News

Poland’s ruling party leads in opinion poll before Oct vote

WARSAW, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Poland's ruling nationalists are in the lead ahead of Oct. 15 parliamentary elections, according to a poll published on Friday. The Law and Justice party…

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Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter jets land on motorway

OSLO, Sept 22 (Reuters) - A pair of F-35A Lockheed Martin fighter jets have landed on a motorway for the first time, footage from the Norwegian military showed, a step that enables…

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UPDATED: Polish president says Ukrainian grain row won’t significantly affect relations

WARSAW, Sept 22 (Reuters) - A dispute between Poland and Ukraine over grain imports will not significantly affect the countries' good bilateral relations, the Polish president said on Friday, as he moved…

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Taiwan says Chinese movements ‘abnormal’, flags amphibious drills

TAIPEI, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Recent Chinese movements around Taiwan were "abnormal", the island's defence minister said on Friday, flagging amphibious exercises in addition to drills Taipei has observed in…

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Turkey’s Erdogan says he doesn’t agree with others’ negative approach toward Putin

ANKARA, (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he does not agree with the negative approach other leaders are showing towards his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Turkish broadcasters quoted him…

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More than 50 arrested in latest Italy raid against ‘Ndrangheta mafia

MILAN, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Over 50 people have been arrested in a new police raid against the 'Ndrangheta mafia in Italy, Carabinieri police said in a statement on Friday.…

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Socialists would win Spain election over conservative PP, poll shows

MADRID, (Reuters) - Spain's Socialists would win a new general election by a narrow margin and fall short of a parliamentary majority, beating the conservative People's Party (PP) that secured…

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Berlusconi gets his own street as Italian town fast tracks approval

MILAN, (Reuters) - The wealthy coastal town of Portofino will become the first place in Italy to name a street after the late prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who died in…

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Bulgarian nationalists protest against NATO bases, want government out

By Stoyan Nenov SOFIA, (Reuters) - Bulgarian police on Thursday scuffled with supporters of the ultra-nationalist Vazrazhdane (Revival) party protesting against the policies of the pro-Western government, calling for the…

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Armenia needs peace, PM says after Azerbaijan retakes Karabakh

MOSCOW, (Reuters) - Armenia needs to be "free of conflict" for the sake of its independence, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told his compatriots, after their ethnic kin in the breakaway…

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In Washington, Zelenskiy courts Congress, Biden on military aid

By Andrea Shalal, Makini Brice and Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that strong U.S. support for his war to repel Russian…

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Record numbers of Australians enrol for referendum on Indigenous recognition

SYDNEY, Sept 22 (Reuters) - A record number of Australians have enrolled to vote next month in a referendum to recognise the country's Indigenous people in the constitution, according to…

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Philippine issues health warning as volcano brings smog to capital, nearby provinces

MANILA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - A small but restive volcano near the Philippine capital Manila spewed above average sulfur dioxide and volcanic smog on Friday, prompting authorities to closes schools…

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Pope visit to Marseille to shine light on latest EU migration crisis

By Philip Pullella and Layli Foroudi VATICAN CITY, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Pope Francis arrives on Friday in the French port city of Marseille for a lightning visit that will…

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Ukraine’s Zelenskiy to visit Canada, address parliament

By Kanishka Singh (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will visit Canada to meet Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and address the Canadian parliament in Ottawa, Trudeau's office said in a…

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Record numbers of migrants head to US border, in fresh test for Biden

By Lizbeth Diaz and Daina Beth Solomon TIJUANA, Mexico, (Reuters) - Thousands of migrants have crossed into the United States in recent days, from California to Texas, with many more…

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25% of Maltese businesses employ TCNs – Malta News Briefing – Friday 22nd September 2023

Updated 25% of Maltese businesses employ TCNs: According to a Eurobarometer survey addressing skills shortages and recruitment in SMEs, approximately 25% of businesses in Malta employ individuals from countries outside…

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Pakistan to hold national election in January, not November

ISLAMABAD, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Election Commission of Pakistan on Thursday announced that the national election will be held in last week on January, 2024 instead of in November. The…

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Haitian gangs call for armed overthrow of PM Henry as chaos escalates

By Ralph Tedy Erol PORT-AU-PRINCE, (Reuters) - Haiti's most powerful gang leader called for the armed overthrow of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, urging Haitians to take to the streets against…

