U.S., China trade blame as hopes for military dialogue fade

By Chen Lin and Xinghui Kok SINGAPORE (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin rebuked China on Saturday for refusing to hold military talks, leaving the superpowers deadlocked over Taiwan and territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s top security summit, Austin said Beijing’s reluctance to talk undermined efforts…

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South Korea says some countries ignore N.Korea’s unlawful behaviour

By Kanupriya Kapoor and Ju-min Park SINGAPORE (Reuters) – South Korea’s defence minister said on Saturday that some countries were “ignoring North Korea’s unlawful behaviour”, which he said threatens to weaken U.N. sanctions against its missile and nuclear programmes. China and Russia on Friday ignored a U.S. call for the U.N. Security Council to condemn…

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Tropical storm Arlene is forecast to weaken on Saturday, US NHC says

(Reuters) – Tropical Storm Arlene is forecast to weaken on Saturday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in an advisory late on Friday. Arlene, which formed in the Gulf of Mexico, is forecast to degenerate to a remnant low on Saturday and dissipate by early Sunday, the Miami-based weather forecaster said. (Reporting by Anirudh Saligrama…

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Brazil poultry lobby sees little risk of nationwide export ban over bird flu

By Ana Mano SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Revised trade accords with most of Brazil’s trade partners, including China, make it unlikely the world’s largest chicken supplier will impose a nationwide ban on exports should the virus that causes highly pathological avian influenza (HPAI) hit commercial flocks. Ricardo Santin, head of a group representing firms like…

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Walmart reiterates goal of doubling international gross merchandise in 5 years

By Siddharth Cavale BENTONVILLE, Arkansas (Reuters) – Walmart still expects to double the amount of gross merchandise volume it sells in foreign markets to $200 billion in five years, a top executive at the retailer said on Friday, even as the global economy remains on shaky ground. Gross merchandise volume (GMV) measures the total value…

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Biden aide expressed concern in calls with Kosovo, Serbia leaders

By Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A senior aide to U.S. President Joe Biden expressed concern about events in northern Kosovo in calls with Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, the White House said on Friday. A political crisis that has spiraled into violence in Kosovo’s north has intensified since ethnic Albanian…

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US Treasury official meets with China’s new ambassador in Washington

By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Treasury Undersecretary Jay Shambaugh met on Friday with China’s new ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, holding a discussion aimed at maintaining open communications between the world’s two largest economies, the Treasury said. “The meeting was candid, constructive, and part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines…

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