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☆ How Can Europe Reduce Its Military Dependency on the United States?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Steven Erlanger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Even the European members of NATO say that they must do more to defend themselves as the war in Ukraine grinds on and the United States shifts its priorities to Asia and a rising China. In fact, European member states have made considerable progress in the last few years to restore more credibility to deterrence against Russia. But they began from a low base, having cut military spending sharply after the collapse of the Soviet Union and reacting with complacency to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. There is a lot more that the Europeans should do to become less dependent on the United States, NATO officials and analysts said this week during the alliance summit in Washington. That includes committing more money to defense, building up arms manufacturing and coordinating the purchase of weapons systems that could replace those now provided solely by the Americans.

Persons: Donald J, Trump Organizations: NATO Locations: Ukraine, United States, Asia, China, Russia, Soviet Union, Crimea, Washington

☆ NATO allies are discussing reclaiming some Chinese-owned infrastructure in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Kayla Tausche | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —NATO officials are discussing taking action to reclaim some Chinese-owned infrastructure projects in Europe should a wider conflict with Russia break out in the east of the continent, three officials involved in the discussions told CNN. A decade ago, when Europe was still crawling out of the economic crater caused by the global financial crisis, the promise of infrastructure funding from Chinese-owned investment firms seemed like a major windfall. The fear, according to one US official, is that Beijing could use the infrastructure it owns in Europe to provide material assistance to Russia if the conflict were to expand. The discussions reflect an increasing focus on China by the NATO alliance. A NATO official said that if a war erupted, the infrastructure “would almost certainly be nationalized, or nations would temporarily assume operating control, under emergency security measures.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Kishida, ” Blinken, Jens Stoltenberg, CNN’s Natasha Bertrand Organizations: CNN, NATO, Washington, Moscow, Beijing, Initiative, Helsinki Shipyard –, US, Ukraine, European Union Locations: Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Beijing, China, NATO, Eastern Europe, Baltic, Finland, Canada, Japan, East Asia, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, France, Washington

For more than six months, Russia has been carrying out a sabotage campaign across Europe, largely by proxy. “We’re seeing sabotage, we’re seeing assassination plots, we’re seeing arson. Russia’s sabotage campaign has, at times, smacked of a shotgun approach carried out by amateurs. In London in March, several men were charged with working with Russian intelligence services to set fire to a Ukrainian-linked warehouse. And French authorities last month detained a Russian-Ukrainian man who was allegedly building bombs as part of a sabotage campaign orchestrated by Moscow.

Persons: Armin Papperger, Olaf Scholz, Boris Pistorius, Fabian Bimmer, “, ”, Adrienne Watson, “ Russia’s, Oliver Hoffman, ” Hoffman, Donald Tusk, Papperger, Dariusz Borowicz, Agencja Wyborcza.pl, Reuters “, ” CNN’s Zachary Cohen Organizations: CNN, Kyiv, Rheinmetall, NATO, National Security, NATO Allies, Embassy, intel, US, Reuters, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Kyiv, Germany, Berlin, Russia, West, Moscow, Papperger, Unterluess, United States, Washington, Russian, Polish, Lithuania, Poland, Ukrainian, London, Warsaw

☆ China examining if EU is putting up ‘trade barriers’ as tensions intensify
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Earlier this year, the EU launched investigations into China’s state support for its wind turbine and solar panel suppliers. Now, China will investigate if the bloc’s probes violate the two sides’ economic treaty and if they have hurt the country’s trade with the 27 EU member states. The announcement comes just days after the provisional additional duties on imports of Chinese-made EVs into the EU came into effect. Beijing has spoken out strongly against the EU tariffs, saying it will make “all necessary moves” to safeguard China’s interests. According to Wednesday’s announcement, MOFCOM is launching its latest investigation in response to a June request by an industry group in China.

Persons: MOFCOM Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, China’s Ministry of Commerce, EU Locations: Hong Kong, EU, China, Beijing

The NATO official said they had observed “an unprecedented escalation and spread of Russia’s hybrid warfare” over the past six months, which included “physical sabotage” on the supply line of NATO weapons intended for Ukraine. “It is everything from point of production and origin, to storage, to those who are making decisions, to the actual delivery,” the senior NATO official said. Recent high-profile arrests have revealed the ad-hoc, clumsy nature of how the Kremlin’s intelligence operations have evolved since the start of the war in Ukraine. Russia is big enough to have resources to fight a war against Ukraine and also maintain its security operations against European countries… against us. There are people who take part in the war against Ukraine, and then they are rotated to some other region or area.

