Nepal to vote in local polls for first time in two decades
KATHMANDU (Reuters) – Nepal votes in local elections on Sunday for the first time in 20 years, a major step in the young republic’s difficult transition to democracy more than a decade after the end of its civil war.
Turkey detains dozens of former bourse staff over Gulen links: media
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish police detained 53 former employees of the Istanbul stock exchange on Friday over alleged links to the U.S.-based cleric accused of orchestrating last July’s attempted coup, Haberturk newspaper reported.
Fears of U.S. drift on rights under Trump as Cambodia suffers crackdown
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – As a political crackdown intensifies in Cambodia ahead of elections, critics of veteran strongman Hun Sen fear a change in U.S. priorities under President Donald Trump will reduce pressure to respect human rights.
French-led force postpones Pacific beach attack drills after landing craft mishap
GUAM (Reuters) – A French-led amphibious force, including contingents from Japan, Britain and the United States, postponed their first-ever joint beach attack drills in the Western Pacific on Friday after a landing craft ran aground, commanders said.
Cash and chemicals: for Laos, Chinese banana boom a blessing and curse
BOKEO, Laos (Reuters) – Kongkaew Vonusak smiles when he recalls the arrival of Chinese investors in his tranquil village in northern Laos in 2014. With them came easy money, he said.
Brazilian says Venezuela’s Maduro made illegal payments in 2012 Chavez campaign
BRASILIA (Reuters) – A Brazilian strategist was paid $20 million under-the-table for the 2012 re-election campaign of the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, much of it handed over in cash by the man who now leads Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro, a…
Taiwan to continue buying arms from United States, boosting U.S. jobs
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan will continue to buy arms from the United States with its purchases boosting employment in at least six U.S. states and narrowing the bilateral trade gap, the government has told the United States, in rare public comment sure …
Thailand’s new king watches as sacred oxen predict good harvest
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s new King Maha Vajiralongkorn attended an annual plowing ceremony on Friday where sacred oxen predicted a bountiful harvest, auguring well for the world’s second largest rice exporter’s hopes of selling more this year.
Australia considering NATO request to send more troops to Afghanistan
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Friday he is considering a NATO request for more troops in Afghanistan, as U.S. President Donald Trump considers whether to expand the NATO-led mission there by several thousand.
Odebrecht witness says Argentine spy chief received bribes: source
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – A witness in Brazil’s “Operation Car Wash” corruption scandal involving construction companies told Argentine prosecutors on Thursday that President Mauricio Macri’s spy chief received bribes, a judicial source present at the h…
