TOP NEWS

China's influence in Africa
China promises 500 billion in aid to Africa

Chinese President Xi Jinping promises to give countries in Africa the equivalent of around SEK 500 billion in financial support over the next three years, Reuters reports. The president spoke in front of leaders of some 50 African countries at a forum on economic policy cooperation between China and Russia.

The support includes, among other things, investments from Chinese companies. The Chinese president also promised investments in energy projects and the creation of one million jobs.

- Relations between China and Africa are in their best period ever, says Xi Jinping.

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The election in the United States|Votes about the election
Putin says he supports Harris: "Has such an infectious laugh"

Vladimir Putin says he supports Kamala Harris as the new US president. Reuters reports.

- Biden has recommended Harris as his successor, so we will follow that, says Putin in connection with a speech at an economic forum in Vladivostok.

- She has such an infectious laugh, he says according to the news agency.

The statement is in line with how Putin previously related to Joe Biden. In February, the Russian president said he preferred him as president over Donald Trump. At the time, the statement was interpreted either as Trump being viewed as a less favorable president from a Russian perspective, or that Putin simply wanted to keep the ex-president "on his toes."

- Pure manipulation, it is clear that he wants Trump to win, said Ian Robertson, psychology professor at the University of Dublin to Inews at the time.

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The new election in France
Michel Barnier is nominated as the new French Prime Minister

French President Emmanuel Macron nominates EU veteran Michel Barnier as the country's new prime minister, several media reports.

73-year-old Barnier is now tasked with forming a new government in the country, just over two months after the election. In recent weeks, Macron and his allies have worked to produce a candidate who can withstand the opposition's attempt to bring down a new government in parliament, AP writes.

To the outside world, Barnier is known, among other things, as the EU's negotiator for the UK's exit from the Union.

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The election in the USAGlobal challenges
US election means Australia can push climate targets

Australia's government is open to postponing a decision on a new emissions target until the outcome of the US presidential election has become clear. The Guardian reports.

According to the agreement reached at the climate meeting in Paris, all countries covered must submit their emission targets until 2035 by February at the latest, well in advance of the climate meeting held in Brazil in November next year.

In Australia, the decision may be delayed until after the federal election, which is due to be held no later than September 25, 2025.

The presidential election in the United States is expected to have a major effect on the countries' ambitions for 2035. Kamala Harris is expected to be quick to announce a new American goal, while Donald Trump has said that he will pull the United States out of the Paris Agreement. 

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The Israel-Hamas war|The negotiations
Netanyahu and Hamas in new row over cease-fire in Gaza

Details of prisoner exchange and where Israel is to withdraw its forces are the two questions that remain to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza, reports SVT with reference to a high-ranking source in the White House.

- 90 percent of the agreement is complete, the source told the channel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is of a different opinion. On Wednesday, he accused Hamas of not wanting to negotiate a truce, according to Israeli media. The statement has stirred emotions among the terror-labeled group.

In a statement, Hamas states that Netanyahu's demand to maintain forces on the border between Egypt and Gaza "aims to prevent an agreement", writes AFP.

"We do not need new proposals," the group writes in a statement on the messaging service Telegram.