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☆ Spain's Sanchez wins support for PM bid amid anger over Catalan amnesty vow
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"We have managed to secure a majority that will make possible the investiture of Pedro Sanchez," acting minister for parliamentary relations Felix Bolanos said in an interview with SER radio station. Opinion polls have painted a picture of a country divided over the question of amnesty, even within the ranks of the Socialist Party. With Junts and PNV and the national and regional left-wing parties, Sanchez would win an absolute majority of 178 out of 350 lawmakers. Later on Friday, the Socialist Party added one vote more to its wide coalition after Canary Islands' regionalist party Coalicion Canaria also agreed to back Sanchez. Bolanos said the Catalan amnesty law would help ease tension in Catalonia as it would free school directors, firefighters and other civil servants who helped organise an illegal referendum on the region's independence in 2017 from legal proceedings.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Jon Nazca, Junts, Sanchez, Felix Bolanos, Bolanos, Canaria, Carles Puigdemont, Belen Carreno, Emma Pinedo, Inti Landauro, David Latona, Jessica Jones, Aislinn Laing, Toby Chopra, Nick Macfie, Hugh Lawson, Andrea Ricci Organizations: European, REUTERS, Rights, Catalan separatists, National Basque Party, Canaries ' Coalition, SER, Socialist Party, Socialist, La, Sigma, Sanchez's Socialist Party, Interior Ministry, El Mundo, Socialists, Police, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, Rights MADRID, Catalonia, Galician, Basque, Canary Islands, Junts, Madrid

EU leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have visited the Middle East to express solidarity with Israel and bolster diplomatic efforts to prevent the conflict spiralling into a regional war. "These developments require our immediate attention, without distracting us from our continued support to Ukraine." The EU and its member countries have provided billions of euros in assistance to Ukraine since Russian forces invaded in February last year. At the summit, the leaders will have their first debate on that budget package, which diplomats expect to be contentious. "It's hard to ask for more money for the EU budget when national budgets are getting squeezed," said one EU diplomat.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Charles Michel, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Julia Payne, Philip Blenkinsop, Jan Strupczewski, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Union, Ukraine, Hamas, EU, Diplomats, French, European Council, Kyiv, year's, European Commission, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Israel, Brussels, Palestinian, Gaza, Europe, Ukraine, Russian, United States, EU

For a Biden administration committed to stopping the Israel-Hamas war from widening, the conflict could amplify the economic strains and possibly cause governments to collapse. “Let’s support Egypt," Michel told reporters afterward. One major potential setback for Egypt stemming from the latest Israel-Hamas War would be the loss of tourists seeking to explore the country's ancient pyramids and history. Tourism is one of Egypt's leading economic sectors, and along with foreign investment provides needed access to the rest of the global economy. Before the latest Israel-Hamas war, some officials had pointed to Lebanon’s rebounding tourism industry as an economic lifeline.

Persons: Joe Biden, Christopher Swift, Ajay Banga, Charles Michel, Michel, Abdel Fattah el, Sissi, Israel, ”, Swift, ” Swift, it's, Mubarak, Moody’s, Mirette, Mabrouk, ” Mabrouk, Paul Salem, Abby Sewell Organizations: WASHINGTON, Hamas, International Monetary Fund, European Union, reverberations, Treasury Department, European Council, el, IMF, Tourism, Associated, World Bank, U.S, Middle East Institute Locations: Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Gaza, Sudan, East, Hamas, United States, Qatar, Washington, Beirut

Michel suggested no deal was imminent when he told reporters the two sides needed to find "mutually beneficial" solutions. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai met with European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis on Thursday, a third source told Reuters. Michel told reporters it was a critical time for the United States and the EU to "stick together" on their shared values and commitment to democracy given the Israel-Hamas conflict. It is still to be seen if this will end the U.S. tariffs threat or just see an extended suspension. Given the EU needs such materials itself for its green transition, the positive impact for the bloc may be limited.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Joe Biden, Charles Michel, Michel, von der Leyen, Katherine Tai, Valdis Dombrovskis, Donald Trump, Bernd Lange, Philip Blenkinsop, Alexandra Hudson, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: WASHINGTON, European Union, Trump, Commission, U.S, European, . Trade, EU, Washington, World Trade Organization, United, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, United States, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Europe, North America, China, Brussels, U.S, Washington, Friday's

☆ Morning Bid: Bond squeeze abates as Middle East war in focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A street sign for Wall Street hangs in front of the New York Stock Exchange May 8, 2013. Dallas Fed cheif Lorie Logan added overnight that recent data and bond yield moves gave the central bank space. Reactions in the market were curious, however, with implied Fed policy rates in the futures market and two-year Treasury yields easing back even as 10-year yields chomped at the 5% bit. The resulting further disinversion of the yield curve to show the gap between two and 10-year yields at its lowest in a year is some testament to that. But with another nervous weekend around the Israel-Gaza war ahead, when markets are closed or illiquid, Friday trading has shifted the focus back to short-term safety hedges.

