News

UPDATED: Russia says Moskva cruiser has sunk after reported Ukrainian missile strike

Russia’s Black Sea flagship missile cruiser, the Moskva, has sunk while being towed to a port after an explosion, the Russian defence ministry has claimed. It comes after Ukraine on…

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Putin tells Europe: You cannot ditch Russian gas but we’re turning east

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow will work to re-direct its energy eastward as European countries try to reduce reliance on Russian exports, adding that Europe will not be able to completely shun…

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German health minister says would-be kidnappers aimed to destabilise state

German health minister Karl Lauterbach said a foiled plot to kidnap him showed that there were forces at play that were using protests against COVID-19 restrictions to destabilise the state…

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EU closes loophole allowing multimillion-euro arms sales to Russia

The European Union has closed a loophole that allowed EU governments to export weapons worth tens of millions of euros to Russia last year alone despite an embargo which took effect in 2014…

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Four persons arrested in connection with Farrugia murder / Malta News Briefing – Thursday 14 April 2022

1745- Latest News update Times of Malta says lead suspect in the gruesome murder of a man found dead in the trunk of his car earlier this month is facing…

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Ukraine’s president calls on EU to stop ‘sponsoring Russia’s military machine

Ukraine’s president has called on the European Union to “stop sponsoring Russia’s military machine,” local media reported. "First of all, we need an oil embargo and a clear readiness by Europe (to give…

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How can Russia’s invasion of Ukraine end? Here’s how peace negotiations have worked in past wars

by Philipp Kastner Senior Lecturer in International Law, The University of Western Australia Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is unlikely to be resolved on the battlefield. An end to the bloodshed…

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Swedish inflation highest since early 1990s in March

STOCKHOLM, April 14 (Reuters) - Headline inflation hit its highest level in more than three decades in March as the war in Ukraine pushed up food and fuel prices, data showed on…

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UK watchdog to take over registration of auditors

LONDON, April 14 (Reuters) - Britain's accounting watchdog will reclaim responsibility for authorising auditors of listed companies, which the government had delegated to professional accounting bodies, under proposals announced on Thursday. "The…

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U.S. gives Ukraine $800 million more in military aid, adds heavy weapons

WASHINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden announced an additional $800 million in military assistance to Ukraine on Wednesday, expanding the scope of the systems provided to include…

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New York subway shooting suspect arrested on mass transit violence charge

NEW YORK (Reuters) -The man suspected of setting off smoke bombs and spraying gunfire inside a New York City subway car, injuring 23 people, was arrested on Wednesday on a…

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Britain approves Valneva’s easy-to-store COVID shot

April 14 (Reuters) - Britain approved on Thursday Valneva's VLS.PA COVID-19 vaccine, making it the first country to give a nod to the French firm's coronavirus shot that is easier to store and involves…

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Far-right candidate Le Pen calls Macron France’s most “authoritarian” president

PARIS, April 14 (Reuters) - French far-right presidential candidate Marin Le Pen rebuffed on Thursday criticism by her rival Emmanuel Macron accusing her of retaining her "authoritarian" and extremist views, despite displaying…

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Russia says blast cripples Black Sea flagship, Ukraine claims missile strike

KYIV/LVIV, Ukraine, April 14 (Reuters) - Russia said on Thursday the flagship of its Black Sea fleet was seriously damaged and its crew evacuated following an explosion that a Ukrainian official said…

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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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Tunisair’s revenues jump by 178% in the first quarter

TUNIS, April 13 (Reuters) - Revenues at Tunisia's national carrier Tunisair jumped by 178% in the first quarter this year to 216 million dinars ($72.12 million), the company said on Wednesday, as it…

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Russian oil supply drop to double in May, says IEA

LONDON, April 13 (Reuters) - The impact of sanctions and buyer aversion on Russian oil will take full effect from May onwards, the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday. Countering that, expected…

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India’s crypto exchanges block deposits via state-backed system, stir alarm

NEW DELHI, April 13 (Reuters) - Big Indian crypto exchanges CoinSwitch Kuber and WazirX have disabled rupee deposits for the purchase of cryptocurrency using a widely-used state-backed transfer system, spurring users to…

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Coffee maker Lavazza sees ‘challenging’ 2022, halts Russian activities

MILAN, April 13 (Reuters) - Italian coffee maker Lavazza said on Wednesday it expected a challenging 2022 due to raw material price rises after reporting a strong increase in profits for 2021.…