Persons: Blunt, ”, Donald Tusk, Dariusz Borowicz, Agencja Wyborcza.pl, Maxim, Andrzej, Jaroslaw, “, Don’t, ” Andrzej, I’d, Wagner, Volodymyr Zelensky, Sean Gallup, Paris Charles de, Vladimir Putin’s, Harrys Organizations: CNN, NATO, Polish, Reuters, Ukraine, Getty, London’s Metropolitan Police Service, Kremlin, EU, Estonian Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Europe, “, Reuters Russia, Washington , DC, Moscow, Poland, Russian, Lublin, Medyka, Ukrainian, Biala Podlaska, Warsaw, Polish, surveilling Rzeszow Jasionka, Kyiv, Berlin, Germany, Russian Ukrainian, Paris Charles, Paris Charles de Gaulle, East London, Estonia, Russia’s

☆ As NATO meets, leaders look to 'Trump-proof' the military alliance
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

US President Donald Trump arrives for the NATO summit at the Grove hotel in Watford, northeast of London on December 4, 2019. U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speak during a meeting in New York on September 25, 2019. Hanno Pevkur, Estonia's defense minister, emphasized that NATO allies did not interfere in each other's domestic politics and democratic processes. So when, when the choice of American people is Donald Trump, then it's Donald Trump. Then all the countries in the world, including Estonia, including the NATO allies, have to talk with this administration who will be put in place."

Persons: Donald Trump, Christian Hartmann, Trump, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Peter Nicholls, Jens Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg, Joe Biden's, —, Volodymyr Zelensky, Saul Loeb, Donald Trump's, Keir Starmer, Starmer, we've, that's, Radosław Sikorski, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick, Hanno Pevkur, It's, France —, Balázs Orbán, Viktor Orbán Organizations: NATO, AFP, Getty, Republican, Ukraine, Eurasia Group, Trump, Ukrainian, Independent, CNBC, Hungary's Locations: Grove, Watford, London, Washington, Ukraine, China, North Korea, Iran, Britain, New York, Europe, Russia, Estonia, United States, Germany, Canada, France, Poland

☆ Front-line NATO allies say the West needs to give Ukraine the 'technological superiority' it needs to beat Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewThe West should send Ukraine the kind of weapons it needs to inflict a lasting, strategic defeat on Russia, NATO countries on the front lines of the military alliance said Tuesday. With this threat in mind, the Baltic nations have long pushed for increased defense spending among NATO member states. "The goal must be [the] strategic defeat of Russia in Ukraine," said Latvian Defense Minister Andris Sprūds. The Baltic states say enabling Ukraine to win will require a massive political buy-in and support from the West. "We have to say clearly: 'Yes, we will help Ukraine to win this war.'"

Persons: —, Hanno Pevkur, Pevkur, Serhii, Laurynas, Kasčiūnas, Andris Sprūds, Joe Biden, Jens Stoltenberg, Andrew Mellon, Kevin Dietsch Organizations: Service, Lithuania —, Kyiv, Business, Estonian, POLITICO, NATO, Artillery, System, Getty, Russian, Moscow, Chamber of Commerce, Latvian Defense, Andrew Locations: Ukraine, Russia, NATO, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Baltic, Moscow, Washington ,, West, Europe, AFP, Kyiv, Washington , DC

☆ Biden needs to show he's 'with it' at 'extraordinarily important' NATO summit, former diplomat says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

watch nowThe stakes are high for the NATO alliance as the organization's 75th anniversary summit gets underway in Washington this week. "I think this NATO summit in Washington is an important moment for Joe Biden, he really has to show that he is with it, he's ready to continue to lead not only the United States of America but the NATO alliance," she told CNBC's Dan Murphy. Asked if the summit could be make-or-break for the transatlantic alliance, Gottemoeller replied: "I think it is an extraordinarily important summit for the NATO alliance; I wouldn't say it is a make-or-break. US President Joe Biden participates in the US-Nordic Leaders' Summit at the presidential palace in Helsinki, Finland, on July 13, 2023. US President Joe Biden travelled to Britain on July 9, 2023, to a NATO summit in Lithuania and will end the trip to Europe on July 13, 2023 in Finland.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Rose Gottemoeller, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Gottemoeller, Andrew Caballero, Reynolds, Trump, Vladimir Putin, Defence Lloyd J, Austin III, Rustem Umerov, Jens Stoltenberg, Charles Q, Brown Jr, Omar Havana Organizations: NATO, CNBC's, Nordic, AFP, Getty, Trump, Kyiv, Defence, Ukrainian Defence, United, Joint Chiefs Locations: Washington, U.S, United States, America, Helsinki, Finland, Britain, Lithuania, Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Brussels, Belgium

