Latest news with #alliance
The Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Europe and Asia should form ‘positive new alliance', says Macron in Singapore
European and Asian countries should form a 'positive new alliance' based on shared principles, security, defence and trade, away from the battling superpowers of the US and China, Emmanuel Macron has said. Addressing the Shangri-la security dialogue in Singapore on Friday, the French president said the division between the US and China was the biggest risk in the world right now, but also warned of the threat of Russia and North Korea. He said it was crucial that allied nations act together to maintain credibility against aggressors. 'We are living in a time of crisis and need new ways of cooperating,' he said in the keynote speech. 'Our key challenge is how to preserve peace and stability and prosperity in this current environment.' 'We have a challenge of revisionist countries that want to impose – under the name of spheres of influence – spheres of coercion. Countries that want to control areas from the fringes of Europe to the archipelagos in the South China Sea … that want to appropriate resources, whether fishing or mineral, and crowd out others for their benefit.' Macron warned against a 'division between the two superpowers and an instruction to all the others that you have to choose a side'. 'If we do this we kill the global order … all the institutions created after the second world war to preserve peace,' he said. Macron's pointed speech said France was and would remain a friend and ally of the US, but did not want to be dependent, and affected 'by the decisions of a single person'. 'We live in a time of the erosion of longtime alliances,' he said. 'The sense that their promise might not be so ironclad is ushering in a new instability. We see it every day.' However, he said the Trump administration's request for other nations to take on more of the burden was a 'fair' one and 'we need Europeans to do much more for themselves'. Sitting in the audience for Macron's speech was the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, who in March had accused Europe of being 'pathetic' and 'freeloading' in a Signal chat to other Trump officials that was later published. Macron's speech also warned that the failures of Europe and the US to end the Ukraine war, as well as double standards over Gaza that gave Israel a 'free pass', risked destroying the west's remaining credibility. 'What is at stake is the global order, and our credibility to protect the global order,' he said. Macron's speech doubled down on comments earlier in the day calling for European countries to 'harden their collective position' on Israel if there are not improvements to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where the UN has said the entire population is at risk of famine. Israel accused Macron of a 'crusade against the Jewish state' with his remarks. The defence minister, Israel Katz, said Israel vowed to build a 'Jewish Israeli state' in the occupied West Bank, in a 'clear message to Macron and his associates'. The Shangri-la dialogue draws senior officials from governments and militaries around the world for three days of speeches, expert panels and closed-door discussions. Hegseth is scheduled to speak on Saturday. Historically, the conference has also hosted significant bilateral meetings, including between the US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, and his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun, in 2024. However this year Beijing sent just a single delegate, from the People's Liberation Army National Defense University. It is the first time since 2019 that China has not sent its defence minister. China-US relations have plummeted again since Trump took office this year, and many military-to-military channels have been suspended. Some analysts have suggested Dong's absence is a missed opportunity for China, which could use the conference to further strengthen ties with nations that are perhaps more suspicious of the US. Others have noted that previous conferences have just seen China criticised on panel after panel. Zhou Bo, a retired senior Chinese army colonel and conference attendee, told the Guardian the absence was not unusual, as China had only sent defence ministers five times in the past. Zhou said he did not know why China had sent a smaller delegation, but dismissed rumours that the minister was embroiled in corruption investigations, noting that Dong was traveling overseas. 'Will the world change much because the Chinese defence minister will not come? Or are there not other occasions for China to talk about its own views? Yes, there are.'
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- General
- Bloomberg
NATO Wants Germany to Provide 40,000 Additional Troops
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization wants Germany to contribute as many as 40,000 more troops for the alliance's defense against Russia, according to people familiar with the matter. The demand, which would add the equivalent of seven brigades, comes as part of a NATO review of its military capability targets, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as the discussions are not public. The alliance has grown concerned about heightened Russian hostility since the country's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
ABC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Federal politics live: Bridget McKenzie rejects claim Nationals leader David Littleproud 'misled' party
A key ally of Nationals leader David Littleproud has defended his handling of the split with the Liberals amid claims he "misled" the party room. Follow our live blog below.
