Argentina’s lithium pipeline promises ‘white gold’ boom as Chile tightens control

By Lucila Sigal BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – In Argentina’s mountainous north, a strong pipeline of lithium projects close to coming online looks set to unlock a wave of production that could see its output of the key electric vehicle battery metal as much as triple within the next two years. The world’s fourth largest producer…

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Russian woman loses appeal against detention over bomb that killed military blogger

(Reuters) – A Russian court denied bail on Monday to a woman charged with terrorism over a bomb attack that killed a pro-war Russian military blogger earlier this month. Prosecutors have accused Darya Trepova, 26, of killing blogger Vladlen Tatarsky, whose real name was Maxim Fomin, by presenting him with an explosive device concealed within…

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Taiwan or China? Paraguay’s dilemma puts election race in the spotlight

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…

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Kremlin: Putin to decide whether to attend BRICS meeting in S.Africa closer to time

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…

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Japan considers widening long-term foreign worker visa scheme

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…

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Factbox-Lu Shaye: Chinese envoy who questioned Ukraine’s sovereignty no stranger to controversy

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…

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