Chile’s firefighting goats protect a native forest from deadly blazes

By Juan Gonzalez SANTA JUANA, Chile (Reuters) – In the southern Chilean city of Santa Juana, hit hard by wildfires earlier this year, locals have a special taskforce helping fight blazes: a herd of goats. The goats have already saved the native forest of the Bosques de Chacay once, preventing the park from being consumed…

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Top Chinese envoy to visit Ukraine, Russia on ‘peace’ mission

BEIJING (Reuters) -A top Chinese envoy will begin a tour of Ukraine, Russia and other European countries on Monday in a trip Beijing says is aimed at discussing a “political settlement” to the Ukraine crisis. Li Hui, China’s special representative for Eurasian affairs and former ambassador to Russia, will also visit Poland, France, Germany on…

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EU exec sees stronger 2023, 2024 euro zone growth, but higher inflation

By Jan Strupczewski BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Euro zone economic growth will be faster than previously expected this year and next thanks to faster expansion in Italy and Spain, but inflation will also remain stubbornly high, the European Commission forecast on Monday. In its regular economic forecast for the 20 countries that share the euro, the…

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Japan’s govt, central bank debate whether sustained exit from deflation is near

By Leika Kihara and Kentaro Sugiyama TOKYO (Reuters) -A meeting of the government’s top economic council on Monday focused on whether recent rises in inflation and wage growth suggest Japan was approaching a sustained exit from deflation. With inflation accelerating globally and wage growth picking up in Japan, discussions also touched on the desirable timing…

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Analysis-Consultancy firms in China tested limits before Beijing’s crackdown

By Engen Tham and James Pomfret SHANGHAI/HONG KONG (Reuters) – China’s clampdown on its consultancy and due diligence sector has driven companies to review their operations after some tested the limits of the laws and Beijing’s patience to meet surging demand as China emerged from its COVID-lockdowns. These consultancies thrived by providing investors – from…

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