News

Russian attacks on rail system fail to paralyse ‘lifeline of Ukraine’

A salvo of missiles brought the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine to Fastiv, a quiet town abounding with flowering cherry trees and set in sweeping farmland hundreds of kilometres from the…

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NATO chief says alliance will increase presence in Baltic sea if Sweden applies

NATO will increase it's presence around Sweden's borders and in the Baltic sea while a potential application to join the alliance is processed, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told Swedish public…

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WATCH: Russian ambassador doused in red by anti-war protesters in Poland

The Russian ambassador to Poland was doused in a red substance on Monday by people protesting against the war in Ukraine as he went to lay flowers at the Soviet Military Cemetery in Warsaw to…

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French court shortens jail term for former PM Fillon – media

A French appeals court on Monday upheld former Prime Minister Francois Fillon's conviction for embezzling public funds, but cut a year off his prison term, media reported. Fillon was sentenced in 2020…

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Presidents Metsola, Macron call for convention to discuss EU reform

Updated 1500 French President Emmanuel Macron backed calls on Monday for a convention to discuss possible changes to the treaties that govern the European Union. Macron said he is "in favour…

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Putin channels victory over Hitler to spur Russian army in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin evoked the memory of Soviet heroism in World War Two to inspire his army fighting in Ukraine, but offered no new road map to victory and acknowledged…

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Portugal set to start up Europe’s largest floating solar park

Two tugboats have moved a vast array of 12,000 solar panels, the size of four soccer pitches, to their mooring on Portugal's Alqueva reservoir in preparation to start up Europe's largest…

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April tourist numbers reach almost 80% of pre-pandemic levels / Malta News Briefing – Monday 9 May 2022

Man who died on Saturday tried to break up fight – reports: The man who died on Saturday night during a brawl inside a Marsalforn apartment was attempting to break…

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Ukrainians report fierce fighting as Russia marks Soviet WW2 victory

Russian President Vladimir Putin told his armed forces they were fighting for their country at a parade of Russian firepower in Moscow while his troops stepped up their 10-week-old assault…

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Early voting begins in Australia election with opposition ahead in polls

Early voting began in Australia on Monday two weeks ahead of election day, with surveys showing the opposition centre-left Labor Party extending its lead and Prime Minister Scott Morrison suffering…

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‘We will win’: Ukraine defiant on anniversary of World War Two victory

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, commemorating victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, said on Monday his country would win in its war with Russia and would not cede any…

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EU should seize Russian reserves to rebuild Ukraine, Borrell says -FT

The European Union should consider seizing frozen Russian foreign exchange reserves to help pay for the cost of rebuilding Ukraine after the war, its foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said in an interview…

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Biden sidelined global energy partners with record emergency oil release

The United States announced a record-sized release of emergency crude oil reserves in March without consulting partners in the International Energy Agency, leaving them scrambling to match with releases of…

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Bulgaria says will veto EU oil sanctions on Russia if it does not get derogation

Bulgaria will not support European Union's new set of sanctions against Russia if the Balkan country does not get a derogation from the proposed ban on buying Russian oil, Deputy Prime Minister…

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Strong voter turnout in Philippines as Marcos targets presidency

Philippine voters streamed to polling stations on Monday, with the prospect of a once-unthinkable return to rule of a member of the Marcos family, 36 years after strongman Ferdinand Marcos…

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Russia to mark Soviet WW2 victory as Ukraine decries school bombing

ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine, May 9 (Reuters) - Kremlin forces bombed a village school in eastern Ukraine killing about 60 people, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, as Russia prepared to mark the Monday anniversary of…

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Germany’s Scholz says on WW2 anniversary Putin will not win his war

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a televised address to the nation on Sunday May 8, marking the anniversary of the end of World War Two, assured Ukraine…

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Ireland calls for partnership not threats from UK on Brexit protocol

DUBLIN (Reuters) - The European Union needs partnership from Britain rather than threats of unliateral action if the two sides are to reach a compromise on post-Brexit trade rules for…

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U.S. first lady Jill Biden makes unannounced visit to Ukraine

