Malaysia to hold general election on May 9; close contest expected
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia will hold a general election on May 9, the Election Commission (EC) said on Tuesday, in what could be the toughest test of the ruling-coalition’s 61-year grip on power.
Ex-Japan PM aide denies favor for Abe’s friend as scandal clouds gather
TOKYO (Reuters) – A former aide to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday denied a media report that he had intervened to help win approval for a friend of the premier to set up a new veterinary school, the latest twist in suspected cronyism sca…
Panama says it won’t intervene to help Trump with hotel dispute
PANAMA CITY (Reuters) – Panama’s government said on Monday it will not intervene in a dispute between the Trump Organization and a new majority investor in a hotel in the country’s capital, after the U.S. president’s family business asked for help.
China’s Xi promises to lower tariffs this year, open economy further
BOAO, China (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday promised to open the country’s economy further and lower import tariffs on products including cars, in a speech that comes amid rising trade tensions between China and the United States.
China’s Xi says opening brings progress, closure backwardness
BOAO, China (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday China’s reform and opening up will definitely succeed and that a Cold War mentality, zero-sum thinking, and isolationism would hit walls.
Some 200 migrants in Mexico caravan to seek U.S. asylum: organizers
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – At least 200 Central American migrants in a “caravan” traveling through Mexico that provoked the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump plan to seek asylum in the United States, organizers said on Monday.
Colombia arrests former rebel leader on U.S. drug trafficking charge
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia on Monday arrested a soon-to-be congressman from the Marxist FARC party on charges of drug trafficking, the government said, sparking outrage from the former rebel group that demobilized last year.
Trump vows quick action in response to suspected chemical attack in Syria
WASHINGTON/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday promised quick, forceful action in response to a deadly suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria, appearing to suggest a potential military response.
Australian media report China proposes military base in South Pacific
SYDNEY (Reuters) – China has approached Vanuatu about establishing a permanent military presence on the tiny Pacific island, Australia’s Fairfax Media reported on Tuesday, a plan that would likely stoke regional tensions.
Merkel gathers bickering ministers to knuckle down to business
BERLIN (Reuters) – Chancellor Angela Merkel will need to draw on all her experience to forge some team spirit among her new cabinet at a two-day retreat starting on Tuesday, with ministers already squabbling after just a month in office.
