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The parliament's five-year term is due to expire on Aug. 12, but this move would dissolve it three days earlier. "I will tonight advise the president to dissolve the parliament," the premier told parliament. He said he would start discussions with the opposition leader on Thursday to pick a name from candidate lists of both sides to nominate as caretaker prime minister. The vote, however, could be delayed several months with the election commission set to start redrawing hundreds of constituencies based on a fresh census. The last general election in July 2018 was won by the party of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, who was sworn in days later as prime minister for the first time.

Persons: Shehbaz Sharif, Arif Alvi, Imran Khan, Khan, Sharif, Asif Shahzad, Gibran Peshimam, Andrew Heavens, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Pakistan, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Islamabad, Karachi

A view shows Russian rouble coins in this illustration picture taken March 25, 2021. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/IllustrationAug 9 (Reuters) - The rouble hit a more than 16-month low on Wednesday, hampered by strong foreign currency demand and limited supply, with Russia's shrinking trade surplus and widening budget deficit also hurting sentiment. By 1023 GMT, the rouble was 0.2% weaker against the dollar at 97.32 , earlier hitting 97.48, its weakest point since March 25, 2022. It has been under pressure all year from Russia's shrinking balance of trade, as export revenues fall and imports rebound, dropping around 28% year-to-date from levels near 70 to the dollar. Brent crude oil , a global benchmark for Russia's main export, was 0.7% higher at $86.80 a barrel.

Persons: Maxim Shemetov, Egor Zhilnikov, Alexey Antonov, Antonov, Alexander Marrow, Andrew Heavens, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Alor Broker, Brent, Thomson Locations: Alor

☆ Nigerian producer pumps out AI-powered Afrobeats
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Vining Ogu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LAGOS, Aug 8 (Reuters) - When artificial intelligence (AI) apps started spreading in Nigeria's music industry, Eclipse Nkasi thought his days as a producer were numbered. It gives people a new experience ... and that's how I believe AI is really going to shake things," Nkasi told Reuters. Nkasi and three friends switched on OpenAI's ChatGPT programme and set it to work helping them create the nine-track album "Infinite Echoes". "There are certain things that will become obsolete" due to AI, Nkasi said. But it should also create opportunities for artists to reinvent themselves and do their work better and quicker, he added.

Persons: Nkasi, Omotolani Alake, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAGOS, Lagos

☆ Euro zone consumers expect lower inflation, sluggish housing prices - ECB poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view shows the logo of the European Central Bank (ECB) outside its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany March 16, 2023. REUTERS/Heiko Becker/File PhotoFRANKFURT, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Euro zone consumers expect inflation to keep slowing in the next months and years but remain pessimistic about their purchasing power and house prices, a European Central Bank survey showed on Tuesday. Consumers also cut their expectations for inflation three years ahead to 2.3% from 2.5% in May - inching closer to the ECB's 2% target. The survey also showed that consumers continued to expect their income to grow much more slowly - at 1.2% - than inflation and spending over the next 12 months, implying an expected lowering of living standards and savings. An article accompanying the survey showed that households' perceptions about housing have deteriorated markedly since mid-2021 due to expectations of higher mortgage rates and inflation as well as lower economic growth.

Persons: Heiko Becker, Francesco Canepa, Andrew Heavens Organizations: European Central Bank, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany

REUTERS/Bing Guan/File PhotoAug 4 (Reuters) - “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez on Friday waived her right to a preliminary hearing, allowing charges against her over the 2021 shooting death of the movie's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, to move toward a possible trial. Actor Alec Baldwin was rehearsing when he fired a live round that killed cinematographer Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. Prosecutors Andrea Reeb and Mary Carmack-Altwies, who handled the case until March, declined to comment on plea bargains. Prosecutor Kari Morrissey, who took over the case, said in a statement she expected the case to be set for trial in the future. Under New Mexico law, to convict Gutierrez of involuntary manslaughter prosecutors must prove she showed willful disregard for firearms safety.