Persons: Lucas Jackson, Mike Dolan, Jerome Powell's, Powell, Lorie Logan, Huntington, Loretta Mester, Patrick Harker, Joe Biden, Charles Michel, Ursula von der Leyen, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Treasury, Atlanta Federal, Dallas Fed, Bank of Japan, L'Oreal, American Express, Interpublic, Schlumberger, Cleveland Federal, Philadelphia Fed, European Council, European Commission Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Thomson, Reuters Locations: U.S, Israel, Gaza, Europe, China, Comerica, Huntington Bancshares, Washington

U.S. President Joe Biden attends a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (not pictured), as he visits Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 18, 2023. Biden noted at the start of the meeting that the EU and the U.S. were standing together to support Israel and Ukraine, but would also discuss ways to address "unfairly traded steel and aluminum imports" and talks about critical minerals. Trade negotiators had scrambled on Thursday to avoid the U.S. resuming import tariffs on EU steel and aluminum imposed by then-President Donald Trump in 2018, ultimately agreeing to keep the tariffs at bay while they keep talking. "We look forward to continuing to make progress on these important objectives in the next two months," it said. The joint statement cited progress toward a "targeted" deal, and said the leaders looked forward to continuing negotiations in the coming weeks.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Evelyn Hockstein, Washington, Charles Michel, Ursula von der Leyen, Biden, Michel, Donald Trump, Andrea Shalal, Jeff Mason, Jarrett Renshaw, Heather Timmons, Jonathan Oatis, Alistair Bell, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Israeli, Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, European Union, White, Senior U.S, European, European Commission, Ukraine, EU, ., Trade, United Steelworkers, Biden, Trump, Washington, World Trade Organization, U.S, Thomson Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, U.S, Ukraine, China, Brussels, Washington, North America, Europe

The Oval Office sit-down comes at a moment when domestic U.S. political chaos could further destabilize an increasingly chaotic world. One day ahead of his meeting with Biden, European Council President Charles Michel expressed optimism that Biden can deliver on his promises to help arm and financially support Ukraine. But some House Republicans have questioned the value of aid to Ukraine at the levels sought by Biden. Republican lawmakers have failed to find a successor, leading to concerns that Biden's commitments with the EU could be in jeopardy. We put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine, if we turn our backs on Israel."

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Biden's, Biden, Charles Michel, “ I’m, Joe Biden’s, ” Michel, “, Michel, Ursula von der Leyen, Joe, ”, Donald Trump's, Federico Steinberg, ” Steinberg, Von der Leyen, von der Leyen, ” von der Leyen, ” Biden, There’s, Kevin McCarthy, Raf Casert Organizations: WASHINGTON, European Union, The, EU, European, Hamas, Israel, Center for Strategic, International Studies, U.S, World Trade Organization, Hudson Institute, Russia, Associated Press, Republicans, GOP, Republican Locations: United States, Ukraine, Israel, Russia, U.S, China, EU, Europe, Washington, Kyiv, “, Mexico, Taiwan, Brussels

☆ Egypt peace summit may struggle to foster unity on Gaza conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Israeli soldiers patrol an area near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 19, 2023. The hastily-convened Cairo Peace Summit as the conflict still rages will bring together several Arab and European heads of state and government, alongside foreign ministers. They will meet as Israel readies a ground assault on Gaza following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that killed 1,400 people. More than 4,100 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's counteroffensive, amid a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The summit is scheduled to be opened by the Egyptian president at 10 a.m. Saturday (0700 GMT).

