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☆ Chinese attendance at Saudi conference doubles as Riyadh courts Beijing
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Pesha Magid | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Saudi man's reflection is seen in mirror glass at the Future Investment Initiative conference, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 25, 2022. REUTERS/ Ahmed Yosri/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsRIYADH, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Around 300 Chinese "decision makers" are attending Saudi Arabia's flagship investment conference this year, organisers said on Thursday, double last year's attendance as Riyadh deepens its relationship with China despite U.S. concerns. In defiance of its key Western ally, Prince Mohammed invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit the kingdom and launched a Chinese-Arab summit. In August, the BRICs group of nations, which includes China, invited Saudi Arabia to become a new member of the bloc. Saudi Arabia is halfway through an ambitious economic transformation plan - Vision 2030 - to wean the economy off oil by creating new industries, generating jobs for citizens, and luring in foreign capital and talent.

Persons: Ahmed Yosri, Richard Attias, Attias, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Joe Biden, Prince Mohammed, Xi Jinping, ” Attias, Morgan, Jamie Dimon, Citi's Jane Fraser, Yoon Suk Yeol, William Ruto, Paul Kagame, Pesha Magid, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Christina Fincher Organizations: Future Investment Initiative, REUTERS, Rights, Saudi, FII Institute, Wall Street, Washington, Wall, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Kenyan, Rwandan, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Rights RIYADH, China, Gaza, Asia

☆ Take Five: War and peace of mind
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., September 28, 2023. U.S. retail sales increased more than expected in August as a surge in gasoline prices boosted receipts at service stations. Bar chart with data from LSEG I/B/E/S show the projected year-over-year growth in Q3 2023 earnings of S&P 500 industries. There have been reports the government is looking to increase its budget deficit to meet this year's 5% growth target. That said, inflation is still over three times the BoE's 2% target and growth isn't exactly stellar.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Kevin Buckland, Lewis Krauskopf, Naomi Rovnick, Karin Strohecker, Amanda Cooper, Goldman Sachs, Johnson, Philip Morris, It's, Banks, Amundi, BoE, it's, Sumanta Sen, Prinz Magtulis, Vineet, Pasit, Jayaram, Mark Potter Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Hamas, Bank of America, Johnson, Netflix, Philip Morris International, Investors, HK, Law, Justice, Reuters, The Bank of England, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Israel, Palestinian, China, Britain, Tokyo, New York, London, LSEG, Beijing, Europe's, Brussels, Europe

U.S. President Joe Biden lholds a bilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the 78th U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 20, 2023. As president, Biden has frequently stressed support for independent Israeli and Palestinian states. Having returned to office in late December, Netanyahu opposes Palestinian statehood anytime soon and has approved thousands of new housing units for West Bank settlers. "If President Biden can stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes, I hope President Biden can stand with Israel for as long as it takes," said Republican Senator Tom Cotton, a foreign policy hawk, on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures." "Biden is not in love with Bibi Netanyahu," he said, using the prime minister's nickname.

Persons: Joe Biden lholds, Benjamin Netanyahu, Kevin Lamarque, Joe Biden, Netanyahu, Biden, Barack Obama’s, Donald Trump, Jonathan Panikoff, government’s, Tom Cotton, BIBI, Israel, Aaron David Miller, Bibi Netanyahu, Steve Holland, Matt Spetalnick, Heather Timmons, Howard Goller Organizations: Israeli, General Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, Israel, Administration, West Bank, Republican, U.S, White, Hezbollah, Hamas, Atlantic Council, Fox News, AIPAC, Biden, General, Carnegie Endowment, International, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Gaza, Israel, Iran, Egypt, Syria, Yom, Gulf, Lebanese, Jerusalem, Ukraine, New York, Saudi Arabia

So the Georgia Republican has voted against providing military aid to Ukraine as he advocates for doing more to arm Taiwan, the self-governed island that’s at risk of military aggression from Beijing. For Collins and other Republican lawmakers, Taiwan and Ukraine are effectively rivals for a limited pool of U.S. military assistance. They view Taiwan’s fate as closely linked to that of Ukraine as it struggles to push back a Russian invasion. The U.S. aid to Ukraine also has led to weapons manufacturers stepping up production — something that could benefit Taiwan in a clash with China. Ukraine’s success is Taiwan’s success,” Taiwan’s diplomat in the U.S., Hsiao Bi-Khim, said in May at the Sedona Forum hosted by the McCain Institute.

