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Analysis: Neutral Switzerland leans closer to NATO in response to Russia

BERN, May 15 (Reuters) - Switzerland's fabled neutral status is about to face its biggest test in decades, with the defence ministry tilting closer to Western military powers in response…

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The Eurovision: 10 times the competition turned political

Saturday's marathon Eurovision song contest saw The Kalush Orchestra pip the United Kingdom with their entry "Stefania", and many sought to link this victory with Ukraine's fight against Russia. DW…

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Factbox: Who is running in Lebanon’s election?

Lebanon holds a parliamentary election on May 15, with candidates vying for 128 seats that are divided among 11 religious groups according to a sectarian power-sharing system. The vote takes…

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Explainer: How Sri Lanka spiralled into crisis

Sri Lanka's economic crisis has turned into deadly violence. Eight people died and over 200 were injured on Monday, the country's powerful prime minister quit and his brother, the president,…

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Factbox: How can Europe get gas if Russia’s supply is disrupted?

Pressure on Europe to secure alternative gas supplies increased on Thursday as Moscow imposed sanctions on European subsidiaries of state-owned Gazprom a day after Ukraine stopped a major gas transit…

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FACTBOX-A brief history of Finland’s and Sweden’s strained ties with Russia

HELSINKI/STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) - Finland and Sweden, who are expected to decide to apply to join NATO, have long had strained ties with their giant neighbour Russia. - Sweden's and Finland's difficult past with…

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EXPLAINER-The inflation quirk that is costing Spain billions

MADRID/LISBON, May 12 (Reuters) - Surging energy prices pushed Spanish inflation to a peak of just under 10% in March, the highest in the euro area and nearly double the 5.3% in…

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A look at Finland and Sweden’s path to NATO membership

HELSINKI/STOCKHOLM, May 12 (Reuters) - Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Finland and Sweden have been considering applying for membership of the NATO military alliance, which would mark a major policy shift for…

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Factbox: Probable steps in any Finnish, Swedish NATO bid

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto is expected on Thursday to say whether his country should join the NATO alliance, with Sweden following suit with its decision in the coming days. Russia's…

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EXPLAINER-Does the cryptocurrency crash pose a threat to the financial system?

WASHINGTON, May 11 (Reuters) - On Tuesday, bitcoin fell briefly below $30,000 for the first time in 10 months, while cryptocurrencies overall have lost nearly $800 billion in market value in the…

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Explainer: A guide to the Philippines election

The Philippines holds an election on Monday to decide thousands of positions across the archipelago, including who will take over from Rodrigo Duterte and become its president for the next…

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FACTBOX-Marcos and Robredo lead field ahead of Philippine presidential vote

(Reuters) - Philippine presidential candidates will wrap up campaigning this week ahead of the May 9 election, in a contest that has shaped into a two-way race between the clear favourite Ferdinand…

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Explainer: Might Russia use nuclear weapons in the Ukraine war?

(Reuters) - At the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin obliquely raised the possibility of a nuclear strike against anyone who intervened in the conflict. Below…

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EXPLAINER-Why the EU may find it tough to squeeze out Russian oil

LONDON, (Reuters) - The European Union has proposed a phased embargo of Russian oil but could find it tricky to implement, given Europe's complex distribution network and challenges in tracking crude once…

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EXPLAINER-What would be the impact of Russian oil sanctions in Europe?

LONDON, (Reuters) - The European Union has proposed a phased embargo of Russian oil, tightening its sanctions on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. What would the impact be of banning Russian…

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FACTBOX: EU proposes toughest sanctions yet against Russia

BRUSSELS, May 4 (Reuters) - The European Commission on Wednesday proposed its sixth and toughest round of sanctions against Russia yet that could be signed off by ambassadors of EU governments later…

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Ukraine’s legendary pilot ‘Ghost of Kyiv’

Reports have surfaced that named the ace as Major Stepan Tarabalka, 29, as the ‘Ghost of Kyiv'. The authorities confirmed that he was killed in combat on 13 March and…

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Factbox: Legal cases against Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi

April 27 (Reuters) - Myanmar's former leader Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to five years in prison on Wednesday after being found guilty of corruption, a source with knowledge…

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EXPLAINER-Russia wants countries to pay for gas in roubles. Will buyers comply?

