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☆ Georgia president overruled as lawmakers push forward with Russia-style 'foreign agents' law
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Demonstrators protesting the "foreign influence" law crowd outside the parliament building in central Tbilisi on May 28, 2024. Georgian lawmakers on Tuesday voted to override a presidential veto on a Russia-style "foreign agents" law, pushing forward with legislation that has triggered international condemnation and large-scale protests in the South Caucasus nation. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili vetoed the controversial legislation on May 18, saying on social media platform X that the "fundamentally Russian" law represents "an obstacle to our European path." Zourabichvili, a critic of the ruling Georgian Dream government, has called for a repeal of the law. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has said the bill will create "strong guarantees" to help ensure long-lasting peace in the country.

Persons: Salome Zourabichvili, Irakli Kobakhidze Organizations: Union, NATO, United Nations, EU, Kremlin ., Georgian Locations: Tbilisi, Russia, South Caucasus, The U.S, Georgian, Soviet Union

☆ Lord Mayor of London: Brexit wasn't what we wanted but the city is doing 'quite well'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailLord Mayor of London: Brexit wasn't what we wanted but the city is doing 'quite well'Michael Mainelli, lord mayor of the city of London, discusses how the city is doing after Brexit and the "fundamental problem" of EU artificial intelligence legislation.

Persons: Michael Mainelli Locations: London

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Russian-occupied territory comes under attack; Hungary accused of blocking Ukraine support
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban delivers his speech at the occasion of Hungary's Revolution and Independence Day outside the Hungarian National Museum on March 15, 2024 in Budapest, Hungary. EU foreign ministers are increasingly frustrated with Hungary's frequent opposition to measures by the bloc that are meant to provide aid to Ukraine and kick start EU accession talks for Kyiv. Lithuania's foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis accused Budapest of implementing a "systematic approach towards any efforts by the EU to have any meaningful role in foreign affairs." The Russian-occupied eastern Ukrainian territory of Luhansk came under attack overnight, Russian officials said, causing a fire and drawing emergency services to the scene. A senior Russian diplomat said he suspected the attack was followed by a second shelling of the area by Ukrainian forces.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Gabrielius Landsbergis Organizations: Hungarian National Museum, Kyiv, EU, CNBC Locations: Budapest, Hungary, Ukraine, Luhansk, Russian, Ukrainian

☆ Western countries are lining up to name and shame China for overproduction
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-27 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewWestern countries are lining up to call out China for its barrage of cheap exports that are flooding the world's markets. "We will continue to monitor the potential negative impacts of overcapacity and will consider taking steps to ensure a level playing field, in line with World Trade Organization (WTO) principles." China pushes back on criticism, industrial profits rose in AprilBeijing has consistently resisted the West's criticism that it is dumping cheap goods on the world market. Chinese authorities say the West's accusations are protectionist and aimed at containing China's economic growth. In April, profits at China's industrial companies rose 4% from a year ago, reversing a drop in March, according to official statistics released on Monday.

Persons: —, Janet Yellen, Olaf Scholz, Bruno Le Maire, Yu Weining, Joe Biden, Biden, Josh Lipsky, Lipsky Organizations: Service, Business, EU, Bloomberg, World Trade Organization, China's Commerce Ministry, European Commission, International Monetary Fund Locations: China, France, Stresa, Italy, Beijing, United States

Rafah, Gaza and Jerusalem CNN —Dozens of people were killed on Sunday after a fire broke out following an Israeli airstrike on a camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah, Gaza. “Several civilians are still trapped inside the camp, which was attacked without warning,” a Palestinian man filming the fire said. Palestinians mourn over the bodies of relatives killed in an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, the Gaza Strip on Monday. It was among the deadliest strikes by the Israeli military on Gaza’s southernmost city since Israel began its operation there on May 7. Qatar, another key mediator, said Israel’s strike could “hinder” ongoing negotiations, and called the attack a “serious violation of international law.”Palestinians gather at the site of an Israeli strike on a camp housing internally displaced people in Rafah, Gaza on Monday.

