Updated

Former Thai PM hopeful cleared in first of two cases against opposition

By Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat BANGKOK (Reuters) -A Thai court on Wednesday cleared former prime ministerial hopeful Pita Limjaroenrat of violating election rules in the first of two cases targeting a popular opposition that has plans for radical reforms in the country. The Harvard-educated Pita, 43, whose bid to become premier last year was …

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In New Hampshire, Republicans were just half of voters in their own primary, exit poll shows

By Jason Lange WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Some 51% percent of voters in New Hampshire’s Republican presidential primary contest consider themselves to be Republicans, down from 55% in the party’s 2016 contest, according to an exit poll conducted on Tuesday by Edison Research. The poll gathered responses from 2,192 voters in the Republican contest, and poll results …

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Analysis-Takeaways from the New Hampshire presidential primary

By James Oliphant MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (Reuters) -Donald Trump, the former president, won his second straight nominating contest over challenger Nikki Haley, the only other Republican left in the race, by besting her in Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary. Haley, who served as Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, was attempting to keep the margin close …

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Japan exports soar to record in Dec; China shipments make long-awaited rebound

By Satoshi Sugiyama TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan’s exports surged to record highs in December, with shipments to the U.S. soaring to their strongest-ever level while those to China were also robust, logging their first rise in more than a year. The better-than-expected data comes at a time of heightened concern about a faltering economic recovery in …

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Fortescue faces rare delays for China iron ore customs clearance – sources

By Melanie Burton (Reuters) -At least two iron ore cargoes from the world’s No.4 supplier Fortescue Metals Group are facing unusual customs delays at north China’s Caofeidian port due to inspections for solid waste, sources with knowledge of the matter said. The cargoes were in two shipments totalling roughly 400,000 metric tons, the sources said, …

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Thai central bank chief rejects talk of ‘crisis’, says gov’t stimulus won’t fix economy

By Orathai Sriring, Devjyot Ghoshal and Kay Johnson BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand’s central bank chief, under fire from the prime minister for not cutting rates, said slower-than-expected economic growth was not a crisis as portrayed by the government, nor would it be revived by its quick-hit stimulus measures. The Bank of Thailand’s current policy rate is …

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Turkey approves Sweden’s NATO membership bid after 20-month delay

By Huseyin Hayatsever and Tuvan Gumrukcu ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkey’s parliament ratified Sweden’s NATO membership bid on Tuesday, clearing the biggest remaining hurdle to expanding the Western military alliance after 20 months of delay. Turkey’s general assembly, where President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling alliance holds a majority, voted 287-55 to approve the application that Sweden first made …

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