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Greek state workers strike against government labour law plans

By Renee Maltezou ATHENS, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Greek public sector workers including teachers, doctors and transport staff walked off the job on Thursday to protest against labour law changes…

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Polish ruling party condemns critical film as migration dominates election campaign

WARSAW, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Poland's ruling party has condemned a new film criticising the country's rejection of migrants from the Middle East and Africa and challenged the opposition to…

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‘Not a single round’: Slovak election could see Kyiv lose staunch ally

By Jan Lopatka and Radovan Stoklasa Slovakia gears up for election after polarising campaign Frontrunner, ex-prime minister Fico, is pro-Russian populist A win could see NATO and EU member turn…

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World War One cemeteries, Rwanda genocide sites, Argentine torture center declared UNESCO World Heritage

By Geert De Clercq PARIS, (Reuters) - World War One cemeteries in Belgium and France, the hills of Rwanda's 1994 genocide and a former torture center in Argentina have been…

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President Steinmeier says Germany has reached ‘a limit’ on migration

Germany is facing difficulties in taking in more migrants, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said. "Germany, like Italy, is at the limit of its capacity," Steinmeier said in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere…

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Israel says framework Saudi normalisation deal possible by early 2024

JERUSALEM, Sept 21 (Reuters) - A framework U.S.-brokered deal for forging relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia could be in place by early next year, the Israeli foreign minister said…

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UPDATED: King Charles speaks on Ukraine, climate, in French Senate address

PARIS, Sept 21 (Reuters) - King Charles underscored the importance of the relationship between Britain and France on the second day of a state visit to France, which both nations…

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Russia strikes Ukrainian energy facilities in biggest attack in weeks

Strikes evoke memories of Russian air strikes last winter Power supply disrupted in five regions - grid operator At least 18 people wounded, says Kyiv By Olena Harmash and Tom…

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Slovakia, Ukraine agree grain trade system to replace ban -Slovak ministry

Sept 21 (Reuters) - Slovakia and Ukraine's farm ministers have agreed to establish a licensing system for trading in grains, allowing a ban on imports of four Ukrainian commodities to…

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Syria’s Assad in China, seeks exit from diplomatic isolation

By Joe Cash BEIJING, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has arrived in China's eastern city of Hangzhou, kicking off his first visit to the Asian nation since…

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Slovakia’s SMER party holds lead before Sept. 30 election -poll

Sept 21 (Reuters) - Slovak opposition party SMER-SSD, led by former prime minister Robert Fico, slightly increased its lead over its liberal challenger Progresivne Slovensko before a Sept. 30 election,…

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Over 30,000 pigs culled in Italy’s north to counter swine fever

MILAN, (Reuters) - Almost 34,000 pigs at 12 farms in the northern Italian region of Lombardy have been culled to counter the spread of African swine fever (ASF), a spokesperson…

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UPDATED: Poland, with election looming, says it isn’t sending new arms to Ukraine

WARSAW, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Poland is only carrying out previously agreed arms deliveries to Ukraine, a government spokesman said on Thursday, amid souring bilateral relations due to a grain…

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‘Stop the war’ and Zelenskiy need not speak, UN Security Council chair tells Russia

By Gabriela Baczynska UNITED NATIONS, (Reuters) - It was to be Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy's first in-person appearance at a U.N. Security Council meeting on Moscow's invasion of his country…

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UPDATED: Gunfire heard in Nagorno-Karabakh’s capital

YEREVAN, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Gunfire was heard on Thursday in Nagorno-Karabakh's capital, two sources told Reuters, a day after local ethnic Armenians in the breakaway territory were forced to…

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Saudi crown prince says getting ‘closer’ to Israel normalization -Fox interview

By Matt Spetalnick and Eric Beech WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in a U.S. television interview that his country was moving steadily closer to…

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Sunak delays UK petrol car ban, seeking voter support on climate

By Kate Holton and William James Sunak delays petrol car ban by 5 years Eases targets on heating, insulation Says UK is committed to overall 2050 net zero target Businesses…

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Belgium considers supplying F-16s to Ukraine, PM says

Sept 21 (Reuters) - Belgium is considering whether to supply its F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said. Belgium is replacing its F-16s with F-35 fighter…

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Blasts heard in Kyiv, other parts of Ukraine