Persons: Amir Cohen, Zhai Jun, Mikhail Bogdanov, Olaf Scholz, Rishi Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, Charles Michel, Josep Borrell, Abdel Fattah al, Sisi, Jordan's King Abdullah, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden's, William Maclean, Edmund Blair, Philippa Fletcher, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Cairo Peace Summit, British, EU, European, Israel, U.S, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Israel's, Gaza, Israel, Egypt, U.S, Cairo, China, Middle, Russia, United States, EU, Washington, Lebanon, Iranian, Rafah, Sinai

☆ Cairo Peace Summit on Gaza conflict: who will attend?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Members of the military stand guard as people take part in a protest in support of Palestinians, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Old Cairo, Egypt, October 20, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany Acquire Licensing RightsOct 20 (Reuters) - Egypt is planning to host an international conference on Saturday to discuss the escalating war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza. The list of attendees expected so far at the Cairo Peace Summit include:Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-SisiPalestinian President Mahmoud AbbasJordanian King AbdullahBahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al KhalifaKuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-SabahItalian Prime Minister Giorgia MeloniSpanish Prime Minister Pedro SanchezGreek Prime Minister Kyriakos MitsotakisCypriot President Nikos ChristodoulidesSouth African President Cyril RamaphosaGerman Foreign Minister Annalena BaerbockFrench Foreign Minister Catherine ColonnaJapanese Foreign Minister Yoko KamikawaBritish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs James CleverlyNorwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth EideUnited Nations Secretary-General Antonio GuterresEuropean Council President Charles MichelEuropean Union foreign policy chief Josep BorrellReporting by Reuters bureaus; Editing by Edmund Blair, Gareth Jones and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mohamed Abd El Ghany, Abdel Fattah al, Mahmoud Abbas, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al, Ahmad al, Giorgia, Pedro Sanchez, Kyriakos, Nikos Christodoulides, Cyril Ramaphosa, Annalena Baerbock, Catherine Colonna Japanese, Yoko Kamikawa, Foreign Affairs James, Espen Barth Eide, Antonio, Charles Michel, Josep Borrell, Edmund Blair, Gareth Jones, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Palestinian, Cairo Peace, Pedro Sanchez Greek, State, Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide United Nations, Charles Michel European Union, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Old Cairo, Egypt, Gaza, Cairo, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah Bahraini, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Kuwaiti Crown, Sabah Italian, Spanish, Norwegian

U.S. President Joe Biden will host Michel and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Friday to show unity toward Ukraine, but with trade irritants souring ties. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai met with European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis on Thursday, and the two countries' trade negotiators were meeting around the clock. Michel told reporters it was a critical time for the United States and the EU to "stick together" on shared values and commitment to democracy, especially given the escalating crisis in the Middle East, which threatens to overshadow the long-planned summit. It is still to be seen if this will end the U.S. tariffs threat or just see an extended suspension. Given the EU needs such materials itself for its green transition, the positive impact for the bloc may be limited.

Persons: Charles Michel, Joe Biden, Michel, Ursula von der Leyen, von der Leyen, Katherine Tai, Valdis Dombrovskis, Donald Trump, Bernd Lange, Philip Blenkinsop, Alexandra Hudson, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: European Union, EU, European Commission, Trump, . Trade, European, Washington, World Trade Organization, United, U.S, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, WASHINGTON, United States, Ukraine, China, Brussels, U.S, Washington, North America

☆ EU Leaders Warn That Kremlin Seeking to Exploit Israel-Gaza Crisis to Its Advantage
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The European Union’s two top officials warned that Russia is seeking to take advantage of the conflict between Israel and Gaza, using it to claim double standards in the West about respect for international law. European Council President Charles Michel said that underscored why it was important for European governments to urge Israel to act carefully in its military response to the Hamas attack, just as they have pointed to Russia’s breach of international law in attacking Ukraine.

Persons: Charles Michel, Israel Locations: Russia, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine

☆ EU Responds to Hospital Strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

European Union leaders were discussing the Mideast crisis in a videoconference Tuesday when Palestinian officials reported the deaths of more than 500 people in an Israeli airstrike on a Gaza hospital. The strike shows “the dramatic situation on the ground of the people” of Gaza, senior EU official Charles Michel said, adding that “an attack against a civilian infrastructure is not in line with international law.”