Persons: Bing Guan, armorer Hannah Gutierrez, Halyna Hutchins, Jason Bowles, Hutchins, Bowles, Alec Baldwin, Joel Souza, Gutierrez, Dave Halls, Andrea Reeb, Mary Carmack, Altwies, Kari Morrissey, Prosecutors, Baldwin, Morrissey, Andrew Hay, Donna Bryson, Andrew Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, New, Prosecutors, Thomson Locations: Santa Fe , New Mexico, U.S, Mexico, New Mexico

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationLONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The dollar touched a four-week peak against major peers on Thursday after upbeat labour market data a day earlier, while sterling remained lower after the Bank of England downshifted to a smaller 25 basis point hike. The dollar index , which measures the currency against six major peers, rose as high as 102.84, its highest level in four weeks. Earlier, the currency fell to a four-week low of 143.89 per dollar. The New Zealand dollar similarly earlier slid to its lowest since end-June at $0.6063, having tumbled more than 1% on Wednesday. "The U.S. dollar actually strengthened against most other currencies (and) there were risk-aversion trades across all the asset classes."

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Lefteris Farmakis, nonfarm, Fitch, Sterling meanwhile, BOE, John Leiper, Tina Teng, Samuel Indyk, Rae Wee, Shri Navaratnam, Nick Macfie, Andrew Heavens, Giles Elgood Organizations: REUTERS, Bank of England, U.S . Treasury, Treasury, Barclays, Titan Asset Management, Bank of Japan, New Zealand, CMC Markets, U.S, Thomson Locations: U.S, Asia, Beijing

☆ Islamic State confirms death of its leader, names replacement
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Islamic State on Thursday confirmed the death of its leader Abu Hussein al-Husseini al-Quraishi and named Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Quraishi as his replacement, the group's spokesperson said in an undated recording published on its Telegram channel. Islamic State, a shadow of the organisation that once ruled a third of Iraq and Syria, gave no details about the new leader. Abu Hussein al-Husseini al-Quraishi took over in November 2022 after his predecessor was killed, also in Syria. Islamic State militants continue to wage insurgent attacks in both Syria and Iraq. The U.S.-led coalition alongside a Kurdish-led alliance known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is still carrying out raids against Islamic State in Syria.

Persons: Abu Hussein al, Husseini, Abu Hafs, group's, Tayyip Erdogan, Abu Bakr al, Baghdadi, Quraishi, Jana Choukeir, Nayera Abdallah, Nadine Awadalla, Enas Alashray, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Islamic, Syrian Democratic Forces, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Islamic State, Turkish, Syria, Iraq, U.S, Kurdish

At least ten copies of the Koran have been burned in Denmark over the past week. WHAT IS AT THE HEART OF THE ISSUE IN SWEDEN AND DENMARK? WHAT ARE SWEDEN AND DENMARK DOING NOW? Nevertheless, both Sweden and Denmark say they are examining ways to legally limit burnings to de-escalate tensions with Muslim nations. WHAT NEXT FOR THE LAW IN DENMARK AND SWEDEN?

Persons: Salwan Momika, Rasmus Paludan, Desecrating, Prophet Mohammad, Angel Gabriel, Tom Little, Susie Jessen, Tayyip Erdogan, Johan Ahlander, Johannes Birkebaek, Ahmed Rasheed, Gwladys Fouche, Andrew Heavens Organizations: WHO, Danish Patriots, NATO, REUTERS, Denmark Democrats, Reuters, Sweden's, Thomson Locations: COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Sweden, Iraq, Swedish, SWEDEN, DENMARK, Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen, Tom Little Denmark, Baghdad, East, Stockholm

☆ Italy scales back plans to control prices of essential goods
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ROME, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Italy has scaled back its anti-inflation plans after producers refused to submit to a deal with supermarket chains to control prices of consumer staples, three people familiar with the talks said on Thursday. The accord was supposed to deliver a "decisive blow" to inflation, Industry Minister Adolfo Urso said on Monday. But the people said on Thursday the government had not managed to get support from industry associations and so the supermarkets did not intend to endorse the plan. Seen by Reuters, the statement acknowledges that the industry associations have so far not been willing to sign off on any deal. Urso will chair a video call on Friday at 0730 GMT to ratify the joint declaration, one of the sources said.

