Australia, EU trade ministers spoke as hopes of free trade deal rise – source

By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian and European Union trade ministers spoke on Thursday evening, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, as optimism builds that sticking points over a free trade agreement (FTA) can be overcome with more negotiation. A trade deal with the EU, a market of around 450 million consumers,…

Read More

Virgin Galactic completes first commercial rocket plane flight to space

By Jose Luis Gonzalez and Steve Gorman TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, New Mexico (Reuters) -A three-man crew from Italy soared more than 50 miles (80 km) above the New Mexico desert on Thursday aboard a Virgin Galactic rocket plane, the company’s first flight of paying customers to the edge of space since British billionaire Richard Branson…

Read More

Analysis-Dutch pension fund reform spells investment rethink

By Yoruk Bahceli AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – An overhaul of the private pensions system in the Netherlands – the biggest in the European Union – is leading asset managers there to rethink how they invest 1.5 trillion euros ($1.64 trillion) of retirement savings. Asset managers for top Dutch pension funds said the reform, which takes effect…

Read More

Human Rights Watch reports new evidence of Ukrainian use of banned landmines

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Friday that it uncovered new evidence of the indiscriminate use by Ukrainian forces of banned anti-personnel landmines against Russian troops who invaded Ukraine in 2022. The group called on Ukraine’s government to follow through with a commitment made earlier this month not to employ such weapons,…

Read More

UK mortgage rates rise again, turning screw on homeowners and buyers

By Andy Bruce LONDON (Reuters) – Major British lenders on Thursday announced another increase in mortgage rates offered via brokers, pushing many products above the 6% mark in painful news for many homeowners and potential buyers. Lenders have re-priced home loan offerings repeatedly in recent weeks in a scramble to keep up with soaring funding…

Read More