Taiwan holds military drills, vows to defend against Chinese aggression

Taiwan's air, sea and land forces conducted a drill to repel an invading force on Thursday, as its defense minister pledged to defend the self-ruled island against China's rising military threat.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2MhrnH6

Economy in focus as India PM Modi starts second term without key aide

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take his oath of office on Thursday along with his ministers, though he suffered a setback at the start of his second term when key aide and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley opted out of the next government.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2WzWb9W

Malaysia's Mahathir proposes common East Asia currency pegged to gold

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Thursday mooted the idea of a common trading currency for East Asia that would be pegged to gold, describing the existing currency trading in the region as manipulative.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2YVXHAQ

New Zealand unveils new 'wellbeing' budget with $2.5 billion spending; cuts growth forecast

New Zealand on Thursday unveiled a $2.5-billion-dollar spending package under its 'wellbeing' budget, prioritizing mental health and alleviating child poverty, as it rolled out a new approach to budgeting that goes beyond measuring just economic growth.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2VZghX8

Save coal, lose youth vote? Far-right German party faces climate policy revolt

A youth wing of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has called on the party to rethink its climate scepticism, which includes defending the coal industry, after a poor showing among young voters in last week's European Parliament election.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2WtjlPA

Taking aim at U.S., China says provoking trade disputes is 'naked economic terrorism'

Provoking trade disputes is "naked economic terrorism", a senior Chinese diplomat said on Thursday, ramping up the rhetoric against the United States amid a bitter trade war that is showing no signs of ending soon.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2MeAush

Prosecutors seek sale of two New York condos linked to Malaysian fugitive

U.S. prosecutors are seeking to sell two luxury condominiums in New York City linked to fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, court documents showed, the latest effort to recover money allegedly stolen from Malaysia's state fund 1MDB.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2YWzF8O

Four killed in Ukrainian military helicopter crash

A Ukrainian Soviet-designed military helicopter Mi-8 crashed late on Wednesday in western Ukraine, killing all four crew members, Ukrainian land forces said on Thursday.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2HLd4GD

New PNG leader aims to 'maximize gain' from resources sector

Former finance minister James Marape was elected prime minister of Papua New Guinea on Thursday, and the critic of a major global gas development deal vowed to review management of the nation's resource riches.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2VWCRQ5

New PNG leader looks to 'maximize gain' from resources sector

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape signaled his intention on Thursday to toughen laws on natural resources so as to benefit the nation in his maiden speech to parliament after being elected leader.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2WacI5c

Peruvian president threatens to dissolve Congress unless anti-graft reforms passed

Peru's president on Wednesday threatened to dissolve Congress unless his anti-graft proposals are passed, raising the stakes in a power struggle with the opposition that could usher in a new period of political turmoil in one of Latin America's most stable economies.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2YXI389

U.S.-China trade war of words heads for Fox cable TV face-off

China's war of words with the United States over their escalating trade dispute will reach a crescendo of sorts when a broadcaster from Chinese state television debates a Fox Business host in prime time on the U.S. cable network.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2VTQ501

U.S. believes Russia conducting low-level nuclear tests: official

The United States believes Russia may be conducting low-level nuclear testing in violation of a moratorium on such tests, the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency said on Wednesday.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2WdFMIU