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☆ Ukraine Marks 2nd Anniversary of Russian Invasion, Determined Despite Setbacks
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Marc Santora | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In solemn ceremonies and small vigils, state visits, stirring speeches and statements of solidarity, Ukraine and its allies marked the dawn of the third year of Russia’s unprovoked invasion with a single message: Believe. “When thousands of columns of Russian invaders moved from all directions into Ukraine, when thousands of rockets and bombs fell on our land, no one in the world believed that we would stand,” said Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky, Ukraine’s newly named top military commander. “No one believed, but Ukraine did!”On the 731st day of the war, Ukrainian soldiers once again find themselves outmanned and outgunned, fighting for their nation’s survival while also trying to convince a skeptical world that they can withstand the relentless onslaught, even as they suffer losses on the battlefield and are challenged up and down the front line by Russian forces. The leaders of Canada, Belgium and Italy, as well as the head of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, were among the dignitaries who traveled to Kyiv in a show of solidarity. While many analysts at the outbreak of the war believed that European nations would go wobbly in their support of Ukraine in a prolonged struggle, these countries are now stepping up, trying to help fill the void left by the U.S., where Republicans in Congress have for months blocked any new military assistance to Kyiv.

Persons: ”, Oleksandr Syrsky, “, Ursula von der Leyen Organizations: Russian, European Union Locations: Ukraine, Canada, Belgium, Italy, Kyiv, U.S

☆ As Ukraine marks two years since Russia’s invasion, Europe is facing difficult questions
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Arguably most important among those questions: How long can it practically sustain such draining financial support for Ukraine? The United Kingdom, arguably the major security player in the region, has also pledged more than $15 billion to Ukraine since 2022. This is an alarming prospect for European officials who already believe Putin is digging in and trying to wait out the West. In the run-up to the US presidential election, the question of what happens to European security without America will inevitably be asked. Europe simply doesn’t have the manufacturing heft right now to independently serve Ukraine over the next 12 months.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Money, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ursula von der Leyen, Joe Biden, Stefan Rousseau, Donald Trump, White, Trump, Putin, Thomas Peter, ” Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, Bakhmut, European Union, NATO, EU, Kiel Institute, US, Parliamentary, Getty, White House, DC Locations: Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine, Europe, Ukraine, Avdiivka, United States, Kyiv, EU, Kiel, United Kingdom, Ukrainian, AFP, NATO, America, Kramatorsk, Brussels, China, Beijing

☆ Opinion: Trump’s making America irrelevant to Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( David A. Andelman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

He formerly was a foreign correspondent and bureau chief for The New York Times in Europe and Asia and for CBS News in Paris. CNN —Madeline Albright famously called America the “indispensable nation.” Is former President Donald Trump making America the irrelevant nation? The first steps toward a new direction for such a Europe — without America — are already being taken. Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu/Getty ImagesVon der Leyen has also said that upping European defense production would be a top priority for her second term — not to mention sorting through vastly divergent budgets of the various countries. Still, as a bloc, Europe at about 85 billion euros ($92 billion) has already passed the United States at 66.2 billion euros ($71.6 billion) in total commitments to Ukraine.

Persons: David A, Madeline Albright, Donald Trump, Alexey Navalny’s, Vladimir Putin, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Joe Biden, ” haven’t, Mette Frederiksen, ” Frederiksen, Ursula von der Leyen, Europe’s, Christine Wormuth, Peter, Paul, Kaja Kallas, Dursun, Leyen, Emmanuel Macron’s, Macron, David Lammy, unflinchingly, who’s, ” Kallas, Alar Karis, ” Karis, we’re, Der Spiegel, ” Organizations: CNN, French Legion of, The New York Times, CBS News, Trump, Republicans, NATO, Security, Danish, America, Africa Command, Getty, Germany’s Kiel Institute, US, Union, Munich Security Conference, British, Labour Party, Estonian, Politico Europe, Kremlin, “ Locations: Europe, Asia, Paris, America, Russia, Russian, Ukraine, “, United States, Munich, Berlin, Brussels, Poland, Estonian, Anadolu, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, France, Russia’s, Sweden, Britain, German

European leaders have paid tribute to jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny following reports of his death in prison on Friday. It is terrible that a courageous, fearless voice that stood up for his country has been silenced by terrible methods." Meanwhile, President of the European Council Charles Michel wrote in a post on X: "Alexey Navalny fought for the values of freedom and democracy. President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said she was "deeply disturbed and saddened" by news of the death of Navalny. "Navalny fought for democratic values and against corruption.

