Macron calls for global unity
World leaders gathered in Paris on Sunday to mark the centenary of the Armistice that ended World War One on 11 November 1918. The Guardian reports on the fractured relationships between some western leaders during the weekend. Bloomberg reports on French president Emmanuel Macron’s call for global unity to tackle the world’s problems. Speaking to an audience that included US president Donald Trump and German chancellor Angela Merkel, Marcon said: “let’s reject the fascination for turning in on ourselves, violence, and domination.” He rejected the idea of countries putting their own interests first at all costs, calling nationalism “a betrayal of patriotism.”
Tusk warns against nationalism
Meanwhile in his native Poland, Donald Tusk is cited by Bloomberg as saying he had “different views from my most influential namesake in the world,” about a “strong European Union, close integration between Europe and the United States.” Warning against a rise of “anti-European emotion” Tusk said he feared two polar opposite forces would dominate the European Parliament elections next year--one “looking more and more clearly towards nationalism, working against the European Union” and the other “those who want to integrate the European Union as much as possible.”
Trump didn’t want to disrupt Paris
US president Donald Trump’s notable absence from a wreath laying at the American fallen at Aisne-Marne military cemetery on Saturday was criticised by the likes of Nicolas Soames, Winston Churchill’s grandson. But White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the president had not wanted to travel by car from Paris in order to avoid “unexpected disruption to the city and its people”.
Merkel mistaken for Macron’s wife
German chancellor Angela Merkel had to explain who she was to a 101-year old French woman who mistook her for Brigitte Macron. The French and German leaders were at the unveiling of a plaque at Rethondes, where the Armistice was signed, when Emmanuel Macron stopped to talk with the lady. The woman, who was born during WWI had promised to be at the event again next year. But when she saw Merkel, the woman asked whether she was Madame Macron. RTBF has video of the exchange.
California wildfire deaths reach 31
The most destructive fires in California’s recorded history have so far claimed the lives of 31 people, The Guardian reports. The worst fire was in Butte county, around the city of Paradise where 29 bodies have been found and a further 228 people are still unaccounted for. Two people also died near Los Angeles. The president of the California Professional Firefighters, Brian Rice. has meanwhile criticized Donald Trump for blaming the fires on forest mismanagement, CBS says. Rice said the president’s tweet was “ill-informed, ill-timed and demeaning to those who are suffering as well as the men and women on the front lines.”
Oil producers warn of oversupply
A committee of several OPEC members and other crude oil exporters has warned of the possibility of a fresh round of output cuts in the face of oversupply forecasts for 2019. CNBC reports that the United States, Russia and Saudi Arabia all hit new production records recently after producers restored output following a cutback in January this year. But the committee said on Sunday that the new situation “may require new strategies to balance the market.”
Alibaba record
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group recorded unprecedented sales of $30.7 billion on Sunday, CNBC reports. The reason was Singles Day, the world’s biggest 24-hour online sales event which was originally a novelty Chinese holiday to celebrate being single. Last year Alibaba registered sales of $24 billion during Singles Day.
Today's breakfast briefing was written by Duncan Roberts