Persons: Adolfo Urso, Urso, Giorgia Meloni, Giuseppe Fonte, Tomasz Janowski, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Industry, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Italy

It has yet to disburse a $131.5 million loan to Niger that was approved on July 5, it added. The interior minister, transport minister, and a deputy had already been detained, it added. The arrests confirm the "repressive and dictatorial" nature of the coup leaders, the party said in a statement, calling on citizens to come together to protect democracy. The arrests were announced a day after Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby arrived in Niger to try to mediate between the coup leaders and the ousted government. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group, last week welcomed the coup in Niger, and said his forces were available to restore order.

Persons: Niger's, Mohamed Bazoum, Mahamane Sani Mahamadou, Issoufou Mahamadou, Mahamat Idriss Deby, Deby, Bazoum, Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Abdourahamane Tiani, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Russia's Wagner, Antonio Tajani, Boureima Balima, Abdel, Kader Mazou, Anait Miridzhanian, Bate Felix, Nellie Peyton, Sofia Christensen, Alexander Winning, Bernadette Baum, Andrew Heavens, Nick Macfie Organizations: International Monetary Fund, IMF, CFA, West, African Union, European Union, Islamic, Junta, Nigerien Party for Democracy and, Chadian, ECOWAS, EU, REUTERS, Twitter, French Foreign Ministry, Paris, White, Thomson Locations: NIAMEY, Niger, West, Central Africa, United States, France, Islamic State, al Qaeda, EU, U.S, Nigerien, Niamey, Mali, Burkina Faso, Russia, Niger's

[1/2] A motorist rides past a hoarding decorated with flowers to welcome G20 foreign ministers in New Delhi, India, March 1, 2023. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File photoCHENNAI, India/BRUSSELS, July 28 (Reuters) - The Group of 20 (G20) major nations failed on Friday to agree on concrete targets to cut dangerous emissions, releasing only a statement that dismissed current measures to address climate change as "insufficient". Members could not agree on depleting carbon budgets, historical emissions, net-zero goals and the issue of financing to support developing countries, the document showed. China and oil-rich Saudi Arabia backed away from making commitments in the G20 talks, members of a European delegation said. The EU's Environment Commissioner said the G20 countries were "nowhere" on their commitments to address climate change.

Persons: Amit Dave, Virginijus Sinkevicius, Sarita Chaganti Singh, Aftab Ahmed, Kate Abnett, John Stonestreet, Angus MacSwan, Andrew Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, United Arab Emirates, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, CHENNAI, BRUSSELS, North America, Europe, China, Indian, Chennai, Saudi Arabia, Delhi, Brussels

The biggest contribution to the sharp rise in the 2023 forecast came from forecasts deviations and a change in forecasting approach. "The central bank did not only provide an inflation forecast that is in line with economists predictions but... the emphasis in the report very much matched those of the market. We had not seen this from the central bank in many years. CENTRAL BANK INDEPENDENCEEconomists expect the policy rate to rise further to 25% by year-end, still leaving real rates negative. "Defining interest rate hikes as sufficient or insufficient can only be done after inspecting the intricacies of this holistic approach," she said.

Persons: Hafize Gaye Erkan, Erkan, Nilufer Sezgin, Sahap Kavcioglu, Erdogan, Ali Kucukgocmen, Daren Butler, Andrew Heavens, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Wall Street, CENTRAL, Ece Toksabay, Thomson Locations: ANKARA, Ankara

NIAMEY, July 26 (Reuters) - Niger presidential guards are holding President Mohamed Bazoum inside the presidential palace in the capital, which has been blocked off by military vehicles since Wednesday morning, security sources said. The movements have the semblance of four military takeovers that have hit neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso since 2020. Ministries next to the palace have also been blocked off, and staff inside the palace have not been able to access to their offices, presidency and security sources said. The rest of Niamey appeared calm, with normal morning traffic on the road and full internet access, a Reuters reporter said. There was also a thwarted coup attempt in Niger in March 2021, when a military unit tried to seize the presidential palace days before Bazoum was due to be sworn in.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Bazoum, Moussa Aksar, Boureima Balima, Abdel, Kader Mazou, Sofia Christensen, Andrew Heavens, Alexander Winning, Nick Macfie Organizations: Thomson Locations: NIAMEY, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niamey

Before he was fired by Pope Francis over another issue, Becciu was one of the most powerful men in the Vatican. The Vatican sold the building last year, taking an estimated loss of about 140 million euros. The others on trial include several Vatican employees and two outside brokers who the Vatican has accused of extortion. He asked the court to confiscate 172 million euros of Mincione's assets and 71 million euros of Torzi's. At the time of Becciu's firing, he was also stripped of what the Vatican then said were his "rights associated with being a cardinal".

