By David Milliken LONDON (Reuters) – British retailers reported weaker annual sales growth last month, reflecting growing pressure on consumer spending as well as seasonal factors around the timing of Easter which typically brings a boost to spending. …
Ukraine girds for Russian offensive in the east
By Maria Starkova LVIV, Ukraine (Reuters) – Ukraine said on Monday it expects Russia to begin an offensive soon in the eastern Donbas region as Moscow shifts its focus to seizing territory there after its invasion force was driven from the gates of Kyi…
Britain widens access to Pfizer’s COVID antiviral drug through trial
By Alistair Smout LONDON (Reuters) – Britain will expand access to Pfizer’s oral antiviral COVID-19 treatment to thousands more people by adding it to a trial to assess how best to use the drug in its highly vaccinated population, the health ministry s…
Ukrainian energy companies sue Russia in U.S. over Crimea judgment
By Jacqueline Thomsen (Reuters) – A coalition of Ukrainian companies want a U.S. federal court to order Russia to pay a nearly $35 million foreign judgment, with the hope they can eventually access some of the country’s assets in the United States. The…
Brazil’s largest indigenous reservation overrun by illegal gold mining, says report
By Anthony Boadle and Lisandra Paraguassu BRASILIA (Reuters) – An illegal gold mining boom on Brazil’s largest indigenous reservation has brought disease, violence and grave human rights violations on the Yanomami people, according to research and alle…
Hugh Laurie brings Agatha Christie murder-mystery to TV
By Hanna Rantala LONDON (Reuters) – British actor Hugh Laurie, best known for playing an eccentric doctor in the TV series “House”, brings what he says is his favourite Agatha Christie novel to the screen with his new TV show “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans…
Chile announces unprecedented water rationing plan as drought enters 13th year
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – As a punishing, record-breaking drought enters its 13th year, Chile on Monday announced an unprecedented plan to ration water for the capital of Santiago, a city of nearly 6 million. “A city can’t live without water,” Claudio Orreg…
Canada’s Ontario in sixth COVID wave, hospitalizations likely to rise -official
(Reuters) – Ontario is in the sixth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic driven by the highly transmissible BA.2 sub-variant of the Omicron coronavirus and hospitalizations are likely to rise over the coming weeks, the most populous Canadian province’s top do…
Algeria’s Sonatrach says it signs gas deal with Italy’s Eni
(Reuters) -Sonatrach has signed on Monday a deal on gas with Italian firm ENI, but no details on volumes have been disclosed, the Algerian state-owned energy company said in a statement. The deal will allow the speeding of natural gas projects, the sta…
Romanian government plans grants, vouchers worth $3.81 billion to support economy
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Romania’s coalition government announced on Monday a series of grants, vouchers and subsidies worth 17.3 billion lei ($3.81 billion) to help vulnerable Romanians and key industries cope with rising prices and supply shocks. Roughl…