Month: July 2024

Євросоюз

French parties scramble for influence after inconclusive vote

Paris — French parties sought to project strength and gather allies on Tuesday, with the government adrift following an election in which no one political force claimed a clear majority. Having defied expectations to top the polls, new MPs from the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance began showing up to visit their new workplaces in parliament ahead of a first session on July 18. But the coalition of Greens, Socialists, Communists and the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) is still debating over who to put forward as a potential prime minister and whether it could be open to working in a …

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Євросоюз

Largest refugee team to compete at Paris Paralympics

PARIS — The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) on Tuesday unveiled a nine-member refugee team for the upcoming Games in Paris. The team is made up of eight competitors and one guide runner. They will take part in taekwondo, athletics, triathlon, power lifting, table tennis and wheelchair fencing. “The world has more than 120 million forcibly displaced people worldwide,” said Andrew Parsons, the IPC president. “Many live in dire conditions. These athletes have persevered and shown incredible determination to get to Paris 2024 and give every refugee around the world hope.” Ibrahim Al Hussein will be competing in a third Paralympics for …

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Євросоюз

Biden to meet new British PM Starmer on Wednesday

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Joe Biden will hold his first face-to-face talks with Britain’s new Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House on Wednesday, the White House said Monday.  Biden also will host an event Thursday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the NATO summit, which is taking place this week in Washington, national security adviser John Kirby told reporters.  Biden plans to “underscore the importance of continuing to strengthen the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom” in his meeting with Starmer, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.  She said the two leaders …

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Євросоюз

China, Belarus begin joint anti-terrorism exercises

Washington — China and Belarus began joint anti-terrorism exercises Monday in Brest, Belarus, that will last for 11 days.  The two countries will conduct drills in the exercises titled Eagle Assault, and “soldiers from both sides will jointly carry out hostage rescue operations and counterterrorism missions,” China’s state news agency Xinhua said.  Together, they “will work out the issues of night landing, overcoming water obstacles, and conducting operations in a populated area,” according to a statement from the Belarusian Ministry of Defense.  China and Belarus have a history of conducting joint military exercises, having conducted four anti-terrorism exercises in territories of …

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Євросоюз

UK can improve ‘botched’ Brexit deal, says Starmer

Belfast — Britain’s new Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised on Monday to secure an improved agreement with the European Union on post-Brexit trading rules and revamp the “botched deal” signed by former premier Boris Johnson. Speaking in Belfast after talks with the leaders of Northern Ireland, where post-Brexit trade rules have dominated politics for years, Starmer said his new government would first need to implement changes under the current agreement to build trust with the European Union.   “We think we can get a better deal than the botched deal that Boris Johnson brought home and we will work on that,” …

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