KYIV, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Blasts could be heard in Kyiv after an air raid alert on Thursday morning, Reuters witnesses said, as authorities sent rescue teams to at least…

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Trump says if elected again he will send troops to US-Mexico border

By Nathan Layne Sept 20 (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Donald Trump said that if elected again he would shift resources from federal law enforcement agencies and send thousands of…

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Malta News Briefing – Thursday 21 September 2023

Morning Briefing Metsola lays down vision for country During her speech at the Nationalist Party's annual mass gathering on the eve of Independence Day, European Parliament President and MEP Roberta…

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London’s Tube network faces more strikes next month

LONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - London Underground rail staff will go on strike on Oct. 4 and 6 in a long-running dispute over job security and safety concerns, the RMT…

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India tells citizens in Canada to exercise caution as ties worsen

By YP Rajesh NEW DELHI, Sept 20 (Reuters) - India urged caution on Wednesday by its nationals in Canada, and those planning to visit, as relations deteriorated after each nation…

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India’s Sonia Gandhi supports bill to reserve third of parliament seats for women

By Rupam Jain NEW DELHI, Sept 20 (Reuters) - India's opposition Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday offered unequivocal support to a bill reserving a third of seats in the…

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Facing ‘torrent of theft’, UK retailers press for police action

By James Davey LONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - A coalition of British retail industry groups and shopworkers union USDAW has written to police leaders in England and Wales calling on…

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Israeli-Palestinian violence surges ahead of Netanyahu-Biden meeting

JENIN, West Bank, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Israeli troops killed a 19-year-old Palestinian during a raid in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, medics and residents said, as violence surged…

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Climate Change made Libya’s deadly rainfall up to 50 times more likely – study

By Riham Alkousaa BERLIN, (Reuters) - Climate Change made the heavy rainfall that led to deadly floods in Libya up to 50 times more likely, scientists said. The powerful Sept.…

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Kremlin says Russia plans to expand ties with North Korea in all areas

MOSCOW, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Russia wants to expand ties with North Korea in all possible areas, the Kremlin said on Wednesday. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov was replying to a question…

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I won’t let Italy become Europe’s refugee camp – Meloni

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said that "I will not allow Italy to become Europe's refugee camp" in New York, where she is taking part in the United Nations…

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Poland may ban more Ukrainian food products if row escalates, says PM

WARSAW, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Poland could slap import bans on more Ukrainian food products, the prime minister said on Wednesday, as he warned Kyiv against escalating a row over…

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Former London mayor Ken Livingstone has Alzheimer’s

Ken Livingstone, the former mayor of London, is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, his family has announced. The one-time figurehead of the Labour Left is being “well cared for by his…

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Photo Story: Protest against real-estate sector at the District World Summit in Barcelona

A demonstrator (R) splashes coloured powder on an attendant (C) at a protest outside the facilities during the opening day of real-estate sector 'The District World Summit', at Fira Barcelona…

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Tunisia intercepts 2,500 migrants, arrests dozens of smugglers in 4 days

By Tarek Amara TUNIS, (Reuters) - The Tunisian coastguard said it had intercepted more than 2,500 migrants and arrested dozens of human smugglers following a major crackdown launched last weekend…

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CBM report confirms robustness of financial system / Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 20 September 2023

Updated 1220 CBM report confirms robustness of financial system Malta's financial system, as indicated by a report from the Central Bank of Malta, remained strong in the past year, with…

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Dozens of nations to sign U.N. ocean treaty but implementation still awaits

By Daina Beth Solomon Sept 20 (Reuters) - A new U.N. treaty to protect the world's oceans is expected to be signed by dozens of countries on Wednesday, another step…

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UPDATED: UK signals green policy delays to not ‘bankrupt the people’

Sunak to set out climate plan this week Targets on cars, heat pumps could change Car industry angry with the move By Kate Holton and Sarah Young LONDON, Sept 20…

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Ukraine launches drone attacks on Belgorod, Oryol regions

Sept 20 (Reuters) - Russia's air defence systems destroyed Ukraine-launched drones over the Belgorod and Oryol regions late on Monday, the Russian defence ministry said, with local officials saying that…

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Russia’s corvette carries out firing drills at Baltic Sea

Sept 20 (Reuters) - Russia's Stoikiy corvette of the Baltic Fleet carried out firing drills at mock targets in the Baltic Sea, the Russian defence ministry said on Wednesday. The…

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