Persons: Becciu, Cardinal Angelo Becciu, Pope Francis, Alessandro Diddi, Diddi, Raffaele Mincione, Rene Bruelhart, Tommaso Di Ruzza, Cecilia Marogna, Phil Pullella, Andrew Heavens, Toby Chopra, Alison Williams Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Vatican, of State, Vatican's Financial Intelligence, Thomson Locations: London, Vatican, Swiss, Mali, al Qaeda

☆ China replaces foreign minister Qin after brief stint and weeks of speculation
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang looks on during his meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Cairo, Egypt, January 15, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany/File PhotoBEIJING, July 25 (Reuters) - China removed Foreign Minister Qin Gang from his post on Tuesday after a one-month absence from public duties, replacing him with his predecessor Wang Yi, state media said, after weeks of speculation about what had happened to him. Qin, 57, who only took up the job in December after a brief stint as envoy to the United States, had not been seen in public since June 25 when he met visiting diplomats in Beijing. Wang, 69, who filled in for Qin during his absence, retakes the role he held between 2018 and 2022. China's foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment about reasons behind the switch.

Persons: Qin Gang, Sameh Shoukry, Mohamed Abd El Ghany, Wang Yi, Qin, Wang, Andrew Heavens, Nick Macfie Organizations: Foreign, REUTERS, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Cairo, Egypt, BEIJING, China, United States, Beijing, Indonesia, Ukraine, Moscow, Taiwan

☆ Russia offers BRICS partners a module on its planned space station
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A view shows a model of a new Russian orbital space station at the international military-technical forum Army-2022 at Patriot Congress and Exhibition Centre in the Moscow region, Russia August 15, 2022. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File PhotoJuly 24 (Reuters) - The head of Russia's space agency on Monday suggested Moscow's partners in the BRICS group - Brazil, India, China and South Africa - could build a module for its planned orbital station, the Interfax news agency reported. Reporting from a BRICS meeting on space cooperation in Hermanus, South Africa, Interfax said it was "assumed" that the first module of the Russian Orbital Station (ROS) would be launched in 2027, with construction completed by 2032. By then, the International Space Station - one of the last forums of cooperation between Washington and Moscow as Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent relations to a post-Cold War low - is likely to have been decommissioned. Roskosmos said last August that its new space station would consist of six modules and a service platform, to accommodate up to four cosmonauts, and be built in two phases.

Persons: Maxim, Yuri Borisov, Roskosmos, Borisov, Kevin Liffey, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Patriot Congress, Exhibition, REUTERS, Russian, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Hermanus, Washington, Ukraine

☆ North Korea fires two missiles after U.S. submarine arrives in South
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, July 25 (Reuters) - North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast late on Monday, South Korea's military said, hours after a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine arrived in a naval base in the South. Japan's defence ministry also reported the launch of what it said could be a ballistic missile by North Korea. North Korea has reacted angrily, saying such deployment could meet the criteria for its use of nuclear weapons. Earlier on Monday, a nuclear-powered U.S. submarine entered a naval base in South Korea's southern island of Jeju, to load military supplies while on an unspecified operational mission, the South Korean navy said. Last week, North Korea conducted ballistic missile tests, that time after a nuclear-armed U.S. submarine arrived at a South Korean port for the first time since the 1980s.

