Armenia signals progress on U.S.-backed TRIPP corridor at Antalya forum
Global leaders have gathered in Antalya Diplomacy Forum, with discussions centred on geopolitical uncertainty and international cooper...
French President Emmanuel Macron urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to avoid tariffs on Cognac and to support ceasefires in Ukraine and Gaza, as the leaders discussed trade tensions and global conflicts.
During a call on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping about growing trade tensions and international conflicts, focusing on economic cooperation and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Macron asked Xi to protect French Cognac exports from Chinese tariffs, warning that a level playing field is essential for French businesses operating in China. He stressed that while France welcomes Chinese investment, French companies should receive equal treatment.
“We’ve agreed to move quickly on resolving the Cognac issue, which is vital for our producers,” Macron said in a social media post.
China is currently investigating French Cognac imports in a trade probe widely seen as retaliation for France’s strong backing of EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles last October. A final decision is expected by July.
French Economy Minister Eric Lombard recently met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Paris to address the issue, but their lengthy talks ended without resolution. He insisted Chinese authorities would decide the outcome independently.
Beyond trade, Macron pledged to cooperate with China in pushing for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and called for renewed collaboration on peace in the Middle East. He said France and China will jointly prepare for a June peace conference in New York aimed at advancing a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
Macron is scheduled to visit Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore next week as part of a regional tour to strengthen France’s role in the Indo-Pacific, where China’s economic and territorial assertiveness continues to grow.
The past 24 hours of the Russia-Ukraine war have seen a drastic escalation in both aerial bombardment and frontline losses.
Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping on Friday (17 April) for the first time since the U.S. and Israel killed Iran's ex-Supreme Leader in air strikes, triggering the Middle East conflict, at the end of February. A U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, however, remains in force.
Russia published addresses of manufacturers allegedly producing drones or components for Ukraine on Wednesday (15 April), warning European countries against plans to step up UAV supplies to Kyiv.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a Saturday statement that the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its "previous state" under the control of its "armed forces," citing the ongoing U.S. blockade on Iranian ports.
Netflix shares fell sharply on Friday after the streaming group issued a weaker-than-expected outlook and said chairman and co-founder Reed Hastings will step down from the board.
The Trump administration extended a sanctions exemption on some Russian oil as prices continue to skyrocket in the wake of the U.S.- Israeli war against Iran on Friday (17 April).
Australia and Japan signed contracts on Saturday (18 April) launching their landmark A$10 billion ($7 billion) deal to supply Australia with warships, Tokyo's most consequential military sale since ending a military export ban in 2014.
Leaders from across Europe and beyond gathered in Paris on Friday for a summit aimed at managing the global impact of the Middle East conflict.
European leaders have set out plans for a coordinated defensive mission to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, once security conditions allow, following talks involving more than 40 countries.
NeaNearly 900 Rohingya refugees were reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea off Myanmar in 2025, making it the deadliest year on record, the United Nations Refugee Agency said on Friday.
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