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☆ The world’s most powerful passports for 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The jiggling and jostling atop the global passport rankings for 2023 just got a little more interesting. And while Asia has long dominated the top of the leaderboard in the index created by London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, Europe is bouncing back. The US, meanwhile, has dropped a further two places to eight spot, with access to a mere 183 destinations visa-free. The Henley Passport Index is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and ranks 199 passports worldwide. Estonia, Iceland (182 destinations)The worst passports to hold:Three countries around the world have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 30 or fewer countries.

Persons: Japan’s, It’s, Cristian H, Kaelin, ”, Greg Lindsay, Japan's, TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA, Arton Capital’s, Armand Arton, that’s Organizations: CNN, Henley & Partners, Henley, International Air Transport Association, Partners, Citizens, Cornell Tech’s Jacobs Institute, Getty, United Nations, United Arab Emirates Locations: Japan, Singapore, Asia, London, Europe, Germany, Italy, Spain, South Korea, Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Sweden, United States, United Kingdom, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, UAE, Canada, AFP, Arton, Taiwan, Macao, Hong Kong, Kosovo, Palestinian, Territories, Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, Norway, Poland, Ireland, New Zealand, Czech Republic, Malta , New Zealand, Australia, Hungary, Greece, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Iceland

☆ How a Vast Demographic Shift Will Reshape the World
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Lauren Leatherby | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +18 min

1990 Younger populations Workingage Older populations For decades, the world’s dominant powers have benefited from large working-age populations that help drive economic growth. Russia U.K. France Pakistan Pakistan China China U.S. U.S. Japan U.S. Japan China India India India Nigeria Nigeria Ethiopia D.R.C. Russia U.K. France Pakistan Pakistan China China U.S. U.S. U.S. Japan Japan China India India India Nigeria Nigeria Ethiopia D.R.C. Russia U.K. France Pakistan China U.S. U.S. U.S. Japan Japan China China India India India Nigeria Nigeria Ethiopia D.R.C. Russia U.K. France Pakistan China U.S. U.S. U.S. Japan Japan China China India India India Nigeria Nigeria Ethiopia D.R.C.

Persons: That’s, ”, Mikko Myrskylä, Max Planck, Carolina Cardona, Philip O’Keefe, –, O’Keefe, Myrskylä, “ We’ve, “, aren’t, Mr Organizations: Korea Germany Italy Russia United, France, France Pakistan Pakistan China China U.S ., U.S, China India Nigeria D.R.C, France Pakistan Pakistan China China U.S . U.S, France Pakistan, France Pakistan China U.S . U.S, for Demographic Research, Youth, Niger, Dem, Central African Rep, Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Czech Rep, Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece, Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland, Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Kosovo, Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Moldova Romania, Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Moldova Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia, Hong Kong North Korea Japan Mongolia South Korea Taiwan Northern America, New Zealand, New, Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Central African Rep, Chad Comoros, Congo Ivory Coast Dem, Johns Hopkins University, Aging, ARC Center of Excellence, Aging Research, World Bank, Spain Taiwan, Young, Korea, Spain, “ Locations: Japan, Western Europe, South Korea, Britain, Eastern Europe, China, Europe, India, East Asia, Florida, United States, South, Southeast Asia, Africa, Korea Germany Italy, Korea Germany Italy Russia United States France China Thailand United Kingdom, South Korea Brazil Colombia China Thailand Iran Myanmar Vietnam Bangladesh Indonesia, South Africa Myanmar Indonesia Bangladesh Philippines Pakistan Kenya Indonesia Egypt Ethiopia, Russia, France Pakistan Pakistan China China U.S, France Pakistan Pakistan China China U.S . U.S, Japan U.S, Japan China India India India Nigeria Nigeria Ethiopia D.R.C, Indonesia Indonesia Brazil Brazil Brazil, China Japan India Brazil, Pakistan France China U.S, Japan India Nigeria Brazil Indonesia, Pakistan U.S, China India Nigeria, Ethiopia Brazil Indonesia, France Pakistan Pakistan China China U.S . U.S . U.S, Japan Japan China India India India Nigeria Nigeria Ethiopia D.R.C, France Pakistan China, France Pakistan China U.S . U.S . U.S, Japan Japan China China India India India Nigeria Nigeria Ethiopia D.R.C, Congo Somalia, Angola Tanzania Nigeria, Afghanistan Ethiopia Tajikistan Kenya, Asia, Oceania, Kenya, Demographically, South Asia, Singapore, Albania, Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia, Herzegovina Bulgaria, Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany, Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary, Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy, Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Kosovo Latvia Lithuania Netherlands, Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal, Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Moldova Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia, Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Moldova Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Ukraine, Eastern Asia, Hong Kong North Korea Japan Mongolia South Korea Taiwan Northern, Canada, States Australia, New, Australia, New Zealand, Saharan Africa, Angola, Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon, Congo, Congo Djibouti, Guinea Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea, Bissau Kenya Lesotho Liberia Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Rwanda Senegal Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa South Sudan Togo Uganda Tanzania Zambia Zimbabwe, Aging Asia, Pacific, America, “, Hong Kong, Italy, Spain, Spain Taiwan Greece, Singapore Slovenia Thailand Germany, Mainland China Finland Japan Netherlands Canada, Hong Kong South Korea, Singapore Slovenia Japan Thailand Germany, Mainland China Finland Netherlands, U.N, Korea Japan Spain, Korea Japan, France, West, East, Vietnam

