World News 24/7/30

As wildfires scorched California yet again this summer, Jose Dariush Leal da Costa, a Bay Area native with Portuguese roots, was harvesting his first almonds in a sun-drenched, watery oasis in southern Portugal. from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2wtck2W

While China meets African leaders at a major summit in Beijing next week, the king of eSwatini, self-ruled Taiwan's last remaining ally on the continent, will be hosting thousands of people at a traditional Reed Dance ceremony. from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2osJ085

Kremlin said on Friday it did not rule out the possibility that Russian President Vladimir Putin could hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump at three summits due to take place in 2018, including those in Singapore, France and Argentina. from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2wBTN4H

A Cambodian court jailed an Australian filmmaker for six years on Friday after finding him guilty of espionage for flying a drone over an opposition party rally. from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2PQwMCR

Japan's military wants record spending next year to help pay for major upgrades to defenses designed to shoot down North Korean ballistic missiles that Tokyo sees as a continued threat despite Pyongyang's promise to abandon nuclear weapons. from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2wtqctN

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has had to strip one minister of her portfolio and had another step aside in less than a week, capping off a month of challenges for the popular premier since her return from maternity leave. from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2PQSu9V

The Catholic church in Australia on Friday rejected laws forcing priests to report child abuse when they learn about it in the confessional, setting the stage for a showdown between the country's biggest religion and the government. from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2Pnggcj