FRANKFURT, Aug 23 (Reuters) – It was meant to be Europe’s stellar year. A post-pandemic spending euphoria, supported by copious government spending was set to drive the economy and help fatigued households regain a sense of normality after two dreadful years. But all that changed on Feb. 24 with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Normality is...
SEOUL, Aug 22 (Reuters) – South Korea and the United States began their largest joint military drills in years on Monday with a resumption of field training, officials said, as the allies seek to tighten readiness over North Korea’s potential weapons tests. The annual summertime exercises, renamed Ulchi Freedom Shield this year and scheduled to...
ISLAMABAD, Aug 22 (Reuters) – Hundreds of supporters of Pakistan’s former prime minister, Imran Khan, gathered on Monday outside his hilltop mansion in the capital, vowing to prevent his arrest on anti-terrorism accusations, officials of his political party said. The move follows a police case filed against Khan on Saturday for threatening government officials in...
Aug 22 (Reuters) – Russian forces pressed on with their offensive across several Ukrainian regions on Monday, while President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned of the potential for more serious attacks ahead of Ukraine’s 31st anniversary of independence from Soviet rule. Artillery shells rained down on Nikopol, a city near Zaporizhzhia – Europe’s biggest nuclear plant, while...
TOKYO, Aug 22 (Reuters) – Oil prices slumped on Monday, ending three days of gains, as investors were concerned aggressive U.S. interest rate hikes will weaken the global economy and dent fuel demand while a strengthening dollar also added to pressure. Brent crude futures for October settlement declined $1.58, or 1.6%, to $95.14 a barrel...
ATHENS, Aug 21 (Reuters) – Greece’s exit on Saturday from the European Union’s so-called enhanced surveillance framework for its economy ends 12 years of pain and allows the country greater freedom in policy making, its prime minister said. Greece’s economic performance and policies have been closely monitored under the framework since 2018 to ensure it...
Aug 21 (Reuters) – New Zealand will make temporary changes to immigration rules, a minister said on Sunday, aiming to lure 12,000 workers over the next year with a working holiday scheme designed to fill labour gaps as businesses scramble to find staff. The jostling for workers is part of a global trend that has...
SYDNEY, Aug 21 (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday said his government could consider an inquiry into former Prime Minister Scott Morrison being secretly sworn into key ministries during the coronavirus pandemic. Morrison, who stepped down as leader of the Liberal Party after losing a general election in May, was secretly sworn...
Aug 21 (Reuters) – Oleksandr Usyk turned his sights on rival heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury on Sunday after beating Britain’s Anthony Joshua on a split points decision to retain his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts in Jeddah. The “Rage on the Red Sea” in Saudi Arabia was a rematch of a fight in...
HANOI, Aug 20 (Reuters) – Apple supplier Foxconn (2317.TW) has signed a $300 million memorandum of understanding with Vietnamese developer Kinh Bac City (KBC.HM) to expand its facility in the north of the country to diversify and boost production, state media said on Saturday. The Taiwanese company’s new factory, on a plot of 50.5 hectares (125 acres) in Bac...