Persons: Mike Collins, Collins, that’s, ”, Hsiao, Bonnie Glaser, “, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, ” Collins, Biden, ” Collin, “ Bradley Bowman, It's, Bowman, Michael McCaul, McCaul, Glaser, Hu Xijin Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Georgia Republican, Sedona, McCain Institute, Ukraine, Cultural, Associated Press, German Marshall Fund, Taiwan, United, Center of Military, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Texas Republican, House Foreign Affairs, Taiwan’s, Communist Party, Global Times Locations: China, United States, Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Taiwan, Beijing, U.S, Taiwan Strait, Taipei, Texas, “, Washington

REUTERS/Fayaz Aziz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsISLAMABAD, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Pakistan said on Friday that it would repatriate all illegal immigrants including hundreds of thousands of Afghan nationals in orderly phases rather than in one go. She did not have exact data on the total number of illegal immigrants, including Afghans. Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on Tuesday some 1.73 million Afghans in Pakistan had no legal documents and the number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan totalled 4.4 million. Pakistan has hosted the largest number of Afghan refugees since the Soviet invasion of Kabul in 1979. Pakistan's foreign minister Jalil Abbas Jilani defended the order for the departure of illegal immigrants, saying no other country allowed illegal immigrants to stay and live.

Persons: Fayaz Aziz, frayed, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Sarfraz Bugti, Bugti, Jalil Abbas Jilani, Hong, Albee Zhang, Ryan Woo, Robert Birsel, William Maclean Organizations: United Nations, Refugees, REUTERS, Rights, Aid, Phoenix TV, Thomson Locations: Pakistan, Peshawar, Rights ISLAMABAD, Islamabad, Kabul, Afghanistan, U.S, Tibet, Beijing

☆ Anger in Poland after Legia Warsaw players arrested in Netherlands
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WARSAW, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Dutch police have arrested two players from Polish soccer team Legia Warsaw following their Europa Conference League match against AZ Alkmaar, officials said, prompting an angry reaction in Poland. The players were pulled off the team coach and taken to a police station, public broadcaster TVP reported. Legia Warsaw fans had attacked the local police force before the match, knocking one officer in riot gear unconscious as they violently stormed the stadium's entry gate, police said in a statement. "Polish players and fans must be treated in accordance with the law. Legia spokesperson Bartosz Zaslawski was quoted by RMF as saying the team would return to Poland without Josue and Pankov.

Persons: Radovan Pankov, TVP, Josue, Dariusz Mioduski, RMF, Mateusz Morawiecki, Bartosz Zaslawski, Alan Charlish, Bart Meijer, Gareth Jones Organizations: Polish soccer, Legia Warsaw, Europa Conference League, AZ Alkmaar, Legia, Thomson Locations: WARSAW, Polish, Poland, Serbia, Portugal

☆ Pakistani minister defends decision to expel Afghans
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"So, accordingly，this is in line with the international practice that we have taken this decision." Pakistan's interior minister said on Tuesday some 1.73 million Afghans in Pakistan had no legal documents and the number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan totalled 4.4 million. In defending the decision to expel Afghans, Pakistani authorities said 14 of 24 suicide bombings this year had been carried out by Afghan nationals. "Whenever there was any problem, people would immigrate to Pakistan, take refuge in Pakistan," Jilani said. "But now I think it has been more than 40 years, so the government of Pakistan has taken a decision," Jilani said, noting that the situation in Afghanistan had stabilised.

