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By Neil Jerome Morales and Karen Lema MANILA (Reuters) – Campaigning for the Philippines’ general election gets underway officially on Tuesday, with COVID-19 curtailing the traditional fanfare and big rallies and turning the focus to social media as the key battleground for the May 9 contest. As with the 2016 polls that catapulted Rodrigo Duterte …

Philippines shifts election battle to social media as COVID-19 curbs campaigning Read More »

MOSCOW (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron expressed guarded optimism on Monday ahead of talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at defusing tensions over the Ukrainian crisis. “I’m reasonably optimistic but I don’t believe in spontaneous miracles,” Macron told reporters shortly after landing in the Russian capital. (Reporting by Michel Rose; Writing …

France’s Macron says he’s ‘reasonably optimistic’ ahead of talks with Putin in Moscow Read More »

By Alexander Ratz and Pavel Polityuk KYIV (Reuters) -Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock promised unequivocal German support for Ukraine on a visit to Kyiv on Monday as the two sides sought to narrow differences on Ukraine’s request for weapons to prepare for a possible attack from Russia. In a joint press conference, Baerbock and her Ukrainian …

You can count on us, Germany tells Ukraine as both sides play down differences Read More »

By Anton Zverev DONETSK, Ukraine (Reuters) – An influential separatist commander in eastern Ukraine has urged Russia to send 30,000 soldiers to reinforce rebel forces fighting in the breakaway Donetsk region and to operate new weapons systems he hopes Russia will supply. The Kremlin did not immediately respond when asked to comment on the request …

Exclusive – Senior separatist urges Russia to send 30,000 troops to east Ukraine Read More »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday there would be a very high price if Russia invades Ukraine, amid U.S. warnings that a Russian invasion could happen in days or weeks. Scholz was speaking to reporters before a meeting later in the day with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House. …

Germany’s Scholz says there will be a very high price if Russia invades Ukraine Read More »

By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Special Climate Envoy John Kerry has nominated one of his senior advisors, Rick Duke – the architect behind an international deal last year to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas methane – to be his deputy. In a statement to Reuters, Kerry said Duke will play a leading …

Exclusive – U.S. climate envoy Kerry names Rick Duke as deputy Read More »

VILNIUS (Reuters) – NATO is looking to increase its military presence in the Baltic states and Poland in case Russia keeps its troops in Belarus after a planned military exercise, the head of the alliance’s military committee said on Monday. Russia has 30,000 troops in Ukraine’s northern neighbour for joint military exercises this month, NATO …

NATO considers bolstering allies if Russian troops stay in Belarus Read More »

BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will meet French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish President Andrzej Duda in Berlin on Tuesday, a German government spokesperson said on Monday. The three leaders planned to give statements to the media at 7 p.m. (1800 GMT) before their meeting at the chancellery, the spokesperson added. A Normandy …

Germany’s Scholz to meet French, Polish presidents Tuesday on Ukraine Read More »

By David Kirton YANQING, China (Reuters) – Four years on from claiming bronze in Pyeongchang, Britain’s Laura Deas is hoping to channel the spirit of Lizzy Yarnold, her retired teammate and the most successful Olympic skeleton athlete of all time, in part through a mug. “There’s a few mementos that I’ve brought with me so …

Olympics – Skeleton-Briton sips from lucky mug, Latvian irons out kinks Read More »