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Germany’s international and European policy environment is changing drastically. This necessitates a reorientation of Germany’s European policy. The European Union (EU) is becoming increasingly important for Germany as a powerful community of action and should be further developed into an economic and security life insurance policy for Germany and the EU’s other member states. In the coalition agreement between the CDU / CSU and the SPD, the new governing parties are claiming a prag­matic leadership role for Germany in European policy. To realise this ambition and advance key policies that are crucial for European self-determination, the new gov­ernment should provide leadership that is marked by enhanced European policy coordination, grounded in an expanded partnership strategy, and aimed at strengthen­ing the Union’s overall capacity to act.

With the reconfiguration of international supply chains, Mexico has gained impor­tance as a location for new foreign investments. The country has been able to benefit from nearshoring, that is, the relocation of services or production processes closer to consumer markets. This is associated with lower logistics costs and often better manage­ment of supplier relationships. However, this boom in investments has abated due to various uncertainties – not least being Washington’s threats to raise tariffs, which burdens the economic prospects associated with nearshoring. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is attempting to counter this trend, but in view of the increasingly urgent demand by the United States for third countries to adopt an anti-Chinese course, Mexico is at risk of being caught in the trap of “security-shoring” and losing its autonomous room for manoeuvre. This is already forcing Mexico – as well as its economic partners who have invested there – to realign their production processes.

'The rules for tobacco taxation are no longer fit for purpose,' a source told Euractiv.

Criticism is growing after several top positions go to members of the president's ethnic Yoruba group.

En Roumanie, pays stratégique sur le flanc est de l'Otan face à la menace russe, un grand chantier est en cours sur la base militaire de la mer Noire. Il s'agit d'une première étape qui consiste à construire une nouvelle piste d'avion. Mais si le projet final est mené à terme, elle pourrait devenir la plus grande base aérienne d'Europe et accueillir près de 10 000 soldats permanents. Des inquiétudes émergent cependant, avec la possibilité de retrait de troupes américaines sur le continent. Reportage de Marine Leduc à Constanța et à Mihail Kogălniceanu.

Fears that AI will decimate newsrooms and cripple the traditional media landscape appear to be exaggerated, for now.

Looking more like a killer than a speedster, the large twin-engine jet built to sweep skies clear of enemy MiGs and deliver large payloads of bombs would also record many “firsts.” Overachiever from the Beginning Out of a requirement for an all-weather fleet defense interceptor, McDonnell Douglas developed the XF4H-1 twin-engine two-seat test aircraft. In […]

The post Fantastic Phantom: the Records set by the McDonnell Douglas F-4 appeared first on The Aviationist.

L’image a été commentée à tout-va sur les réseaux sociaux. Alors qu'Emmanuel Macron s'apprête à descendre de l'avion qui l'a mené au Vietnam, il reçoit brusquement deux mains au visage de la part de son épouse, Brigitte Macron. La toile s'enflamme et parle de gifle. Après avoir dans un premier temps évoqué une fausse information, l'Elysée confirme la véracité de la scène et mentionne un moment de complicité du couple présidentiel.

Kazakhstan once accounted for over 27 per cent of global Bitcoin mining - in 2021, it was the second-largest player. Today, it’s charting a steady new course.

En République démocratique du Congo, l’ancien président congolais Joseph Kabila, est arrivé à Goma dans l’est de la RDC. Une annonce faite par l’AFC/M23 et l’entourage de l’ancien président. Joseph Kabila n’était plus revenu au pays depuis fin 2023. Ce séjour intervient deux jours après son discours.

Hungary’s export risk exposure has further undermined Orban’s fiscal flexibility while EU recovery and cohesion funds remain frozen.

For cohesion to remain a meaningful instrument of unity, the EU must balance pressure with pragmatism while upholding its core values. This Special Report looks at the road ahead.

Une voiture a foncé, lundi 26 mai en fin de journée, sur la foule à Liverpool (nord-ouest de l'Angleterre) lors de la parade de la victoire du club de football du Liverpool FC en Premier League. Les services de secours ont rapporté, en fin de soirée, que 27 personnes ont été hospitalisées, dont deux dans un état grave. Un homme a été arrêté.

Simplifying the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy is much like simplifying a Rubik’s Cube, but the Commission is trying anyway – Euractiv scopes the road ahead.

Des États membres de l’UE menés par les Pays-Bas devrait signer une déclaration condamnant la Hongrie pour sa répression de la communauté LGBTQ et appelant la Commission à « utiliser pleinement les instruments juridiques à sa disposition ».

The post Des États membres préparent une déclaration condamnant l’interdiction de la Pride en Hongrie appeared first on Euractiv FR.

India’s French Made Rafale is one of the most advanced fighter jets in their region.