Persons: Fayaz Aziz, Jalil Abbas Jilani, Hong, Jilani, Albee Zhang, Ryan Woo, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Phoenix TV, Thomson Locations: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Torkham, Rights BEIJING, Europe, Asia, Tibet, U.S

In another dispute, Warsaw resisted a German offer to station Patriot missile air defence units in Poland before eventually agreeing to it. Among the sticking points, one German source said Poland was asking for too much money for the repair works. Another source, a German diplomat, said the talks failed partly because German companies were reluctant to share technical information. SOURING RELATIONSWhile ties between Poland and Germany have been frosty since PiS first came to power in 2015, Poles now see them worsening. Just 47% think relations are good, according to a German Polish barometer poll this year, down from 72% in 2020.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Andrzej Duda, Thibault Camus, Donald Tusk, PiS, Mateusz Morawiecki, Tusk, Angela Merkel, General Ben Hodges, Krauss, Maffei, Sebastian Chwalek, Thomas Kleine, Berlin, mushroomed, Camp David, ” Hodges, Joe, Biden, Andrzej, Duda, Chancellor Scholz, Justyna Pawlak, Marek Strzelecki, Anna Koper, Anna Wlodarczak, Alan Charlish, Sarah Marsh, Sabine Siebold, Andreas Rinke, Matthias Williams, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Russia, goading, NATO, Justice, Nazi Wehrmacht, Patriot, Law, Justice Party, U.S, Army, Reuters, Rheinmetall, Polska, Patriots, Foreign, German Marshall Fund, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Berlin, Germany, Russia Berlin, goading Warsaw, WARSAW, BERLIN, Polish, Nazi, EU, Slovakia, Poland, Warsaw, U.S, Europe, German, PiS, Japan, South Korea

☆ Poland Election Turns Germany Into Punchbag, Straining Western Alliance
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

Persons: Marek Strzelecki, Sabine Siebold, Anna Koper, Donald Tusk, PiS, Mateusz Morawiecki, Tusk, Angela Merkel, Olaf Scholz, General Ben Hodges, Krauss, Maffei, Sebastian Chwalek, Thomas Kleine, Berlin, mushroomed, Camp David, ” Hodges, Joe, Biden, Andrzej, Duda, Chancellor Scholz, Justyna Pawlak, Anna Wlodarczak, Alan Charlish, Sarah Marsh, Andreas Rinke, Matthias Williams, Mark Heinrich Organizations: Anna, Anna Koper WARSAW, NATO, Justice, Nazi Wehrmacht, Patriot, Law, Justice Party, U.S, Army, Reuters, Rheinmetall, Polska, Patriots, Foreign, German Marshall Fund Locations: BERLIN, Germany, Berlin, Ukraine, Polish, Nazi, EU, Slovakia, Poland, Warsaw, U.S, Europe, German, PiS, Japan, South Korea

Much of the furor is directed at Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, the ringleader of the McCarthy rebellion. “I think it’s very sad that this is obviously politically personally motivated,” Murphy said of Gaetz’s push to oust McCarthy. “I don’t think Markwayne Mullin and I have said 20 words to each other on the House floor. Republicans in the group will huddle as a unit next week to decide their next steps, the lawmaker said. “I have no advice to give to House Republicans except one – I hope whoever the next speaker is gets rid of the motion to vacate,” McConnell said.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Nancy Mace, McCarthy, Mace, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Kelly Armstrong, “, ” Armstrong, ”, Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Garret Graves, Mark Schiefelbein, ’ Gaetz, Mike Lawler, Greg Murphy, ” Murphy, Dave Joyce of Ohio, ” Joyce, Graves, Max Miller, hasn’t, Austin Scott, Sen, Markwayne Mullin –, McCarthy –, Markwayne Mullin, Kevin, ” Gaetz, Brian Fitzpatrick, bipartisanship, Hakeem Jeffries, Mitch McConnell, ” McConnell Organizations: CNN, GOP, Republican, Republican Governance Group, Capitol, Florida Rep, Democratic, North Dakota Republican, ‘, House GOP Conference, ” Ohio Republican, Georgia Rep, Oklahoma Republican, Republicans, Democrats, Group, House Republicans Locations: South Carolina, Washington, Louisiana, New York, North Carolina