HOUSTON/LONDON, April 26 (Reuters) - Russia's energy giant Gazprom has told Poland and Bulgaria it will halt gas supplies beginning Wednesday, escalating Moscow's row with Western countries who oppose its invasion of…

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Factbox: What are Europe’s options in case of Russian gas disruption?

Russian energy giant Gazprom told Poland's PGNiG it will halt gas supplies along the Yamal pipeline from Wednesday morning, renewing supply concerns as Russia and the West remain at odds…

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Explainer – Scientists investigate mysterious outbreak of hepatitis in children in Europe, US

LONDON (Reuters) - Health authorities around the world are investigating a mysterious increase in severe cases of hepatitis - inflammation of the liver – in young children. Below is a…

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The 15-year hunt for missing British girl Madeleine McCann

Portuguese prosecutors said late on Thursday a man had been formally identified as a suspect in the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann 15 years ago. Prosecutors in Faro, Algarve's…

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FACTBOX-Far-right Le Pen cloaks nationalist policies with social veneer

PARIS (Reuters) - French far-right candidate Marine Le Pen has made it to the second round of the presidential election and though she lags behind President Emmanuel Macron, polls show a much…

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FACTBOX-Macron wants the French to work longer, shake up welfare state

PARIS (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron, a former investment banker who was elected in 2017 on a promise to be neither of the left nor the right, is projected in voter surveys…

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Explainer: What you need to know about France’s presidential election

PARIS, April 23 (Reuters) - Sunday's vote will determine whether the pro-European centrist President Emmanuel Macron or the far-right, anti-immigration Marine Le Pen governs France for the next five years. * WHO…

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EXPLAINER-Macron or Le Pen: why it matters for France, the EU and the West

PARIS, April 23 (Reuters) - The French will decide on Sunday whether to re-elect pro-business centrist President Emmanuel Macron or blow up decades of mainstream consensus in favour of far-right Marine Le…

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FACTBOX-Where you still need to wear a mask in the United States

WASHINGTON, April 20 (Reuters) - Airlines and airports, the ride-sharing company Uber and national train service Amtrak, are now lifting mask mandates that have been in place for more than a year.…

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Explainer: The case for and against EU sanctions on Russian oil

European Union countries on Thursday approved a ban on Russian coal imports from August as part of new measures against Moscow, but are split over whether oil or gas sanctions…

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How big a loss to Russia is the sinking of the Moskva missile cruiser?

Russia has confirmed the Moskva missile cruiser, the flagship of its Black Sea Fleet, has sunk while being towed to port following what it said was a fire and explosions…

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EXPLAINER-Why African nations’ support for UN action on Russia/Ukraine is so mixed

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Western powers seeking to isolate Russia over Ukraine are disappointed at what they see as lukewarm support from African nations at the U.N. general assembly - where their 54…

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Explainer: Mariupol: ruins of port could become Russia’s first big prize in Ukraine

(Reuters) - The Sea of Azov port of Mariupol, reduced to a wasteland by seven weeks of siege and bombardment that Ukraine says killed tens of thousands of civilians, could…

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Factbox: The ‘Moskva’, Russia’s lost Black Sea Fleet flagship

The following are some facts about the Moskva, the Soviet-era flagship of Russia's Black Sea fleet, which sank after a fire according to the Russian Defence Ministry. Ukraine said the…

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Factbox: Despite recent uptick, New York City crime down from past decades

A shooting at a New York City subway station on Tuesday brought fresh attention to crime in the most populous American city, with 8.8 million people as of 2020, according…

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EXPLAINER-What will the EU do about Hungary’s Orban?

BRUSSELS, (Reuters) - Emboldened by his landslide electoral victory, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has raised the stakes in his many fights with the European Union - ranging from liberal democratic rights…

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SCENARIOS-Who might upset Macron’s bid for a second term in office?

PARIS, (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron is the favourite to win re-election in a two-round ballot on April 10 and 24. But after a first term mired in social unrest -…

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Why the U.S. is targeting Putin’s daughters Katerina and Maria

The United States' latest round of sanctions on Russia includes two new targets: Russian President Vladimir Putin's two adult daughters, Katerina and Maria, who U.S. officials believe are hiding Putin's…

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FACTBOX-How Western sanctions target Russia

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The West's punishment of Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine ramped up this week following the discovery of civilians shot dead at close range in the Ukrainian town…

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FACTBOX – What has changed in Hungary during Orban’s 12-year rule

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party face their first closely-contested election on April 3 after three consecutive landslide victories since 2010. During his 12-year rule Orban has…

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FACTBOX-Who is buying Russian crude oil and who has stopped

(Reuters) - Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States have imposed outright bans on Russian oil purchases following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, but the European Union remains divided. The bloc's 27 members…

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Explainer: Talks on Ukraine: peace deal or more Russian war?

