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…
Venezuelan protesters block embassy center in Madrid
MADRID (Reuters) – Dozens of protesters against Venezuela’s socialist President Nicolas Maduro massed outside a cultural center in Madrid on Thursday evening as the country’s ambassador to Spain, who was stuck inside, decried what he called a “kidnappi…
G7 finance chiefs in Italy try to gauge Trump’s policy plans
BARI, Italy (Reuters) – Finance chiefs from the G7 begin a two-day meeting in Italy on Friday, with Europe, Japan and Canada hoping to come away with a clearer picture of U.S. President Donald Trump’s direction on important policies that he has yet to …
Lula graft testimony fails to lift his Brazil presidential hopes
SAO PAULO/BRASILIA (Reuters) – Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s combative testimony before a federal judge this week did little to dismantle the graft case against him and improve his chances of securing a new term in office.
Canada names David Vigneault as head of spy agency
OTTAWA (Reuters) – David Vigneault, an advisor on security matters to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, will take over as head of Canada’s spy agency next month following the current director’s previously announced retirement, the government sai…