☆ McCarthy became the latest victim of Trump’s extreme GOP revolution
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

More importantly Tuesday’s political regicide showed that the majority in the House is inoperable and that the Republican Party is unmanageable. But far from ejecting Biden from office, McCarthy himself was gone in less than a month of launching that inquiry. But a Republican speaker who needs Democratic votes is on borrowed time, although no one could have know that the end would come so soon. For the transgression of trying to fashion some, albeit erratic, governance, McCarthy joined predecessors such as GOP Speaker John Boehner and Paul Ryan in being driven out of office. McCarthy bitterly criticized Democrats for allowing eight GOP rebels to drive him out of office by not providing sufficient votes to save him.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy’s, Donald Trump, Trump, CNN McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, Joe Biden’s, Biden, McCarthy’s, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Jake Tapper, Tim Burchett, “, ”, McCarthy –, John Boehner, Paul Ryan, ” McCarthy, – McCarthy, Gaetz, didn’t, – Trump, Kevin, Liz Cheney, Hunter’s, –, enablers, CNN Trump Organizations: CNN, GOP, Republican Party, Florida Rep, Tennessean, Biden, Senate, Republicans, Democratic, House Republicans, Trump, California Republican, Capitol, Republican Locations: New York, America, Mar, Ukraine, –, Wyoming

☆ Courageous Cantlay rams taunts down European throats
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Hopefully, we can build a lot off this small amount of momentum we've got going," the world number five said. Europe need only four points from Sunday's 12 singles but Cantlay referenced the European comeback in 2012 at Medinah when they hit back from 10-6 down to snatch victory. "I saw it unfold when Patrick made that putt, Joe was waving his hat," he said. U.S. captain Johnson said he was aware of an incident but was told McIlroy and LaCava were "all good". "You see passion and emotion in the Ryder Cup and I don't think it's anything more than that," he said.

Persons: Ryder, Marco Simone Golf, USA's Patrick Cantlay, Carl Recine, Patrick Cantlay, Marco Simone, Wyndham Clark, Cantlay, Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, caddies, McIlroy, Fitzpatrick, Cantlay's, Joe LaCava, we've, Wyndham we're, Luke Donald's, Zach Johnson's, Captain Donald, Patrick, Joe, Rory, Johnson, LaCava, Martyn Herman, Ed Osmond Organizations: Country Club, REUTERS, Rights, Ryder, American, Thomson Locations: Rome, Italy, Europe, Medinah, Medina, Luke Donald's Europe

☆ Danger, 'pothole' ahead: Economic growth slowing to a near-halt to end the year
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Be it the United Auto Workers strike , the impending government shutdown or the resumption of deferred student loan payments , ominous barriers to growth have been lining up. "The economic headwinds are blowing, and they're blowing harder and harder," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon recently cautioned clients that the Fed may have to take rates a good deal higher yet. Still, that's well rate above the central bank's 2% target, posing another potential headwind to growth. Despite the looming slowdown, consumers, who are pivotal to U.S. growth, have managed to hang in there.

Persons: Mark Zandi, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Ronnie Walker, Alec Phillips, tumbles, Sam Stovall, JPMorgan Chase, Jamie Dimon, We're, Liz Ann Sonders, Charles Schwab, Jerome, Powell, They've Organizations: United Auto Workers, Moody's, UAW, Atlanta, JPMorgan, University of Michigan's, Commerce Department Locations: U.S

China claims “indisputable sovereignty” over almost all 1.3 million square miles of the South China Sea, and most of the islands and sandbars within it, including many features that are hundreds of miles from mainland China. If they (China) close off the South China Sea, perhaps the next target may be the Straits of Malacca and then the Indian Ocean,” Teodoro said. But since taking office last year, Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr has taken a stronger stance over the South China Sea than his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte. Marcos has also strengthened US relations that had frayed under Duterte, with the two allies touting increased cooperation and joint patrols in the South China Sea in the future. As part of the Marcos administration’s commitment to boost the Philippines defense and monitoring capabilities in the South China Sea, Teodoro said further “air and naval assets” have been ordered.