Reuters) -U.S. first lady Jill Biden made an unannounced trip to Ukraine on Sunday to show support for its people amid Russia's invasion, visiting a school that is serving as…

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Russian Deputy PM visits ruined Ukrainian city of Mariupol

May 8 (Reuters) - Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin has visited Mariupol, the country's most senior government official yet to set foot in the Ukrainian southern port city after weeks of…

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UPDATE – U2’s Bono and The Edge give private concert in Kyiv Subway

KYIV (Reuters) - Irish rock group U2's frontman Bono and his bandmate The Edge performed a 40-minute concert in a metro station in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Sunday…

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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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Bombing of school in Ukrainian town kills two, 60 more under debris – governor

May 8 (Reuters) - Two people have been killed in the Russian bombing of a school in the Ukrainian village of Bilohorivka and 60 who remained under debris are feared dead, Serhiy Gaidai,…

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Update – Malta News Briefing – Sunday 8 May 2022

Morning Briefing A man died and four were arrested after a fight in a Marsalforn apartment late on Saturday. Another three were injured. The victim, a 25-year-old Syrian, suffered stab…

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Taliban order Afghan women to cover faces again

KABUL (Reuters) -Afghanistan's Taliban government ordered women on Saturday to cover their faces in public, a return to a signature policy of their past hardline rule and an escalation of…

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As Beijing COVID outbreak proves stubborn, mass tests becoming routine

BEIJING/SHANGHAI, May 8 (Reuters) - Millions of Beijing residents queued up for another round of COVID-19 tests on Sunday as China's capital seeks to trace and isolate every infection to contain a…

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Philippine police say country ‘relatively peaceful’ ahead of election

MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine police said on Sunday the country's overall situation ahead of the May 9 general election remained "relatively peaceful", despite some shooting incidents and other poll-related offences…

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Ukraine says all women, children now evacuated from Mariupol steel mill

KYIV, May 7 (Reuters) - All women, children and elderly civilians have been evacuated from the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday, after a week-long effort rescued hundreds…

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Democrats look to abortion-rights threat to boost midterm election prospects

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - Democrats have needed something to turn around their flagging midterm election fortunes, and the U.S. Supreme Court may have just given it to them. A leaked draft…

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UK to provide 1.3 billion pounds of further military support to Ukraine

LONDON, May 7 (Reuters) - Britain said it would provide a further 1.3 billion pounds ($1.60 billion) in military support and aid to Ukraine, making the pledge ahead of a planned video…

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France’s Macron promises new approach during second-term inauguration

PARIS (Reuters) -France's Emmanuel Macron was sworn in for his second term as president on Saturday, promising to lead the country with a "new method" as his political rivals kicked off campaigning…

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Jill Biden will meet Ukrainian refugees in Romania, Slovakia on Mother’s Day

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - United States first lady Jill Biden left Washington on Thursday for a whirlwind tour of Romania and Slovakia to highlight the U.S. commitment to Ukrainian refugees over…

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Photo Story: Tulip flower exhibition in the city of Asara, Iran

An Iranian woman visits the Asara tulip flower exhibition in the city of Asara, Alborz province, Iran. More than two million tulips from 43 variants are reportedly exhibited during the…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Datem del Maranon, Peru

Aerial view of the region Datem del Maranon in Peru. The Datem del Maranon is one of the eight provinces in the Loreto Region of Peru. It was created on…

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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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Gay marriage, other rights at risk after U.S. Supreme Court abortion move

(Reuters) - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's draft opinion that would end the recognition of a constitutional right to abortion could imperil other freedoms related to marriage, sexuality and family life…

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President Vella calls for more equality as new Parliament sworn in / Malta News Briefing – Saturday 7 May 2022

Updated 1330 Mid-Day Briefing President calls for more equality on Parliament inauguration President George Vella appeared to MPs to strive towards better equality. Addressing the first session of Parliament, which…

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UK shop prices rise at fastest rate since 2011 – BRC

LONDON, (Reuters) - Shop prices in Britain surged last month at the fastest rate in more than a decade and worse is to come, according to a survey published this week that spelt…

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Sunflower oil supplies improve as EU market adapts to war in Ukraine