Persons: Alexei Navalny, Olaf Scholz, Navalny “, Scholz, Angela Merkel, Navalny, Charles Michel, Alexey Navalny, Ursula von der Leyen, Putin, Mark Rutte Organizations: European, EU Commission Locations: Russian, Russia, Germany, Soviet, Siberian, Omsk, Berlin, Berlin’s Charite

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — World leaders and Russian opposition activists wasted no time Friday in blaming the reported death of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny on President Vladimir Putin and his government. Navalny was “brutally murdered by the Kremlin,” said Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Other Russian opposition activists echoed him. “If it is confirmed, the death of Alexei is a murder. Organized by Putin,” opposition politician Dmitry Gudkov said on social media.

Persons: Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Putin, Putin, ”, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “ Putin, —, ” Zelenskyy, Olaf Scholz, ” Scholz, Navalny, “, Edgars Rinkēvičs, Ivan Zhdanov, hasn’t, Alexei, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Dmitry Gudkov, Garry Kasparov, ” Kasparov, Pyotr Verzilov, “ Navalny, Verzilov, Ursula von der Leyen, Jens Stoltenberg, ” Stoltenberg, Jake Sullivan Organizations: Kremlin, EU, NATO, National, NPR Locations: TALLINN, Estonia, Russian, Berlin, Russia, Navalny, Germany

☆ EU to 'Spare No Effort' to Hold Russia Accountable for Navalny's Death, Commission Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

(Reuters) - The EU will do whatever it can to hold Russia accountable for the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Vice President Josep Borrell said on Friday. "He was slowly murdered by President Putin and his regime, who fear nothing more than dissent from their own people", von der Leyen and Borrell said. "We will spare no efforts to hold the Russian political leadership and authorities to account." The EU commission leaders demanded Russia established all facts around Navalny's death and "immediately release all other political prisoners". The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 ImagesPhotos You Should See View All 33 Images(Reporting by Bart Meijer; Editing by Alex Richardson)

Persons: Alexei Navalny, Ursula von der Leyen, Josep Borrell, Putin, von der Leyen, Borrell, Bart Meijer, Alex Richardson Organizations: Reuters, EU Locations: EU, Russia

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny attends a rally in support of political prisoners in Prospekt Sakharova Street in Moscow, Russia on September 29, 2019. Sefa Karacan | Anadolu | Getty ImagesWorld leaders and the wife of prominent Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny reacted with dismay and suspicion to reports of the Kremlin critic's death in a Siberian penal colony. Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny's wife, was greeted on Friday with a standing ovation as she addressed the Munich Security Conference. "Alexei Navalny has been a strong voice for freedom, for democracy, for many years, and NATO and NATO allies have called for his immediate release for a long time." "We'll be talking to the many other countries concerned about Alexei Navalny, especially if these reports bear out to be true."

Persons: Alexei Navalny, Sefa, Yulia Navalnaya, Navalnaya, Vladimir Putin, Putin, …, Kai Pfaffenbach, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin —, Navalny's, Navalny, Kamala Harris, Washington, Jens Stoltenberg, Yulia Morozova, Ursula von der Leyen, von der Leyen, Antony Blinken, Rishi Sunak, Olaf Scholz Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, Munich Security, Reuters, Ministry, Munich, NATO, IK Locations: Moscow, Russia, Munich, Germany, Vladimir, Russian

☆ Von Der Leyen Says European Commission Will Seek to Boost Defence Production - FT
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

