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By Shilpa Joseph
Xi Jinping’s visits France as part of his Europe tour
On 06 may, Xi Jinping, Chinese President arrived in France, as a part of his Europe visit after five years, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also invited. Since his last visit, there have been many changes and French President Emmanuel Macron plans to encourage China to influence Russia’s decision towards war in Ukraine and to push its efforts for conflict resolution. Since 2022, China has promoted stronger ties with Russia, while France has imposed rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
The two core messages that Macron tries to communicate with China are Chinese support to Russia's military capabilities and Chinese market-distorting practices. While the right-wing parties in France have urged the President to discuss on Beijing's crimes against humanity, demand for erase of local culture in the Tibet region, it’s disregard for the Uyghur rights and the imprisonment of numerous journalists. China and the EU are two biggest trading partners; however, imports from Europe vastly exceed exports to China, and Brussels has frequently claimed unfair market access. Xi is expected to sign new business deals including fresh Chinese orders with French aviation giant Airbus during his visit.
Xi’s visit to Serbia coincides with the 25th anniversary of US bombs hitting the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade as NATO tries to stop the ethnic cleansing campaign against Kosovar Albanians. Although there are positive and negative economic impacts of Chinese presence, only environment will be talked about. During the visit, Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President is expected to stress on the fair competition, market imbalances and assessment of China’s medical devices to Xi. A slew of EU probes were launched lately over inequitable access to China's medical devices market, Chinese wind turbine suppliers for the European market and Chinese subsidies for solar panels, electric vehicles (EVs) and trains. Von der Leyen emphasized the issue of China's overcapacity and how it was causing Chinese goods to enter the EU at prices that were too low for EU companies to compete. The EU's stance that it "should derisk its relations, but not decouple from China" was restated by Von der Leyen.
References
“China's Xi visits Europe: A divide-and-charm offensive?,” Deutsche Welle, 05 May 2024; “Macron set to press China's Xi on trade, Ukraine during Paris visit,” France 24, 05 May 2024
EU chief will urge 'fair' China competition in Paris talks with Xi, France 24, 06 May 2024
FRANCE
French bakers set a new record for preparing the longest baguette
On 05 may, A group of eighteen bakers in Suresnes, a western suburb of Paris, France, created a baguette that measured 143.53 meters (461 feet) in length, 10 meters more than the previous record from Italy, setting a new Guinness World Record. the baguette — a symbol of Frenchness recognized the world over, was made adhering to the Guinness rules by kneading for 152 kilograms and baked in a specially constructed, slow-moving wheeled tent oven. A portion of the baguette was cut and given to curious bystanders after Guinness officials approved the endeavor, with the remaining portion going to the homeless. (“French bakers recapture world's longest baguette title,” Deutsche Welle, 05 May 2024.
NORTH MACEDONIA
Elections in North Macedonia risks gaining EU membership
On 08 may, the elections in North Macedonia will be challenged by the risks reviving tensions with Bulgaria and Greece, with higher prospects for the opposition, the VMRO-DPMNE party, in forming the Government. However, adding to the frustration with the slowness of the accession process, the VMRO will take a confrontational approach with both Sofia and Athens — both of whom would need to agree to North Macedonia’s membership into the EU. In 2018, the Prespa agreement was signed with Greece, ending the long dispute over its name, in exchange for EU negotiations and NATO membership. VMRO’s rejection of Sofia’s demand for constitutional changes recognizing a Bulgarian minority and increasing reference of the country as ‘Macedonia’ reignites tensions with Greece and Bulgaria. Albanian community, which makes up more than a quarter of the country’s population, might have lesser representation in the Macedonian political processes with a change in government. (“North Macedonia’s EU aspirations face bumpy ride after elections,” Politico, 06 May 2024)
RUSSIA
Russian hackers are accused of a targeted cyber-attack in Germany and Czech republic
On 03 May, Germany accused Russia's military intelligence service, the GRU, for the 2023 cyberattack that targeted senior officials of the Social Democrats (SPD). German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told a news conference that a government investigation found that it was carried out by a state-sponsored group called APT28, which has been accused of dozens of cyberattacks around the world including the Czech Republic lately. The EU, NATO and the US showed solidarity to Germany and the Czech Republic following the attacks warning Russia against severe consequences. While Germany said they had summoned Russian envoys, The Russian Embassy in Germany denied Moscow had a role in the 2023 attack.
SPAIN
AI model from Barcelona earns GBP 10,000 a month as a fitness enthusiast
The Clueless, an agency from Barcelona, created an AI model, Aitana. The agency believes this could help bring down market prices and give a boost to small companies that cannot afford big advertising campaigns and blames the sexualised world for its creation. Aitana, a vibrant 25-year-old with pink hair from Barcelona, is a virtual model earning up to GBP 10,000 every month. Created as a fitness enthusiast, she is described on her website as an outgoing, caring, and possessing a complex character. To the critics concerned about the unrealistic perfection of the AI model, the agency responded that they are simply following the aesthetic already created by the real influencers and brands themselves. (“Aitana, Spain's first AI model, who is earning up to €10,000 a month,” euronews, 04 May 2024)
THE UK
Trinity College fines the student union for the pro-Palestine protests
On 03 May, the president of Trinity College Dublin (TCD) claimed that the university had fined the students' union EUR 214,000 for on-campus protests citing loss of income as a result of recent protests at the Book of Kells tourist attraction. Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) is a nonviolent pro-Palestinian movement the students have started that advocate for economic, cultural, and academic sanctions against Israel. The Trinity College said that it was against the illegal BDS camp and urged to hold the protests within the university norms. (“Trinity students fined €214k as Gaza camp set up,” BBC, 03 May 2024)
REGIONAL
UN warns Europe to mend its housing crisis
On 05 May, protests took place in Lisbon, Amsterdam, Prague and Milan as rents and property prices raked high. According to Eurostat data, the housing prices and rents have increased by 47 and 18 per cent affecting the middle classes. The far-right parties blamed the migrants and outsiders, while the UN attributed the social gaps to underinvestment and inadequate government planning. This crisis aggravates to a fear of unaffordability of houses and loss of status, thereby extending more support to the far right in these countries, who are forecasted to win in nine EU member states. Suggestion that Housing be given top priority and be made as a legal right in Europe, and building more houses, seems to pave a way out of the crisis. (“Fix Europe’s housing crisis or risk fuelling the far-right, UN expert warns” , The Guardian, 06 May 2024
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