Persons: Jack Kim, Chang, Ran Kim, Alison Williams, Andrew Heavens Organizations: South Korean, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, South Korea, United States, U.S, Korea, South, Jeju, Korean, Seoul, Tokyo

☆ Fans and family bid tearful farewell to 'French icon' Jane Birkin
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, July 24 (Reuters) - Hundreds of fans joined film legends and family members to bid farewell to British-born actress and singer Jane Birkin at her funeral in Paris on Monday. Film star Catherine Deneuve, singer Vanessa Paradis and first Lady Brigitte Macron were among the mourners in the Saint-Roch church. Outside, tearful fans waving banners marked with "Jane Forever" and "Thank you Jane Birkin" watched the ceremony on a giant screen on the corner of Rue des Pyramides and Rue Saint-Honore. [1/4]Flowers are seen in front of the Church of Saint-Roch before the funeral of late singer, actress and muse Jane Birkin in Paris, France, July 24, 2023. President Emmanuel Macron declared Birkin "a French icon" after her death was announced on July 16 at the age of 76.

Persons: Jane Birkin, Catherine Deneuve, Vanessa Paradis, Brigitte Macron, Roch, Jane Forever, Honore, Birkin's, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Pascal Rossignol, Lou Doillon, Alain Souchon, Etienne Daho, Matthieu Chedid, Emmanuel Macron, Birkin, Serge Gainsbourg, Dominique Vidalon, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Monday, Rue des Pyramides, Rue Saint, of Saint, REUTERS, Overseas, Thomson Locations: British, Paris, Saint, Rue, France

☆ Japan's top financial diplomat signals chance of BOJ policy tweaks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Tetsushi Kajimoto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, July 21 (Reuters) - Japan's top financial diplomat on Friday suggested the central bank may tweak its approach to monetary stimulus at its next policy meeting, due to "signs of changes" in corporate behaviour on wage growth and price rises. In rare remarks on monetary policy, Masato Kanda, vice finance minister for international affairs, said he expects the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to make a judgment on policy by analysing the conditions and outlook for prices at every review. "Various expectations and speculations are spreading about the possibility of some kind of tweak to monetary policy," he said. The BOJ, under Governor Kazuo Ueda's predecessor Haruhiko Kuroda, launched an unprecedented round of monetary stimulus in 2013, pledging to inflate the economy to meet a 2% inflation target in two years. The BOJ is leaning towards keeping its yield control policy unchanged at next week's meeting, five sources familiar with its thinking said, as policymakers prefer to scrutinise more data to ensure wages and inflation keep rising.

Persons: Masato Kanda, Kanda's, Kanda, Kazuo Ueda's, Haruhiko Kuroda, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Leika Kihara, Satoshi Sugiyama, Andrew Heavens, Miral Fahmy, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Bank of Japan, Reuters, Thomson Locations: TOKYO

☆ China seeks to boost demand by pushing urban development - state media
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, July 21 (Reuters) - China's cabinet has approved guidelines on transforming underdeveloped areas in megacities, in the government's latest move to support the economy, state media said on Friday. China will promote the transformation of "urban villages" - or underdeveloped areas - in megacities, as they pose a threat to public safety and social governance, state media said, citing a regular cabinet meeting. Such transformation "is an important measure to improve people's livelihoods, expand domestic demand, and promote high-quality urban development," the cabinet said. The Politburo, a top decision-making body of the ruling Communist Party, pledged in April to accelerate the redevelopment of underdeveloped areas in megacities. Reporting by Beijing newsroom and Kevin Yao Editing by Andrew Heavens and Frances KerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kevin Yao, Andrew Heavens, Frances Kerry Organizations: Communist Party, Beijing, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, megacities, China

July 21 (Reuters) - Alabama executed a man early on Friday for beating an elderly woman to death two decades ago, the state's first execution since Governor Kay Ivey lifted a suspension on capital punishment in February following a review. Barber argued to the United States Court of Appeals that his execution should be halted because he is at substantial risk of serious harm and "torture" under current protocols. Legal and ethical questions have swirled around capital punishment in the United States after several lethal injections have been botched in recent years. The number of executions in the United States has drastically fallen since 1999, when a record 98 executions were carried out. Capital punishment was reinstated in the United States in 1976.

