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The economy is one of Europeans main concerns as citizens prepare to go to the polls this weekend to choose their next representatives, according to chief analyst of the Euronews Polls Centre, Boyd Wagner. In second place, migration remains a hot topic for residents across every European country.
"All our economies are so interlinked. We have local problems as well in Ireland. It continues to be a massive housing crisis. Cost of living crisis. I don't think politicians are taking seriously these issues, especially European Parliament politicians," an Irish man told Euronews.
For others, climate remains a priority.
"It's important to me that we manage to become climate neutral as European Union and we get on the path to that," a teacher from Germany told Euronews. She also said it is important to ensure that being climate aware becomes socially acceptable.
Watch the full report in the player above to find out more.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday that Russia could provide long-range weapons to others to strike Western targets.
He also reaffirmed Moscow’s readiness to use nuclear weapons if it sees a threat to its sovereignty.
The move comes after Germany recently joined the US in authorising Ukraine to hit some targets on Russian soil with the long-range weapons they are supplying to Kyiv.
Putin said Kyiv using such weapons would be a “dangerous step”, which could also ruin relations between Berlin and Moscow.
Such action by the West will further undermine international security and could lead to “very serious problems.” he said, adding that the Kremlin could provide long-range weapons to others to strike Western targets.
“That would mark their direct involvement in the war against the Russian Federation, and we reserve the right to act the same way”.
Putin took questions from international journalists — something that has become extremely rare since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine.
'Nothing will change' after US presidential vote
On Wednesday, a Western official and a US senator said Ukraine had used US weapons to strike inside Russia under newly approved guidance from President Joe Biden.
It allows US arms to be used for the limited purpose of defending Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. The official was not authorised to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Taking questions from international journalists for the first time since his inauguration last month to a fifth term, Putin also said nothing will change in terms of Russia-US relations regardless of whether Biden or Donald Trump wins the US presidential election in November.
“We will work with any president the American people elect,” Putin said, speaking on the sidelines of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
“I say absolutely sincerely, I wouldn’t say that we believe that after the election something will change on the Russian track in the American politics,” he added. “We don’t think so. We think nothing that serious will happen.”
NATO foreign ministers discuss restrictions on Ukraine using their weapons to attack Russia Germany says Ukraine can use its weapons to strike Russian territory
Putin also said Trump’s felony conviction at his hush money trial last week was the result of "the use of the court system as part of the internal political struggle.”
Asked about Russian military losses, Putin said that no country would reveal that information during hostilities but claimed without providing details that Ukraine's casualties are five times greater than Russia’s.
He also said Ukraine has more than 1,300 Moscow troops in captivity, while more than 6,400 Ukrainian soldiers are being held in Russia.
The claims could not be independently verified.
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Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates announced the joint decision to build three major solar and wind projects in Azerbaijan with a capacity of 1 GW, with a ground-breaking ceremony on the sidelines of the Baku Energy Forum on Tuesday.
Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan told Euronews this event “actually demonstrates our green agenda and also demonstrates that our position is attractive not only for those who invest in fossil fuels, but also for those who invest in renewables. Masdar is our strategic partner in the area of renewable energy.”
The projects include a 445 MW solar plant in Bilasuvar, a 315 MW solar plant in Neftchala, and a 240 MW wind farm in Absheron-Garadagh. The plants are expected to produce an average annual output of a total of 2 billion 3025 million kWh of electricity, in turn saving 496 million cubic metres of natural gas per year and preventing more than 943 thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Chairman of Masdar and COP28 President said in his address, "We are proud to partner with Azerbaijan on this significant expansion of its renewable energy capacity and to support Azerbaijan’s journey toward energy diversification, stimulating new industries, new jobs and sustainable economic growth.”
EU gas diversification and Azerbaijan's green energy commitment on agenda at Baku meetings
The announcement comes as Azerbaijan prepares to host COP29 in Baku in November taking over the mantle from the UAE. Sultan Al Jaber added, “A key pillar of the historic UAE consensus is the goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030. We need many more partnerships like these to ensure a just, orderly and equitable energy transition that keeps 1.5 within reach."
His comments resonated heavily with President Aliyev who also told Euronews, “It really demonstrates how a country which generated wealth from fossil fuels now is channelling this wealth into the renewable energy and as a host country of Cop 29, this is also our obligation to be among the frontrunners on the green transition.”
There were also calls for switching to cleaner energy solutions, advancements in AI as well as ensuring economic growth in developing countries to help accelerate climate positive sustainable development, as over 300 companies from 37 countries came together for one of the most important events on the global energy sector calendar.