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☆ One year on, Russia's war in Ukraine ramps up fears over Europe's next security 'soft spot'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, North Macedonia President Stevo Pendarovski said that, aside from Kyiv, he believed that the Western Balkan region was the "soft spot" of Europe's security architecture. For sure, the Western Balkans is a second battleground for Russia in terms of foreign interference and information manipulation. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesĆerimagić said Russia's war in Ukraine provides Europe with a clear opportunity to cement stability in the Western Balkans. "For sure, the Western Balkans is a second battleground for Russia in terms of foreign interference and information manipulation. watch nowNorth Macedonia's Pendarovski last month described the U.S. as a "key player" in supporting Western Balkan countries through Russia's war in Ukraine.

☆ Russia tells Macron: Don't forget Napoleon when you talk of regime change
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Macron told paper Le Journal du Dimanche France wanted Russia to be defeated in Ukraine but had never wanted to "crush" it. "About 'Never': France did not begin with Macron, and the remains of Napoleon, revered at the state level, rest in the centre of Paris. "In general, Macron is priceless," she said, adding that his remarks showed the West had engaged in discussions about regime change in Russia while Macron had repeatedly sought meetings with the Russian leadership. On Friday, Macron urged allies to step up military support for Ukraine, but also said he did not believe in regime change and that there would have to be negotiations at some point. "Let’s be clear, I don't believe for one second in regime change, and when I hear a lot of people calling for regime change I ask them, 'For which change?

☆ France may be the next country to send its tanks to Ukraine, but officials worry they could be 'a poisoned chalice'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

France is also considering sending its Leclerc tanks to Ukraine. A French Leclerc tank during an exercise in Germany in November 2019. Some claim it performed better than the M1 Abrams tanks that Saudi Arabia has used in that conflict. The Leclerc's lighter weight may make it more maneuverable than the other Western tanks headed to Ukraine. But other than Rafale jet fighters, the most powerful weapon — symbolically and militarily — that France could provide would be Leclerc tanks.

☆ How Saudi Arabia's crown prince snubbed Biden repeatedly to forge ties with authoritarian China and Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In 2022, Saudi Arabia sought closer ties with Russia and China. Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attend the G20 Leaders' Summit in Buenos Aires, on November 30, 2018. Analysts say that US criticism of Saudi Arabia's human-rights record and its suppression of domestic dissent infuriate Riyadh. Crown Prince Mohammed has more affinity with the ideology of fellow strongmen Xi or Putin than with the US, said Alterman. "Saudi Arabia, China, and Russia all believe in the model of 'authoritarian stability'.

☆ Equatorial Guinea ruling party wins 99% of votes - early election results
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo attends the plenary session of the Paris Peace Forum, France November 12, 2019. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoDAKAR, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Preliminary election results released by Equatorial Guinea's government on Monday showed the ruling party winning over 99% of votes counted so far in presidential, legislative, and municipal elections held on Sunday. The tiny, authoritarian, oil-producing Central African state is run by President Teodoro Obiang, the world's longest-ruling head of state, who is seeking to extend his 43 years in office. Early, partial results showed Obiang's ruling Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) and coalition with 67,012 votes out of 67,196 counted so far. Reporting by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Estelle Shirbon and Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ APEC leaders to continue trade discussions; Kamala Harris, Emmanuel Macron to deliver speeches
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during a meeting with French nationals living in Thailand at the Peninsula hotel in Bangkok on November 17, 2022, on the sidelines of the APEC Summit. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP) (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images)The APEC leaders' meeting begins Friday, as the world's economic leaders are expected to continue discussions of trade and sustainable economic growth. APEC ministers on Thursday exchanged views on how the region can maintain momentum for open trade, investment and travel resumption despite disruptions, according to Thailand's Foreign Ministry. On the agenda is the last day of the CEO summit as well as an economic leaders meeting spanning Friday and Saturday. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and French President Emmanuel Macron are also expected to deliver keynote speeches later on.

☆ FTX's blowup is a turning point for Wall Street's crypto adoption journey
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But first, where does Wall Street go from here? A warning sign for Wall Street to get out now before it's in too deep. Insider's Rebecca Ungarino and Danielle Walker examined what the knock-on effects of FTX's blowup mean for Wall Street's crypto plans. A key part of Wall Street's adoption of crypto was working with intermediaries bridging the gap between the two worlds. Read more on how FTX's blow up might impact Wall Street' long-term crypto plans.