(Reuters) - Brussels should incentivise Europe's defence industry to ramp up production and promote consolidation, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the Financial Times in an interview on Thursday, warning that the "world has got rougher". Proposals in the commission's plan include using the EU budget to increase financing to supplement joint contracts for weapons signed by member states, as well as guaranteeing that production will be bought, EU officials told FT."We have a very fragmented defence market and that needs to change," FT quoted von der Leyen as saying. "What is the competence of the commission? It's industry. (Reporting by Disha Mishra in Bengaluru)Photos You Should See View All 22 Images

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, der Leyen, Disha Mishra Organizations: Reuters, Financial Times, EU Locations: Brussels, Bengaluru

☆ Chinese and Indian companies are about to be hit by sanctions because of their ties to Russia, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The European Union wants to sanction three Chinese companies for supporting Russia, according to reports. This would mark the first time the bloc has sanctioned Chinese and Indian businesses since the invasion of Ukraine. AdvertisementThe European Union wants to sanction three Chinese companies due to their ties to Russia, according to reports by Bloomberg and the Financial Times . In April 2023, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen traveled to Beijing to warn China’s leader Xi Jinping not to support Russia’s war efforts. "This visit is taking place in a challenging and increasingly volatile context, in particular because of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine," she said in a press conference .

Persons: —, hasn’t, Ursula von der Leyen, China’s, Xi Jinping, von, Leyen Organizations: European Union, Bloomberg, Service, Union, Financial Times, EU, Kremlin, Moscow, European Locations: Russia, Hong Kong, India, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, EU, China, Beijing

☆ Farmers’ protests have erupted across Europe. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Sophie Tanno | Chris Liakos | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

This week, the farmers’ protests struck at the heart of the European Union, when they rolled into Brussels on Thursday as leaders held a major summit on Ukraine. The EU has waived quotas and duties on Ukrainian imports in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “In Germany, it was really focused on diesel, so starting to tax diesel for tractors. France this week announced a series of measures for farmers in light of the protests. This has already been seen in Germany, when the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) involved itself in the protests and expressed solidarity with the farmers.

Persons: ”, Sebastien Bozon, Kay Nietfeld, Hugo Auge, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s, Dimitar Dilkoff, Emmanuel Mathé, “, we’re, Anger, Renaud Foucart, Sakis Mitrolidis, Stefano Guidi, Gabriel Attal, Attal, Ursula von Der Leyen, Rob Engelaar Organizations: CNN — Farmers, CNN, European Union, Toulouse, BFMTV, Getty Images Farmers, AP, Farmers, Getty, ” Farmers, EU, Lancaster University, Deal, Green, European Commission, French, Farmer, Citizen Locations: Europe, Paris, France, Italy, Spain, Romania, Poland, Greece, Germany, Portugal, Netherlands, Eastern Europe, EU, Brussels, Ukraine, Zandvliet, Meer, Lyon, Vesoul, AFP, Berlin, Thessaloniki, Spanish, Hamburg, Cologne, Bremen, Nuremberg, Munich, Eastern, Bulgaria, Yvelines, French, Noisy, Seine et Marne, England, Novara, Belgium, Arendonk, Dutch

Here's why European farmers are taking their anger to the streets:THE HISTORYPolitical Cartoons View All 253 ImagesWorld War II had spread hunger on a bountiful continent. When the war ended, Western European leaders knew that the way to people's hearts was through their stomachs. The vision of EU farming from early on was economy of scale — bigger farms, bigger holdings, setting standard rules across borders. “European farmers have found themselves under increasing pressure from many sides,” European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič said. On Wednesday, the European Commission made two key proposals — one to shield EU farmers from cheap Ukrainian imports and one to sidestep an environmental measure.

