By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s most powerful mercenary, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said on Wednesday that he had asked prosecutors to investigate whether senior Russian defence officials had committed any “crime” before or during the war in Ukraine. Prigozhin’s request is his most blatant public challenge to date against President Vladimir Putin’s top military brass,…
By Soo-hyang Choi SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is believed to weigh over 140 kg (308 lb) according to an artificial intelligence (AI) estimate, a South Korean lawmaker said on Wednesday in a remark reflecting abiding interest in the health of the North’s secretive ruler. The health of North Korean leaders…
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – An apparent rebound in the residential housing market could impact the Federal Reserve’s inflation fight, with home prices “leveling out” even as the U.S. central bank awaits the impact of falling rents on headline inflation data, Fed Governor Michelle Bowman said on Wednesday. “We expect lower rents will eventually be reflected in…
By Lewis Jackson SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia will encourage businesses diversify their trade into new and emerging markets, Trade Minister Don Farrell will say in a speech on Thursday, even as ties heal with China, its largest trading partner. “It’s why this government has spent the last year working to diversify our trading relationships,” he…
By Tibisay Romero, Deisy Buitrago and Marianna Parraga VALENCIA/CARACAS (Reuters) – The new CEO of Venezuelan state-run PDVSA is targeting endemic corruption at the financially troubled oil company while hoping to win over its 95,000 workers, a move critical to securing much needed cash for the country, home to the world’s largest crude reserves. Pedro…
BERLIN (Reuters) – A global employment divide between high-income and low-income countries is worsening as rising debt levels hit developing countries disproportionately, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) said on Wednesday. It urged nations to offer global financial support on job creation and social protection to help narrow the gap. While global unemployment is expected to…
By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s defence chief said on Wednesday the United States warned him in 2021 that allegations Australian special forces soldiers killed prisoners and civilians in Afghanistan may trigger a law prohibiting assistance from the United States. The United States is Australia’s biggest security alliance partner and Angus Campbell’s comments are…
VILNIUS (Reuters) – Latvia’s parliament has elected long-serving Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics as the country’s next president, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said on Wednesday. Rinkevics will represent Latvia, a European Union and NATO member nation, at NATO’s Vilnius summit in July. Rinkevics, 49, takes the largely ceremonial role after serving as Latvia’s foreign minister since…
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s defence ministry said on Wednesday that its forces had destroyed what it described as Ukraine’s “last warship” two days ago in the port of Odesa in a missile strike. Ukraine’s navy declined to comment. “The last warship of the Ukrainian navy, the Yuriy Olefirenko, was destroyed at a warship mooring in…
LULEA, Sweden (Reuters) – New anti-terrorism legislation which comes into force this week should pave the way for Sweden to join NATO in coming weeks and overcome a Turkish veto, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said on Wednesday. Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While Finland joined…
