Russian rouble seen weakening back to around 100 to the US dollar in a year: Reuters Poll
MOSCOW – The Russian rouble is seen weakening back to the level of around 100 to the U.S. dollar in one year from now, following a rally at the start of this year, a Reuters poll of 18 economists showed…
Democratic senators urge Trump to revamp China trade ties, revise free trade deals
WASHINGTON – Three Democratic senators on Monday urged U.S. President Donald Trump to “dramatically revise” the United States’ trade relationship with China along with 14 free trade agreements, providing a boost to his push to revamp U.S. trade policy. In…
Moldova expels diplomats after accusing Russia of helping MP escape jail term
CHISINAU -Moldova expelled three Russian diplomats on Monday after it accused Russia’s embassy of engineering the escape of a pro-Kremlin lawmaker to prevent him being jailed in a case over illegal political funding. The case of Alexander Nesterovschii, who could…
Le Pen’s pro-institution line was paying off until France judges ended her presidential hopes
PARIS – Far-right leader Marine Le Pen believed respect for France’s cherished institutions would open her path to the presidency, betting it would endear her once-fringe party to mainstream French voters. She launched the tactic after a resounding 2017 election…
Europe’s defence challenge energises young techies at hackathon
AMSTERDAM – A weekend hackathon in Amsterdam aimed at finding fast-and-cheap battlefield solutions for Ukraine drew more than 100 young programmers and engineers, with many saying Europe’s rearmament plans were prompting them to consider careers in defence. European countries are…
US Senate Republican Ron Johnson says advancing Trump agenda depends on spending cuts
WASHINGTON -A prominent conservative senator predicted on Sunday that Donald Trump’s tax-cuts and immigration agenda will not advance in the U.S. Senate unless the president and Republican leaders agree to slash federal spending to a level last seen before the…
China’s CNOOC discovers 100 million-ton oilfield in South China Sea, Xinhua says
BEIJING – The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has discovered an oilfield in the South China Sea with proven reserves exceeding 100 million tonnes, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday. The newly found Huizhou 19-6 oilfield is not in…
Trump says he is not joking about third presidential term
WASHINGTON -Republican President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was not joking about seeking a third presidential term, which is barred by the U.S. Constitution, but that it was too early to think about doing so. Trump, who took office…
Trump says reciprocal tariffs will target all countries
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that reciprocal tariffs he is set to announce this week will include all nations, not just a smaller group of 10 to 15 countries with the biggest trade imbalances….
Japan finance minister says he will closely communicate with US on forex
TOKYO – Japan Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato said on Monday that he would communicate closely with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on foreign exchange, pointing out that close dialogue is important for market stability. Kato made the comment to parliament…
Australia forecasts hit to resource, energy export earnings from lower US dollar
SYDNEY – Australia’s mining and energy export earnings are expected to fall 6% in the financial year through June, with prices of its key iron ore shipments declining, the government said on Monday. Profits are forecast fall to A$387 billion…
Sudan’s paramilitary RSF chief says war with army is not over
CAIRO – The leader of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, said on Sunday that his war against the army was not over and his forces would return to Khartoum despite being largely driven out of the…
Amid earthquake crisis, Myanmar military still bombs towns
An armed resistance movement against Myanmar’s military-run government criticised the junta on Sunday for conducting airstrikes on villages even as the country reels from an earthquake that has killed around 1,700 people. The Karen National Union, one of Myanmar’s oldest…
New Mexico Republican Party HQ set on fire, graffitied ‘ICE=KKK’
The headquarters of the Republican Party of New Mexico was set on fire on Sunday and “ICE=KKK” spray painted on the building in what the party called “a deliberate act of arson.” Fire officials in Albuquerque, the largest city in…
South Korea to draft $6.8 billion extra budget for wildfire, tariff threats
SEOUL – South Korea will soon submit a 10 trillion won ($6.8 billion) supplementary budget bill to parliament to respond to the fallout from the country’s worst-ever forest fires and counter slumping growth, the finance minister said on Sunday. Choi…
Pentagon chief Hegseth says ‘warrior’ Japan indispensable to deter China
TOKYO – U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Sunday that Japan was indispensable in tackling Chinese aggression by helping Washington establish a “credible” deterrence in the region, including across the Taiwan Strait. “We share a warrior ethos that defines…
Court allows Musk, DOGE to make further cuts to USAID
A U.S. appeals court on Friday ruled that Elon Musk and members of the cost-focused Department of Government Efficiency that he spearheads can make further cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development while they appeal a lower court order…
Finland’s Stubb says he told Trump deadline needed for Ukraine ceasefire
HELSINKI – Finland’s President Alexander Stubb said on Sunday he had told U.S. President Donald Trump that a deadline needs to be set for establishing a Ukraine ceasefire in order to make it happen. “April 20 would be a good…
Experimental Lilly drug cuts genetic heart disease risk factor by 94% in trial
CHICAGO -The highest dose of an experimental drug developed by Eli Lilly significantly reduced levels of a genetically inherited risk factor for heart disease in a midstage trial, according to data presented at a major medical meeting on Sunday. The…
Hundreds of thousands of eastern Canadians face power outages due to ice storm
TORONTO -Over 300,000 Canadians faced power outages in parts of Ontario on Sunday as an ice storm pummeled the region over the weekend, according to electricity provider Hydro One. Environment Canada issued winter storm warnings for freezing rain in Ottawa,…