By Raphael Satter and James Pearson LONDON (Reuters) – Researchers have discovered Israeli-made Pegasus phone hacking software deployed against targets across Armenia, including reporters at a U.S. government-funded news organization, a report released on Thursday found. A team of researchers from digital rights group Access Now, human rights organization Amnesty International, Canadian internet watchdog Citizen…
By Andrew Mills DOHA (Reuters) – A U.S. government default would trigger an initial pull-back from crypto currencies followed by a “push upward” the CEO of London-based crypto firm Blockchain.com said on Thursday. The U.S. government could fall behind on its bills next month – and even default on its debt – if Congress does…
By Burcu Karakas and Umit Ozdal ISTANBUL/DIYARBAKIR (Reuters) -Kurds opposed to President Tayyip Erdogan fear victory for him in Turkey’s presidential election could reinforce a crackdown the state has been waging against them for years, alarmed by a surge in nationalist rhetoric ahead of Sunday’s vote. Kurds, who make up around a fifth of Turkey’s…
By Ali Kucukgocmen and Ece Toksabay ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkey’s central bank kept its policy rate at 8.5% on Thursday as expected, holding steady for a third straight month, despite a market rout after the first round of elections which indicated President Tayyip Erdogan was poised to win in the runoff. After Erdogan’s solid lead in…
By Olivier Sorgho (Reuters) – First-time asylum applications from people seeking international protection in European Union countries soared in February, driven largely by Syrians and Afghans, a report from the bloc’s statistics agency Eurostat showed on Thursday. The bloc received 76,505 first-time asylum requests from non-EU citizens applying for international protection, an increase of 41%…
By Peter Hobson (Reuters) – The United Arab Emirates has become a key trade hub for Russian gold since Western sanctions over Ukraine cut Russia’s more traditional export routes, Russian customs records show. The records, which contain details of nearly a thousand gold shipments in the year since the Ukraine war started, show the Gulf…
By Peter Hobson LONDON (Reuters) – The United Arab Emirates has become a key trade hub for Russian gold since Western sanctions over Ukraine cut Russia’s more traditional export routes, Russian customs records show. The records, which contain details of nearly a thousand gold shipments between Feb. 24, 2022 and March 3 this year, reveal…
By Ebru Tuncay, Orhan Coskun and Nevzat Devranoglu ANKARA (Reuters) -Days before Turkey’s runoff presidential election, there is disagreement and uncertainty within Tayyip Erdogan’s government over whether to stick with what some call an unsustainable economic programme or to abandon it, insiders say. According to interviews with nine sources, either government officials or others with…
By Kane Wu and Yantoultra Ngui HONG KONG (Reuters) – Private equity firms Boyu Capital, Hillhouse Capital and BPEA EQT are among bidders vying for Longreach Group’s Hong Kong-based medical device maker Quasar, three people with knowledge of the matter said. Longreach, an Asia-focused private equity firm, is targeting a valuation of as much as…
By Steve Scherer OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canada and Saudi Arabia have agreed to restore full diplomatic ties and appoint new ambassadors, both countries said on Wednesday, bringing to a close a 2018 dispute that damaged relations and trade. The decision follows discussions held between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman…