Persons: ”, of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr, “ It’s, it’s, Teodoro, “, ” Teodoro, It’s, Ferdinand “ Bongbong ” Marcos Jr, Rodrigo Duterte, Marcos, Defense Lindsey Ford, ” Ford, Aaron Favila, China “, Xi Jinping Organizations: Philippines CNN, CNN, of National Defense, Department of National Defense, Defense, AP Locations: Manila, Philippines, China, Philippine, South China, South, United States, Republic of, Beijing, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, The Hague, Ukraine, Russia, Malacca, China . Washington, Second, The Philippines

☆ South China Sea tensions are flaring between the Philippines and China. Here's why it matters for the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Over the past two decades, China has occupied a number of obscure reefs and atolls far from its shoreline across the South China Sea, building up military installations, including runways and ports. Video Ad Feedback Why it matters who owns the seas (April 2021) 03:48 - Source: CNNWhy does the South China Sea matter? The South China Sea is home to hundreds of largely uninhabited islands and coral atolls and diverse wildlife at risk from climate change and marine pollution. The US is not a claimant to the South China Sea, but says the waters are crucial to its national interest of guaranteeing freedom of the seas worldwide. Marcos has strengthened US relations that had frayed under his predecessor, with the two allies touting potential future joint patrols in the South China Sea.

Persons: It’s, China’s, Defense Lindsey Ford, ”, Stringer, Ferdinand “ Bongbong ” Marcos Jr, Jay Batongbacal, “, Marcos Jr, Rodrigo Duterte, Marcos, Gregory Poling Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Navy, CNN, US Energy Information Agency, Communist Party, United, US Navy, Defense, Asia, Washington -, Strategic, International Studies, Ford, Spratly Islands, University of the, Philippine Coast Guard, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Transparency, Philippines Mutual Defense Locations: Hong Kong, South China, China, Beijing, Philippines, United States, South, The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, The Hague, Manila, Scarborough, Spratly, People’s Republic of China, Washington, Philippine, University of the Philippines, Asia

☆ Morning Bid: Rate jitters wear down wary markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Asian markets were under pressure as the day progressed, with MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) sliding to its lowest in 10 months. Futures indicate the sombre mood is likely to continue as Europe wakes, with markets there due to open lower. Congress has shut down the government 14 times since 1981, though most of those funding gaps lasted only a day or two. Meanwhile, tech stocks are likely to be in the spotlight after a long-awaited antitrust lawsuit against Amazon.com (AMZN.O) from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission was filed on Tuesday. It also said the popular game has reached $20 billion in revenue since its 2012 launch.

Persons: Treasuries, Candy Crush, King, Ankur Banerjee, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Ankur, Treasury, Nikkei, Republicans, Congress, China Evergrande, HK, Bloomberg, Amazon.com, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Big Tech, Microsoft, Wall Street, Reuters, Thomson Locations: U.S, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Europe, Swiss

☆ Russia, US Trade Diplomatic Blame Over Instability in Karabakh Crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

(Reuters) - Moscow and Washington have accused each other of destabilising the South Caucuses region, as thousands of ethnic Armenians fled their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh over ethnic cleansing fears. "I do think that Russia has shown that it is not a security partner that can be relied on," U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters. Thousands of ethnic Armenians fled the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh by Monday after their fighters were defeated by Azerbaijan in last week's lightning military operation. Baku has promised to protect the rights of the roughly 120,000 Armenians who call Karabakh home but many refuse to accept its assurances. Moscow has said Armenia only had itself to blame for Azerbaijan's victory over Karabakh because it flirted with the West rather than working with Moscow and Baku for peace.

