[Getty Images] An influential global body has forecast Russia’s economy will grow faster than all of the world’s advanced economies, including the US, this year. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects Russia to grow 3.2% this year, significantly more than the UK, France and Germany. Oil exports have “held steady” and government spending has “remained … Read more
The artist representing Israel at the Venice Biennale called Tuesday for a ceasefire in the war with Hamas and said her exhibit would remain closed until the hostages were released. Ruth Patir’s video installation “(M)otherland” was due to open on Saturday at Israel’s national pavilion at the international art show, but the day before a … Read more
* Catalonia is holding an election on May 12 * Puigdemont’s return made possible by controversial amnesty * Junts acted as kingmaker for Spain’s socialist government * Support for independence has ebbed in polls By Joan Faus PERPIGNAN, France, April 16 (Reuters) – Catalonia’s former president Carles Puigdemont, who has been living in self-exile since … Read more
Israel’s representative at Venice’s Biennale exhibition has said she won’t unveil the country’s pavilion until a hostage and ceasefire deal has been reached in Gaza. Artist Ruth Patir said the exhibit in the Italian city “will only open when the release of hostages and ceasefire agreement happens” in a statement shared on Instagram Tuesday. Patir said … Read more
SYDNEY (AP) — Australia’s prime minister says a French construction worker who confronted a man who stabbed six people to death in a Sydney shopping mall is welcome to stay in the country as long as he likes. Damien Guerot has been nicknamed “Bollard Man” on social media because of security camera footage showing him … Read more
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Apple CEO Tim Cook said Tuesday that he wants to further increase investment in Vietnam a day after the company announced it would spending on suppliers in the Southeast Asian manufacturing hub. Vietnam has become more important to Apple as the company seeks to diversify its supply chains away from China, … Read more
(Bloomberg) — South Africa has taken a preliminary step toward filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization against the European Union over its treatment of citrus purchases from the country. Most Read from Bloomberg The African nation has requested consultations with the EU at the WTO in a bid to resolve the dispute, the … Read more
Alfa Romeo is changing the name of its first electric vehicle from “Milano” to “Junior”, after legal threats from the Italian government over the company’s decision to make the car in Poland. Alfa Romeo parent company Stellantis announced last week that the EV would be called Alfa Romeo Milano after the city where the Italian … Read more
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s prime minister called for closer cooperation between Saudi Arabia and his cash-strapped Islamic nation to enhance Saudi investment in his country, a government statement said Tuesday. Shehbaz Sharif made his remarks during a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan who arrived Monday in the capital, Islamabad, to … Read more
(Bloomberg) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping told his German counterpart that a surge in Chinese clean-technology exports has helped the world tackle inflation, as he pushed back against European and US pressure to rein in the country’s powerhouse industries. Most Read from Bloomberg Xi’s comments to Chancellor Olaf Scholz during talks in Beijing suggest China … Read more