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Renting office space in London to become costlier in 2023 – J.P. Morgan

April 13 (Reuters) - Office spaces in London could be expensive to rent next year due to a supply crunch, J.P. Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, as developers are being restricted from…

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Photo Story: Cross bearers rehearse for The Passion in Doetinchem, The Netherlands

Volunteers rehearse carrying the white cross for the performance of the TV program 'The Passion', which will be broadcast on the public broadcaster, in Doetinchem. This year, the group of…

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Germany must draw up timetable to drop Russian gas – utility group BDEW

FRANKFURT, April 13 (Reuters) - Germany must draw up a timetable to end Russian gas supplies, the head of energy utility association BDEW said on Wednesday. Europe's biggest economy relies heavily on…

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U.S., allies ‘will not be indifferent’ to those who undermine Russia sanctions, Yellen warns

WASHINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - Countries that are seeking advantage by failing to condemn Russia's "heinous war" against Ukraine are being short-sighted and will face consequences if they undermine Western sanctions, U.S.…

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More than 1m people travel between Malta and Gozo in first three months of 2022

During the first quarter of 2022, sea transport between Malta and Gozo registered increases in trips, passengers and vehicles when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2021, the NSO said…

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Ukrainians want Russians removed from Pope’s Good Friday Via Crucis

VATICAN CITY, April 13 (Reuters) - The Vatican's decision to have both Ukrainians and Russians take part in Pope Francis' "Way of the Cross" procession on Friday has caused friction…

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Greece lifts COVID restrictions for summer tourism season

ATHENS, April 13 (Reuters) - Greece said on Wednesday that pandemic restrictions such as mask-wearing indoors and COVID certificates will be lifted throughout the summer tourism period and authorities will…

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Swiss adopt latest round of EU sanctions on Russia

ZURICH, April 13 (Reuters) - Switzerland has adopted the latest round of European Union sanctions against Russia and Belarus for Moscow's military aggression against Ukraine, the government said on Wednesday,…

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Rock band Scorpions change lyrics of “Wind of Change” in tribute to Ukraine

German rock stalwarts Scorpions have changed the lyrics to their hit song “Wind of Change” as a tribute to war-torn Ukraine, news outlets have reported. The new version had its…

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The Ukrainian crisis roundup

April 13 (Reuters) - Russia is beefing up its forces for a new assault on Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, setting the stage for a protracted battle that is certain to inflict heavy…

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Church of the Holy Sepulchre’s ancient altar rediscovered

JERUSALEM, April 13 (Reuters) - Pressed against a wall in a back corridor of Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a stone slab bore testimony only to the graffiti etched…

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Germany rejects EU oil embargo on Russia at the moment

BERLIN, April 13 (Reuters) - Germany rejects a European Union ban on Russian oil at the moment and continues to oppose payments in rouble for Russian energy, a government spokesperson said on…

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Binance CEO praises ‘pro-crypto’ France as it pursues base there

PARIS, April 13 (Reuters) - Binance boss Changpeng Zhao praised France for its "pro-crypto" regulations on Wednesday, as the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange pursues plans to make Paris its European base. Zhao,…

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Ukraine investigating over 6,000 alleged war crimes committed by Russian troops

More than 6,000 alleged war crimes committed by Russian troops in Ukraine are under investigation, Ukraine’s prosecutor’s office has said. A total of 6,261 cases have been reported and 191…

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Another P&O ferry seized on disrupted Dover-Calais route

LONDON, April 13 (Reuters) - A second P&O ferry that sails between the English town of Dover and the French city of Calais has been detained by British officials due to a…

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UPDATED: Man who murdered UK lawmaker Amess sentenced to life in prison

LONDON, April 13 (Reuters) - A "cold, calculated and dangerous" man inspired by Islamic State was jailed for life on Wednesday for the murder of veteran British lawmaker David Amess after knifing him to death in a…

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Health Superintendent expects mask-free Summer / Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 13 April 2022

1745- Latest News update Times of Malta says a company linked to an alleged kidnapper with ties to the prime minister has been awarded a government tender to the tune…

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Poll shows gap between Le Pen, Macron as turnout is seen at historic low

France's far-right candidate Marine Le Pen is closing the gap with President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the second round of the country's presidential election, a poll showed as forecast voter…

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Italy starts giving fourth Covid vaccine

Italy on Tuesday started giving out the fourth dose of the COVID vaccine to the over-80s, care home residents and over 60s who have been classed as vulnerable and fragile.…