The market for sunflower oil has improved in the European Union over the past weeks as producers have adapted to the shortfall in Ukrainian supplies and some supplies have arrived…

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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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U.S. summer travelers can expect long lines, higher prices as COVID restrictions ease

(Reuters) - With more U.S. travelers expected to take to the skies and the roads this summer as COVID restrictions ease, unbridled demand will strain capacity in the leisure and travel industry…

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Nicaragua quietly seeks to re-engage with U.S. -sources

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's son Laureano, an influential figure in the country's leftist government, has reached out quietly to the Biden administration in recent months seeking to re-engage with the…

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German prosecutor confident Madeleine McCann murderer found

LISBON, (Reuters) - Investigators have found new evidence potentially incriminating the key suspect in the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann 15 years ago, said Hans Christian Wolters, the German…

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Austria’s current account swings to deficit for first time in two decades

VIENNA, May 6 (Reuters) - Austria's current account balance swung to a deficit in 2021 for the first time in 20 years as coronavirus-related travel restrictions hurt tourism badly and Austrian investments…

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Oklahoma wheat crop set to be smallest since 2014

CHICAGO, (Reuters) - Rains this week in the U.S. Plains arrived too late to help much of the winter wheat in Oklahoma, the No. 2 U.S. producer of the grain, where farmers will soon…

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Photo Story: Parliamentary elections in Lebanon get underway

A European Union election observer monitors the parliamentary elections taking place outside Lebanon in an operation room to observe the voting process through screens at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs…

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Thailand targets 5-15 mln foreign tourists this year

BANGKOK, May 6 (Reuters) - Thailand is aiming for 5-15 million foreign tourist arrivals this year as the country further eases travel restrictions to support the key tourism sector, a government spokesperson…

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Ukraine plight could be replicated in East Asia, Japan’s Kishida warns

LONDON, May 6 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida warned that the invasion of Ukraine could be replicated in East Asia if leading powers do not respond as one, saying peace and stability…

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U.S. unemployment rate expected to fall to 3.5% in April, job gains to slow

WASHINGTON, May 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. unemployment rate likely dropped to its pre-pandemic low of 3.5% in April, while job growth moderated to a still brisk pace amid widespread worker shortages,…

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Amnesty says evidence shows Russian troops committed war crimes near Kyiv

KYIV, Ukraine, May 6 (Reuters) - Amnesty International said on Friday there was compelling evidence that Russian troops had committed war crimes, including extrajudicial executions of civilians, when they occupied…

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Malta: French, German and Italian tourists push tourism upwards in March

Total inbound tourists for March 2022 were estimated at 110,938, while total nights spent amounted to 739,194, the NSO said today, signalling the best March in three years. During the…

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Nearly 25 mln tonnes of grain stuck in Ukraine: UN food agency

GENEVA, May 6 (Reuters) - A U.N. food agency official said on Friday that nearly 25 million tonnes of grains was stuck in Ukraine and unable to leave the country due to…

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Photo Story: From Hell to Hollywood Photo Exhibition by Nick Ut in Milan

epa09928110 Vietnamese woman Kim Phuc pose for photographers in front of the famous photo by retired US news agency Associated Press (AP) photographer Nick Ut during a presentation of an…

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The Ukrainian roundup

May 6 (Reuters) - Ukraine said a new attempt was under way on Friday to evacuate scores of civilians trapped in a heavily bombed steel works in the city of Mariupol, after…

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Von der Leyen confident EU will pass new sanctions package

FRANKFURT, May 6 (Reuters) - Eurpoean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday she was confident the bloc would approve a new package of sanctions against Russia. "I am confident…

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Tunisia’s dinar hits new record low versus dollar

TUNIS, May 6 (Reuters) - Tunisia's dinar currency has fallen to new record lows versus the dollar, central bank data showed on Friday. It traded at 3.101 against the dollar on Thursday.…

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UK to ease border rules for specialist hauliers

LONDON, May 6 (Reuters) - Britain will later this year ease its border rules to allow freer movement for hauliers transporting specialist equipment into the country, including those serving music concerts, sports…

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