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☆ Efforts by the US to counter China in the South China Sea could backfire
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-12 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The US has played a key role in countering China in the South China Sea. They "want a Goldilocks situation in the South China Sea — not too hot, not too cold," he added. A China Coast Guard ship, at right, sails past the Philippine Coast Guard ship BRP Cape Engaño on August 26, 2024. AdvertisementASEAN held its annual summit in Laos this week, in part to discuss territorial tensions in the South China Sea. A Philippine Coast Guard vessel and a Chinese Coast Guard vessel during an incident in the South China Sea on August 19, 2024.

Persons: —, Bill Hayton, Antony Blinken, Hunter Marston, Omar Zaghloul, Bush, Marston, George W, Obama, Trump, Biden, It's, Martson, Gregory B, Poling, Chatham House's, Samuel Paparo, Hayton, Sabina, REUTERS Poling, Mutual Defense Treaty, of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Organizations: US, Service, Chatham, South China, China Coast Guard, Philippine Coast Guard, BRP, ROSA, Getty, ASEAN, Southeast, Australian National University, Coral Bell School of Asia, Pacific Affairs, Anadolu Agency, Center for Strategic, Studies, Asia Program, Transparency Initiative, Pacific Command, US National Bureau of Economic Research, coastguard, Coast Guard, Chinese Coast Guard, REUTERS, Mutual Defense, CBS, of National Defense Locations: China, South China, Philippines, South, Asia, Chatham House's Asia, BRP Cape Engaño, AFP, Laos, Filipino, United States, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Brunei, Pacific, Chatham House's Hayton, Philippine, Taiwan, Hong Kong, West Philippine, Weibo, Handout, Poling, Ukraine

☆ How Venezuela’s election could upend the geopolitics of the Americas
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Stefano Pozzebon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Caracas CNN —It would be easy to dismiss this Sunday’s presidential election in Venezuela as a fait accompli. The opposition campaign has re-energized its bases, and the candidature of Edmundo González has attracted widespread support in Venezuela and abroad. A chance to rebuild Venezuela’s economic power“On the ballot is how long it’ll take to fix Venezuela’s economy,” said Asdrubal Oliveros, founder of Caracas firm Ecoanalitica, in his weekly podcast on July 8. Once the fifth-largest economy in Latin America, today Venezuela’s economy has shrunk to the equivalent of a medium-sized city, smaller than say, Milwaukee, according to data from the IMF. As Venezuela’s economy has crumbled, around eight million Venezuelans have already fled their country, many of them scattered across South America.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, ”, –, Laboratorio de Paz, Edmundo González, Asdrubal Oliveros, Andres, Maduro, Edmundo Gonzalez, Maria Corina Machado, Gabriela Oraa, Gonzalez, Consultores, Putin, Xi Jinping, who’s, “, Donald Trump Organizations: Caracas CNN —, Laboratorio, IMF, Andres Bello Catholic University, Central University of Venezuela, of American, World Bank, Inter, American Development Bank, Supreme, CNN Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Ecoanalitica, Latin America, Milwaukee, AFP, United States, Americas, South America, Venezuelan, America, China, Iran, Russia, Miami, Cuba, Maduro, of American States, Mercosur, Algiers, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Spanish, Washington, Brexit, neofascism, Europe, India, Turkey, Philippines

☆ Analysis-West Africa's 'Brexit' Moment Spells Trouble for the Region
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

Ivory Coast alone is home to more than 5 million people from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Earlier this month, Russia and Niger, ruled by a junta since a coup last year, agreed to develop military ties. Russian military personnel flew into Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou last week to ensure the safety of the country's military leader. EMPTY THREATECOWAS has responded to a wave of coups in the region since 2020 with sanctions that the juntas have called "illegal and inhumane." "The departure from ECOWAS will have catastrophic consequences for the ability to respond to the many security challenges facing this region," said Abba.