Persons: Charles Michel, ” Organizations: Union, EU Locations: Gaza

BRUSSELS, Oct 17 (Reuters) - European Union leaders aim on Tuesday to settle on a united approach to the crisis triggered by the Hamas attack on Israel after days of confusion, infighting and mixed messaging. Some officials and lawmakers also criticized von der Leyen, who visited Israel on Friday, for not declaring that the EU expects Israel to abide by international humanitarian law in its response to the attack, as other EU leaders did. Von der Leyen stated that position publicly for the first time at the weekend. Commission officials have insisted von der Leyen had already conveyed the message privately to Israeli officials and defended her swift visit to Israel as an important sign of solidarity. The EU leaders are likely to task ministers with exploring potential risks in more detail, according to officials.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Von der, von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, der Leyen, Michel, John Irish, Andrew Gray, Howard Goller Organizations: Union, European Council, EU, European, Von der Leyen's, Israel, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Israel, Gaza, Europe

☆ EU seeks to ease US tariff, green subsidy threats
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Washington has asked Brussels to move against Chinese steel producers in particular in return for avoiding the re-imposition of Trump-era tariffs on EU steel and aluminium, with an end-October deadline to reach an agreement. Those subsidies, largely in the IRA, have irked EU countries because they contain local content requirements. Half of the tax break is reliant on extraction of processing of critical minerals taking place in a country with which the United States has a free trade agreement. The EU is hoping that the summit will also yield an agreement on critical minerals - cobalt, graphite, lithium, manganese and nickel - that would benefit EU suppliers. EU exports to the United States of these minerals or products principally containing them totalled 3.5 billion euros ($3.7 billion) in 2022, Eurostat data shows.

Persons: Joe Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Philip Blenkinsop, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: European Union, Trump, U.S, European Commission, European Council, Washington, WTO, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, Brussels, China, United States, U.S, North America, EU

☆ EU plans anti-subsidy probes to secure steel deal with US
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A worker walks past steel rolls at the Chongqing Iron and Steel plant in Changshou, Chongqing, China August 6, 2018. Washington has asked Brussels to move against Chinese steel producers in particular in return for avoiding the re-imposition of Trump-era tariffs on EU steel and aluminium, with an end-October deadline to reach an agreement. Washington has said it wants to prevent "leakage" of Chinese steel and aluminium into the U.S. market. China's shipments have steadily fallen since 2015, when they made up 25% of EU steel imports in volume terms, to below 10% since 2018, according to EU steelmakers federation Eurofer. The extra annual emissions would by 2026 be more than the CO2 emissions of the entire EU steel sector, he said.

Persons: Damir Sagolj, Joe Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Washington, Axel Eggert, der Leyen, Nilutpal, Philip Blenkinsop, Amy Lv, Simon Cameron, Moore, Mark Potter, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Chongqing Iron, REUTERS, Rights, European, Trump, Financial Times, European Union, European Commission, EU, World Trade Organization, China's Ministry of Commerce, Thomson Locations: Chongqing, Changshou, China, Rights BRUSSELS, United States, European, EU, Brussels, Washington, U.S, East, North Africa, Bengaluru, Beijing

☆ Next EU chief will need cash more than trade wars
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Rebecca Christie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

What she sidestepped was how to find more cash and convince member states to pay up. Von der Leyen, or her successor, will have to figure out how to pay for enlargement. Von der Leyen tapped into trade frustrations with her pledge to investigate and possibly punish Chinese subsidies for car and battery makers. During her first term, von der Leyen succeeded in connecting the EU with bond investors via the 800 billion euro NextGenerationEU borrowing programme. A second term will require even more finesse to convince EU member states to raise money not just from markets, but from themselves.

Persons: Ursula von der, European Union won’t, der, von der Leyen’s, Greens –, der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Thierry Breton, Norway’s Jens Stoltenberg, Von der, Carlo Bastasin, Von der Leyen, von der Leyen, sceptics, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel’s, Jens Stoltenberg’s, Francesco Guerrera, Streisand Neto, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, European Union, Bank, EU, European Commission, Socialists, Greens, NATO, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Brookings, handouts, Organisation for Economic Co, Transport, Environment, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, Moldova, Western, Brussels, Germany, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Turkey, Georgia, Spain, Poland, United States, China, Ireland, Netherlands, EU, EU’s, Hungary

☆ EU plans anti-subsidy probe into Chinese steelmakers - FT
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A worker walks past steel rolls at the Chongqing Iron and Steel plant in Changshou, Chongqing, China August 6, 2018. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 10 (Reuters) - The European Union is planning to announce anti-subsidy investigations against Chinese steelmakers at a summit with the U.S. this month, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. Washington had asked Brussels to move against Chinese steel producers in return for avoiding the re-imposition of Trump-era tariffs on EU steel, the newspaper said. In September, Brussels launched an investigation into whether to impose punitive tariffs to protect EU producers against cheaper Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports it says are benefiting from state subsidies. Additional reporting by Amy Lv in Beijing; Editing by Jacqueline Wong & Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Damir Sagolj, Washington, Joe Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Nilutpal, Amy Lv, Jacqueline Wong, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Chongqing Iron, REUTERS, European, U.S, Financial Times, Trump, China's Ministry of Commerce, EVs, Thomson Locations: Chongqing, Changshou, China, Brussels, Beijing, Bengaluru

