At Hiroshima G7, bomb survivors grapple with a disarmament dream deferred

By Sakura Murakami HIROSHIMA, Japan (Reuters) – The last time a U.S. president visited Hiroshima, atomic bomb survivor Shigeaki Mori was filled with hope for a future without nuclear weapons. Seven years later, he’s more sceptical. As leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations gather in the Japanese city this week for a summit,…

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Russian economy shrank 1.9% in first quarter – stats service

(Reuters) – Russia’s economy shrank 1.9% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2023, data from the Rosstat federal statistics service showed on Wednesday, following growth of 3% in the same period of last year. Russia’s economy defied early expectations of a double-digit collapse in 2022, but still contracted 2.1% after the West imposed sanctions in…

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Russia confirms Black Sea grain deal renewed for two months, says ‘distortions’ remain

(Reuters) – Russia confirmed on Wednesday that a deal to allow Ukraine to export its grain safely across the Black Sea, despite Russia’s war in Ukraine, had been extended for two months. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the deal had been extended to help countries in need, but added that Russia’s overall assessment of…

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At Cannes, independent film firms optimistic as streamers stumble

By Miranda Murray CANNES (Reuters) – Independent film companies facing a market upended by the entry of streaming services are showing some optimism heading into this year’s Cannes Film Festival as the Netflix era has begun flattening out and audiences start trickling back into cinemas post-pandemic. While buyers are being cautious about purchasing volumes amid…

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Subsidy cuts could derail Thyssenkrupp green steel project -labour bosses

By Tom Käckenhoff and Christoph Steitz DUESSELDORF/FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Thyssenkrupp’s labour bosses cranked up the pressure on Berlin to help fund a 2 billion euro ($2.2 billion) green steel production site, warning in a letter to Economy Minister Robert Habeck that a further subsidy cut could choke off the project. Reducing support further would trigger a…

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Ukraine denies Russia destroyed Patriot missile defence system

KYIV (Reuters) – Ukraine denied on Wednesday that a Russian hypersonic missile had destroyed a U.S.-made Patriot missile defence system during an air strike on Kyiv. Russia’s defence ministry made the assertion on Tuesday after an overnight air attack on the Ukrainian capital. Two U.S. officials later said a Patriot system had probably suffered damage…

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Syria’s Assad to steal spotlight at Arab summit after years in the cold

By Aziz El Yaakoubi RIYADH(Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a pariah for more than a decade, is expected to steal the spotlight at Friday’s Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia, where he will rub shoulders with regional leaders who once backed his war foes. Ostracised by most Arab states following his crackdown on protests…

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