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Stock index futures signal early gains

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Monday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.43 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.26 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.38 percent.

(REUTERS) Paris - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il died of a heart attack while on a train trip, state media reported on Monday, sparking immediate concern over who is in control of the reclusive state and its nuclear program.

Asian stocks dropped on the news, while European shares reversed early losses and edged higher in morning trade, halting a sharp 1-1/2 week sell-off, as investors bought up shares in sectors seen as defensive, such as Unilever (ULVR.L) and Telefonica (TEF.MC).

A tax break for 160 million U.S. workers was in doubt on Monday in the face of strong opposition from Republicans in the House of Representatives who have rejected a two-month extension overwhelmingly approved by the Senate over the weekend.

Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, an investor in some of the world's top companies, on Monday unveiled a $300 million stake purchase in fast-growing microblogging site Twitter, gaining another foothold in the global media industry.

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FOCUS: Russia-Ukraine War

A Critical Putin Miscalculation: The West's Support Of Ukraine Holds Firm

Vladimir Putin thought the West would wind up divided over the backing of Ukraine. Yet a year later with new survey numbers out, and more aid flowing to Kyiv, this appears to be one of the most crucial errors in launching his invasion.

Photo of a person draped in a Ukraine flag standing in front of the Eiffel Tower, lit up in yellow and blue to mark the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine

In front of the Eiffel Tower, lit up in yellow and blue to mark the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine

Pierre Haski

-Analysis-

PARIS — Among the many miscalculations of Vladimir Putin in this conflict don't forget his poor evaluation of European public opinion. The sudden rise in energy prices in the early weeks of the war led the Kremlin — and its political allies — to hope for the emergence of a popular movement opposed to support for Ukraine. This did not happen anywhere in Europe.

Where Russia was not wrong, however, was in gauging the reaction in what we call the Global South, where Westerners are paying the price for so much arrogance of the past. In these countries, the rulers are in line with a popular opinion that does not have the same critical view of Russian action.

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Multiple studies support this observation, where the West's stance is supported at home, but continues to be weakened on the global stage.

In Europe, things are clear.

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