☆ Before Biden can save Ukraine, he must use the NATO summit to save himself
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —The NATO summit was long planned to celebrate the alliance’s 75th anniversary, to lock in longterm military support for Ukraine and even to future-proof the West against a possible second term for Donald Trump. But his achievements, including Sweden and Finland’s entry into the group, will be eclipsed at the summit by his battle to save his political future. She added: “At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future.”Biden will also have an important audience overseas. “Is it going to be President Biden? On the eve of the summit, Biden’s campaign distributed a memo lauding his leadership in keeping Kyiv standing more than two years after the Russian invasion.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, George H.W, Biden, Sen, Patty Murray, ” Biden, Trump, Vladimir Putin, Kurt Volker, ” Volker, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Volker, ”, Joe Biden, John Kirby, “, They’ve, Adam Smith, “ We’ve, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Joe ”, Putin, “ Donald Trump, Republican nominee’s, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Justin Trudeau, Giorgia Meloni, Trudeau, Keir Starmer, CNN’s Alex Marquardt Organizations: CNN, NATO, Trump, Biden, United, Kyiv, Democratic, Senate, House Armed Services Committee, MSNBC, ABC News, Nordic, Republican, NATO Alliance, Canadian, Liberal Party, British Locations: Ukraine, Washington, George H.W . Bush, Sweden, Atlanta, Moscow, United States, Europe, Asia, European, Kyiv, Russian, Soviet Union, NATO, Toronto

Mark Rutte rode off into the sunset on his bicycle last week, making a carefully choreographed exit from Dutch politics, which he has dominated as prime minister for nearly 14 years. Mr. Rutte, known as a flexible pragmatist, will bring his experience at conciliation to the 32-nation military alliance when he takes over as secretary general from Jens Stoltenberg on Oct. 1. Beyond that challenge, NATO faces a Russian government forging stronger ties with China and Iran, even as Beijing tries to dominate Asia and Tehran expands its nuclear program. Leading member states like France and Germany are dealing with the empowerment of far-right parties with clear sympathies for Moscow. And there are new demands to spend more money on the military.

Persons: Mark Rutte, Rutte, Jens Stoltenberg Organizations: NATO, Soviet Union, Ukraine, Russia’s Locations: Europe, Washington, China, Iran, Beijing, Asia, Tehran, France, Germany, Moscow, Hungary, Turkey

Diplomats and officials who spoke with CNN said Rutte is seen as a staunch trans-Atlanticist and a consensus builder. “He is really a seasoned political official, and this is essential to keep the cohesion of the alliance,” a European official said. “It was just a very polite, slightly humorous way of dealing Trump, and Trump appreciated it,” Hoekstra recalled to CNN. “We are not there yet, but it is better than when Trump left,” the official told CNN. Biden likes Rutte personally, they get along well, and the US president sees them as sharing the same values, the official told CNN.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Mark Rutte, Jens Stoltenberg, Rutte, ”, “ Trump, Pete Hoekstra, ” Hoekstra, ‘ Touche, ’ ”, “, ” Rutte, Stoltenberg, Joe Biden, Biden, “ Rutte, Putin Organizations: CNN, NATO, Dutch, Diplomats, Trump, Kyiv – Locations: Washington, NATO, Russia, Netherlands, European, Europe, Ukraine, China, US, ”

