British newspapers focused on the recent events taking place in Europe, and The Independent highlighted the protests in France, while both The Guardian and The Times newspapers followed developments in the Russia-Ukraine war and its recent repercussions on the region and the energy sector.
We begin our tour with The Independent newspaper, which commented on the protests and recent events in France by saying that the French president, in the last months of his presidency, appears to be lacking control over events, lacking communication with the French, and the confidence of international investors.
The Independent said that Macron was and is still responding in “all the wrong ways” to the state of weakness prevailing over his country.
The newspaper commented on Macron's speech addressed to the French people on Sunday, October 18, and criticized his telling angry citizens that they should wait because there are only six months left until the end of his term and the election of his successor, who will try to address the chaos. The Independent wrote that this is not the leadership France needs.
The newspaper said that the French government always had the option of sitting with representatives of the protesters and hearing their demands, but the Macron administration ordered the riot police to be strict in dealing with the protests.
The newspaper found that it was not surprising that trade unionists and others joined the protest movement after teenagers who went out in school students’ demonstrations suffered injuries that could change the course of their lives, due to weapons used by police officers.
The newspaper reported that there is another simultaneous challenge facing the stability of the French state, which is the beginnings of a debt crisis reminiscent of the crisis that swept the Eurozone 15 years ago.
She pointed out that the value of French government bonds has declined sharply, that the French national debt has become exhausted, that the economy is suffering from slowdowns, and that Parliament and the President are unable to reduce government spending to sustainable levels. This - according to the Independent - reflects the exact opposite of the demands of the protesters who want greater spending on support and schools. Hence the inertia in policy making.
The newspaper believed that Macron's policies, including calling for early elections in 2024, and bringing in a powerless government, contributed to leaving the country without leadership.
The Independent concluded by saying that such stagnation is not uncommon in French history, but it rarely ends well.
We turn to the British newspaper The Guardian and an article by international affairs editor Peter Beaumont, warning of the approaching war on the shores of NATO after a drone attack on ships in the Black Sea.
Beaumont points to attacks on six ships within ten days in the Black Sea, and says that they constitute a major escalation in a maritime conflict that is putting pressure on the borders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
He adds that global attention is focused on the risks that sailors face while crossing the Strait of Hormuz, but the Black Sea has emerged in recent months as the most dangerous sea passage, as more sailors were lost in a week and a half than the number of American employees killed throughout the war with Iran, Beaumont said.
The writer says that the “Embry” Marine Insurance and Risk Analysis Company warned that there is no end in sight for the threats facing cargo ships in the Black Sea, including grain and oil shipments, and he added that the costs of traffic insurance have risen significantly.
Beaumont continued, saying that the threat is not limited to the Black Sea only, but that the Ukrainian ports overlooking it have witnessed a significant increase in attacks over the past year.
The writer quoted experts as saying that a number of factors are driving the expansion and escalation of the conflict towards the coasts of NATO countries. Russia responded to the expanding Ukrainian strikes targeting the “shadow fleet” of Russian oil tankers by intensifying attacks on Ukrainian agricultural shipments, a key component of Kiev’s economy.
Beaumont says shipping operators have warned of the broader impact on trade in the Black Sea. The Russian attacks on shipping traffic are getting closer and closer to the borders of NATO countries, posing increasing security challenges for the alliance, which is already facing escalating Russian hybrid warfare activities throughout Europe.
In his article, the author suggests that the risk of a global food crisis will return as a result of the continuing escalation, as Ukraine, Russia, and Romania are major grain exporters.
The British newspaper The Times published a viewpoint on the latest developments in the war between Ukraine and Russia.
The newspaper believes that the relationship between the Ukrainian and American presidents, which was never easy, has reached a critical stage. This comes at the worst time for Ukraine, which is being subjected to Russian bombing targeting railways, energy facilities and city centres.
The newspaper says that the goal of these attacks is clear: “to spread terror among civilians and ensure a bitterly cold winter.”
It indicates that Ukraine is aggressive, setting fire to oil facilities and a vital Internet logistics center in St. Petersburg over the weekend. It regained some territory on the eastern front.
But without adequate air defences, Ukraine remains vulnerable to increasingly intense Russian drone and missile attacks, attacks aimed at subduing it, The Times wrote.