☆ Cerberus heatwave fans out to Balkans
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] A couple covered in mud that is believed to be curative sit at the Queen's beach in Nin, Croatia, July 13, 2023. REUTERS/Antonio BronicBELGRADE, July 13 (Reuters) - Swathes of the Balkans sweltered in temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) on Thursday in a heatwave named "Cerberus", after the three-headed dog of the underworld in Greek mythology, that has fanned across Europe. In the country's Adriatic resort of Nin, dozens of beachgoers covered themselves in thick black mud believed to have medicinal properties and an effective sunscreen. Temperatures were expected to stay around 40 degrees Celsius across the region into next week. Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic in Belgrade and Antonio Bronic in Nin; Editing by Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Antonio Bronic, Josef, Aleksandar Vasovic, Emelia Sithole Organizations: REUTERS, Antonio Bronic BELGRADE, Thomson Locations: Nin, Croatia, Antonio, Balkans, Europe, Sibenik, Slovakia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Serbia, Belgrade

VILNIUS, July 11 (Reuters) - A coalition of 11 nations will start training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets in August in Denmark, and a training centre will be set up in Romania, officials said on Tuesday on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Lithuania. NATO members Denmark and the Netherlands have been leading international efforts to train pilots as well as support staff, maintain aircraft and ultimately enable the supply of F-16s to Ukraine in its war with Russia. Kyiv, which has launched a counteroffensive against Russian forces, has repeatedly called for Western countries to supply aircraft and train its pilots to fly them, to successfully counter Moscow's aerial dominance. That's why for us it is very important that this fighter jet coalition starts up," Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov told reporters. "I hope - I am an optimist - that after six months we will see results," he said.

Persons: Troels Lund Poulsen, Oleksii Reznikov, Niklas Pollard, Justyna Organizations: NATO, Russian, Ukrainian Defence, Thomson Locations: VILNIUS, Ukrainian, Denmark, Romania, Lithuania, Netherlands, Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Slovakia

☆ Wimbledon 2023: 500 days after the invasion of Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian players are playing at Wimbledon. Here’s how it’s going
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

During the opening week, fans at Wimbledon have generally been quite warm to the Russian and Belarusian players but they’ve been especially enthusiastic to the Ukrainians. Unfortunately, they could not fight the professional Tours and others on their own,” added Zukin, who also said the ATP and WTA could do more to support Ukrainian players. CNN reached out to the WTA, ATP and The Russian Tennis Federation for comment. Tension simmers behind the scenesAway from the crowds and the cameras, Russian and Ukrainian tennis players revealed there are also strained relationships in Wimbledon’s locker rooms. Sabalenka condemned the booing and said she understands why Ukrainian players won’t shake her hand.