Persons: Anatoly Antonov, Vladimir Putin, Matthew Miller, Nikol Pashinyan, Samantha Power, Yuri, theArmenians, Lidia Kelly, Michael Perry Organizations: Reuters, US State Department, U.S . State Department, Monday, Azerbaijan, Karabakh, Armenia's, U.S . Agency for International Development, USAID, . State, U.S, aMoscow Locations: Moscow, Washington, Nagorno, Karabakh, Armenia, Russia, Soviet Union, Ukraine, U.S, Baku, South Caucasus, United States, Turkey, Iran, Europe, Azerbaijan, aroundNagorno, Melbourne

☆ Dior shows frayed edges and bare shoulders at Paris Fashion Week
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Mimosa Spencer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/7] A model presents a creation by designer Maria Grazia Chiuri as part of her Spring/Summer 2024 Women's ready-to-wear collection show for fashion house Dior during Paris Fashion Week in Paris, France, September 26, 2023. "It's a reflection about image, about the narrative and how we build -- in some way -- a stereotype in our mind," Chiuri told Reuters. Chiuri used knitwear techniques to lighten the weight of a pleated skirt, and took on pointy-toed kitten heels, turning them into gladiator shoes, with rows of straps running up the leg, fastened with pearls. The LVMH-owned (LVMH.PA) fashion label's show saw onlookers angle for photos of celebrities, including Blackpink member Jisoo, Charlize Theron, Elle Macpherson and Rosalia. Paris Fashion Week, which runs until Oct. 3, features dozens of labels including Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermes and Saint Laurent.

Persons: Maria Grazia Chiuri, Dior, Stephanie Lecocq, baring, Chiuri, Elena Bellantoni, ” Bellantoni, jean, Queen Camilla, King, Jisoo, Charlize Theron, Elle Macpherson, Rosalia, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermes, Saint Laurent, Mimosa Spencer, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Paris, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Versailles, King Charles's

☆ Russia, US trade diplomatic blame over instability in Karabakh crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Sept 26 (Reuters) - Moscow and Washington have accused each other of destabilising the South Caucuses region, as thousands of ethnic Armenians fled their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh over ethnic cleansing fears. "I do think that Russia has shown that it is not a security partner that can be relied on," U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters. Thousands of ethnic Armenians fled the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh by Monday after their fighters were defeated by Azerbaijan in last week's lightning military operation. Baku has promised to protect the rights of the roughly 120,000 Armenians who call Karabakh home but many refuse to accept its assurances. Moscow has said Armenia only had itself to blame for Azerbaijan's victory over Karabakh because it flirted with the West rather than working with Moscow and Baku for peace.

Persons: Anatoly Antonov, Vladimir Putin, Matthew Miller, Nikol Pashinyan, Samantha Power, Yuri, Lidia Kelly, Michael Perry Organizations: US State Department, U.S . State Department, Monday, Azerbaijan, Karabakh, Armenia's, U.S . Agency for International Development, USAID, . State, U.S, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Washington, Nagorno, Karabakh, Armenia, Russia, Soviet Union, Ukraine, U.S, Baku, South Caucasus, United States, Turkey, Iran, Europe, Azerbaijan, Russian, Melbourne

☆ Analysis: Zelensky's mixed reception in Washington may be a taste of political storm to come
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Washington CNN —The blue-and-gold flag draped hero worship of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s last Washington trip, which stirred comparisons to Winston Churchill’s wartime stand against Nazism, was a distant memory on Thursday. And in public appearances, Zelensky’s patience sometimes frayed – especially when berating the United Nations for failing to protect its members from aggression. There’s also a question of whether Zelensky’s relentless efforts to shame the world into action might be reaching the point of diminishing returns. Trump exacerbates such concerns by warning that Biden’s help for Ukraine could trigger World War III with Russia. With no end in sight for the biggest war in Europe since World War II, Ukraine’s fate seems increasingly aligned with Biden’s own political destiny.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky’s, Winston, Zelensky, Donald Trump’s, Franklin Roosevelt, There’s, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong, Biden, Mr, ” Biden, Jake Sullivan, –, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, we’re, Carolina Sen, Thom Tillis, Kamala Harris, Nancy Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy, McConnell, we’ve, you’ve, ” McCarthy, “, McCarthy, Trump, Putin, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Trump’s, Ohio Sen, J.D, Vance, Zelensky –, ” Vance, Missouri Sen, Josh Hawley, ” Hawley Organizations: Washington CNN, Republican, CNN, United Nations, United States, Oval, Tactical Missile Systems, NATO, Kyiv, Democratic, GOP, Senate, Trump, Ukraine, “, Twitter Locations: Washington, Russia, United States, Ukraine, United, Russian, Russia’s Far, Poland, Warsaw, US, Poland’s, ”, Carolina, Ukrainian, Southern, America, New Hampshire, American, Moscow, Missouri, Europe

