French Ambassador to Australia Jean-Pierre Thebault denies media reports that France was lobbying the EU not to sign a trade deal with Australia that has been under negotiation since 2018.
A full 42 percent of viewers say Social Democratic Party’s Scholz, who is also Germany’s vice chancellor, won the debate, with Christian Democratic Union’s Laschet lagging with 27 percent and Greens’ Baerbock at 25 percent.
The election, marred by numerous reports of violations, lacked significant opposition presence after authorities declared organisations linked to imprisoned Alexey Navalny, the Kremlin’s most prominent foe, to be extremist.
There had been more than 22,000 tremors this week in the Cumbre Vieja area, a chain of volcanoes that last had a major eruption in 1971 and is one of the most active volcanic regions in the Canaries.
While Russian President Putin remains popular, United Russia party has seen its support drop as living standards decline following years of economic stagnation.
France said it was recalling its ambassadors in the United States and Australia for consultations following Australia's decision to scrap a big French conventional submarine purchase in favour of nuclear subs built with US technology.
Family reunifications are blocked by administrative hurdles, while other safe routes are off to a slow start and a draft bill seeks to criminalise anyone entering outside legal pathways.
Google and Apple stores blocked jailed Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny’s tactical voting app, which aimed to counter Vladimir Putin’s hegemony over the country by helping voters find alternative candidates.
Polls opened on Friday morning in the Far East regions of Kamchatka and Chukotka, which are nine hours ahead of Moscow. Voters will be able to cast ballots through Sunday.
"This brutal, unilateral, and unpredictable decision reminds me a lot of what Mr Trump used to do," says FM Jean-Yves Le Drian, accusing US President Biden of stabbing Paris in back and acting like his predecessor Trump.
The 27-member bloc will set out a formal strategy to boost its presence in the region but Australia's decision to cancel submarine deal with France may complicate cooperation.
President Rumen Radev reappoints incumbent caretaker premier Stefan Yanev to lead interim administration until new government is formed.
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