Persons: Bate Felix, David Lewis, Giulia Paravicini, Seidik Abba, Russia's Wagner, Mucahid Durmaz, Verisk Maplecroft, Charlie Robertson, Kwesi Aning, Gilles Yabi, Adama Coulibaly, Nagnouma Keita, Abba, Tiemoko Diallo, Boureima, Silvia Aloisi, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Giulia Paravicini DAKAR, West, West African States, Reuters, Islamic, FIM Partners, European Union, ECOWAS, CFA Locations: Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Russia, Ivory Coast, Niger . Niger, Nigeria, Paris, Ghana, Togo, Benin, France, United States, Burkina Faso's, Ouagadougou, West Africa, United, London, Bamako, Guinea, China

☆ Europe's problems are far bigger than a shallow recession
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Balazs Koranyi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Deep structural problems mean Europe is bound to trail most other big economic areas for years to come. The labour market remains tight and the world economy is rebounding, so external demand is also likely to be healthier. Fearing it will be difficult to hire in future, firms are now hanging onto workers, creating even more labour market tightness, potentially fuelling wage growth and weakening productivity. The potential growth rate for Europe's largest economy is now below 1%. European Union governments are meanwhile struggling to reach consensus on bigger questions that will help shape the future.

Persons: Philip Lane, Erik Nielsen, Eric Gaillard, Europe's, There's, Lane, Reinhard Cluse, Mark John, Catherine Evans Organizations: Central Bank's, REUTERS, European Commission, UBS, European Union, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Europe, Nice, France, United States, Germany

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Summer discontent is spilling into the fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

UAW President Shawn Fain marches with UAW members through downtown Detroit after a rally in support of United Auto Workers members as they strike the Big Three auto makers on September 15, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. This has turned market attention to how long rates will be held at current levels, amid strains on economic growth. CNBC screened FactSet data to examine what equities traders are betting on, or fleeing, as macroeconomic uncertainty continues.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Evergrande, Will Organizations: UAW, United Auto Workers, CNBC, Nasty, Nikkei, House Republicans, Thursday, Soviet, Economic Union, P500, Federal Reserve Locations: Detroit, Detroit , Michigan, Japan, Asia, Pacific, U.S, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Moscow

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Summer of discontent
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

UAW President Shawn Fain marches with UAW members through downtown Detroit after a rally in support of United Auto Workers members as they strike the Big Three auto makers on September 15, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. The S&P 500 has fallen 4.2% this month, on pace for its second straight losing month and its worst month since December. CNBC screened FactSet data to examine what equities traders are betting on, or fleeing, as macroeconomic uncertainty continues.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Stocks, Goldman Sachs — Organizations: UAW, United Auto Workers, CNBC, Nasty, Federal Reserve, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, House Republicans, Thursday, Soviet, Economic Union, P500 Locations: Detroit, Detroit , Michigan, U.S, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Moscow

☆ Russia's indefinite ban on diesel exports threatens to aggravate a global shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

From February 5, 2023, the European Union will no longer purchase petroleum products such as diesel, gasoline or lubricants from Russia. Russia imposed an indefinite ban on the export of diesel and gasoline to most countries, a move that risks disrupting fuel supplies ahead of winter and threatens to exacerbate global shortages. In a government decree signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, the Kremlin said Thursday that it would introduce "temporary" restrictions on diesel exports to stabilize fuel prices on the domestic market. Market participants are concerned about the potential impact of Russia's ban, particularly at a time when global diesel inventories are already at low levels. Oil prices jumped as much as $1 a barrel on the news on Thursday, before settling lower for the session.

Persons: Mikhail Mishustin Organizations: European Union, Soviet, Economic Union, Brent, U.S, West Texas, Energy, Kremlin, Reuters Locations: European, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Moscow, London

☆ Russia curbs gasoline and diesel exports to ease shortages
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Russia has introduced a temporary ban on exports of gasoline and diesel to all countries except four ex-Soviet states in order to stabilize the domestic market, the government said Thursday. “Temporary restrictions will help saturate the fuel market, which in turn will reduce prices for consumers,” the Russian government said in a statement. In recent months Russia has suffered shortages of gasoline and diesel. Wholesale fuel prices have spiked, although retail prices are capped to try to curb them in line with official inflation. Traders say the Russian fuel market has been hit by factors including maintenance at oil refineries, bottlenecks on railways and the weakness of the ruble, which incentivizes fuel exports.