Persons: ”, Jehad, ” Avichay Adraee, Yifat, Yerushalmi, “, ” Israel, Staff Yassin Rabia, Khaled Nagar, peered, Abed Rahim Khatib, Mohammad Abu Al Subeh, Abu Al Subeh, “ It’s, ” Abu Nidal Al Attar, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Israel, Emmanuel Macron, Critics, Israel’s, Eyad Baba Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, CNN, Gaza Health Ministry, Hamas, Sunday, Israel Defense Forces, IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, IDF, West Bank, Staff, International Court of Justice, United Nations ’, Ministry of Health, Getty, UN, ” Medical, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, ICJ Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Israel, “, rummaging, Kuwait, Nuseirat, Egypt, Qatar, AFP

☆ 'Drone wall' against Russia: Six NATO countries announce border defense plan
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-27 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Pilots of the "Sharp Kartuza" division of FPV kamikaze drones prepare drones for a combat flight on May 16, 2024 in the Kharkiv region, 8 km from the border with Russia. Six NATO countries neighboring Russia are joining forces to build a "drone wall" to protect their borders, Lithuania's interior minister announced on Friday. In an interview with Finnish television channel Yle, cited by the Financial Times, Finland's Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said that the drone wall plan would "improve in time." The interior ministers of the six countries taking part in the drone wall project met in the Latvian capital of Riga on May 23 and 24. "The phenomenon of instrumentalized migration on the EU's external borders is a common challenge for our countries.

Persons: Agne Bilotaite, Bilotaite, Mari Rantanen, Rantanen Organizations: NATO, Yle, Financial Times, Finland's, EU Locations: Kharkiv, Russia, Norway, Poland, Lithuanian, Baltic, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Latvian, Riga, Belarus, Africa

☆ My husband and I live with my parents in our mid-30s, like many in Croatia. It's a lifesaver for working parents like us.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-26 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

They live in a multi-story home with their children, Marlais' parents, and her brother and his family. AdvertisementI didn't know what to expect, but we loved it. Finally, my parents live in the attic. Diana Marlais, Bogdan Nicolae Dascalescu, and their child on the balcony of their apartment. Joshua Zitser/Business InsiderA lifesaver as working parentsDiana: If we didn't live with my parents, I don't know how I would go to work, walk the dogs, and do everything I do.

Persons: —, Diana Marlais, Bogdan Dascalescu, Marlais, Diana, Bogdan, Bodgan, Bogdan Nicolae Dascalescu, Joshua Zitser, They're, it's Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Croatia, Romania, Zagreb, Croatia's, Dubrovnik, Bogdan

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, ICJ ruling, Rafah invasion looms
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Chris Lau | Sana Noor Haq | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

European Union flags fly outside the European Commission building in Brussels, Belgium, on April 12. They add: “It was precisely to avert such a grim world order that our grandparents, witnesses of the horrors of World War II, created Europe. The calls come in the same week that three European countries – Ireland, Spain and Norway - announced plans to formally recognize a Palestinian state. Although Norway is not an EU member, the plans do have the potential to exert greater pressure on the countries’ western allies to take a tougher stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict. But the move is not a coordinated European effort and the bloc has long struggled to speak with one voice.

Persons: Kenzo Tribouillard, “, ” Organizations: European Commission, Getty, European, EU Locations: Brussels, Belgium, AFP, Gaza, Israel, Europe, Ireland, Spain, Norway, Palestinian

☆ The West is tapping Russian money to arm Ukraine. Much more could follow
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

London CNN —Money generated by Russian financial assets frozen in Europe will soon start flowing to Ukraine, giving Kyiv a boost as it struggles to counter an advance by Moscow’s troops. The plan “would essentially bring forward that flow of interest proceeds from the assets… (through a loan) given to Ukraine,” Yellen told broadcaster Sky News in an interview this week. “Ukraine has substantial needs, and being able to marshal significant resources to help Ukraine is important,” she said. Most of the frozen Russian money is held in Europe, and the euro is the world’s second-most important currency after the US dollar. This would give Kyiv access to a much larger amount of money than using future or current windfall profits from Russian assets.