Globe and Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
"Last War" Launches Major Social Update, Enhancing Strategic Gameplay and Alliance Interactions
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - May 27, 2025) - The global strategy mobile game "Last War" has rolled out a significant new update, introducing expanded social features and enhanced strategic mechanics to better align with player growth progression and alliance dynamics. These updates further reinforce the game's core identity as a hybrid of strategy and social engagement. Easy to Start, Rich in Strategy and Social Interaction: New Features Deepen Player Connections In this latest update, Last War introduces a brand-new "Moments" feature, allowing players to share in-game experiences through text and images. This feature enhances communication and fosters a stronger sense of community. The alliance system has also been upgraded, improving internal communication for smoother resource sharing, coordinated battles, and strategic planning. These additions complement the game's hallmark "Multiplier Gate" progression mechanic and unit skill combinations, delivering a fast-paced yet deeply strategic experience. Whether players are new or seasoned veterans, the updated alliance features empower them to join cross-server competitions and real-time battles with greater tactical freedom. According to the official team, alliance participation and social activity have seen consistent growth, with many players forming lasting friendships-and even real-world relationships-through the game, further strengthening player retention and community engagement. Enhanced Initial Purchase: UR Hero "Kimberly" Joins the Lineup To help new players ease into the game, Last War is introducing a $0.99 initial buy package. With this package, players will unlock Kimberly, a UR (Ultra Rare) hero. Kimberly is a powerful AOE (area-of-effect) damage dealer who remains a core unit in tank-based lineups. With her exclusive weapon equipped, she excels as a backline powerhouse across all stages of the game, offering high versatility for players. Gold Brick Recharge System Upgrade: New Payment Options Gold Bricks, the game's core premium currency used for unlocking heroes, accelerating progress, and purchasing packs, now come with an enhanced recharge experience. The update introduces multiple new payment methods via the official recharge platform, improving convenience for global players. About Last War Last War is a global multiplayer strategy game set in a post-apocalyptic world. Blending tactical gameplay with rich social features, the game supports multi-platform interaction and emphasizes alliance cooperation and competitive survival. The game will continue to deliver regular content updates and promote user-generated content initiatives, aiming to provide both an accessible gameplay experience and in-depth strategic and social dimensions. -Ends-
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Eva Erickson talks making "Survivor" history with Joe Hunter in journey to the final five
Eva Erickson and Joe Hunter formed an alliance on day one of "Survivor" that has carried them all the way to tonight's season 48 finale and secured spots among the final five castaways. Erickson, the show's first contestant diagnosed with autism, and Hunter maintained their partnership throughout the competition, supporting each other through the physical and mental challenges of the game. "We've been together since day one," said Erickson, a 24-year-old doctoral candidate and student athlete from Minnesota. "We knew that this was our goal, to make it to the end together." The season's most viral moment occurred on day 11 when Erickson experienced sensory overload during a challenge and struggled to regulate her emotions. Hunter, who was the only contestant Erickson had confided in about her autism diagnosis, rushed to comfort her when host Jeff Probst gave him permission. "Honestly, the response was so overwhelmingly positive," Erickson said of the public reaction. "I had no idea the impact that me just being vulnerable and showing what my real life is would have on so many people." Hunter described the moment as "hard to put into words" and said he felt fortunate that he could be there with her through the experience. Erickson shared that doctors told her parents after her autism diagnosis that she would never live independently or hold a job. "My parents, they still believed in me," Erickson said. "They put me into so many types of therapy, got me all sorts of help and support. Having that support in my life is what really allowed me to have all these doors open." Erickson said her parents told her that being diagnosed with autism is "part of who I am." "It is never something wrong with me. It is never going to stop me from achieving my dreams,"Erickson said. Despite the physical and mental challenges of the competition, including hunger and stress, both contestants say they are grateful for their alliance that has become a friendship. "To have such a public alliance and duo together was a blessing but very difficult," Hunter said. "I'm so thankful that we were able to do that." The "Survivor" season 48 finale airs Wednesday at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on CBS and streams on Paramount+.
