USDA reports large U.S. soybean sale to China ahead of Trump-Xi meeting
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Friday reported a large soybean sale to China, an apparent goodwill gesture a day before the first meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in seven months.
Explainer: U.S.-China trade talks: where they are and what’s at stake
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are due to meet on Saturday at the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Japan to try to resurrect a deal to end a costly trade war.
Iran says progress at last-ditch nuclear deal talks ‘not enough’
European countries offered too little at last-ditch talks on Friday to persuade Iran to back off from its plans to breach limits imposed by its nuclear agreement with world powers, Iran’s envoy said.
Trump administration targets Maduro’s son ‘Nicolasito’ with sanctions
The Trump administration turned up the pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday by targeting his son Nicolas “Nicolasito” Maduro with sanctions, the U.S. Treasury Department said.
Trump, with a wag, asks Putin not to meddle in U.S. elections
President Donald Trump on Friday sardonically asked his Russian counterpart to please not meddle in U.S. elections, appearing to make light of a scandal that led to an investigation of his campaign’s contact with the Kremlin during 2016 elections.
Sri Lanka picks two hangmen for first prisoner executions since 1970s
Sri Lanka has hired two hangmen as it prepares for executions of four prisoners convicted of drug offences in what would be the country’s first use of the death penalty for over 40 years, prison authorities said on Friday.
Philippine army camp blast kills five; Islamic State claims responsibility
An explosion at a military base in the restive southern Philippines on Friday killed five people, including three soldiers, and wounded nine others in what Islamic State said was an attack by its suicide bombers.
Pakistan’s army chief points to ‘fiscal mismanagement’ for problems
Pakistan’s powerful army chief on Friday blamed “fiscal mismanagement” for the country’ economic woes, days after he was appointed to a newly formed committee responsible for steering the economy.
U.S. sanctions Venezuelan President Maduro’s son: U.S. Treasury website
The Trump administration on Friday ratcheted up its pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by targeting his son, also named Nicolas Maduro, with sanctions.
Relations between Brazil lawmakers, government improve: survey
Relations between Brazilian lawmakers and the government are improving, a survey showed on Friday, boosting the chances that the Congress will approve pension reform that is President Jair Bolsonaro’s main economic reform plan.