Persons: Janet Yellen, ” Yellen, Gabriel Bouys, Joe Biden, ” Lee Buccheit, Trade Valdis Dombrovskis, Yellen, there’s, —, Buchheit, Putin, ” Organizations: London CNN, Union, Sky News, “, US, Getty, University of Edinburgh Law School, CNN, EU, Trade, Reuters, Russia, Ukraine, World Bank Locations: Europe, Ukraine, West, Italy, Russia, Ukraine’s, Kharkiv, Frankfurt, Germany, “ Ukraine, Stresa, AFP, EU, Belgium, Kyiv

☆ The European housing crisis warping millennial life: The average Croatian lives with parents until 33
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

According to Eurostat, the EU statistical office, the average Croatian leaves their parents' home at over 33 years of age, its highest figure. Joshua Zitser/Business InsiderIn the US, almost everyone has moved out by then. Joshua Zitser/Business InsiderWhile tourism brings economic opportunities for Vukovic and many others, he says it has also worsened the already dysfunctional housing market. But in parts of Dubrovnik, Vukovic explained, that's not feasible. Joshua Zitser/Business InsiderFor Josip Crncevic, 34, prices feel far out of reach.

Persons: —, Joshua Zitser, Malohodžić, Ivan Vukovic, Vukovic, Filip Brkan, that's, Josip Crncevic, Crncevic, homeownership, it's, he'd, Marija, Sanja, Angelo, Cikato, Diana Marlais, Bogdan Dascalescu, wouldn't Organizations: Service, Croatian, Business, Eurostat, BI, UNESCO, Heritage, King's, Real Estate Business Association of, Croatian Chamber Locations: Dubrovnik's, Croatia, Dubrovnik, Independence, HBO's, Dubrovnik's suburbs, Marija

☆ EU AI act: Meta, Amazon execs say Europe’s new AI law could harm innovation
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Tom Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The first-of-its-kind law is poised to reshape how firms and other organizations in Europe use AI for everything from health care decisions to policing. For Meta’s (META) AI chief, Yann LeCun, “the big question” about the new law is “should research and development in AI be regulated?”“There are clauses in the EU AI act and various other places that do regulate research and development. I don’t think it’s a good idea,” he told CNN’s Anna Stewart at the Paris event. LeCun, widely known as one of the “godfathers of AI,” disagrees with concerns that AI could soon surpass human intelligence. “We need to make sure that innovation continues to happen and that the innovation doesn’t just come outside Europe.

Persons: Yann LeCun, ”, CNN’s Anna Stewart, “, Werner Vogels, Stewart, Vogels, “ Let’s Organizations: London CNN, Meta, CNN, EU, overregulating Locations: Paris, Europe, EU, underinvesting

☆ Chinese EV makers continue aggressive push into Europe under growing threat of tariffs
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS — Chinese electric carmakers are pushing ahead with expansion into Europe, even as politicians raise the possibility of high tariffs on vehicles from the world's second largest economy. The result of this probe could lead to tariffs on Chinese EV imports. The U.S. has already taken such a step, with the Biden administration imposing 100% tariffs on Chinese EV imports this week. Chinese EV makers have been aggressively expanding overseas, as they look to challenge Elon Musk's Tesla internationally but also to gain an early lead ahead of established automakers. China's EV industry has boomed over the years thanks to incentives and support from the Chinese government, which has concerned politicians in Europe and the U.S.

Persons: Xpeng, BYD, Biden, Elon Musk's Tesla, Bruno Le Maire Organizations: European Commission, EV, Companies, U.S, CNBC, French Finance Locations: Amsterdam, Netherlands, France, Paris, PARIS, Europe, China, U.S

☆ Oreo-maker Mondelez fined $366 million for rigging European markets
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Olesya Dmitracova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —Mondelez, the maker of Oreo and Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, has been fined €337.5 million ($366 million) for hindering the trade of chocolate, cookies and coffee between European Union countries in order to keep prices high. Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s competition chief, said in a statement Thursday that Mondelez had illegally limited cross-border sales within the EU to maintain higher prices for its products. The European Commission, which started looking into the case in 2019, found that Mondelez International (MDLZ) had deliberately restricted cross-border trade and abused “its dominant position” in some national markets for the sale of chocolate bars. Mondelez made an accrual for the fine last year and no further measures will be necessary to finance it. In another case, Mondelez required a customer to charge higher prices for exports compared with domestic sales.

Persons: London CNN — Mondelez, Margrethe Vestager, Mondelez, “, Mark Thompson Organizations: London CNN, Cadbury, Union, European Commission, Mondelez International, EU Locations: Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Romania

☆ Big Tech goes on AI charm offensive in Europe as regulators circle
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

It's worth noting that their comments come as the world's first major law governing AI, the EU's AI Act, was given the final greenlight. Meanwhile, European Commissioner Thierry Breton, a major architect of rules around Big Tech, is set to speak later in the week. Vogels, who is tasked with driving technology innovation within Amazon , said that AI can be used to "solve some of the world's hardest problems." Manyika said Google open-sourced its watermarking tech so that any developer can "build on it, improve on it." "I am concerned that there is potential for monopolies to emerge around Big Tech and AI," he said.