☆ Any new Armenia conflict would be France's fault, Azerbaijan's president says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] French Foreign and European Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attend a meeting in Yerevan, Armenia October 3, 2023. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev last week pulled out of an EU-brokered meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at which Brussels said it was standing by Armenia. President Ilham Aliyev said "that due to the well-known position of France, Azerbaijan did not participate in the meeting in Granada," the Azerbaijani presidential office said. She declined to elaborate on what sort of military aid was envisaged for Armenia under future supply contracts. The Azerbaijani president visited Georgia on Sunday and thanked Tbilisi for offering to mediate for a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Persons: Catherine Colonna, Nikol Pashinyan, Hayk, Aliyev, Ilham Aliyev, Nikol, Charles Michel, Emmanuel Macron, Tigran Balayan, Guy Faulconbridge 私 Organizations: European Affairs, Armenian, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, European Union, European Council, Reuters Locations: Yerevan, Armenia, Photolure, Azerbaijan, Georgia, MOSCOW, European, South Caucasus, EU, Brussels, France, Granada, Baku, Nagorno, Karabakh, Tbilisi

☆ Azerbaijan's president says France will be to blame if new conflict starts with Armenia
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev speaks during a news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany March 14, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Azerbaijan's president scolded the European Union and warned that France's decision to send military aid to Armenia could trigger a new conflict in the South Caucasus after a lightening Azerbaijani military operation last month. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev last week pulled out of an EU-brokered meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at which Brussels said it was standing by Armenia. President Ilham Aliyev said "that due to the well-known position of France, Azerbaijan did not participate in the meeting in Granada," the Azerbaijani presidential office said. She declined to elaborate on what sort of military aid was envisaged for Armenia under future supply contracts.

Persons: Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Olaf Scholz, Annegret, Ilham Aliyev, Nikol, Aliyev, Charles Michel, Catherine Colonna, Emmanuel Macron, Guy Faulconbridge Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Union, Armenian, European Council, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Azerbaijan, Berlin, Germany, European, Armenia, South Caucasus, EU, Brussels, France, Granada, Yerevan, Baku, Nagorno, Karabakh

☆ Ukraine war live updates: U.S. condemns 'horrifying' attack that killed 52 in Ukraine village; Russia to discuss leaving major nuclear treaty
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

European Union leaders are meeting in an attempt to address complex questions about the bloc's laws and what they would mean for a potential Ukrainian membership. EU Council President Charles Michel, in his invitation letter for the summit taking place in Grenada, Spain, stressed the need to address "critical questions, such as: What do we do together? How do we match our means with our ambitions?" Meanwhile, Ukrainians are reeling from a Russian missile attack on a cafe and grocery store in the Kharkiv region that killed 52 people, and one that Western leaders vocally condemned as "horrific." It was one of the worst Russian attacks of the war in terms of civilian death count.

Persons: Charles Michel Organizations: Union, EU Locations: Grenada, Spain, Russian, Kharkiv

☆ EU leaders to debate economic security amid global tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A European Union flag flutters outside the congress palace ahead of the European Political Community summit in Granada, Spain, October 4, 2023. The EU executive plans to work with the 27 EU members to assess by the end of the year whether there are any risks to the bloc's economic security linked to advanced semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum technology and biotechnology. It is part of the European Economic Security Strategy unveiled by the Commission in June that calls for strengthening the EU's own internal market, fostering research, forging alliances with reliable partner and using existing trade defence tools and considering new ones. Part of the debate will centre on the degree to which countries are willing to harmonise their policies on national security and transfer certain powers to Brussels. Countries such as Sweden and the Netherlands want more open markets, while others such as France has more focus on protecting domestic producers.