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Lebanon strives to temporarily avert bread crisis

Lebanon's government has agreed to disburse $15 million to temporarily resolve growing bread shortages in the country, Economy Minister Amin Salam told Reuters, while saying that the funds would only…

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Tension flares up between Algeria and Morocco

Algeria condemned what it called an attack by Morocco against a convoy of trucks in the border area between Mauritania and the disputed territory of Western Sahara, saying it…

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Ukraine thwarts Russian cyberattack on energy plant

Ukraine has foiled a Russian cyberattack on one of its largest energy facilities, officials said, as the country prepares for an expected offensive by Moscow's forces in the east. The…

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UPDATED: Finland says needs to prepare for changes on Russia border

HELSINKI, April 13 (Reuters) - Finland should prepare for possible changes on its Russia border, although the military situation there currently remains calm, Defence Minister Atti Kaikkonen said on Wednesday. Russia's invasion…

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Thousands displaced after typhoon Megi hits Philippines

MANILA, April 13 (Reuters) - Philippine authorities on Wednesday struggled to distribute aid to tens of thousands of displaced people sheltering in evacuation centres after typhoon Megi triggered landslides in…

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UPDATED: Russia says 1,026 Ukrainian marines surrendered in Mariupol

LVIV, Ukraine, April 13 (Reuters) - More than 1,000 Ukrainian marines have surrendered in the besieged port of Mariupol, Russia's defence ministry said on Wednesday of Moscow's main target in the eastern…

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UPDATED: Russia says U.S., NATO weapon transports in Ukraine are legitimate targets

April 13 (Reuters) - Russia will view U.S. and NATO vehicles transporting weapons on Ukrainian territory as legitimate military targets, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the TASS news agency…

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Ukraine says risk of Russia using chemical weapons remains high; Russia says U.S. spreading lies

April 13 (Reuters) - Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said on Wednesday there was a high risk of Russia using chemical weapons against her country, echoing warnings by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy…

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Inflation in UK hits 30-year high of 7% as effects of Russia’s war in Ukraine begin to show

intensifying the cost-of-living squeeze faced by households. The increase in the annual rate of CPI was sharper than expected by most economists polled by Reuters, who had forecast an increase…

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UPDATED: UK sanctions Russian separatists in breakaway regions

LONDON, April 13 (Reuters) - Britain said on Wednesday it had imposed new sanctions on 206 individuals in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including 178 who it said were involved in…

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Macron says no deal with former President Sarkozy to endorse campaign

PARIS, April 13 (Reuters) - There was no wider political agreement between French President Emmanuel Macron, who is seeking re-election, and former conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy over his endorsement, Macron said on…

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UPDATED: Ukraine official denies Zelenskiy rejected visit offer from Germany’s Steinmeier

April 13 (Reuters) - An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff, Serhiy Leshchenko, denied in an interview with CNN that Zelenskiy had rejected a visit offer from German President…

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Shanghai vows punishment for COVID lockdown violators as cases hit 25,000

SHANGHAI, April 13 (Reuters) - The Chinese commercial capital of Shanghai warned on Wednesday that anyone who violates COVID-19 lockdown rules will be dealt with strictly, while also rallying people to defend…

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Zelenskiy proposes swapping pro-Russian politician for prisoners, Biden stands by ‘genocide’ remark

April 13 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday proposed swapping senior pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk for male and female prisoners of war being held by Moscow's forces. In…

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Pope says war in Ukraine was marked by “the forces of evil”

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis said on Tuesday that the war in Ukraine was marked by “the forces of evil” because it was leaving in its wake abominations such…

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Oklahoma governor signs near-total abortion ban, threatens prison for providers

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed a bill that makes it illegal to perform an abortion in the state except in medical emergencies, penalizing those who do with up to $100,000…

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Bulgaria eases travel rules for NATO troops, neighbouring states

SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria will allow NATO troops, as well as travellers from some neigbouring countries, to arrive in the Balkan country without showing any coronavirus-related documents as of April…

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New Zealand welcomes Australian visitors as border restrictions ease

WELLINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - Australians started arriving in New Zealand on Wednesday after it opened its borders to travellers from its neighbouring nation for the first time since mid-2021. New Zealand…

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Ferrero asks Americans to dispose of some Kinder products over Salmonella fears

April 12 (Reuters) - Ferrero asked U.S. consumers to dispose of some Kinder chocolate products not authorized for distribution in the country, warning they could be from the batch recently recalled in…

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