China's President Xi Jinping took a swipe at Nato's past actions on Tuesday despite a French charm offensive on a rare visit to Europe.
Mr Xi said China would "never forget" the bombing of its embassy in Belgrade in 1999 during Nato air strikes in Yugoslavia.
He invoked what he called that "tragic history" as like-minded Serbia prepares to welcome Mr Xi for a state visit.
His article in Serbian media appeared as Mr Xi was accompanying French President Emmanuel Macron for private talks in the Pyrenees.
Europe is lobbying Mr Xi to use China's ties to Russia and Iran to restrain their actions in Ukraine and the Middle East, respectively.
Mr Macron discussed Iran and the Middle East with Mr Xi before taking the Chinese leader to the mountain air of the Col du Tourmalet.
The two leaders took separate flights to the Pyrenees before watching a traditional dance routine and eating local delicacies in an area where a young Mr Macron spent holidays.
The French President has a history of trying to forge close personal relationships with his counterparts but has a mixed record of extracting concessions from them.
While Mr Xi spoke warmly of China's relations with France, he offered few hints of concrete concessions in his talks in Paris on Monday.
China "did not start the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to or a participant in it" and opposes attempts to "stoke a new Cold War", he said.
He also denied there was any Chinese "overcapacity problem", a key grievance for European officials in trade talks.
The second and third legs of Mr Xi's trip will take him to Serbia and Hungary, regarded as two of the most Moscow and Beijing-friendly governments in Europe.
In his article for a Serbian audience, Mr Xi spoke of an "ironclad friendship" as he recalled the deaths of three people in the Chinese embassy bombing that took place 25 years ago on Tuesday.
Nato called the May 1999 bombing a "deeply regrettable mistake" during an air campaign meant to stop ethnic cleansing in Kosovo.
An envoy for then-US president Bill Clinton was sent to explain how a CIA agent had mistaken the embassy for a Yugoslav weapons centre.
"Twenty-five years ago today, Nato flagrantly bombed the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia, killing three Chinese journalists," Mr Xi said.
"This we should never forget. The Chinese people cherish peace but we will never allow such tragic history to repeat itself."
Serbia aspires to EU membership but still bristles at the Nato bombing campaign and has maintained close ties to Russia and China.
Hungary is meanwhile briefing before Mr Xi's visit that it "rejects protectionist efforts to exclude Chinese goods from the European market", for example welcoming ties with telecoms giant Huawei.
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
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What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
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Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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The biog
Favourite hobby: taking his rescue dog, Sally, for long walks.
Favourite book: anything by Stephen King, although he said the films rarely match the quality of the books
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption stands out as his favourite movie, a classic King novella
Favourite music: “I have a wide and varied music taste, so it would be unfair to pick a single song from blues to rock as a favourite"