Persons: Ursula, Ursula von der Leyen, —, von der, “ Ursula, ”, Jean, Francois Deflandre, Paolo Pepponi, It’s, it’s, Pepponi, Benoit Laqueue, Nicolas Abbeloos, “, Maroš Šefčovič, Šefčovič, Emmanuel Macron Organizations: HALLE, European, Agriculture, EU, European Commission, South Locations: Belgium, Paris, Brussels, EU, Ukraine, Kyiv, Halle, Lithuania, France, Spain, Italy, Rome, Europe, Sedan, New Zealand, Chile

☆ Italy's Meloni Opens Africa Summit, Promises New Partnership
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The summit, being held in Italy's ornate Senate, will last all day, with Italian ministers due to outline an array of initiatives, from energy and infrastructure to health and education, that Meloni says will be mutually beneficial. "We believe it is possible to envision and write a new chapter in the history of our relationship, a cooperation among equals, far from any predatory imposition or charitable stance towards Africa," Meloni said in an opening speech. Eni, Italy's largest importer of natural gas, has already countered lower Russian supplies by shipping increased volumes from Africa, where it has had a presence for decades. The company has said Algeria, Egypt and Libya will be Italy's main gas suppliers for the next few years. Most had departed from North African countries such as Tunisia and Libya, many fleeing poverty and conflict in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.

Persons: Crispian Balmer, Angelo Amante ROME, Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, Enrico Mattei, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Mattei, Alex Richardson Organizations: Italian, Eni, European Union, European, Energy, EU Locations: Rome, Africa, Italy, China, Russia, Gulf, Tunisia, Senegal, Kenya, Republic of Congo, Somalia, Ukraine, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Europe, North, Saharan Africa

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland protested Sunday a mistake in a social media post by the head of the European Commission that wrongly suggested the World War II Auschwitz death camp was Polish. That post by Ursula von der Leyen on X, formerly Twitter, was later corrected to say that Auschwitz was a Nazi German extermination camp. In the original post, the Auschwitz camp was described only as “Poland.”Phone and text messages left Sunday with Christian Wigand, EU Commission spokesman, were not immediately returned. Beginning in 1940, the Nazis were using old Austrian military barracks in the southern town of Oswiecim as a concentration and death camp for Polish resistance members. During that time, Poland was under brutal German occupation and lost some 6 millions citizens, half of them Jews.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, von der Leyen, Christian Wigand, Radoslaw Sikorski, penalizes Organizations: —, Sunday, European Commission, Twitter, European Union, EU, Foreign Locations: WARSAW, Poland, — Poland, Auschwitz, Nazi, Germany, Oswiecim, Birkenau

☆ Analysis: In Poland, Donald Tusk is spoiling for a fight. His populist opponents are hitting back
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The country’s public television channel, TVP, which essentially became a mouthpiece for the previous government, has been ripped off the air. Omar Marques/Getty ImagesBut Tusk – a politician with a reputation for pragmatism and restraint – showed his intentions within days of taking office. “It became symbolic of the excesses of the PiS government,” Bill said of TVP’s transformation into a Hungarian-style state-captured medium. “One of the unifying forces of PiS supporters is distrust, or even hatred, of Donald Tusk,” Kucharczyk said. Nonetheless, after eight years of populist rule that hardened the battle lines of Polish politics, much of the public is spoiling for a fight.

Persons: Donald Tusk, ”, “, Jacek Kucharczyk, Tusk, ’, Kucharczyk, Stanley Bill, Bill, “ It’s, Andrzej Duda, PiS, Omar Marques, –, Duda, ” Bill, ” Kucharczyk, TVP, ” Tusk, Ursula von der Leyen, Tusk’s, Jaap Arriens, messier Organizations: CNN, Law, Justice, of Public Affairs, Polish Studies, University of Cambridge, TVP, Twitter, National Media Council, Police, European Union, “ Locations: Poland, Polish, Warsaw, Hungarian, Tusk’s, Brussels, TVP

☆ Ukraine begins EU accession talks; U.S. military aid hangs in the balance
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine formally started the screening process to begin talks over its future membership of the European Union on Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. In a post on X, the Ukrainian leader said he welcomed the start of "substantial preparations for Ukraine's EU accession talks" in Brussels, following an agreement reached with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "The thorough work of assessing the conformity of Ukrainian legislation with EU norms, the formation of Ukraine's delegation, and our negotiating position are all ahead of us," Zelenskyy added. "I expect full engagement of Ukrainian government team and the first intergovernmental conference to be held already this spring." The White House said last week that the U.S. money supply to Ukraine has now run out, which could leave Kyiv ill-equipped to repel the Russian invasion.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ursula von der Leyen, Zelenskyy, John Thune Organizations: European Union, EU, Economic, U.S, Republican, Reuters Locations: Ukraine, Brussels, Davos, Switzerland