☆ French bond markets calm despite country hitting political gridlock
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Matt Clinch | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty ImagesGovernment bond markets in France saw some selling early on Monday, but were fairly muted overall despite political gridlock after a second round of legislative elections. Jitters have spread through France's bond market in recent weeks. The 10-year yield topped 3.3% — a roughly 8-month high — after French President Emmanuel Macron called the snap parliamentary election in the middle of June. Meanwhile, the gap (or spread) between French bond yields and German bond yields had topped 85 basis points in recent weeks, hitting its highest level since 2012. He added that the chances of a confrontation with Brussels remained with the left-wing alliance, but not to the same extent as if the National Rally had won.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Emmanuel Macron's, —, David Roche, Digard, Kepler Cheuvreux Organizations: New, Republique, Anadolu, Getty, Government, European Commission, Sunday, Popular Front, Independent, National Rally, CNBC Locations: Paris, France, France's, London, Brussels

☆ Europe has overpromised on artillery shells to Ukraine and is making even less than it admits: investigation
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewEuropean claims about its capacity to produce artillery shells are wildly overblown, meaning it won't be able to supply Ukraine anywhere near the quantity it has promised, according to a new investigation. The European Commission claimed that, as of January this year, Europe's annual production capacity for 155 mm shells had reached one million shells a year. Related storiesOne source familiar with the industry said Europe would produce less than half a million shells by the end of the year, and said it was poor policy to pretend otherwise. Advertisement155mm shells have been a crucial staple for both sides of the conflict in Ukraine. As of May, Russia was able to produce artillery shells about three times faster than Ukraine's allies were able to, and for a quarter of the cost, Sky News reported.

Persons: —, Thierry Breton, Johanna Bernsel Organizations: Service, European Commission, Business, Internal, Radio Free, Rheinmetall, European, EU, Bloomberg, Sky News Locations: Ukraine, Estonian, Europe, Russia

☆ What a hung parliament in France could mean for markets
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-07 | by ( Matt Clinch | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Emmanuel Dunand | Afp | Getty ImagesInitial indications on Sunday evening for the French parliamentary run-off vote threw up some big surprises, leaving political commentators contemplating a "hung parliament" scenario that could prove challenging for both policymaking and financial markets. With none of the groups expected to hit the 289 seats needed for an absolute majority, gridlock could ensue over the coming weeks. The euro slipped about 0.3% against the U.S. dollar in thin trading on Sunday evening after the exit polls were released. "Regardless, uncertainty about the outlook for French policymaking is likely to be long-lasting," the analysts said. France is facing a challenging fiscal position, and the European Commission announced two weeks ago that it intended to place France under an Excessive Deficit Procedure due to its failure to keep its budget deficit within 3 percent of gross domestic product.

Persons: Emmanuel Dunand, France's, Emmanuel Macron's, policymaking, Jack Allen, Reynolds, Macron, David Roche Organizations: la Republique, Afp, Getty, Popular Front, Rassemblement National, U.S, Citi, Daiwa, European Commission, Capital Economics, Independent, National Rally Locations: France, la, Paris, Italy, Germany

☆ The UK used to be a European tourism hot spot. Here’s how it all went wrong
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-06 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Tax-free shopping for tourists has been axed, and EU visitors now need a passport to visit, which most don’t have. Matt Cardy/Getty ImagesAs a result of Brexit, in 2021 the UK government abolished tax-free shopping for non-EU citizens. It means the UK is now the only European country not offering tax-free shopping to visitors from outside the continent. “The impact of losing tax-free shopping is clear to see,” says Dee Corsi, chief executive of the NWEC. “Whilst the likes of Italy and France are actively leveraging tax-free shopping as a driver of growth, British businesses continue to trade at a disadvantage.

Persons: CNN —, Rishi Sunak, what’s, JC Milhet, Hans Lucas, Tom Jenkins, ”, “, ” Patricia Yates, Kayla Zeigner, Marcy Zyonse, We’ve, –, Yates, ” There’s, Zeigler, Zyonse, ’, Owen Humphreys, VisitBritain, That’s, she’s, Keir Starmer, VisitBritain's Yates, Phil Noble, ” “, Marcus Lee, hasn’t, Matt Cardy, Dee Corsi, Jenkins, “ It’ll, King Charles, John Sibley, London “, Mia, ” She’ll, Britain Organizations: CNN, UK’s Labour Party, Conservative, Labour, Getty, European Tourism Organisation, VisitBritain, Destination, Tourism, New, London, ”, UK, “, China Travel, Visitors, West End Company Locations: Britain, Italy, Luxembourg, London, AFP, Europe, Caribbean, Greece, Lake, Ireland, It’s, Spain, France, New York, ”