Persons: Jon Nazca, Charles Michel, Russia's, Philip Blenkinsop, Andrew Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Union, Commission, EU, European Economic Security, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, Rights GRANADA, China, Ukraine, Europe, Brussels, Sweden, Netherlands, France

GRANADA, Spain, Oct 5 (Reuters) - European leaders are expected to assure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of long-term support on Thursday after U.S. President Joe Biden voiced fears that Republican infighting in Congress could hurt American policy on continuing aid to Kyiv. Zelenskiy is expected to attend a summit in the Spanish city of Granada of the European Political Community - a forum to foster cooperation among more than 40 countries established last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In Slovakia, former prime minister Robert Fico's party came first in a general election at the weekend after pledging to halt military aid to Ukraine. In Poland, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said last month his country was no longer arming Ukraine and was focusing on rebuilding its own weapon stocks. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is expected to attend the summit and European officials said they were keen to find ways to help his government cope with the immediate humanitarian crisis and provide political and economic support.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Joe Biden, Zelenskiy, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Rishi Sunak, Democrat Biden, Biden, Robert Fico's, Mateusz Morawiecki, Scholz, Ilham Aliyev, Macron, Charles Michel, Nikol Pashinyan, Andrew Gray, Andreas Rinke, Grant McCool Organizations: Political, British, U.S, Republican, Democrat, Senate, European Union, NATO, Kyiv, European, EU, Baku, Thomson Locations: GRANADA, Spain, Kyiv, Zelenskiy, Spanish, Granada, Ukraine, Europe, U.S, Slovakia, Poland, BALKANS, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Serbia, Kosovo, Nagorno, Karabakh, Berlin

CNN —Italian authorities were on Wednesday investigating the cause of a horrific bus crash near Venice that killed at least 21 people including two children. Claudia Greco/ReutersLocal police work at the site of the bus crash on Wednesday. A representative for the prosecutor’s office told CNN the head prosecutor for the Venice municipality, Bruno Cherchi, is leading the investigation into the incident in Mestre. The bus was traveling from Venice to nearby Marghera and was “full of people returning home from work,” Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro told state media RAI. Emergency crew members work at the scene after a bus accident near Venice.

Persons: ”, Alberto Rizzotto, Claudia Greco, Mauro Lungo, Bruno Cherchi, Luigi Brugnaro, Stefano Mazzola, sevices, Brugnaro, Massimo Fiorese, Italy’s, “, Giorgia Meloni, Emmanuel Macron, I’m, Charles Michel Organizations: CNN, ” RAI, Reuters Local, Sky TG24, RAI, Emergency, Facebook, della Sera, Reuters, Italian Senate, European Council Locations: Venice, Mestre, Italy, Marghera, ” Venice, Italian

☆ Exclusive: EU to ask China at UN to push Russia towards 'just peace' in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 20 (Reuters) - European Council President Charles Michel will ask China directly at the United Nations Security Council to do more to push Russia towards a "just peace" in Ukraine, according to his draft speech seen by Reuters at the UNGA. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is also expected to attend the council meeting. China has abstained from votes by the 193-member U.N. General Assembly that overwhelmingly demanded that Moscow withdraw its troops from Ukraine and stop fighting. China's abstentions appeared to reflect a bid to stay on the diplomatic fence over the war in Ukraine. Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska, Editing by Michelle Nichols and Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Charles Michel, Michel, let's, Han Zheng, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, U.N, Gabriela Baczynska, Michelle Nichols, Grant McCool Organizations: UNITED, United Nations Security Council, Reuters, Security, General Assembly, Moscow, Thomson Locations: China, Russia, Ukraine, New York, Beijing

☆ Italy's Meloni seeks EU mission to block migrant arrivals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Yara Nardi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LAMPEDUSA, Italy, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called on Friday for the European Union to act jointly "with a naval mission if necessary" to prevent migrants crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa. Meloni posted a video message on social media promising tough action in response to a surge in migrant arrivals this week which have overwhelmed the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa. "I intend to reiterate a request for an immediate EU mission to block the departure of migrant boats," said Meloni, for whom the swelling number of arrivals has become a major political headache. [1/6]Migrants wait at the port to be transferred to the mainland, on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, Italy, September 15, 2023. Earlier on Friday, France agreed to work with Italy towards some sort of EU response to the crisis.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, Charles Michel, Lampedusa, Yara, Claudine Nsoe, Prince, Emmanuel Macron, General Antonio Guterres, Matthew Saltmarsh, Alvise Armellini, Gavin Jones, Augustin Turpin, Dominique Vidalon, Keith Weir, Mark Heinrich, Kevin Liffey, Alistair Bell Organizations: Italian, European Union, European, EU, European Commission, REUTERS, Refugee Agency, UNHCR, U.N, Thomson Locations: LAMPEDUSA, Italy, North Africa, Lampedusa, Tunisia, Tunis, Lampedusa's, Sicily, Cameroon, Libya, France, Rome, Paris

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