Organizations: Economic Union, Kremlin, Traders, ” Locations: Russia, Soviet, Moscow, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, “, breadbasket, ” Russia, Saudi Arabia

☆ Azerbaijani leader sends Karabakh Armenians and Armenia message of cooperation and peace
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Nailia Bagirova | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 20 (Reuters) - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday offered the ethnic Armenians of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region and also neighbouring Armenia prospects of cooperation, reconciliation and joint development after his forces took control of the enclave. He said Azerbaijan had nothing against Karabakh's Armenian people - "they are our citizens" - but only against their "criminal" separatist leadership. A separatist Armenian human rights official said on Wednesday that at least 200 people had been killed and more than 400 wounded in the fighting. The Kremlin denied this, saying Russia was "not going anywhere" and would remain the guarantor of security. Reporting by Nailia Bagirova; Writing by Kevin Liffey; editing by Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Nikol Pashinyan, Vladimir Putin, Ilham Aliyev, Mikhail Metzel, Aliyev, Azerbaijan's, Nailia Bagirova, Kevin Liffey, Grant McCool Organizations: Armenia's, Eurasian, Sputnik, Wednesday, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Baku, Yerevan, Nagorno, Soviet Union, Stepanakert, Karabakh's, South Caucasus, Georgia, Armenian, Ukraine

CNN —Niger’s junta claimed Sunday it had gathered evidence to prosecute the country’s ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for “high treason,” upping the stakes in their brinkmanship against key neighbors in West Africa who have vowed to restore constitutional order in the coup-hit country. Niger has been engulfed in political chaos since late last month, when Bazoum was ousted in a coup d’etat by the presidential guard. Increasing pressureWest African leaders have ramped up rhetoric against Niger’s coup leaders and ordered the “activation and deployment” of a regional standby force to restore constitutional order in the country. The source also said committee members would first meet among themselves via Zoom on Monday but did not make clear when they would meet with coup leaders. Guinea underwent its own military coup in 2021.

Persons: CNN —, Mohamed Bazoum, ”, Bazoum, Ahmed Idris Wase, “, Moussa Salaou Barmou, Mamadi Doumbouya, ” Doumbouya, Abdourahamane Tchiani Organizations: CNN, CNN — Niger’s, Nigerien, National Council for, Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, Sunday, Nigerian, United Nations, African Union Locations: West Africa, Niger, Africa, France, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Niamey, Guinea’s, Conakry

General Abdourahmane Tiani, who was declared as the new head of state of Niger by leaders of a coup, arrives to meet with ministers in Niamey, Niger July 28, 2023. REUTERS/Balima Boureima/File PhotoDAKAR, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Niger's regional and Western allies have announced a series of sanctions against the country following the July 26 coup. These sanctions have been imposed on Niger since the coup:WEST AFRICA REGIONAL BLOCThe Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Monetary and Economic Union have imposed some of the most stringent sanctions on Niger so far since the coup. NETHERLANDSThe Dutch government, which was supporting development and security programmes in Niger, temporarily suspended its direct cooperation with the government following the coup. WORLD BANKThe World Bank suspended disbursements until further notice, except for private-sector partnerships which it said will continue with caution.

Persons: Abdourahmane Tiani, Balima, Bate Felix, Anait, Daphne Psaledakis, Gabriela Baczynska, Juliette Jabkhiro, Nick Macfie, Angus MacSwan Organizations: REUTERS, WEST AFRICA REGIONAL BLOC, Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, West, Monetary and Economic Union, Ivory, European Union, STATES, ., CANADA Canada, World Bank, Bank, Thomson Locations: Niger, Niamey, DAKAR, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, West Africa's, FRANCE France, France, Mali, Burkina Faso, NETHERLANDS, Dutch, United States, U.S, Africa, Washington, Brussels, Paris

DAKAR, July 31 (Reuters) - Niger's regional and Western partners have announced a series of sanctions against the country following last week's coup. Another 978.47 billion francs was supposed to come from project grants and loans from external partners. These sanctions have been imposed on Niger since the coup:WEST AFRICA REGIONAL BLOCThe Economic Community of West African States and the West African Monetary and Economic Union have imposed some of the most stringent sanctions on Niger so far since the coup. Niger had planned to raise 490 billion CFA francs ($834 million) from the regional debt market in 2023. FRANCEFrance, another major partner of its former colony, suspended development aid and budget support with immediate effect, demanding a prompt return to constitutional order.

