FRANKFURT (Reuters) – The German economy is likely to have expanded in the last quarter on a rebound in industrial production, the Bundesbank said in a monthly report on Monday, revising its previous prediction of a small contraction. The euro zone’s biggest economy has struggled for much of the past year as sky-high energy prices…
By Lucinda Elliott and Daniela Desantis ASUNCION (Reuters) – From Paraguayan capital Asuncion to Taipei and Washington, diplomats, officials – and farmers – are closely watching a tight election race that could determine Paraguay’s future ties with Taiwan. Paraguay will vote for its next president on April 30, choosing between a ruling party candidate pledging…
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Kremlin said on Monday that President Vladimir Putin would decide whether to attend a BRICS conference in South Africa in August closer to the time. South Africa, a party to the International Criminal Court (ICC), maintains good relations with Russia but would be theoretically required to arrest Putin under an ICC…
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s defence ministry said on Monday that a Chinese carrier group led by the Shandong was about 120 nautical miles off the southeast of the island’s coast, the same ship that took part in China’s war games around the island earlier this month. Taiwan previously reported that the Shandong, commissioned in 2019,…
TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan is considering expanding the areas in which skilled foreign workers can receive long-term work visas to 12 from three, possibly including the food service industry, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Monday. Rapidly-ageing Japan suffers from an increasingly severe shortage of labour in a number of sectors but remains reluctant to allow a…
By Yew Lun Tian BEIJING (Reuters) – Outrage over China’s ambassador to France questioning the sovereignty of former Soviet countries like Ukraine reverberated across Europe on Monday as Beijing distanced itself from the envoy’s remarks by reaffirming its respect for their status. It is not the first time Lu Shaye, 58, a prominent practitioner of…
By Leika Kihara TOKYO (Reuters) – The Bank of Japan may conduct a comprehensive review of the impact of the monetary easing steps it has taken over the longer term, an idea recently flagged by its new governor Kazuo Ueda, three sources familiar with its thinking said. But there is uncertainty on how soon, and…
By Kanishka Singh (Reuters) – A 45-foot tall Disneyland dragon burst into flames after catching fire late on Saturday during a show in Anaheim, California, causing those in attendance to flee, local media and officials said, adding no injuries or deaths were reported. “The dragon’s head started to glow, and I see fire and kind…
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Guatemala is not asking for “free money” from Taiwan and does not owe debt in the same way Honduras does, but is looking for long-term investment and trade, senior Guatemalan financial officials said on Monday. Guatemala is one of only 13 countries to maintain formal diplomatic ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan. Honduras abandoned…
By Noah Browning LONDON (Reuters) -Oil prices were steady on Monday as concern over rising interest rates, the global economy and the outlook for fuel demand were balanced by the prospect of tightening supplies. Brent crude slipped 22 cents, or 0.3%, to $81.44 a barrel by 0905 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was down…