Persons: Rafael Henrique, Lightrocket, Werner Vogels, Society James Manyika, Thierry Breton, Vogels, Manyika, it's, Google's, Gemma AI, Emmanuel Macron, Eric Schmidt, Yann LeCun, Macron, Matt Calkins, Appian, Calkins Organizations: Getty, France —, Viva Tech, Amazon Chief, Google, Technology, Society, Regulators, Big Tech, European Union, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Elysee, CNBC Locations: PARIS, France, Paris, Jakarta, Indonesia, View , California, U.S

"We need much more European big players, and I think Mistral AI can be one of them," Macron said of France's leading AI company. Macron also praised H, the newly launched French AI startup that announced this week it had raised a massive $220 million from its initial round of financing. He compared allowing American tech giants to operate under U.S. regulations while in Europe, to allowing a French bank in the United States to ignore American banking regulations. When it comes to China, however, Macron implied that he thought some U.S. tech regulations had gone too far. "Look, I think China is a competitor when you speak about trade, innovation and economy.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Macron, CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin Organizations: France —, Microsoft, CNBC, European, EU Artificial Intelligence, European Union, Google, TikTok Locations: PARIS, France, France — Europe, China, United States, U.S, Paris, Mistral, Europe, Washington, Brussels

☆ Spain, Norway and Ireland’s recognition of a Palestinian state is likely to have little impact on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Europe has struggled over the Middle East for a very long time. The decision by Ireland, Spain and Norway to recognize a Palestinian state tells us more about the domestic politics of those countries than anything else. In Ireland, Spain and Norway, support for a Palestinian state chimes with the broader electorate and is unlikely to receive any political blowback. European countries simply do not have a huge amount of influence in this area. That isn’t to say Europeans didn’t care about the Middle East, specifically the Palestinian cause.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Israel – Organizations: CNN, Israel, European Union, European Commission, European, EU Locations: Europe, Ireland, Spain, Norway, Israel, Palestinian, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Palestine, Oslo, European Union

☆ World’s first major law for artificial intelligence gets final EU green light
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

European Union member states on Tuesday agreed the world's first major law for regulating artificial intelligence, as institutions around the world race to introduce curbs for the technology. The EU Council said that it reached final approval for the AI Act — a ground-breaking piece of regulation that aims to introduce the first comprehensive set of rules for artificial intelligence. "The adoption of the AI act is a significant milestone for the European Union," Mathieu Michel, Belgium's secretary of state for digitization said in a Tuesday statement. The AI Act applies a risk-based approach to artificial intelligence, meaning that different applications of the technology are treated differently, depending on the threats they pose to society. High-risk AI systems cover autonomous vehicles or medical devices, which are evaluated on the risks they pose to the health, safety, and fundamental rights of citizens.

Persons: Mathieu Michel, Michel Organizations: EU, European Union Locations: Europe

☆ Opinion: We Germans are making Trump ‘thunderstorm’ plans
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Opinion Anna Sauerbrey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

That’s scary.” If Trump is elected, Jörg is convinced, he would withdraw American troops from Europe and stop aid to Ukraine. Jim Bourg/AFP/Getty ImagesSix months ahead of the vote, this soccer field conversation reflects the German view of the US elections quite well. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty ImagesIt’s an optimistic view, based on the assumption that Trump will act rationally, as a deal-maker, if elected. What if Trump tries to take America out of NATO or creates a “dormant NATO,” a NATO existent only in name? Another Trump presidency would not only put Germany’s security at risk, but also manifest this view of the US for another four years.