☆ China-built EVs hit with EU tariffs; Nio says it may have to raise prices in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The EU's decision comes at a time when Chinese automakers have been aggressively expanding into Europe with competitively priced offerings, posing a threat to the region's top automakers, many of which have lagged behind in EVs. It did not comment on whether it would end up raising prices as a result of the levies. When the EU first announced the tariffs last month, Tesla said it will likely increase the Europe prices of its Model 3 vehicle. The EU has yet to say what specific level of tariffs Tesla will face, but noted last month that the U.S. automaker "may receive an individually calculated duty rate." watch nowChinese and EU officials have held several rounds of meetings to discuss the tariffs, with Beijing in June criticizing the EU's imposition of tariffs as a "protectionist act."

Persons: Nio, Xpeng, Tesla, Yadong Organizations: Union, European Commission, European Union, Automakers, EV, CNBC, EU, U.S ., Commerce Ministry Locations: China, Shanghai, Europe, EVs, Beijing

☆ Burgum set to decide on massive pipeline project that’s pitting his rural constituents against GOP megadonors
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Allison Gordon | Casey Tolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Hamm also donated $50 million toward Burgum’s effort to build a presidential library honoring Theodore Roosevelt in North Dakota. CNBC first reported on Burgum’s financial ties with Continental, and the Associated Press previously reported on the politics of the Summit pipeline debate. Gaylen Dewing and Marvin Abraham put up a sign opposing the Summit pipeline east of Bismarck, N.D. in August 2023. Supporters say it will be an economic driver for North Dakota and help reduce emissions across the Midwest. North Dakota landowner Kurt Swenson attends a court hearing related to the pipeline project.

Persons: Donald Trump, Doug Burgum, GOP megadonors, –, That’s, ” Troy Coons, “ It’s, Al Drago, Burgum, ingratiated, Biden, Trump, “, ”, Joe Biden’s, Bruce Rastetter, Harold Hamm, Evan Vucci, Hamm, Theodore Roosevelt, ” Burgum, Rob Lockwood, Gary Tharaldson, Tharaldson, Justin Lane, who’s, Scott Skokos, ” Lockwood, ” Virginia Canter, ” Canter, “ Burgum, Drew Wrigley, Doug Goehring, don’t, Forbes, Sen, Jeff Magrum, Gaylen Dewing, Marvin Abraham, Jack Dura, Derrick Braaten, “ You’ll, Kurt Swenson's, Joe Swenson, Mike Bauman, Bauman, ” Bauman, Terry Wanzek, Mike Haupt, ” Haupt, Kurt Swenson, Kurt Swenson Kurt Swenson, ” Swenson, “ You’re, Swenson, CNN’s Alayna Treene Organizations: CNN, North Dakota Gov, GOP, Bloomberg, Getty, North, of Environmental, Trump, Republican, Associated Press, AP . Pipeline, Carbon Solutions, Midwest Carbon Express, Summit Agricultural, Iowa GOP, Continental Resources, Securities, Exchange, Continental, AP Continental, Burgum, CNBC, Forbes, Washington Post, Dakota Resource Council, North Dakota Industrial Commission, Summit, Rastetter, AP, Conservatives, Sierra Club, Farm, North Dakota Monitor Locations: North Dakota, Laconia , New Hampshire, Lago, North Dakota’s, Burgum, Pittsburgh, Hamm, Roosevelt, spokespeople, Trump's New York City, Washington, Iowa, Tharaldson, Bismarck, Kurt Swenson's North Dakota, Mercer County

☆ A growing club led by Xi and Putin to counter the US is adding a staunchly pro-Russia member
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-02 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

After adding Belarus, it will boast 10 members, representing more than 40% of the world’s population and roughly a quarter of the global economy. Growing ambitionsAs the SCO grows in international visibility and economic weight, it has also broadened in geopolitical ambitions. Putin speaks to Xi at the SCO summit two years ago in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. But the Belarus membership also creates big question marks that will hang over the organization, Gill said. After the summit in Astana, China is due to take up the rotating presidency of the SCO for a year.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, Moscow’s, ”, “, Eva Seiwert, Seiwert, Putin, Xi, Sergei Bobylev, Bates Gill, Gill, –, ” Gill, Modi, they’re Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Indian, SCO, Union, Mercator Institute for China Studies, ”, Putin, AP, National Bureau of Asian Research, “, Central, Modi, Astana –, Kremlin, Central Asia, NATO, European Union, Seven Locations: Hong Kong, China, Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Belarus, Astana, Kazakhstan, Beijing, Moscow, United States, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Turkey, Berlin, “, Eurasia, Samarkand, Central Asia, New Delhi, Soviet, Xi’an

