Taiwan seeking US cooperation to make next generation fighters

TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan is seeking U.S. cooperation to make the island’s next domestically developed fighter jet, the head of Taiwanese defence contractor Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC) said on Wednesday. Taiwan’s air force scrambles daily to see off incursions by Chinese jets into the airspace around the island as Beijing steps up its pressure…

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Analysis-From tea to ketchup, some shelves lie empty as retailers struggle to predict demand

By Richa Naidu and Helen Reid LONDON/BARCELONA (Reuters) – A “salad crisis” affecting British supermarkets hit headlines earlier this year but shoppers across Europe and the Middle East seeking some basic groceries – from pasta to beer to toothpaste – are also finding gaps on the shelves. Top industry executives, consultants and analysts told Reuters…

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Egypt’s current account moves into surplus in Oct-Dec

CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s current account turned a surplus for the first time in years in the October-to-December quarter as imports dropped and exports rose, the central bank said in a statement on Wednesday. Egypt imposed import restrictions during most of 2022 and continues to suffer an acute shortage of foreign currency. The current account…

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Iran resorts to security cameras, ostracism to deter unveiled women

By Parisa Hafezi DUBAI (Reuters) -Wary of re-igniting Iran’s worst political turmoil in years, the country’s rulers are resorting to new, less obtrusive tactics to punish women who refuse to wear the obligatory Islamic hijab. The methods, introduced following nationwide anti-government protests last year, combine use of security cameras with denial of state services to…

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India’s April services activity hits near 13-year high, inflation accelerates

By Anant Chandak BENGALURU (Reuters) – India’s services activity expanded at the fastest pace in nearly 13 years in April, driven by robust demand, according to a private survey which also showed price pressures increased at their fastest rate in recent months. Strong growth in services, which make up around 60% of India’s overall gross…

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