Persons: London CNN —, ”, they’ve, Sabalenka, I’m, Shi Tang, Russian Veronika Kudermetova’s, Elina Svitolina, ” Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Tim Clayton, Corbis, Dmytro Kuleba, “, ” Kubela, Ian Hewitt, Yevhen Zukin, Kudermetova, Ben Rothenberg, Rothenberg, It’s, ” “, Marta Kostyuk, Javier Garcia, Kostyuk, Aryna Sabalenka, won’t, Anastasia Potapova, Iga, Slovakia’s Anna, Karolína, Svitolina, Daniil Medvedev Organizations: London CNN, Wimbledon, Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, CNN, Russian, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, Azarenka, Ukraine’s, Russia, All England, Tennis Federation of, Tennis Association, ATP, WTA, Russian Tennis Federation, Tennis, CNN Sport, Belarus, Aryna, Spartak Moscow, Melbourne Locations: Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Belarusian, Russian, Svitolina’s, Odesa, Tennis Federation of Ukraine, Ukrainian, Kyiv, ” Russian

☆ US to send Ukraine cluster munitions, NATO makes membership pledge
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The cluster munitions "will deliver in a time frame that is relevant for the counteroffensive," a Pentagon official told reporters. Cluster munitions are prohibited by more than 100 countries.Russia, Ukraine and the United States have not signed on to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans production, stockpiling, use and transfer of the weapons. BOTH SIDES SHOULD STOP USING CLUSTER BOMBS -HRWHuman Rights Watch has accused Russian and Ukrainian forces of using cluster munitions, which have killed civilians. Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan said after meeting Zelenskiy that Ukraine deserved NATO membership and that Ankara would continue working on a negotiated end to the war. "Our summit will send a clear message: NATO stands united, and Russia's aggression will not pay," Stoltenberg said at a news conference in Brussels.

Persons: Washington's, Vladimir Putin, Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden, Anatoly Antonov, Antonov, Igor Ovcharruck, Clodagh, It's, Colin Kahl, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Tayyip Erdogan, Zelenskiy, Jens Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg, Biden, Putin, Martin Griffiths, Griffiths, Robert Muller, Jason Hovet, Pavel Polityuk, Mike Stone, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Michelle Nichols, Grant McCool, Diane Craft, David Gregorio Our Organizations: NATO, United States, Rights, United Nations, Pentagon, Cluster Munitions, White House, Watch, U.S, Washington, TASS, REUTERS, Treaty Organization, CNN, UN, Initiative, U.N, United, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, U.S, United States, Ukrainian, Kharkiv, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Zelenskiy, Ankara, Prague, Sofia, Brussels, Vilnius, Lithuanian, RUSSIA, Moscow, Odesa, United Nations, Kyiv, Washington

☆ Only around half of heavy weapons committed to Ukraine have been delivered, experts say: 'The gap between promised and delivered military aid is wide'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukraine's allies have only sent it around half the heavy weapons promised, experts said. Ukraine's counteroffensive has moved slowly, and the country is requesting additional weaponry. "In general, only slightly more than half of the heavy weapons committed have been delivered. Christoph Trebesch, the head of the team creating the tracker, said "the gap between promised and delivered military aid is wide." Experts told Insider's Chris Panella last month that NATO allies' hesitation in giving it more weapons is likely hindering Ukraine's counteroffensive efforts.

Persons: —, Christoph Trebesch, Bradley IFVs, Valerii, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Insider's Chris Panella Organizations: Service, Kiel Institute, Russian, Shadow, Russia, CNN, NATO Locations: Germany, Kiel, Ukraine, United States, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Poland, Slovakia, Russia

☆ Explainer: What's on the table for NATO at Vilnius summit?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Sabine Siebold | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

It will be the fourth NATO summit since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with the first held virtually on Feb. 25, 2022, just one day after the assault, followed by meetings in Brussels and in Madrid. Security measures in Vilnius will be high, with three German Patriot air defence units deployed to protect the venue, a first for a NATO summit. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has made clear that Kyiv will not become a member while war rages, and that the Vilnius summit will not issue a formal invitation. NATO is also likely to find a stronger wording than 2008 to underscore Kyiv's perspective for joining the alliance. BOLSTERING NATO'S EASTERN FLANKLeaders will review the first defence plans the alliance has drawn up since the Cold War, detailing how NATO would respond to a Russian attack.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Jens Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg, Tayyip Erdogan, Sabine Siebold, Gareth Jones Organizations: NATO, German Patriot, Kyiv, British, UKRAINE, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Vilnius, Ukraine, Brussels, Madrid, Lithuania, Russian, Kaliningrad, Belarus, UKRAINE, Kyiv, United States, Germany, Russia, Bucharest, NATO, Washington, Moscow, Turkey, Cyprus, SWEDEN Sweden, Stockholm, Britain, Poland, Greece, Estonia, Finland, Romania, Hungary, Latvia, Slovakia, Canada, Slovenia, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg

