BlackRock’s Hildebrand is reportedly taking part in talks with UBS and Credit Suisse

March 18 (Reuters) – BlackRock Inc (BLK.N) Vice Chairman Philipp Hildebrand joins talks as Swiss officials try to broker a deal for UBS Group (UBSG.S) to acquire Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN.S) take), Bloomberg News reported Saturday, citing unidentified sources. When asked about the report, BlackRock spokesman Ryan O’Keeffe said in a telephone interview that … Read more

Ukraine can still supply troops in battered Bakhmut, the army says

KYIV, March 18 (Reuters) – Ukrainian troops outside the battered eastern city of Bakhmut are managing to hold off Russian units so ammunition, food, equipment and medicines can be delivered to defenders, the army said on Saturday. And in the latest claim that Kiev inflicted heavy casualties, Kiev said its troops had killed 193 Russians … Read more

Thousands protest in Belgrade against the Western-backed Serbia-Kosovo deal

BELGRADE, March 17 (Reuters) – Several thousand people gathered in Belgrade to protest a Western-backed deal to normalize ties between Kosovo and Serbia, which they see as recognition of Kosovo’s independence. The Serbian constitution considers Kosovo to be an integral part of its territory, even though it declared independence in 2008 with support from the … Read more

Credit Suisse meets to weigh options, under pressure to merge with UBS

March 18 (Reuters) – Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN.S) embarked on an all-or-nothing weekend after some rivals became cautious in their dealings with the bank as regulators urged the bank to pursue a deal with Swiss rival UBS AG (UBSG. S). Credit Suisse Chief Financial Officer Dixit Joshi and his teams will hold meetings over … Read more

As a show of unity, NATO and EU leaders visit the North Sea gas platform

TROLL A PLATFORM, North Sea, March 17 (Reuters) – Heads of NATO and the European Commission flew to a platform in the North Sea on Friday to discuss security of supply and infrastructure, a visit that underlined Norway’s importance to gas transports since the invasion from Russia in Ukraine. The Troll A platform extracts gas … Read more

ICC judges issue arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes in Ukraine

AMSTERDAM, March 17 (Reuters) – The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of responsibility for the war crime of the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly denied allegations that its troops committed atrocities during its year-long invasion of its neighbour. The … Read more

ECB watchdog sees no contagion of Europe after US and Swiss bank rescues

March 17 (Reuters) – European Central Bank regulators see no contagion for eurozone banks from the recent turmoil, a source said Friday, after US lenders First Republic Bank (FRC.N) tossed a $30bn lifeline and record amounts from the Federal Reserve. To book. Major US banks stepped in on Thursday to bail out the San Francisco-based … Read more

Slovakia sends MIG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine – PM

March 17 (Reuters) – Slovakia on Friday became Ukraine’s second ally to supply MIG-29 fighter jets, which Kiev says are crucial to fighting off Russia’s years-long invasion. Slovakia joined Poland, which announced delivery of the planes on Thursday. Both NATO members border Ukraine. The fleet of 11 MiG-29 aircraft was decommissioned last summer and most … Read more

China hopes Russia and Ukraine will hold peace talks, a senior Chinese diplomat says

BEIJING, March 16 (Reuters) – China is concerned about an escalation of the war in Ukraine and hopes that Moscow and Kiev will hold peace talks, senior Chinese diplomat Qin Gang told his Ukrainian counterpart in a telephone conversation on Thursday. China, which has refrained from condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, has urged … Read more

The US banking system is sound, but not all deposits are guaranteed, Yellen tells senators

WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) – The US banking system remains sound and Americans can be confident that their deposits will be there when they are needed, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Thursday, though she denied that recent bailouts following two major bank failures mean there is there was now a general government guarantee for … Read more