Politics

Putin stages surprise visit to troops in occupied Ukraine

BLOOMBERG Russian President Vladimir Putin visited troops in two occupied regions of Ukraine, according to video by the Kremlin, marking the second time in a month he’s toured territory seized in the more than year-old invasion. Putin was shown meeting officers of the Vostok National Guard in the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk and at the headquarters of the Dnepr ...

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Russia court rejects WSJ reporter’s appeal of spying arrest

BLOOMBERG The Moscow City Court rejected an appeal by Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter Evan Gershkovich against his detention on allegations of espionage in a high-profile case that’s highlighted the growing pressure on journalists in Russia. Gershkovich, 31, appeared smiling in the glass defendant’s cage when media were allowed into the courtroom before the hearing. It was the first time ...

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Bangladesh garment factories at fire risk as temperatures soar

BLOOMBERG Bangladesh’s garment factories, a key source of foreign exchange for the South Asian nation, face the heightened risk of fires as summer temperatures soar, an industry lobby group warned. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the main industry body in the world’s No 2 exporter after China, issued 11 instructions to its 4,500 members over the weekend. These ...

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EU calls for coherent China stance

BLOOMBERG European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on the European Union to maintain a common position towards China after French President Emmanuel Macron sparked outrage by suggesting that the bloc should avoid being dragged into a dispute with Beijing by the US. Von der Leyen told lawmakers in Strasbourg, France, that the EU needs to diversify away from ...

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Pakistan landslide buries trucks, kills two people

PESHAWAR / WAM A landslide during a thunder and lightning storm on the main road through northwest Pakistan’s Khyber Pass buried more than 20 trucks, killing at least two people, with dozens more feared trapped, Reuters said. “Twenty to twenty-five containers are buried in the wreckage,” Abdul Nasir Khan, deputy commissioner of the Khyber district, told Reuters. “The wreckage is ...

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Myanmar junta frees over 3,000 prisoners in New Year amnesty

BLOOMBERG Myanmar’s military rulers have announced the release of more than 3,000 prisoners as part of a holiday amnesty, a week after one of the deadliest air strikes carried out by the junta since it seized power. The State Administration Council (SAC) announced the move, which included the release of 98 foreigners, as part of the traditional New Year state ...

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G-7 displays united front on China after Macron controversy

BLOOMBERG Top diplomats from Group of Seven (G-7) nations sought to project unity on China and other issues after French leader Emmanuel Macron stirred unease across the bloc with a conciliatory tone on a recent trip to Beijing. “The last day has only reinforced the convergence of views that we have on the approach to the most important issues of ...

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UN calls for ‘immediate’ ceasefire in Sudan, as death toll mounts

NEW YORK / WAM Clashes intensified across Sudan on Monday, as top UN officials urged rival military factions to protect civilians and respect the country’s international obligations. “I strongly condemn the outbreak of fighting that is taking place in Sudan and appeal to the leaders of the Rapid Support Forces (RAF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to immediately cease ...

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Nuclear powers pledge to push Putin out of uranium markets

BLOOMBERG Nuclear powers within the Group of Seven (G-7) nations pledged to end Russia’s dominance over global atomic-fuel markets, potentially cutting off a critical source of geopolitical currency for Russian President Vladimir Putin more than a year after his invasion of Ukraine. Canada, France, Japan, the UK and US committed to jointly dislodge Russia from global nuclear supply chains. Even ...

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Japan’s PM resumes election speech schedule after bomb scare

BLOOMBERG Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Fumio Kishida returned to the campaign trail after being targeted by an explosive device at an event he attended in central Japan, weeks before he hosts the Group of Seven (G-7) world leaders for a summit. A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion he threw an explosive in Kishida’s direction just as he was ...

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