☆ NATO makes membership pledge to Ukraine as Zelenskiy drums up support
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Robert Muller | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala visit the Velvet Revolution Memorial in Prague, Czech Republic, July 7, 2023. In Prague, he won a pledge of support for Ukraine to join NATO "as soon as the war (with Russia) is over", and in Sofia secured backing for membership "as soon as conditions allow". "There is strength in unity of NATO," he said, adding that undecided questions over Ukraine's future in NATO and Sweden's pending membership were "a threat to the alliance's strength". Zelenskiy has acknowledged that Kyiv is unlikely to be able to join NATO while at war with Russia. TALKS DUE IN TURKEYDespite Russia's anger, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala told a news conference with Zelenskiy in Prague that he expected all NATO allies to support Ukraine in its membership aspirations.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Petr Fiala, Zelenskiy, Jens Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg, Zuzana Caputova, Vladimir Putin, Fiala, Tayyip Erdogan, Jason Hovet, Pavel Polityuk, Timothy Heritage, Gareth Jones, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Presidential Press Service, NATO, EU Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, European Union, Thomson Locations: Czech, Prague, Czech Republic, Ukraine, PRAGUE, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Russia, Sofia, Bratislava, Vilnius, Lithuanian, Brussels, Russian, Russia's, TURKEY, Europe, Kyiv, United States, Istanbul

☆ NATO allies to spend 'at least 2%' of GDP on defence, diplomats say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OLIVIER MATTHYS/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoBRUSSELS, July 7 (Reuters) - NATO allies have reached agreement to raise the alliance's target for military spending to at least 2% of national GDP, two diplomats told Reuters late on Friday. Agreement on the new spending target was one of the outstanding issues ahead of a two-day NATO summit on Tuesday and Wednesday next week in Vilnius. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg intended to make NATO's current military spending target of 2% of national GDP a minimum requirement rather than a goal to aim for. The goal was set in 2014, when NATO leaders agreed to increase spending towards 2% of their GDP on defence within a decade. Bringing up the rear are Canada, Slovenia, Turkey, Spain, Belgium and Luxembourg, whose defence spending was under 1.4% of GDP.

Persons: OLIVIER MATTHYS, Jens Stoltenberg, Sabine Siebold, Leslie Adler, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: NATO, Alliance, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Finland, BRUSSELS, Vilnius, United States, Britain, Poland, Greece, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania, Hungary, Latvia, Slovakia, Canada, Slovenia, Turkey, Spain, Luxembourg

☆ NATO allies agree to spend 'at least 2%' of their GDP on defence -diplomats
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

☆ Euro zone inflation falls again in June as energy prices tumble
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

FRANKFURT, June 30 (Reuters) - Inflation in the euro zone extended its decline in June as the cost of fuel tumbled, more than offsetting an acceleration in prices for services, a preliminary reading showed on Friday. The data, pointing to only the smallest drop in underlying inflation, was unlikely to sway the European Central Bank, which has pencilled in a ninth consecutive rate hike for July and is eyeing one in September too. "Inflation is still high and sticky but momentum is moderating," said Frederik Ducrozet, head of macroeconomic research at Pictet Wealth Management. The euro zone unemployment rate remained at an historic low of 6.5% in May, Eurostat reported separately on Friday. Big differences remain between euro zone countries, with June headline inflation falling to as little as 1.6% in Spain and Belgium and 1.0% in Luxembourg while staying in double digits in Slovakia (11.3%) and close to them in the Baltics.

Persons: chalking, Frederik Ducrozet, Ulrike Kastens, Christine Lagarde, Neil Shah, Francesco Canepa, Catherine Evans Organizations: European Central Bank, Pictet Wealth Management, ECB, DWS . Services, Eurostat, Edison Group, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Germany, Europe, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Baltics

☆ Eurozone Inflation Slows, but Underlying Price Pressures Persist
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Patricia Cohen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Growth is expected to pick up, but further increases in interest rates could act as a brake on the economy. France’s annual inflation rate fell to 5.3 percent in June, from 6 percent in May. Germany, the largest economy in Europe, saw a rise in its annual inflation rate to 6.8 percent, up from 6.3 percent in May. Inflation rates in Germany are expected to resume their fall in September. After adjusting for inflation, profits were above their prepandemic level while workers’ compensation was 2 percent below the trend in the first quarter of this year.