The recent bouts of battles between India and Pakistan comes at a time where many other parts of the world are in conflict, and many suspect that conflict will extend East towards Asia. While it is difficult to get precise information on details of the active battlefield between the two countries, the defense establishment in many parts of the world are watching with great interest on the developments of their systems in actual combat.

India’s and Pakistan’s Air Forces are an interesting mix of different planes and systems from various parts of the world. Pakistan uses US military equipment like the F-16, and is heavily invested with China in developing many weapons systems against Indian interests. China and Pakistan’s joint fighter program of the JF-17 has likely seen combat in the latest row with India, a program meant to solidify both Pakistan’s and China’s combined security push against India. While other weapons systems have followed this joint program, they are usually based around ground vehicles and tanks, with the JF-17 being a jointly produced and advanced small fighter plane.

What has been the focus of a great deal of interest is the use of the Chinese made J-10 fighter jet by Pakistan. The J-10 is one of the more advanced Chinese fighter jets in the region, albeit one that never had been used in actual combat. Paired with the J-10 is the new long range PL-15 missile, a modern system that can theoretically out range most similar NATO missiles. Claims that the J-10 had been very successful in countering advanced Indian Air Force fighters often come with the claim that long range PL-15 missiles played a major role in their success.

India’s Air Force has one of the most diverse and capable fleets in the region. India’s close ties with Soviet and Russian technology has equipped India with some of the most advanced Russian technology, despite India being a strong Western ally. Often produced via license in India, systems like the T-90 tank and SU-30 keep India supplied with advanced weapons systems. The purchase of French aircraft like the Mirage 2000 and Rafale give India some of the most capable technology worldwide in securing their territory.

Claims that a J-10 shot down at least one Rafale is one of the most notable claims made during the start of the war, with both sides trying to demonstrate their strengths using the narrative of the lost or survived Rafale. In reality, new technology battles involve long range targeting of enemy aircraft using BVR, Beyond Visual Range radars and missiles. Evading new missile technology is difficult for any aircraft that can be picked up on long range radar, and it could be the case that the side with the most missiles will often dominate the airspace. The point of interest from NATO allies seems to be whether or not the French Mirage 2000 and Rafale has a radar and missile combination that can best China’s new J-10 with the PL-15 missile, or if China’s new weapons are as advanced and as capable as they claim them to be?

China’s weapons programs often came with licensing and taken Western and Soviet technologies that were seen as technologically behind those of their counterparts. Many Chinese weapons systems were officially licensed from France, like their HQ-7 Crotale missile system, or taken from Russian samples like China’s J-11 fighter, a copy of Russia’s SU-27. Even recent Chinese made fighters like the J-10 often depended on Russian made engines and equipment, limiting China’s ability to sell its equipment abroad due to Russian licensing controls on weapon parts. With the J-10 demonstrating any victory over their Western or Russian counterparts, China would be able to finally develop its foreign weapons sales past its traditional allies and establish a serious international presence outside of its region.

The air battles between India and Pakistan were different than air to air conflict in Ukraine as much of the Russian and Ukrainian long range fighter systems have been grounded, or dedicated to launching long range air to surface munitions as opposed to engaging other enemy aircraft. With the F-16 and now Mirage 2000 being present in Ukraine, it is still difficult to see how successful they would be against Russia’s air force in direct combat. The reality of the air war in Ukraine is that both Ukraine and Russia have flooded the airspace with advanced anti-aircraft systems and radars, and flying too far into the combat zone would guarantee being targeted. While India is covered by S-400 systems, and Pakistan is using an S-300 copy/licensed HQ-9 Chinese system, their air war looks a lot more like ones from years ago when anti-air systems were not as deadly as they are post-2020. The interest in the advancement of China’s technology will play into battle simulations as the long range missile and radar is the king of air combat, and will determine whether or not an attack is viable.

Various political factions are attempting to seize the advantage amid organic protests seeking the prime minister's ouster.

Construit au chantier naval de Cheongjin, sur la côte orientale de la Corée du Nord, le deuxième destroyer de la classe « Choi Huyn » destiné à la marine nord-coréenne a chaviré lors de sa mise à l’eau, le 21 mai dernier. Le chantier naval nord-coréen avait dû suivre un mode opératoire jusqu’alors inédit en Corée du...

Cet article Au moins quatre responsables nord-coréens ont été arrêtés après le fiasco du lancement d’un « destroyer » est apparu en premier sur Zone Militaire.

Personne ne connaît la date exacte de l'enregistrement de cette vidéo, ni son auteur, mais cela ne l'empêche pas d'avoir balayé l'empire du Milieu comme un tourbillon. Tous les médias et blogs retiennent la date où elle a commencé à circuler follement sur les réseaux sociaux : le 11 mai 2022. Dans (...) / Chine, Société, Mouvement de contestation, Autoritarisme, Crise sanitaire - 2023/01

The US, Germany, France, and Britain had all lifted range restrictions on the weapons they delivered to Ukraine, the German chancellor said.