Persons: Thomas Ernst Editor’s, Anna Sauerbrey, Read, ’, ”, Jörg, Miguel, Donald Trump, “, “ Trump, Trump, “ I’m, Piero, Joe Biden, Jim Bourg, Europe’s, Russia “, Olaf Scholz, Michael Kappeler, ” Scholz, mums, Annalena Baerbock, Greg Abbott, Biden, Kirill Kudryavtsev, George H, Bush’s, Barack Obama, Obama, Heinz M, Schahina Gambir, Gambir, Roe, Wade, Bob Parent Organizations: Zeit, Berlin CNN —, Köpenicker FC, CNN, Biden, Trump, Getty, NATO, Republican, European Union, European Central Bank, EU, ”, Dallas Mavericks, Mavericks, LA Clippers, NBA, Green, Bundestag Locations: Berlin, America, Taiwan, Europe, Ukraine, Italy, AFP, Gaza, Germany, Russia, United States, Trump, Texas, China, Poland, France, Frankfurt, Kabul, New York City, New York

☆ After Biden’s monster taxes, China launches its own anti-dumping probe against the US and EU
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Diksha Madhok | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Editor’s Note: Sign up for CNN’s Meanwhile in China newsletter, which explores what you need to know about the country’s rise and how it impacts the world. CNN —China has hinted at possible tit-for-tat action against trade barriers imposed by the United States last week, as relations between the two economic superpowers become increasingly fraught. On Sunday, China’s Ministry of Commerce said it was launching an anti-dumping probe into polyoxymethylene or POM copolymers, a thermoplastic used in various industries ranging from auto parts to electronics, imported from the US, the European Union, Taiwan and Japan. Thermoplastics are malleable when heated but become fixed in a solid shape when cooled, and can partially replace metals such as copper and zinc. The investigation should take a year to complete, but may be extended by another six months, the ministry added.

Persons: Joe Biden Organizations: CNN, United, China’s Ministry of Commerce, European Union, EV Locations: China, United States, Taiwan, Japan

☆ Saudi king to be treated for lung inflammation, state news agency says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Photo: Oliver Weiken/dpa (Photo by Oliver Weiken/picture alliance via Getty Images)Saudi King Salman will undergo treatment at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah for a lung inflammation, the state news agency said on Sunday, hours after he underwent medical tests. Citing the royal court, the state news agency said the 88-year-old king would be treated with antibiotics until the inflammation subsides. Earlier on Sunday, King Salman underwent medical tests at the royal clinics at Al Salam Palace due to "high temperature and joint pain", the Saudi state news agency said. King Salman, the custodian of Islam's holiest sites, became ruler of the world's top oil exporter in 2015 after spending more than 2-1/2 years as the crown prince and deputy premier. Saudi Arabia's embassy in Japan did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the crown prince's cancelled trip.

Persons: Abdel Fattah el, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Jean, Claude Juncker, Oliver Weiken, Saudi King Salman, King, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Yoshimasa Hayashi, King Salman of, Prince Mohammed's, Hayashi, King Salman, Jake Sullivan, Emperor Naruhito, Fumio Kishida Organizations: Arab League, European Union, of Arab, Getty Images, Al Salam, Saudi, Al, U.S . National Locations: Egypt, Sharm El, Saudi King, Sharm, Saudi, Jeddah, Japan, Saudi Arabia, King Salman of Saudi Arabia, Tokyo, Washington, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's

☆ Britain expands AI safety institute to San Francisco amid scrutiny over regulatory shortcomings
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The government on Monday announced it would open a U.S. counterpart to its AI safety summit, a state-backed body focused on testing advanced AI systems to ensure they're safe, in San Francisco this summer. The U.S. iteration of the AI Safety Institute will aim to recruit a team of technical staff headed up by a research director. In a statement, U.K. Technology Minister Michelle Donelan said the AI Safety Summit's U.S. rollout "represents British leadership in AI in action." The AI Safety Institute was established in November 2023 during the AI Safety Summit, a global event held in England's Bletchley Park, the home of World War II code breakers, that sought to boost cross-border cooperation on AI safety. The government said that, since the AI Safety Institute was established in November, it's made progress in evaluating frontier AI models from some of the industry's leading players.

Persons: Ian Hogarth, Michelle Donelan, it's, Anthropic Organizations: LONDON, Monday, AI, Technology, Safety, U.S, Microsoft, AI Safety, Institute, Seoul, European Union Locations: San Francisco, California, United States, U.S, London, British, Bay, OpenAI, England's Bletchley, South Korea, Bletchley Park, Seoul, Britain, European

☆ Opinion: Hardened like diamonds, these Gen Z protesters fight for a European future
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Opinion Will Cathcart | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

They snatch protesters from the crowd and drag them back into a mass of black uniforms. Will Cathcart Will CathcartHundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets across Georgia in recent weeks to protest the government’s adoption of a Kremlin-inspired “foreign agents” bill. As with the foreign agents law, the bill’s authors claim it promotes transparency, an absurd notion. The foreign agents bill is a symptom of a deeper issue – money. The pressures of authoritarian intimidation and systematic violence have hardened Georgia’s young protestors like diamonds.

