Reuters

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's service sector sentiment worsened in May to levels unseen in nearly two years, government data showed on Monday, as rising fuel and food costs from a weak yen dragged on household spending.

The data highlights the fragile nature of consumption, making it harder for the Bank of Japan to justify further interest rate hikes.

An index measuring sentiment among service-sector firms like taxi drivers and restaurants... (continue reading...)

PARIS (Reuters) - France began to gear up for elections on Monday, after President Emmanuel Macron called a shock snap legislative election following a bruising loss in the European Parliament vote to the far-right party of Marine Le Pen.

Macron's unexpected decision, which amounts to a roll of the dice on his political future, could hand major political power to the far-right after years on the sidelines, and neuter his presidency three years before... (continue reading...)

By Giulio Piovaccari

MILAN (Reuters) - European governments may be wary of budget Chinese electric vehicles flooding their markets but they're also fiercely competing for a share of the manufacturing investment and jobs the new competitors bring.

While the European Union investigates China's auto subsidies and considers tariffs on imports, national governments across the bloc are dangling their own incentives to attract Chinese automakers... (continue reading...)

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit North Korea and Vietnam in the coming weeks, the Vedomosti newspaper reported on Monday, citing a diplomatic source.

Russian ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora confirmed to Vedomosti that the president's visit to Pyongyang will happen and is being "actively prepared".

The newspaper said Putin could visit Vietnam as early as June and most likely immediately after his... (continue reading...)

By Jan Strupczewski

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The rise of euro-sceptic nationalist parties in the European election is likely to complicate Ursula von der Leyen's bid to get a second term as president of the powerful European Commission, though she remains the front-runner for the job.

To secure another five years as boss of the EU's executive arm, von der Leyen needs a "qualified majority" of the 27 European Union leaders and also a majority in... (continue reading...)