Philippine grandma sews face masks for Taal volcano evacuees
When demand and prices of face masks shot up after a small yet destructive volcano south of the Philippine capital suddenly spewed volcanic ash, a 61-year-old seamstress sprang into action to help her neighbors.
Report on alleged Chinese corruption in Maldives due by June: minister
A report on alleged Chinese corruption in the Maldives will be completed by June, the Maldives’ Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid said on Thursday, as the current government investigates a surge of investments by China in recent years.
UK seeks to confiscate convicted Nigerian politician’s loot
A British prosecutor launched a fresh attempt on Thursday to confiscate tens of millions of pounds stolen from an oil-producing state in Nigeria by its former governor, who was convicted of laundering his loot in Britain.
Russia’s Mishustin to pick new cabinet soon
Russian prime minister-designate Mikhail Mishustin said on Thursday he will pick his new cabinet soon.
Malaysia bets on diplomacy, not retaliation, to tackle India palm curbs
Malaysia does not want to escalate a palm oil spat with India by talking of any retaliation for now, two government sources said on Thursday, after the prime minister’s media adviser called for tighter regulations on Indian expatriates and products.
In Japan, foreign parents lead charge against child ‘abduction’
A growing number of foreigners in Japan are speaking out against what they say is a little-known but entrenched system that allows one parent in a broken relationship to take away the children and block the other from visiting them.
Russia’s ruling party approves Putin’s pick for new PM
Russia’s ruling party on Thursday unanimously backed President Vladimir Putin’s surprise choice for prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin, a man with almost no political profile.
Russian economic officials cancel keynote speeches amid reshuffle
Russia’s top economic officials have canceled keynote speeches they were due to make at the country’s first economic forum of 2020, an updated schedule showed on Thursday, a day after the government quit amid plans for a constitutional shakeup.
Angola’s dos Santos moots presidency run despite charges
Africa’s richest woman and Angola’s ex-first daughter Isabel dos Santos expressed interest on Thursday in running for the presidency despite an asset freeze and accusations of diverting more than a billion dollars of state money.
Iran accuses Europe of yielding to ‘high school bully’ Trump in nuclear row
Iran said on Thursday three European states had succumbed to “high school bully” Donald Trump when they triggered a dispute mechanism in a nuclear pact the U.S. president opposes, a step that could eventually lead to reimposing U.N. sanctions.