☆ EU's Centre-Right Expects to Nominate Von Der Leyen for Second Term - EPP's Caspary
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Union's main centre-right alliance will nominate Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as European Commission president at a congress in March if she wants to continue in the post, a senior EU lawmaker told Reuters. Von der Leyen, a German Christian Democrat, has not yet said publicly whether she wants a second stint at the helm of the EU executive after her current term expires later this year. "The EPP will nominate Ursula von der Leyen as its lead candidate for the European elections at its European Congress on March 6 and 7," Caspary said, adding, "If that's what she wants." Being nominated as the EPP's lead candidate would mean von der Leyen would also be its nominee for Commission president. Caspary's comments add strength to the widespread assumption among diplomats and officials in Brussels that von der Leyen will seek and receive a second term as Commission president.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Von der, Daniel Caspary, Caspary, Leyen, der Leyen, Andreas Rinke, Andrew Gray, Nette Nöstlinger, Rachel More Organizations: BERLIN, Reuters, Christian Democrat, European People's Party, EPP Locations: Brussels

Macron's opponents are seizing on the farmers' demonstrations to bash his government's record ahead of European elections in June. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, whose National Rally party is polling strongly, blamed free-trade agreements, imports and bureaucracy for farmers' economic woes. Roads hit Thursday morning by drive-slows included a highway west of the French capital and seat of power. “We are getting progressively closer to Paris,” farmer David Lavenant said to broadcaster BFM-TV. In recent weeks, farmers have staged protests in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania.

Persons: Gabriel Attal, Emmanuel Macron, Marine Le, ”, David Lavenant, Ursula von der Leyen, von der Locations: Paris, Agen, France, Brussels, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Romania

People attend the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, January 18, 2024. Javier MileiArgentina's President Javier Milei delivers a speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos on January 17, 2024. Sam AltmanSam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, attends the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 18, 2024. He said AGI could be developed in the "reasonably close-ish future," speaking at a private gathering at the Bloomberg House in Davos, Switzerland. AI took a huge leap forward in the last year or two years," Benioff said on a World Economic Forum panel Thursday.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Donald Trump, Ursula von der, Ursula von der Leyen, Jamie Dimon Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan, Adam Galici, Jamie Dimon, Dimon, Larry Fink's, bitcoin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin, Vladimir Putin, Zelenskyy, Putin, Javier Milei, Fabrice COFFRINI, FABRICE COFFRINI, Fabrice Coffrini, Milei, Adena Friedman Adena Friedman, Adena Friedman, Friedman, Sam Altman Sam Altman, Sam Altman, Altman, Antony Blinken Antony Blinken, CNBC Putin, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Trump's, it's, Christine Lagarde, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Dmytro Kuleba, Arnd Wiegmann, Trump, Vladimir, Ukraine's, Kuleba, Michelle Yeoh Michelle Yeoh, Mike Coppola, Michelle Yeoh, CNBC's Tania Bryer, Yeoh, Pedro Sanchez Spanish, Pedro Sanchez, Isabel Infantes, Sanchez, Li Qiang Li Qiang, Li Qiang, Li, Isaac Herzog, Kfir Bibas, Herzog, Kfir, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, Atta Kenare, Joe, Biden, Netanyahu, Amir, Sergio Ermotti, MICHAEL BUHOLZER, Ermotti, Marc Benioff Marc Benioff, Salesforce, CNBC's Sara Eisen, Marc Benioff, Benioff, Ray Dalio Ray Dalio, Bridgewater, Ray Dalio, Dalio, Mark Carney Mark Carney, DANIEL LEAL Organizations: Economic, Reuters, European, JPMorgan Chase, CNBC, BlackRock, Getty, Afp, NASDAQ, CNBC Nasdaq, Reuters OpenAI, Bloomberg, State, European Central Bank, Central Bank, Reuters Ukraine's, United Nations Development, Spanish, Getty Images, Hamas, Palestinian, Hezbollah, Turkish, AFP, Iranian, Sergio Ermotti UBS, Getty Images UBS, Credit Suisse, Bridgewater Associates, U.S, Bank of England, UN, OLIVAS Locations: Davos, Switzerland, Ukraine, Gaza, Russia, China, Moscow, WEF, AFP, OpenAI, U.S, Russian, Iran, Europe, United States, Hollywood , California, Madrid, Spain, Beijing, Washington, Lebanese, Tehran, Israel, Hiroshima

