Locations: ANKARA, Turkey, United States, Russia, Ankara, Washington, Syria, Russian

☆ France, EU lawmakers push for sanctions on Turkey next month
▼ + stars: | 2020-11-26 | by ( Robin Emmott | John Irish | ) www.reuters.com + 0.00 time to read: +3 min

FILE PHOTO: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attends a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia March 5, 2020. “Confrontation or collaboration, it’s up to them.”The Turkish Foreign Ministry has criticised the EU for discussing sanctions, saying such debate was not helpful. “However, Turkey is a key partner in many areas, so there’s no consensus in the Council (of EU governments). Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the boarding was an act of “piracy” and summoned EU, German and Italian envoys to protest, which Berlin said was unjustified. “I think now there’s a common understanding that there will be sanctions,” said a senior EU diplomat.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin, Pavel Golovkin, Paris, Erdogan’s, ”, Jean, Yves Le Drian, Erdogan, bode, Berlin, “ Erdogan, Mevlut Cavusoglu Organizations: European Union, EU, Turkish Cypriot, Turkish Foreign Ministry, NATO, Reuters, Turkish Locations: BRUSSELS, PARIS, France, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Moscow, Russia, Turkish, “ Turkey, Austria, EU, Nagorno, Karabakh, Paris, Ankara, Syria, Libya, Germany

That’s the message President-elect Joe Biden sent the world as he unveiled key Cabinet and national security picks earlier this week. Foreign governments will know Biden’s team from their time in office under President Barack Obama and other previous administrations. We are on the same page on climate, on Iran, on NATO,” one European official said about the picks. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida dismissed Biden’s new team members over their track record with China during Obama’s presidency. “Biden’s Cabinet picks went to Ivy League schools, have strong resumes, attend all the right conferences and will be polite and orderly caretakers of America’s decline,” Rubio tweeted.

Persons: Joe Biden, “ We’re, ” Biden, Lester Holt, Donald Trump’s “, Biden, John Kerry, Antony Blinken, Isabelle Dobbs, Higginson, Mike Segar, Reuters Biden, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Alejandro Mayorkas, Barack Obama, Jake Sullivan, “, Trump, Blinken, Sullivan, Kerry, Vladimir Putin, Wang Yi, Andy Wong, Obama, ”, Emmanuel Macron, Putin, Neil Melvin, Israel —, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Biden —, Blinken —, Melvin, Nicholas Stern, multilateralism, Stern, Mike Pompeo, Bret Baier, ” Biden’s, China — Marco Rubio, Thomas, ” Pompeo, that’s, Republican Sen, Marco Rubio, Biden’s, ” Rubio Organizations: NBC News, United, United Nations, Reuters, NATO, Trump, Foreign, Olive, Foreign Ministry, Harvard University, Columbia Law School, Le Figaro, London’s Royal United Services Institute, Haaretz, Relations, Security, Royal United Services Institute, NBC, National Security, London School of Economics, Obama, Fox News, Ivy League, Republican, China, Obama’s, Cabinet Locations: “ America, United States, U.S, Saharan Africa, Iran, Europe, Paris, Kerry, Germany, Beijing, France, Russia, China, Moscow, Israel, Palestinian, Asia, United States of America, Florida

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