Persons: Gita Gopinath, Christine Lagarde, ’, Giorgia, “, Lucrezia Reichlin, Riccardo Marcelli Fabiani, Price, Lagarde Organizations: International Monetary Fund, London Business School, Oxford Economics, Ukraine — Locations: Sintra , Portugal, France, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Europe

☆ Gold listless as investors hunt for Fed rate clues
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Spot gold held its ground at $1,949.59 per ounce by 0248 GMT, while U.S. gold futures fell 0.5% to $1,961.20. "Gold prices seem exhausted lately, as intermittent bounces over the past month have failed to find much follow-through ... Investors are now focusing on Powell's congressional testimony on Wednesday and Thursday for further guidance on interest rates following the Fed's hawkish pause on monetary policy tightening last week. Although gold is considered a hedge against inflation, interest rate hikes raise the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion. Additionally, the European Central Bank should raise interest rates again in July as inflation risks are skewed towards higher outcomes, Slovakia's central bank chief said on Monday, while the Bank of England is expected to raise rates by another 25 basis points on Thursday.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Yeap Jun Rong, IG's, Rong Organizations: U.S . Federal, Investors, Fed, U.S ., European Central Bank, Bank of England Locations: China

☆ Ronaldo gives Portugal late win on 200th international appearance
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 20 - Cristiano Ronaldo scored a stunning late goal as Portugal beat Iceland 1-0 on Tuesday to extend their perfect record in Euro 2024 qualifying Group J on an historic night for the forward who became the first player to make 200 international appearances. Ronaldo already held the record for most international appearances when he surpassed Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa’s, who held the record of 196 matches, during Portugal's Euro 2024 qualifier against Liechtenstein in March. It was Ronaldo's 123rd goal for Portugal, extending his record as the all-time leading international goalscorer. The result left Portugal top with 12 points, two ahead of second-placed Slovakia, who won 1-0 away to Liechtenstein earlier on Tuesday. But Portugal responded after the break and gradually got into the game, with Ronaldo's goal securing the points.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Kuwait’s Bader Al, Mutawa’s, Willum Thor Willumsson, Goncalo Inacio, Victor Palsson, Hordur Magnusson, Fernando Kallas, Ken Ferris Organizations: Portugal, Iceland, Liechtenstein, 123rd, Thomson Locations: Iceland, Portugal, Slovakia, Liechtenstein

☆ WTA roundup: Russian stars to clash in Dutch final
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

7 Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus in Saturday's semifinals of the WTA 250 grass-court event. Kudermetova is 2-1 against Alexandrova, who won the last meeting in the semifinals of this tournament last year en route to the title. Rothesay OpenKatie Boulter and Jodie Burrage will meet in Nottingham, England, on Sunday in the first all-British WTA Tour final since 1977, when Virginia Wade beat Sue Barker in San Francisco. Boulter advanced with a 6-4, 7-5 win over another countrywoman, Heather Watson, while Burrage took down France's Alize Cornet 7-5, 7-5 in her semifinal match at the WTA 250 grass-court tournament. Boulter overcame a 4-3 deficit in the opening set and dug out of a 4-1 hole in the second set against Watson.

Persons: Jodie Burrage, Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko, Paul Childs, Veronika Kudermetova, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Kudermetova, Slovakia's Viktoria, Alexandrova, Katie Boulter, Virginia Wade, Sue Barker, It's, Heather Watson, Burrage, France's Alize, Boulter, Watson, Cornet Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko REUTERS, Slovakia's Viktoria Hruncakova, Hruncakova, Sasnovich, British WTA, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Netherlands, Belarus, Saturday's, Kudermetova, Rothesay, Nottingham, England, San Francisco, Leicester

☆ Russia repels Ukrainian drone attack on Druzhba oil pipeline station, governor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

June 17 (Reuters) - Russian air defence units repelled a Ukrainian drone attack overnight on a pumping station on the Druzhba oil pipeline in the Bryansk region adjoining Ukraine, the region's governor said on Saturday. Three Ukrainian military drones were destroyed in the attack in the Novozybkov district, Alexander Bogomaz wrote on Telegram. Drone attacks inside Russia have been increasing in recent weeks, frequently targeting energy facilities. Russia blames Ukraine although Kyiv does not publicly acknowledge responsibility for them. The southern branch of the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline crosses Ukraine and, despite the conflict there, continues to supply crude oil to Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Persons: Alexander Bogomaz, Kevin Liffey, Frances Kerry Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Bryansk, Ukraine, Novozybkov, Russia, Kyiv, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic