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — Artificial intelligence is easily the biggest buzzword for world leaders and corporate bosses diving into big ideas at the World Economic Forum’s glitzy annual meeting in Davos. In a sign of ChatGPT maker OpenAI’s skyrocketing profile, CEO Sam Altman is making his Davos debut to rock star crowds, with his benefactor, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, hot on his heels. Illustrating AI’s geopolitical importance like few other technologies before it, the word was on the lips of world leaders from China to France. Here's a look at the buzz:OPENAI OPENING BIG AT DAVOSPolitical Cartoons View All 253 ImagesThe leadership drama at the AI world's much-ballyhooed chatbot maker followed Altman and Nadella to the swanky Swiss snows. China, one of the world’s centers of AI development, wants to “step up communication and cooperation with all parties” on improving global AI governance, Li said.

Persons: OpenAI’s, Sam Altman, Satya Nadella, Altman, Nadella, “, OpenAI, Klaus Schwab quizzed, Li Qiang, ”, Li, Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Google's Bard, he's, can’t, Julie Sweet, Arvind Krishna, Yann LeCun, LeCun, ____ Chan, Matt O'Brien Organizations: Davos, DAVOS, Bloomberg, Microsoft, ”, European, EU, Accenture, AP Locations: DAVOS, Switzerland, Davos, China, France, Swiss, percolated, afterparties, Europe, Britain, Valley, London, Providence , Rhode Island

☆ Von Der Leyen Confident All EU States Will Agree on Aid Package to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Gabriela BaczynskaBRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union's chief executive voiced confidence on Wednesday that all 27 member states will agree to jointly extend more financial aid to Ukraine. Hungary has resisted agreement on an aid package, raising the possibility of the other 26 countries giving funds to Ukraine under separate bilateral deals with Kyiv. But Ursula von der Leyen, who heads the executive European Commission, told EU lawmakers: "I am confident that we will find a solution by 27." EU leaders last month agreed to start accession talks with Ukraine but Hungary vetoed granting 50 billion euros($54 bln) in aid for Kyiv through 2027. The prospect of 26 countries giving aid to Ukraine under separate bilateral deals with Kyiv is one alternative that is under discussion.

Persons: Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS, Ursula von der Leyen, Viktor Orban, Tassilo Hummel, Bart Meijer, Gabriela Baczynska, Timothy Heritage Organizations: European Commission, EU, Russian, European, Commission, Kyiv Locations: Ukraine, Hungary, Brussels, Hungarian, Budapest

Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesZelenskyy is following that up with his first trip to Davos as president after speaking by video in previous years. The corporate chiefs will hear “what kind of immediate assistance is needed” and lay out how private and public sectors can help Ukraine rebuild one day, forum organizers say. The session will draw NATO leader Jens Stoltenberg, German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and U.S. envoy for Ukraine's economic recovery, Penny Pritzker, among others. While the geopolitical situation has oozed gloom, businesses appear more hopeful — in part from prospects that artificial intelligence can help boost productivity. Leading Western stock indexes shot up in 2023, and falling inflation raised hopes of a decline in interest rates.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Jordan, Premier Li Qiang, Ursula von der Leyen, Jake Sullivan, Donald Trump —, Putin —, White, Viola Amherd, Jens Stoltenberg, Robert Habeck, Penny Pritzker, Gitanas Nauseda, José Manuel Albares Bueno, Satya Nadella — Organizations: European Union, Russia, Hamas, Premier, United States, Ukraine, —, Bruins, Spanish, Microsoft Locations: DAVOS, Switzerland, Swiss, Davos, United States, China, Qatar, Zelenskyy, Russia, Bern, Ukraine, ”, East, Europe