☆ Russia can’t fight NATO on the battlefield – so it’s waging a hybrid war instead
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-30 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

And while they might look minor in isolation, taken together these incidents amount to what security experts say is Russia’s hybrid war on the West. Thornton said Russia was resorting to a campaign of sabotage as an alternative to a full-on war with NATO, which would be disastrous for Russia. Article 5 is the cornerstone principle that an attack on one member of NATO is an attack on all members. Danylyuk said the Russian security apparatus doesn’t shy away from using criminals to do its dirty work, tapping into its links with international organized crime. Russia can only be strong if the West and NATO are weak.

Persons: –, Petr Fiala, Jens Stoltenberg, Rod Thornton, there’s, ” Thornton, Vladimir Putin, Thornton, “, ”, It’s, ” Nicole Wolkov, Andrei Averyanov, Averyanov, Sergei, Yulia Skripal, d’etat, Oleksandr Danylyuk, …, Volodymyr Zelensky’s, Danylyuk, Olga Lautman, Fiala, Sergei Skripal, Yulia, Frank Augstein, ” Lautman, Lautman, Alexander Litvinenko, Andrei Lugovoi, Theresa May, Nikolai Glushkov, Salisbury, Putin, ” “, let’s, ’ ”, that’s, Litvinenko, Skripal Organizations: CNN, Occupation, . Police, European Union, NATO, King’s College London, ”, Royal United Services Institute, Czech Police, GRU, London –, German Federal Public, Ukraine, Russian, Russia NATO, Center for, European, of Human, Duma, Metropolitan Police, Command, Soviet, West Locations: Prague, Czech, Moscow, Europe, Riga, London, Warsaw, Germany, Russia, Belarus, Russian, Spain, Lithuania, Canada, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia –, United States, al Qaeda, France, EU, Salisbury, England, Czech Republic, Vrbetice, Montenegro, Moldova, Macedonia, Ukrainian, Poland, Salisbury , England, Finland, Estonia, Lautman, Soviet Union

Rights groups are furious the Taliban meeting is going ahead without Afghan women, and say it legitimizes Afghanistan’s leaders and fails to hold them to account for grave injustices. Whatever we had, we spent it,” Arzo’s brother Ahamad, a 27-year-old journalist under threat from the Taliban due to his occupation, told CNN in November. Arzo told CNN what drove her suicide attempt. Pakistan’s policy on “illegal foreigners” is no different to that of other nations, Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told CNN. CNNArzo doesn’t want a life like that for herself, her sister, or the women and girls still in Afghanistan.

Persons: ”, Arzo, Javed Iqbal, ” Richard Bennett, Zabihullah Mujahid, “, Richard Bennett, weren’t, – they’ll, They’re, Mahsa, Ahamad, Doctors, Arzo’s, CNN Arzo hadn’t, ” Mahsa, they’ve, can’t, Moniza Kakar, Rain, Kakar, Abbas, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Baloch, hadn’t, ” Amanullah, He’s, Amanullah, he’s, CNN Arzo, Heather Barr, ” Barr, “ It’s, Bennett, she’ll, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, Lifeline, International Association for Suicide Prevention, Befrienders Worldwide, Pakistan CNN —, United Nations, Human Rights, UN, Security, “ ACC ”, Afghan, ACC, Pakistani Ministry of Foreign, “, Taliban, Human Rights Watch, International Court of Justice, Criminal Court, ICC Locations: Karachi, Pakistan, Pakistani, Afghanistan, CNN Pakistan, Doha, Qatar, Afghan, Kabul, Islamabad, –, Soviet, ”, Canada, Israel, Gaza

☆ EU leaders pick von der Leyen for second term as Commission chief
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