☆ Stellantis to unveil Citroën e-C3, first affordable European-made EV
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Gilles Guillaume | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, June 15 (Reuters) - The world's No.3 carmaker Stellantis will unveil its first European-made affordable electric car in mid-October, the new Citroën e-C3, as it gears up to counter the arrival of lower-cost Chinese brands in the European market. Electric vehicles (EVs) are more expensive than their fossil-fuel counterparts and European carmakers plan cheaper models encouraged by government subsidies. That EV subsidy should be unveiled in October for cars to be delivered in 2024, a government source told Reuters. The need for more affordable European models has been driven by Chinese EV brands, which are seen as a threat to European carmakers as they can offer cheaper models. Built on Stellantis' "smart car" architecture introduced in India and Latin America, the vehicle will be assembled in Slovakia and will launch early in 2024, Koskas said.

Persons: Thierry Koskas, Koskas, Gilles Guillaume, Nick Carey, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Reuters, EV, Renault Dacia Spring, Renault, Citroen, Thomson Locations: France, Europe, India, Latin America, Slovakia, China

☆ China warns Europe against official ties with Taiwan ahead of minister's visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationBEIJING/PRAGUE, June 9 (Reuters) - China urged Europe on Friday not to have any official exchanges with Taiwan or support "independence forces" ahead of a planned trip to the continent next week by Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky confirmed Wu was due to visit Prague next week, saying on Friday state officials were not expected to shift from their existing policy towards Taiwan. Taiwan, which is claimed by China, has no formal diplomatic ties with any European country except the Vatican. Asked about the visit on Friday, Czech Minister Lipavsky said he had "been informed" about Wu coming to Prague. In January, then-Czech President-elect Pavel and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen spoke by telephone shortly after his election, in a diplomatic coup for Taiwan that infuriated China.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Joseph Wu, Jan Lipavsky, Wu, Petr Pavel, Lipavsky, Wang Wenbin, Wang, Pavel, Tsai Ing, Marketa Pekarova Adamova, Liz Lee, Robert Muller, Ben Blanchard, Simon Cameron, Moore, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Taiwan Foreign, Reuters, Foreign Ministry, Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, PRAGUE, China, Europe, Taiwan, Joseph Wu . Czech, Prague, Vatican, Beijing, Czech, Czech Republic, Brussels, Slovakia

☆ Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter target of EU crypto advertising complaint
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, June 8 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms' (META.O) Instagram, Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) YouTube, TikTok and Twitter could face regulatory action after European consumer group BEUC complained to the European Commission and consumer authorities that the online platforms allegedly facilitate the misleading promotion of crypto assets. U.S. regulators suing crypto platforms Coinbase COIN.O and Binance, along with last year's collapse of FTX, have sparked concerns over consumer protection related to crypto assets such as bitcoin and ether. It urged the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network to require the online platforms to adopt stricter advertising policies on crypto and take measures to prevent influencers from misleading consumers. The group called on European consumer authorities to cooperate with European Supervisory Authorities for financial services to ensure the platforms adapt their advertising policies to prevent the misleading promotion of crypto. "This is why we are turning to the authorities in charge of protecting consumers to ensure Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Twitter fulfil their duty to protect consumers against crypto scams and false promises," she said.

Persons: BEUC, Monique Goyens, Foo Yun Chee, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: YouTube, Twitter, European Commission, European Union, Consumer Protection Cooperation Network, Commission, European, Authorities, Crypto, Consumer, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain

☆ Euro zone slips into recession after Germany, Ireland revisions
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The revision was principally due to a second estimate from Germany's statistics office showing that the euro zone's largest economy was in recession in early 2023. The euro zone figure for the fourth quarter of 2022 was also cut to -0.1% from a previous reading of zero. Capital Economics said the outlook for the euro zone economy was poor, with a contraction likely again in the second quarter as the impact of higher interest rates fed through. Eurostat said that household spending stripped 0.1 percentage points, public expenditure 0.3 points and inventory changes 0.4 points from quarterly GDP. Gross fixed capital formation added 0.1 points and net trade a further 0.7 points as imports declined.

