Venezuela under Maduro shipped gold worth $5.2 billion to Switzerland
ZURICH, Jan 6 – Venezuela transported gold worth almost 4.14 billion Swiss francs ($5.20 billion) to Switzerland during the early years of the leadership of ousted President Nicolas Maduro, customs data shows. The South American country sent 113 metric tons…
Key quotes from Paris meeting on Ukraine security guarantees
PARIS, Jan 6 – The United States and European nations on Tuesday closed in on a set of legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine designed to shield it from further Russian aggression once an eventual peace deal is brokered. Here…
Trump discussing how to acquire Greenland; US military always an option
By Steve Holland, Jeff Mason and Bo Erickson WASHINGTON, Jan 6 – U.S. President Donald Trump and his team are discussing options for acquiring Greenland and the use of the U.S. military in furtherance of the goal is “always an…
Yen gains as traders await clarity on US tariffs
NEW YORK -The safe-haven Japanese yen rose on Monday, but was slightly softer against the dollar as uncertainty around U.S. tariffs kept traders mostly on the sidelines waiting for clarity on President Donald Trump’s trade policies. The yen has been…
Trump commutes Ozy Media founder Watson’s nearly 10-year sentence
U.S. President Donald Trump has commuted Ozy Media founder Carlos Watson’s nearly 10-year prison sentence for defrauding investors in his now-defunct startup, the White House said on Friday. Watson, a former cable news anchor and investment banker, was found guilty…
Bodies of Palestinian medics recovered from grave in Gaza, UN officials say
The bodies of eight Red Crescent medics and other Palestinian rescue workers who came under fire more than a week ago have been recovered from a grave in the sand in the south of the Gaza Strip, U.N. officials said….
Exclusive-Brazil’s Bolsonaro calls ruling against Le Pen ‘judicial activism’
RIO DE JANEIRO -Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro told Reuters on Monday that a court ruling that banned French far-right leader Marine Le Pen from seeking public office for five years was “left-wing judicial activism.” Le Pen on Monday was…
Tariff-hit firms may need business turnaround financing, Japan’s bank lobby chair says
TOKYO – Japanese banks may need to offer business turnaround support to companies hit by tariffs imposed by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the head of the country’s banking lobby said. Many large Japanese firms, including major exporters…
Exclusive-Brookfield nears $9 billion-plus deal for Colonial Pipeline, sources say
Brookfield Asset Management is putting the final touches on a deal to acquire Colonial Pipeline, the largest U.S. fuel transportation system, for more than $9 billion including debt, people familiar with the matter said on Monday. The New York-based asset…
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…