Persons: Daphne Psaledakis, Gabriela Baczynska, Juliette Jabkhiro, Nick Macfie Organizations: WEST AFRICA REGIONAL BLOC, Economic, West, Monetary and Economic Union, European Union, UNITED STATES, ., Thomson Locations: DAKAR, Niger, West African States, FRANCE France, France, Mali, Burkina Faso, United States, Washington, Brussels, Paris

☆ Russia says regional free trade pact with Iran possible by year-end
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 19 (Reuters) - A free trade zone agreement between Iran, Russia and several countries that cover the vast Eurasian region spreading from the borders of Eastern Europe to Western China is possible by the end of the year, Russia's TASS news agency reported on Monday. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk told the state TASS agency in an interview that talks between the Eurasian Economic Union - which comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia - and Iran are in their final stages. The regional agreement with Iran would replace and expand an interim pact that already provides a reduction in customs duties on hundreds of categories of goods. In November 2022, Russia started swapping oil products with Iran and in March, Tehran said it counts on "huge volumes" of both oil and gas swaps with Moscow. Overchuk also told TASS, without providing much detail, that negotiations among the Eurasian Economic Union countries on creating a common gas market continue.

Persons: Alexei Overchuk, Overchuk, Lidia Kelly, Michael Perry Organizations: TASS, Eurasian Economic, Kremlin, Moscow, Thomson Locations: Iran, Russia, Eastern Europe, Western China, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Europe, Moscow, Tehran, Russian, China, Melbourne

☆ Vladimir Putin delivers keynote address at St Petersburg forum
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

MOSCOW, June 16 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin delivered the keynote address at Russia's showcase St Petersburg International Economic Forum. DE-DOLLARISATION:"We have never had, and do not have, the goal of de-dollarisation of the Russian economy. And we have never had, and do not have, the goal of influencing the de-dollarisation of the world economy. The influence of one or another currency on the world economy is connected with the economic potential of the country that is the issuer of that currency." UKRAINE CONFLICT:"Soon Ukraine will stop using its own equipment altogether.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, F16s, JOE BIDEN, Biden, It's, Gareth Jones Organizations: St Petersburg, Economic, Reuters, Eurasian Economic, Leopards, UNITED STATES, Russian Federation, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, RUSSIAN, RUSSIA, China, Russia, Russian, OPEC, UKRAINE, Ukraine, NATO

☆ Jim Brown, legendary NFL running back, dead at 87
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Bill Trott | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

[1/2] Former NFL football player Jim Brown speaks after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, U.S., October 11, 2018. Brown led the NFL in rushing in eight of his nine seasons and was voted the league's most valuable player four times. "I didn't retire because I was broken down and slow," Brown told Sports Illustrated in 2015. "I was basically a proponent of economic development as a way to equality, social equality," Brown told the Cleveland Plain Dealer in 2013. The NFL this year honored Brown by renaming the league's rushing title the Jim Brown Award.

☆ Northern Ireland's Orange Order says new Brexit deal needs improvement
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

However, it does not resolve the fundamental concerns," the Orange Order said in a statement on Tuesday. The Windsor Framework continues to treat Northern Ireland as a place apart within the United Kingdom and equal citizenship has not been restored." The statement said the Orange Order would not endorse the deal without "substantial and tangible progress which resolves these fundamental issues". As part of Brexit, Northern Ireland effectively remained in the bloc's single market to avoid a hard border with EU-member Ireland. Business groups have overwhelmingly supported the Windsor Framework, seeing it as removing damaging uncertainties over trading relationships.

