Reuters

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal's prime minister, whose rightist coalition won a general election in March, said on Sunday he would back former centre-left Socialist premier Antonio Costa if he decides to run for the European Council top job.

The Council, which represents national governments of the 27 member states, is one of the European Union's three main political institutions, along with the European Commission and the European Parliament.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's economy contracted at a narrower pace of 1.8% annualised in the January-March period from the previous quarter, government data showed on Monday.

The revised figure for gross domestic product (GDP) released by the Cabinet Office compared with economists' median forecast for a 1.9% drop in a Reuters poll and the initial reading of a 2.0% decline.

On a quarter-on-quarter basis, GDP shrank 0.5%, compared with the... (continue reading...)

By Anita Komuves and Gergely Szakacs

BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party was on track for its worst result in a national or EU vote in nearly two decades at Sunday's European Parliament election, where a political newcomer trounced all other opposition parties.

In power since 2010, the veteran nationalist Orban has grappled with multiple crises over the past months as a sex abuse scandal brought down two... (continue reading...)

By Philip Blenkinsop

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Europe's nationalist parties capitalised in the European Parliament election on voter disquiet over spiralling prices, migration and the cost of the green transition and will now seek to translate their seat gains into influence on EU policy.

Nationalist, populist and eurosceptic parties were on course to win just under a quarter of seats in the EU assembly, according to the chamber's own... (continue reading...)

(Reuters) -Activist investor Elliott Investment Management has built a nearly $2 billion stake in Southwest Airlines and plans to push for changes aimed at reversing the airline's underperformance, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Elliott is one of Southwest's largest investors and plans to engage with the airline's management team, the report said.

Southwest and Elliott did not immediately... (continue reading...)