Persons: Gross, Philip Blenkinsop, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Gross, Eurostat, Reuters, Economics, P Global Market Intelligence, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Ireland, BRUSSELS, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Slovakia

TAIPEI/PRAGUE, June 8 (Reuters) - Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu will make a previously unannounced visit to Europe next week, four sources briefed on the matter said, and is expected to appear with the Czech president at one event in a diplomatic breakthrough. Taiwan, which is claimed by China, has no formal diplomatic ties with any European country except the Vatican. Taiwan's foreign ministry declined to comment on Wu's Europe travel plans. In January, then-Czech President-elect Pavel and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen spoke by telephone shortly after his election, in a diplomatic coup for Taiwan that infuriated China. Beijing views Taiwan as being part of "one China" and demands other countries recognise its sovereignty claims, which Taiwan's democratically-elected government rejects.

Persons: Joseph Wu, Wu, Petr Pavel, Zdenek Hrib, Pavel, Tsai Ing, Ben Blanchard, Robert Muller, Ryan Woo, Andrew Gray, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Taiwan Foreign, European Union, Service, Prague, Copenhagen Democracy Summit, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, PRAGUE, Europe, Czech, Taiwan, China, Vatican, Beijing, Central, Eastern, Ukraine, Brussels, Prague, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bratislava, Copenhagen, Denmark, Vilnius, Lithuania

☆ This country has the best wines in the world for 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

But one country has just triumphed over all the rest in the Decanter World Wine Awards 2023, the world’s biggest and most established wine competition, now in its 20th year. It was a victory for the New World as 10 Australian wines were named Best in Show, more than any other country. Italy had seven Best in Shows – all reds from Tuscany and Piedmont – while Portugal (three Best in Shows) – excelled in Port and Madeira. It’s Croatia – Slovenia makes wonderful wines, really really good – Slovakia, all around there.”Judges at the awards tasted up to 90 wines a day. London Food and Drink Photography/Decanter World Wine Awards 2023/Nic Crilly-HargraveThe future of wine regionsWith countries around the world regularly hitting record temperatures, climate change is already having an effect on established wine regions.

Persons: McLaren, Blanc, Château, De, –, Nic Crilly, Sarah, Jane Evans, you’re, “, Hargrave, ”, Evans, it’s Organizations: CNN, McLaren Vale, London ., London . London Food, Hargrave, Croatia –, London Food, ” Regions, of Locations: Portugal’s Douro, Napa Valley, Western, Margaret River, France, Spain, Champagne, Bordeaux, Italy, Tuscany, Piedmont –, Portugal, Port, Madeira, Greece, South Africa, Austrian, Chilean, Serbian, Oregon, New Zealand, London, London . London, Royal, South Korea, Balkans, Croatia, Croatia – Slovenia, Slovakia, California, they’re, Kent , Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, of England

☆ Russian oil supplies to EU via southern Druzhba to rise 16% in June - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline supplies Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The EU imposed an embargo on Russian oil purchases via maritime routes from December. Hungary, Slovakia and Czech Repubic were, however, allowed to continue Russian oil imports as critical feedstock. Oil supplies via a section of the southern Druzhba pipeline were temporarily suspended in November following shelling on a power station which provides electricity for a pump station. The Druzhba pipeline crosses Belarus and Ukraine and remains an income source for both countries which receive transit fees.

Persons: Unipetrol, Poland's PKN, uninterruptedly, PKN Orlen, Emelia Sithole Organizations: European Union, EU, MOL, Reuters, Minsk, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Ukraine, Russian, Europe, Russia, Moscow, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Druzhba, Czech, Belarus, Kiev, Adria, Ukrainian

☆ Gauff charges past Schmiedlova into quarter-finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 5, 2023 Coco Gauff of the U.S. in action during her fourth round match against Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova REUTERS/Benoit TessierPARIS, June 5 (Reuters) - Last year's French Open runner-up Coco Gauff overcame an early wobble to outclass Slovakian Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 7-5 6-2 and reach the quarter-finals, where she could face a potential rematch with holder Iga Swiatek. Gauff won her previous clash with Schmiedlova in Madrid last year, dropping only two games, and the American made a quick start again with a break in the opening game to pull away and leave her 100th-ranked opponent facing an uphill task. The 19-year-old Gauff tightened her grip in the next set, working the angles and deploying the drop shot to devastating effect as she closed out the victory without any more drama. Gauff will now await the winner of the fourth round match between world number one Swiatek and Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Paris; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Roland Garros, Coco Gauff, Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova REUTERS, Benoit Tessier PARIS, Slovakian Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, Iga Swiatek, Gauff, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Ken Ferris Organizations: Slovakian, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Madrid, American

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