☆ Leaders push for climate action and fossil tax at UN talks
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt — World leaders are making the case for tougher action to tackle global warming Tuesday, as this year’s international climate talks in Egypt heard growing calls for fossil fuel companies to help pay for the damage they have helped cause to the planet. United Nations chief Antonio Guterres warned Monday that humanity was on “a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator,” urging countries to “cooperate or perish.”Leaders gather during the COP27 climate summit in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday. Ludovic Marin / AFP - Getty ImagesHe and leaders such as Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley said it was time to make fossil fuel companies contribute to funds which would provide vulnerable countries with financial aid for the climate-related losses they are suffering. The idea of a windfall tax on carbon profits has gained traction in recent months amid sky-high earnings for oil and gas majors even as consumers struggle to pay the cost of heating their homes and filling their cars. The U.S. mid-term elections were hanging over the talks Tuesday, with many environmental campaigners worried that defeat for the Democrats could make it harder for President Joe Biden to pursue his ambitious climate agenda.

Amid resistance from France, Spain and Italy had previously broached the idea of building an underwater pipeline between the two countries. Iberdrola, which is building Europe's largest green hydrogen plant in Puertollano in central Spain, declined to comment on the pipeline announcement. Cepsa CEO Maarten Wetselsaar told Reuters the agreement put Spain at the heart of Europe's plan to diversify away from Russian energy. As for natural gas, Spain has six terminals allowing it to bring in liquefied natural gas and convert it into its gaseous form, and three storage facilities, while Portugal has one. The United States and Nigeria are among key suppliers of LNG to Spain, which also receives piped gas from Algeria.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and French President Emmanuel Macron hold a news conference, as Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi visit Kyiv, Ukraine June 16, 2022. Speaking in an interview on France 2 television, Macron did not give any details on what type of anti-aircraft missiles or how many would be delivered. A source aware of the matter said Paris would provide Crotale short-range anti-air missiles, which are used to intercept low-flying missiles and aircraft. Macron repeated that he had agreed with Denmark to divert six Caesars howitzer canons it had ordered to Ukraine. Macron repeated that he believed that a negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia would happen at some point to end the conflict, but it would need to be on Kyiv's terms.

☆ Some French unions call strike in test of Macron mettle on pension reform
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks after visiting the Eric Tabarly high school in Les Sables-d'Olonne, France September 13, 2022. "Wages must be increased as there is a purchasing power problem in the country", Philippe Martinez, whose CGT union is spearheading Thursday's protests, told BFM television. Striking CGT workers this week forced the shutdown of TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA) Gonfreville refinery and disrupted deliveries at others. Nuclear power industry workers are expected to join Thursday's industrial action, removing some capacity from the French power grid when France already faces a record number of nuclear reactor outages. In French primary schools, the SNUipp-FSU union expects one in every 10 primary schools to close in Paris.

☆ French and Iranian presidents meet amid nuclear talks stalemate
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during a reception for France's prefects at the Elysee presidential Palace in Paris, France September 15, 2022. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS/UNITED NATIONS, Sept 20 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron held face-to-face talks with his Iranian counterpart President Ebrahim Raisi on Tuesday with the French leader saying he hoped to be able to "discuss all subjects". The meeting is Raisi's first head-to-head with a major Western leader since he was elected last year. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who coordinates the talks, said he saw little chance of progress at the United Nations General Assembly. read moreRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by John Irish; Editing by Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Which world leaders are attending Queen Elizabeth II's funeral?
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-17 | by ( Hyder Abbasi | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON — Leaders and heads of state from across the globe are coming together in central London to attend the state funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on Monday. The queen, who has been lying in state at the Palace of Westminster to allow members of the public to pay their respects. Her coffin is set to be moved to the abbey for the state funeral service, which is scheduled to begin at 6 a.m. A police official declined to detail how the leaders would travel to Westminster Abbey on Monday, citing security reasons. Pope Francis has said he will not be present at the funeral service and will instead send a senior representative from the Vatican.

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