Persons: Kay Ivey, James Barber, William Holman, Barber, Dorothy Epps, Ivey, Brendan O'Brien, Daniel Trotta, Gursimran Kaur, Bharat Govind Gautam, Sandra Maler, Andrew Heavens Organizations: William, William Holman Correctional, U.S, Supreme, Republican, Department of Corrections, United States, of Appeals, Thomson Locations: Alabama, . U.S, Atmore , Alabama, Harvest , Alabama, United States, Chicago

☆ British retail sales beat expectations in June
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( David Milliken | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 21 (Reuters) - British retail sales rose more than expected in June, boosted by unusually hot weather and a rebound in food sales after a dip the month before when public holidays disrupted normal spending patterns, official figures showed on Friday. Retail sales volumes in June were 0.7% higher than in May, the Office for National Statistics said, a bigger increase than the 0.2% forecast by economists in a Reuters poll. Sales volumes were 1.0% lower than a year earlier, beating economists' forecasts for a 1.5% decline. "Retail sales grew strongly, with food sales bouncing back from the effects of the extra bank holiday, partly helped by good weather, and department stores and furniture shops also having a strong month," ONS chief economist Grant Fitzner said. The ONS data showed a 7.8% annual rise in the value of retail sales excluding fuel.

Persons: Grant Fitzner, King Charles ', Sterling, David Milliken, Kate Holton, Andrew Heavens Organizations: National Statistics, U.S, Industry, British Retail Consortium, Thomson

☆ Cambodia's long-serving leader says son can become PM in 3-4 weeks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Prak Chan Thul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Hun Manet, son of Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, waves to people during the final Cambodian People's Party (CPP) election campaign for the upcoming general election in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, July 21, 2023. REUTERS/Cindy LiuPHNOM PENH, July 21 (Reuters) - Cambodia's long-serving leader Hun Sen has told a Chinese television station that his eldest son, Hun Manet, can become prime minister soon after Sunday's election. "In three or four weeks, Hun Manet can become the prime minister. It depends on whether Hun Manet will be able to do it or not," Hun Sen said in an interview with China's Phoenix TV aired on Thursday. His son, Hun Manet, is a candidate for the election, making his debut.

Persons: Hun Manet, Cambodia's, Hun Sen, Cindy Liu PHNOM, Sok Eysan, Ella Cao, Martin Petty, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Cambodian People's Party, REUTERS, China's Phoenix TV, University of Bristol, Thomson Locations: Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Cindy Liu PHNOM PENH, Khmer Rouge, United States

ISLAMABAD, July 19 (Reuters) - Pakistan will open criminal proceedings against former prime minister Imran Khan on charges of exposing official secrets, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Wednesday, the latest in a string of cases the former premier has been facing. The case is related to diplomatic correspondence between Washington and Islamabad, which Khan said early last year was part of a U.S. conspiracy to topple his government. Sanaullah said the principal secretary also testified that Khan told him he had lost the copy of the letter when he was asked for its return. "It is a crime to expose an official secret," the interior minister said, adding the state will be filing the charges in the court against Khan. The secrecy charge is the latest in a multitude of charges Khan has faced since his ouster, including graft, murder and sedition.

Persons: Imran Khan, Rana Sanaullah, Khan, Azam Khan, Sanaullah, Washington, Asif Shahzad, Andrew Heavens, Tomasz Janowski, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Washington, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Washington, Islamabad, U.S, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Cooler inflation unleashes monster rally in UK markets, dents pound
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Amanda Cooper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

British annual consumer price inflation fell to a lower than expected 7.9% in June, below a forecast for a decline to 8.2%. June's rate was a long way off last October's 41-year high of 11.1%, but far above the BoE's 2% target rate. "Some good news on UK inflation at last, coming in below expectations for June and most importantly the core inflation rate fell more than thought," Neil Birrell, who is chief investment officer at Premier Miton Investors, said. British finance minister Jeremy Hunt said there was still a long way to go to reduce inflation towards target. Meanwhile, interest-rate derivatives showed traders no longer believe UK rates will have to rise above 6% to temper inflation.

Persons: Barratt, Taylor Wimpey, Neil Birrell, Sterling, Jeremy Hunt, Hunt, Jeremy Batstone, Carr, Raymond James, Danilo Masoni, Alun John, Dhara Ranasinghe, Andrew Organizations: Reuters, Premier Miton Investors, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: United States, European, Milan

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