Reuters

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament warned that Ukraine was dragging the United States and Europe into a major global war and on Thursday urged Western leaders to act responsibly to avoid a catastrophe.

President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine has touched off the worst breakdown in relations between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Russia is now advancing along the front line in Ukraine.

By Remo Casilli

PADUA, Italy (Reuters) - With the oldest population in the European Union, where one in four are aged over 65, it's little surprise that Italy is home to the world's fastest 90-year-old woman sprinter.

Emma Maria Mazzenga claimed another world record in the 90 and over age group this month when she ran the 200 metres outdoors in 51.47 seconds.

Born on Aug. 1, 1933, Mazzenga is one of the unsung stars of... (continue reading...)

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Commercial property has become the weak link of the euro zone's financial system, with losses there threatening to hurt banks, insurers and funds, a European Central Bank report showed on Thursday.

Commercial real estate (CRE) companies have been hit by a triple whammy of higher borrowing costs, falling demand for office space in the post-pandemic age, and more expensive building materials.

Their problems are now... (continue reading...)

By Sam Nussey

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Toshiba said on Thursday it will cut up to 4,000 jobs domestically as the industrial conglomerate accelerates restructuring under new ownership.

Toshiba delisted in December due to a $13 billion takeover by a consortium led by private equity firm Japan Industrial Partners (JIP), capping a decade of scandal and upheaval.

The consortium's efforts to engineer a turnaround at Toshiba are... (continue reading...)

By Luiza Ilie

LUDESTI, Romania (Reuters) - Before a medical caravan organised by Romania's hard-right opposition AUR party drove up to her village in April, Florina Purcareanu had not had a blood test in more than 15 years.

To get it, she would need to travel some 25 km (16 miles) to the state hospital in the nearest town and like many in her village of Ludesti in central Romania she does not have a car, and public transport links are... (continue reading...)