☆ Davos: Zelensky warns Putin’s war must not become ‘frozen’ as Ukraine faces shortage of weaponry and aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Christian Edwards | Niamh Kennedy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Is the third world war possible? Putin’s war was less than a year old when Zelensky last spoke at Davos via a video link in January 2023. Zelensky said the West's fears that supplying weapons would escalate the war cost Ukraine time, lives and opportunities. Speaking at Davos shortly before Zelensky, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said only continued support for Ukraine would make Putin to relent. “And the paradox is that, if we want that to happen… the way to get there is [to send] more weapons to Ukraine.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, “, Putin, ” Zelensky, Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine’s, Ursula von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, ” Von der Leyen, Ursula Von der Leyen, Gian Ehrenzeller, ’, ”, Fabrice Coffrini, Jens Stoltenberg, ” Stoltenberg Organizations: CNN, Economic, Hamas, ”, Getty, NATO Locations: Davos, Switzerland, Ukraine, Russia, Kherson, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Pyongyang, Tehran, AFP

☆ European markets head for lower open while Davos steps up a gear
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The annual forum steps up a gear Tuesday with special addresses by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. European stocks are heading for a lower open Tuesday as markets continue to focus on news and comments from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. A general view shows the congress centre, the venue of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland January 13, 2020. Asia-Pacific markets fell overnight, with Japanese stocks also halting their record-breaking rally since the start of the year. U.S. stock futures were also lower Monday night as Wall Street awaits December retail sales data due Wednesday and bank earnings that will provide a better picture of the state of the American consumer.

Persons: Premier Li Qiang, Ursula von der Leyen, Jake Sullivan, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Premier, U.S . National, Economic Locations: U.S, Davos, Switzerland, Swiss, Asia, Pacific

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — The Earth is heating up, as is conflict in the Middle East. They'll be among more than 2,800 attendees, which also include academics, artists and international organization leaders. OpenAI chief Sam Altman will be in Davos along with top executives from Microsoft, which helped bankroll his company's rise. TRYING AGAIN TO SAVE THE PLANETOf all the lofty hopes in Davos, the perennial one of late has been the search for creative and promising ways to fight climate change. “Davos is a powerful combination potentially, of a lot of concern about the environment, and a lot of high-powered finance present,” she said.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, They'll, Bronwen Maddox, Israel's, Herzog, Benjamin Netanyahu's, ”, Sam Altman, Vladimir Putin, Li Qiang, Ursula von der Leyen, Joe Biden's, Jake Sullivan, Emmanuel Macron, Antony Blinken, Javier Milei, Donald Trump —, Biden, John Kerry, Chatham House's Maddox Organizations: Young Swiss Socialists, Chatham House, Intelligence, Microsoft, European Commission, Chatham, “ Locations: DAVOS, Switzerland, Russia, Davos, Chatham, Gaza, Yemen, Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, China, U.S, Dubai, “ Davos

Political, business and other elites will gather once again Monday for the World Economic Forum’s 54th annual meeting in the Alpine hamlet of Davos, Switzerland, to tackle the thorniest of problems, from war to inequality to climate change. The forum is not without its own controversy, having been pegged over the years as a haven for globalists and ruling elites. This year’s conference comes on the heels of a report released Wednesday by think tank The Conference Board detailing findings from a survey of global business leaders, which showed a global economic downturn and inflation are among the top concerns of CEOs worldwide. With Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict raging on, global political instability also topped the list of things keeping corporate leaders awake at night. Meanwhile, global growth is expected to slow to 2.4% in 2024, according to a report from the World Bank released on Tuesday.

Persons: Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Nelson Mandela, Jacques Yvez, Tony Blair, Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch, Bono, Antony Blinken, Li Qiang, Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Javier Milei, Antonio Guterres, “, ”, Andres Cadena, Elon Musk, Gayle Markovitz, ” Markovitz, Economists Organizations: corporate titans, McKinsey, Republican, White, Trump, World Economic, World Bank Locations: U.S, Israel, Davos, Switzerland, Argentine, China, Ukraine

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