Mali jihadists vow to blockade capital

During her recent visit to France, we caught up with Sweden's minister for EU affairs, Jessica Rosencrantz. We discuss the energy crunch and what it means for Europe's competitiveness; Sweden's and the EU's relationship with Ukraine; and Sweden's dynamic tech and innovation scene.

Mali is facing its most serious security challenge in years as jihadist fighters and Tuareg separatists launch coordinated attacks and tighten a blockade around the capital, Bamako, increasing pressure on the country’s military rulers. The latest escalation, however, raises fresh questions about the strength of the alliance between the two groups.

Turning to the impact of the Middle East conflict on oil markets, global prices eased slightly on Friday after surging to a four-year high of over $126 per barrel the previous day, driven by fears that a prolonged war with Iran could worsen supply shortages. In related developments, the United Arab Emirates is set to formally exit OPEC, a неожиданное move that could disrupt the region’s economic balance. Head of Middle East Energy & OPEC and Insights at KPLER, Amena Bakr, shares her insights.

People are gathering in cities around the world to mark International Workers' Day, taking to the streets to demand higher wages and better working conditions. May 1 has long been a public holiday driven by unions advocating for workers’ rights. In Istanbul, tensions have been high, with police using tear gas and arresting around 200 people during protests held under the slogan “Bread, Peace, Freedom.” Economist at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs, Rémi Bourgeot, shar