Russia and Ukraine are talking about a peace deal while their soldiers kill each other after the Feb. 24 Russian invasion but the question of territory could sink any chance…

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Explainer: How could Russia’s Putin be prosecuted for war crimes in Ukraine?

U.S. President Joe Biden has publicly called Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal, but legal experts said a prosecution of Putin or other Russian leaders would face high hurdles…

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FACTBOX-How is Europe helping Ukraine’s refugee children?

Many European countries have moved quickly to support more than 3.6 million refugees who have fled Ukraine in the last month, about half of whom are children. The European Union…

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FACTBOX-North Korea’s new Hwasong-17 ‘monster missile’

SEOUL, March 25 (Reuters) - North Korea test-fired its massive Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time on Thursday, demonstrating the capabilities of a weapon potentially able to deliver a…

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FACTBOX – U.S, EU strike LNG deal to help wean Europe off Russian gas

BRUSSELS, March 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden announced a deal on Friday to supply the European Union with more liquefied natural gas to help wean it off Russian supplies and…

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EXPLAINER – Challenges arise as Russia calls for gas payments in roubles

(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said the world's largest natural gas producer would soon require "unfriendly" countries to pay for their fuel in Russia's currency, the rouble. The requirement…

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EXPLAINER-Is it legal for foreigners to fight for Ukraine?

As thousands of would-be fighters from outside the country volunteer to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia's invasion, some may also face legal consequences in their home countries. Citizens of…

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FACTBOX-Global fuel subsidies ramped up to counter energy price spike

SINGAPORE, March 17 (Reuters) - Countries have announced fuel subsidies to cushion consumers from the impact of soaring energy prices after oil skyrocketed last week to 14-year highs. Here are the measures…

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Factbox: Sweden or Austria as military model for Ukraine neutrality

Ukraine could become a non-aligned or neutral state like Sweden or Austria, Russia said on Wednesday, as it seeks a compromise with Kyiv to end three weeks of war. Here…

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EXPLAINER – Can Russia pay its creditors, and what happens if not?

Russia is due to pay $117 million in interest on two dollar-denominated sovereign bonds on Wednesday - the first such payments since its invasion of Ukraine which sparked a raft…

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Explainer: Massive risks keep talk of Ukraine no-fly zone firmly grounded

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted repeated calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for an international no-fly zone to protect his country, but these have been roundly rejected by the…

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FACTBOX-U.S. banks in Russia by the numbers

NEW YORK, (Reuters) - Major U.S. banks have started announcing plans to wind down operations in Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine and retaliatory sanctions. On Thursday, Goldman Sachs…

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FACTBOX-European and U.S. companies mobilise to help Ukrainians fleeing war

(Reuters) - Companies across Europe and North America have begun offering aid to Ukrainian authorities and people fleeing war following Russia's invasion, as over two million leave their homes and head to safety in…

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FACTBOX-Airline hedging and surcharges offset some oil price pain

March 11 (Reuters) - The price of oil this week surged to its highest point since 2008 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, adding to airline costs at a time when carriers have been…

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FACTBOX-What assets do UK-sanctioned Russian oligarchs have?

LONDON, March 10 (Reuters) - Britain imposed sanctions on Chelsea soccer club owner Roman Abramovich and Igor Sechin, the chief executive of Russian oil giant Rosneft, hitting them with asset freezes and…

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FACTBOX-Seized or sailing away: What we know about oligarchs and their assets

March 10 (Reuters) - What we know about Russia's oligarchs and their assets: ALISHER USMANOV Alisher Usmanov, 68, metals and telecoms tycoon with an estimated $16.2 billion net worth has been sanctioned…

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FACTBOX-Harsh words, tough action: how companies have rebuffed Russia

March 6 (Reuters) - Corporate actions to censure Russia after its invasion of Ukraine vary widely and include some measures required by law and some voluntary, with comments ranging from harsh condemnations…

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Factbox: The chain of command for potential Russian nuclear strikes

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his nation's nuclear forces should be put on high alert, raising fears that Russia's invasion of Ukraine could lead to nuclear escalation. Here is…

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