First-time voters may have decisive say in Turkish election

By Birsen Altayli and Ezgi Erkoyun ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish university student Yunus Efe has known only one leader of his country – Tayyip Erdogan. As he prepares to vote for the first time in elections this month, the 22-year-old says it is time for change. Efe is one of more than 6 million first-time…

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Binance lifts block on bitcoin withdrawals amid heavy volumes

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Cryptocurrency exchange Binance halted bitcoin withdrawals for several hours on Monday, citing heavy volumes and a surge in processing fees, before clearing them at a higher cost. Late on Sunday and again early on Monday the world’s biggest crypto exchange shut bitcoin withdrawals saying there was a glut of pending transactions because it…

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German industrial output slumps, recession fears rise

By Maria Martinez BERLIN (Reuters) -German industrial production fell more than expected in March, partly due to a weak performance by the automotive sector, spurring again recession fears in Europe’s largest economy. Production decreased by 3.4% on the previous month following a slightly revised increase of 2.1% in February, the federal statistical office said on…

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Chinese state tabloid criticises South Korean protest letter

By Laurie Chen BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s hawkish state media tabloid, the Global Times, criticised on Monday a letter of protest by South Korea’s embassy in Beijing, the latest public spat amid worsening ties between the Asian neighbours. South Korea’s recent diplomatic push towards Japan and the U.S. would “induce and aggravate the … collapse…

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Thai election agency criticised after snags in early voting

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s election commission came under scrutiny on Monday after what a monitoring group said were widespread complaints in early voting, fuelling concern on social media about the competence of a body appointed under military rule. The People’s Network to Monitor Elections, an alliance of non-governmental organisations, said it received about 300 complaints…

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Chinese scour Thailand for homes, looking to offset risks after pandemic

By Angie Teo, Chayut Setboonsarng and Devjyot Ghoshal BANGKOK (Reuters) -Shanghai resident Daniel Bian drank in the sweeping views over the Thai capital as he lay on a deckchair beside a swimming pool on the 19th floor of a luxury condominium. “I feel alive. I feel free,” said an excited Bian, dapper in tinted sunglasses,…

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