Persons: Will Cathcart, Mikheil Saakashvili, Cathcart Will Cathcart, Vladimir Putin’s, Putin, Hans Gutbrod, ”, Salome Zourabichvili, aren’t, Gen Z, Europe –, Giorgi Arjevanidze, Bidzina Ivanishvili, Party ” –, Mamuka Mdinaradze, Shalva Papuashvili, – “, “, James O’Brien’s, Ivanishvili, Zviad Organizations: CNN, Tbilisi CNN — Riot, Georgian, Ilia State University, European Union, Getty, Global, Party, Georgian Orthodox Church, US, State, Eurasian Affairs, Fletcher School of Law, NATO, Special Forces Exchange Locations: American, Tbilisi, Georgia, Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Europe, AFP, Georgian, Soviet, Russian, United States, Brussels, Washington, Moscow, EU

☆ Georgian president vetoes ‘foreign agents’ bill after widespread opposition
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Michael Rios | Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili has vetoed a controversial “foreign agents” bill that sparked weeks of widespread protests across the country. The divisive legislation would require organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “agents of foreign influence” or face a fine. Opponents say the bill was modeled after similar laws in Russia that the Kremlin has used to snuff out opposition and civil society. “This law, in its essence and spirit, is fundamentally Russian, contradicting our constitution and all European standards,” President Zourabichvili said after vetoing the bill on Saturday. Demonstrators protest against the foreign agents bill in Tbilisi, Georgia on May 13, 2024.

Persons: CNN —, Salome Zourabichvili, Zourabichvili, Zurab Organizations: CNN, European Union, EU Locations: Russia, Tbilisi , Georgia, Georgia, Soviet, Russia . Georgia, Soviet Union, Moscow, Europe, –, Ukraine

☆ Ukraine Reports No Shortages of Artillery Shells for First Time: Zelenskyy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that Ukraine's forces had reported no shortages of artillery shells for the first time since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, the Kyiv Independent reported. "For the first time during the war, none of the brigades complained that there were no artillery shells," Zelenskyy said on May 16. Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesUkraine's armed forces have faced severe artillery shortages in recent months, partly due to a US military aid package being stalled in Congress. Despite this, Russian artillery will likely outmatch Ukraine's for most of 2024, officials and analysts told Foreign Policy. He added that he expected Ukrainian forces would "hold the line" near Kharkiv City.

Persons: —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, milblogger Stanislav Osman, Diego Herrera Carcedo, Rustem Umerov, Petr Pavel, Vladimir Putin, Christopher Cavoli Organizations: Service, Kyiv Independent, Business, Kyiv Post, Army, Anadolu Agency, Getty, EU, BBC News, Policy, CNN, for Locations: Russia, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine's, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Donetsk Oblast, Avdiivka, Donetsk, Czech Republic, Russian, Kharkiv City

☆ Ukraine can still beat Russia. It just comes down to enough Western aid.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

With 14 to 21 well-equipped brigades, Ukraine could eject Russian forces from all Ukrainian territory, according to an American expert. One is Ukraine amassing a sufficiently powerful ground combat force that can defeat the estimated 500,000 Russian troops in Ukraine. With Russian forces solidly dug in behind minefields and fortifications across eastern and southern Ukraine, that Baltic scenario bears similarities to the situation that Ukraine faces today. Given sufficient quantities of munitions, Ukraine could inflict enough losses to decisively attrit Russian forces that have already sustained an estimated 500,000 casualties. He started with a 2023 Estonian Ministry of Defense plan that laid out a roadmap for Ukraine to defeat Russia.

Persons: one's, Michael Bohnert, Bohnert, isn't, Chasiv, — Bohnert, they've, Andrei Belousov, Putin, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Business, RAND Corp, RAND, US Army, NATO, Russian, Anadolu, Getty, Estonian Ministry of Defense, Atlantic, Storm, Bohnert, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, American, Russia, Russian, Baltic States, United States, U.S, Chasiv Yar, Estonian, Iraq, Afghanistan, Europe, America, China, Israel, Forbes

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