China cuts key rates to aid economy as trade war simmers

BEIJING/SHANGHAI — China cut benchmark lending rates for the first time since October on Tuesday, while major state banks lowered deposit rates as authorities...

Taiwan’s Lai offers peace with China but says island must strengthen defenses

TAIPEI — Taiwan wants peace and dialogue with China but the government must continue to strengthen the island’s defenses, President Lai Ching-te said on...

WHO members vote in favor of global pandemic agreement

GENEVA — Members of the World Health Organization (WHO) voted emphatically in favor of a potentially groundbreaking global treaty on improving pandemic preparedness at...

Japan is sticking to demand for US to eliminate tariffs, trade envoy says

TOKYO - Japan's top trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, said on Tuesday there was no change to Tokyo's stance of demanding an elimination of U.S....

Kremlin spokesman: No deadline can be set for Ukraine memorandum

The process for Moscow and Kyiv to develop a unified text of a peace and ceasefire memorandum will be complex, so there can be...

Nippon Steel to invest $4 billion for new US Steel mill in $14 bln...

WASHINGTON - Nippon Steel plans to invest $14 billion in U.S. Steel's operations including up to $4 billion in a new steel mill if...

Biden’s cancer diagnosis prompts new questions about his health while in White House

WASHINGTON - Former U.S. President Joe Biden's cancer announcement revived questions on Monday about the extent of his health issues during his tenure, with...

Britain, Canada, France threaten sanctions against Israel over Gaza

LONDON - The leaders of Britain, Canada and France threatened sanctions against Israel on Monday if it does not stop a renewed military offensive...

China-US trade truce prompts nations to eye tougher tactics

CHINA’s defiant stance in negotiating a tariff truce with the US has convinced some countries they need to take a tougher position in their...

Thailand GDP grows by 3.1% in 1st quarter, beats expectation

BANGKOK — Thailand’s economy grew more than expected in the first quarter of 2025, data showed on Monday, but the state planning agency cut...

Centrist Nicusor Dan wins Romanian presidency

BUCHAREST — Romania’s centrist Bucharest mayor, Nicusor Dan, won the country’s presidential election on Sunday in a shock upset over a hard-right, nationalist rival...

Taiwan is not ruling out ‘political warfare’ by China, coast guard says

TAIPEI — Taiwan’s coast guard said on Monday China could try to disrupt public morale on the island ahead of President Lai Ching-te’s one-year...