European Union leaders agreed to nominate Ursula von der Leyen of Germany for a second five-year term as president of the European Commission, the EU's powerful executive body. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, another right-winger, voted against von der Leyen and did not vote for Kallas, diplomats said. Von der Leyen's nomination still needs approval from the European Parliament in a secret ballot - widely seen as a trickier proposition than her endorsement by EU leaders. "It is a matter of convincing - if possible - a broad majority for a strong Europe," von der Leyen said. Von der Leyen hails from the centre-right, Costa from the centre-left and Kallas from Europe's liberal group.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Antonio Costa, Kaja Kallas, Charles Michel, Giorgia Meloni, von der Leyen, Costa, Meloni, Viktor Orban, Von der, Von der Leyen, there's, Kallas Organizations: Union, European Commission, Estonian, European, Italian, Kallas, EU, Kyiv, U.S Locations: Germany, Brussels, Portuguese, Hungarian, Europe, Ukraine, Russia

☆ Thailand is now the Myanmar junta’s favored banking destination as military attacks ramp up, UN expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Helen Regan | Kocha Olarn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong/Bangkok CNN —International banks are playing a significant role in the Myanmar military junta’s ability to carry out its systematic and deadly assault on its people, a new United Nations-backed report has found. Athit Perawongmetha/ReutersThe Thai connectionSingapore-based entities were Myanmar’s third largest source of weapons and military materials. In 2022, Singapore-based banks facilitated more than 70% of the junta’s purchases passing through the banking system. Looking for other financial institutions, the junta found neighboring Thailand. “Our banking and financial institutions follow banking protocols as any major financial hub.

Persons: Tom Andrews, ” Andrews, Banks, ”, Athit Perawongmetha, “ Organizations: Bangkok CNN — International, United Nations, UN, Administration Council, SAC, “ Banking, Military Junta, States, Karen National Liberation Army, Siam Commercial Bank, CNN, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Economic Bank Locations: Hong Kong, Bangkok, Myanmar, Singapore, Myawaddy, Thailand, Thai, Siam

☆ 4 NATO countries are calling for a defense line along Europe's 700-mile border with Russia and Belarus
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The Baltic states and Poland have called for a defense line along Europe's border with Russia, per Reuters. They said it would protect the EU from Russia's "military" and "hybrid" threats. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementNATO member states Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland have urged the EU to build defensive infrastructure along its 700-mile-long border with Russia and Belarus, according to Reuters. The leaders of the four countries, which all share a land border with either Russia or Belarus, called for "extraordinary" measures to protect them and their allies.

Persons: — Organizations: Reuters, NATO, Service, EU, Business Locations: Baltic, Poland, Russia, Russia's, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Belarus

☆ Ukraine, Moldova and the EU begin formal negotiations. But neither country will join the bloc soon
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on X: “Congratulations to Moldova and Ukraine on opening accession negotiations. This is very good news for the people of Ukraine, Moldova, and the entire European Union. There are 35 chapters in total, all of which must be agreed by all negotiating parties, including the 27 EU member states. Expanding the bloc to the east of Europe will have consequences for the rest of the EU member states. Perhaps more importantly, accepting Ukraine and Moldova to the bloc would mean adding around 40 million new EU citizens from Eastern Europe.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Viktor Orban, Orban Organizations: CNN, European Union, Soviet, EU, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, Hungary, Hungarian, Moldovan, Transnistria, Europe, Poland, Eastern Europe, Western

☆ Hezbollah Has Threatened Cyprus. Here’s Why.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-22 | by ( Ephrat Livni | More About Ephrat Livni | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Cyprus found itself at the center of the world’s attention this week when the leader of Hezbollah threatened to target the small island nation if it supported Israel in potential war efforts. Here’s a closer look at how Cyprus has been pulled into the situation. Their militaries have conducted joint exercises and exchanged visits, and the two countries have a defense cooperation program, according to the Cyprus Ministry of Defense. Cyprus also has a “defense attaché” in Israel — and in about two dozen other nations — as part of what it calls “active defense diplomacy.”There is an additional cooperation agreement between Cyprus, Greece and Israel, which Cyprus says is aimed at “strengthening peace, stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean.”How did Cyprus respond to Hezbollah’s threat? Other allies of Cyprus also condemned Hezbollah’s threat.

Persons: Hassan Nasrallah, Here’s, ”, Israel —, Nikos Christodoulides, “, Christodoulides, Peter Stano, ” Matthew Miller, Nasrallah’s Organizations: Lebanese, Cyprus Ministry of Defense, American, Cypriot, European Union, State Department Locations: Cyprus, Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Britain, Egypt, France, Greece, Gaza

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