Jun 12 Macron's centrist alliance expected to hold parliamentary majority By Sylvie Corbet, Associated Press Projections based on partial election results showed that at the national level, Macron’s party and its allies got about 25-26% of the vote. That made them neck-in-neck with a new leftist coalition composed of hard-left, Socialists and Green party supporters. Continue reading
Jun 12 Zelenskyy praises Ukraine's troops for holding the line against Russia By David Keyton, John Leicester, Associated Press Sievierodonetsk, an eastern city with a prewar population of 100,000, is still being hotly fought over, both sides said. The city and neighboring Lysychansk are the last major areas of the Donbas' Luhansk province not under the control of the… Continue reading
Jun 12 Head of WTO anticipates roadblocks as ministers negotiate trade deals By Jamey Keaten, Associated Press At a time when some experts question WTO's future and relevance, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala hopes the meeting involving more than 120 ministers from the organization's 164 member countries yields progress toward reducing inequality and ensuring fair and free trade. Continue reading
Jun 12 U.S. and Sweden conduct military drills on Baltic Sea island By James Brooks, Associated Press Though the annual BALTOPS exercise isn't held in response to a specific threat, this year's edition comes amid heightened tensions with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. About 7,000 military personnel and 45 ships from 14 NATO countries, as well… Continue reading
Jun 12 Russian-owned successor of McDonald's opens in Moscow By Jim Heintz The logo is different, but still evokes the golden arches: a circle and two yellow oblongs — representing a beef patty and french fries — configured into a stylized M. Continue reading
Jun 12 China accuses U.S. of attempting to 'hijack' support in Asia By Syawalludin Zain, David Rising, Associated Press Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe lashed out at U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, rejecting his “smearing accusation” the day before at the Shangri-La Dialogue that China was causing instability with its claim to the self-governing island of Taiwan and… Continue reading
Jun 11 Watch 6:52 Saudi-backed tournament creates hazard for professional golf The intersection of sports and geopolitics continued to play out Saturday during the first-ever LIV Golf series in London. The new competition is backed by the Saudi government and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman amid heavy criticisms of the country's… Continue watching
Jun 11 UN expresses concern after militias battle overnight in Libya's capital By Associated Press The country’s plan to transition to an elected government fell through after an interim administration based in Tripoli, headed by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, failed to hold elections last year. Continue reading
Jun 11 U.S. Defense Secretary Austin says China's military activity near Taiwan threatens region By Syawalludin Zain, David Rising, Associated Press Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Austin noted a “steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activity near Taiwan,” including almost daily military flights near the island by the People's Republic of China. Continue reading
Jun 11 Germany's chancellor attempts to open up North Macedonia's EU bid By Konstantin Testorides, Veselin Toshkov, Associated Press Bulgaria refuses to approve the EU’s membership negotiation framework for North Macedonia, effectively blocking the official start of accession talks with its smaller Balkan neighbor. Continue reading