By Panu Wongcha-um BANGKOK (Reuters) -The leaders of Japan and Thailand announced a new defence agreement on Monday as well as plans to upgrade their economic relations, as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wrapped up the last leg of a three-nation…
Israel keen to set up cyber ‘Iron Dome’ to curb rise in attacks
By Steven Scheer TEL AVIV (Reuters) – Israel’s government on Monday ordered communications firms to step up their cyber security efforts in the wake of a rise in attempted hacking attacks. New regulations are currently being implemented in which mandat…
Russia’s Bolshoi drops shows by two directors who spoke out against war
LONDON (Reuters) – Russia’s Bolshoi Theatre has upset opera and ballet fans by abruptly cancelling a series of shows this week by directors who have spoken out against the war in Ukraine. The theatre gave no reason for dropping Timofey Kuliabin’s produ…
U.S. stocks gain, Treasury yields hit multi-year highs ahead of expected Fed rate hike
By Stephen Culp NEW YORK (Reuters) -Wall Street recovered some lost ground on Monday and benchmark U.S. Treasury yields hit a 3-1/2-year high at the start of an eventful week of corporate earnings, economic data, and an expected interest rate hike from…
Finland will decide to apply for NATO membership on May 12, says Iltalehti newspaper
HELSINKI (Reuters) – Finland will decide to apply for NATO membership on May 12, Finnish newspaper Iltalehti reported late on Sunday, citing anonymous government sources. The decision to join will come in two steps on that day, with Finnish President S…
Tears and chocolate as New Zealand opens its borders to 60 more countries
By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand welcomed thousands of travellers from around the globe on Monday as the country opened its borders to visitors from around 60 nations including the United States, Britain and Singapore for the first ti…
EU prepares next Russia sanctions including German-backed oil ban
By Tom Balmforth and Oleksandr Kozhukhar KYIV/LVIV (Reuters) -The European Union was preparing sanctions on Russian oil sales after a major shift on Monday by Germany, Russia’s biggest energy customer, that could deprive Moscow of a large revenue strea…
Finland almost certainly to apply for NATO membership, says Swedish Foreign Minister
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Finland will almost certainly apply for membership in NATO, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde told Swedish television on Sunday. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has forced both Sweden and its eastern neighbour Finland to review bel…
Mexican foreign minister slams ‘extortion’ by Texas in border dispute
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Measures agreed last month between Mexican state governors and Texas to tighten border security following Texan pressure over immigration were tantamount to “extortion”, Mexico’s foreign minister was quoted as saying on Sunday. …
Mariupol evacuee recounts heart-stopping terror in the bunkers of Azovstal
BEZIMENNE, Ukraine (Reuters) – Cowering in the labyrinth of Soviet-era bunkers far beneath the vast Azovstal steel works, Natalia Usmanova felt her heart would stop she was so terrified as Russian bombs rained down on Mariupol, sprinkling her with conc…