☆ Poland says it will stop arming Ukraine. How did we get here – and what does it mean for the war?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Poland’s decision was both sudden and predictable, coming after months of tensions over a temporary ban on Ukrainian grain imports to a number of European Union countries. “We no longer transfer weapons to Ukraine because we are now arming Poland,” Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in a blunt social media statement on Wednesday. But three nations – Poland, Hungary and Slovakia – said they intended to defy the change and keep the restrictions in place. They are particularly suffering in their stronghold rural regions in eastern Poland, where agriculture is an important economic pillar. The urgency of the war to Poland has also slipped over the course of year.

Persons: Mateusz Morawiecki, Morawiecki, Piotr Muller, CNN Muller, Slovakia –, Alexander Ermochenko, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, ”, Mateusz, Beata Zawrzel, PiS, Vladimir Putin Organizations: London CNN, European Union, NATO, Ukrainian, CNN, EU, European Commission, Reuters, UN, Assembly, Ukraine, Law, Justice, Confederation, Kyiv Locations: Kyiv, Russia, Poland’s, Poland, Ukraine, Polish, United States, Soviet, Warsaw, Slovakia, Hungary, Europe, Zaporizhzhia, Russian, New York, Moscow, Ukrainian, Germany, Ukraine’s

☆ Charles is 'just the son': Parisians unfazed by king's visit to France
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Noemie Olive | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Charles, a fluent French speaker like his mother, is keen to walk in her footsteps and is likely to refer to the late queen's deep affection for France during the visit, officials said. All this combined together doesn't create much interest," said the 88-year old, who liked Queen Elizabeth and her horses. As part of the visit, Charles and Camilla will drive down the Champs-Elysees and view restoration works at the Notre-Dame cathedral following a massive blaze in 2019 that destroyed its roof. The trip is also a chance to rebuild ties that have been frayed by Britain's chaotic exit from the EU in 2020. In Britain, polls suggest Charles is less popular than his mother, who had strong support from much of the public.

Persons: Britain's King Charles, Queen Camilla, Princess Royal, Duke, Russell Cheyne, Brexit PARIS, King Charles, Queen Elizabeth, He's, Mireille, Charles, Camilla, France's Patrouille, Alexia Aubert, Elizabeth, King Charles isn't, Edouard Val de Lievre, Michael Holden, Elizabeth Pineau, Ingrid Melander, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Braemar Royal, Princess, REUTERS, Notre, Dame, Arrows, Britons, Thomson Locations: Braemar, Fife, Scotland, Britain, Paris, Bordeaux, France, Versailles, Bresse, England

On Thursday, Charles, Camilla, Macron and his wife Brigitte will visit the Notre-Dame cathedral to view restoration works following a massive blaze in 2019 that destroyed its roof. Charles and Camilla will then head to the southwestern city of Bordeaux on Friday, where excursions will include a visit to an organic vineyard. Charles had hoped for a state visit to France to have been his first as king, but a March trip was postponed due to tense protests in France over pension reforms, much to Macron's embarrassment. Her successor, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, visited France in March to kick off what he called an "entente renewed". Fifteen year-old Alexia Aubert said: "I think since Elizabeth died, the royal family isn't as important as it was, King Charles isn't as important and symbolic as Elizabeth, so it doesn't really matter if he comes or not."