☆ Kazakhstan ends unlimited stay for Russians
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ALMATY, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Kazakhstan will no longer allow Russian citizens to stay in the Central Asian country indefinitely by doing so-called visa runs every three months, according to a government directive published this week. Tens of thousands of Russians, mostly young and middle-aged men, relocated to Kazakhstan last year as Moscow, embroiled in the Ukraine conflict, launched its first conscription campaign since World War Two. The Russian language is widely spoken in Kazakhstan and the two countries share the world's longest continuous land border, making Kazakhstan a popular choice among Russians fleeing the draft. The ability to stay in the country de facto indefinitely - by leaving it and reentering every 90 days - has been another important factor. However, the country has struggled to cope with the influx of Russians.

☆ Putin says loss of trust in West will make future Ukraine talks harder
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Kevin Liffey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Summary Putin: 'Trust almost at zero'Putin accuses West of betrayal over 2014/15 Minsk agreementsU.S.-Russia intelligence contacts continue, howeverLONDON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia's near-total loss of trust in the West would make an eventual settlement over Ukraine much harder to reach, although contacts between Russian and U.S. intelligence services were at least continuing. "We thought we would still be able to agree within the framework of the Minsk peace agreements. There is a question of trust," Putin said. "It turns out that no one was going to fulfil all these Minsk agreements," Putin said, "and the point was only to pump up Ukraine with weapons and prepare it for hostilities." Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a news conference following the Eurasian Economic Union summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, December 9, 2022.

☆ Kremlin: gas union with Uzbekistan not about political conditions
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 8 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Thursday that a proposed gas union including Uzbekistan did not involve imposing "political terms" on the Central Asian nation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that a Reuters report about Uzbekistan's energy minister pouring cold water on the "gas union" idea had drawn incorrect conclusions. Russia said last month it was discussing a "gas union" with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to support transit between the three countries and to other buyers including China. Uzbek Energy Minister Jorabek Mirzamahmudov told Reuters that Uzbekistan had yet to receive the proposal, and that "we will never agree to political conditions in exchange for gas". While Russia is a major natural gas exporter, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan produce roughly as much as they consume.

☆ Analysis: Shocked by Ukraine war, Russian neighbour Kazakhstan looks west
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Olzhas Auyezov | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Out of total exports of 68 million tonnes a year, 53 million tonnes of Kazakh oil move through it. The chief executive of Khazakhstan's state oil firm KazMunayGaz said this week that the target of 20 million tonnes was a "medium-term" aim. But getting Kazakh oil to Baku requires either tanker shipments across the sea or the construction of a trans-Caspian pipeline. Smailov said last week that Kazakhstan would start by sending an additional 1.5 million tonnes a year via BTC starting from 2023, gradually rising to 6-6.5 million tonnes. Kazakhstan's Aktau port, the only one equipped to load oil tankers, can handle up to 5.5 million tonnes.

☆ National consensus and division of society. Op-Ed by Victor Pelin
▼ + stars: | 2020-11-09 | by ( ) www.ipn.md time to read: +14 min

National consensus and division of society. Op-Ed by Victor Pelin“The best solution for overcoming societal division and polarization of the political class is to reedit the national consensus stipulated in the Parliament Declaration of March 24, 2005. The national consensus was based on the signing, on February 22, 2005 of the European Union – Republic of Moldova Action Plan (EURMAP). Cooperation of government with civil society within national consensusThe national consensus for achieving the European integration objectives played a decisive role in the government’s willingness to cooperate with civil society. The best solution for overcoming societal division and polarization of the political class is to reedit the national consensus stipulated in the Parliament Declaration of March 24, 2005.

Persons: Victor Pelin “, Ion Chicu, Igor Dodon, Zinaida Grechanyi, Zinaida, Zinaida Grechanyi’s, Mister Nicolae Timofti, Victor Pelin Organizations: European, Party, Communists, European Union, European Union – Republic of, Finance, Economy, Trade, of, National Development Strategy, NDS, European Union countries, Government, Party of Socialists, Alliance for European Integration, Moldova – EU, Russian Federation, “, Russia, EU, Eurasian Economic Union, Helsinki Conference, Moldovan, Socialist Locations: European Union, Republic of Moldova, European Union –, European Union – Republic of Moldova, European, Moldova, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Crimea, Russian, Moldovan, Ukraine, Romania, U.S

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