Persons: Brexit PARIS, King Charles, Emmanuel Macron, Queen Camilla, Hugh Grant, Mick Jagger, Arsene Wenger, Didier Drogba, Bernard Arnault, Charles, Camilla, Macron, Brigitte, Queen Elizabeth, Adelaide de, Tonnerre, Charles's, Diana, Brigitte Macron, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, He's, Mireille, Alexia Aubert, Elizabeth, King Charles isn't, Elizabeth Pineau, Michel Rose, Noemie Olive, Louise Dalmasso, Michael Holden, Ingrid Melander, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Arsenal, Notre, Dame, Adelaide de Clermont, Vue, Reuters, ENTENTE, European Union, Former British, entente, Thomson Locations: Bordeaux, Britain, France, of Versailles, British, French, Adelaide, Paris, London

On Thursday, Charles, Camilla, Macron and his wife Brigitte will visit the Notre-Dame cathedral to view restoration works following a massive blaze in 2019 that destroyed its roof. Charles and Camilla will then head to the southwestern city of Bordeaux on Friday, where excursions will include a visit to an organic vineyard. [1/11]King Charles III with French President Emmanuel Macron as they walk from the Elysee Palace, Paris, to the British Ambassador's Residence, during the state visit to France. Charles had hoped for a state visit to France to have been his first as king, but a March trip was postponed due to tense protests in France over pension reforms, much to Macron's embarrassment. Fifteen year-old Alexia Aubert said: "I think since Elizabeth died, the royal family isn't as important as it was, King Charles isn't as important and symbolic as Elizabeth, so it doesn't really matter if he comes or not."

Persons: Brexit PARIS, King Charles, Emmanuel Macron, Queen Camilla, Elisabeth Borne, Marie, Noelle Ahanso, Noelle, Charles, Hugh Grant, Mick Jagger, Arsene Wenger, Didier Drogba, Bernard Arnault, Camilla, Macron, Brigitte, King Charles III, Yui Mok, Queen Elizabeth, Adelaide de, Tonnerre, Charles's, Diana, Brigitte Macron, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, He's, Mireille, Alexia Aubert, Elizabeth, King Charles isn't, Elizabeth Pineau, Michel Rose, Noemie Olive, Juliette Jabkhiro, Louise Dalmasso, Michael Holden, Ingrid Melander, Bernadette Baum Organizations: French, Reuters, Arsenal, Notre, Dame, British, REUTERS Acquire, Adelaide de Clermont, Vue, ENTENTE, European Union, Former British, entente, Thomson Locations: Bordeaux, Britain, France, Paris, French, Versailles, Ukraine, Sahel, British, Elysee, Adelaide, London

☆ Some Parisians Unfazed by King Charles' Visit to France
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Noemie OlivePARIS (Reuters) - King Charles' state visit to France, from Wednesday to Friday, may be seen politically as a chance to rebuild ties between the two countries, but some Parisians said they were not impressed, and that they missed the late Queen Elizabeth. Charles, and his wife Queen Camilla, will be guests of honour at a state banquet in the gilded Versailles palace during the visit to France, Charles' first since becoming king a year ago. All this combined together doesn't create much interest," said Mireille, a retiree who liked Queen Elizabeth and her horses. Fifteen year-old Alexia Aubert said: "I think since Elizabeth died, the Royal family isn't as important as it was, King Charles isn't as important and symbolic as Elizabeth, so it doesn't really matter if he comes or not." In Britain, polls suggest Charles is less popular than his mother, who had strong support from much of the public.

Persons: Olive PARIS, King Charles, Queen Elizabeth, Charles, Queen Camilla, France's Patrouille, He's, Mireille, Alexia Aubert, Elizabeth, King Charles isn't, Edouard Val de Lievre, Michael Holden, Ingrid Melander, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Notre, Dame, Arrows, Britons Locations: France, Versailles, Britain, Paris, England

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