Hong Kong budget proposals offer handouts, tax breaks for residents, small businesses
HONG KONG — Hong Kong will offer tax breaks, handouts and subsidies to small businesses and residents, to mitigate the impact of a new wave of social restrictions to curb COVID-19 infections, Finance Secretary Paul Chan said in his 2022/23 budget speech.
Japan imposes sanctions on Russia over actions in Ukraine
TOKYO - Japan is imposing sanctions on Russia over its actions in Ukraine, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday, terming Moscow's moves an...
S.Korea prime minister calls for calm as COVID cases hit new record
By Hyonhee Shin and Josh Smith
SEOUL - South Korea's prime minister on Wednesday called on people not to panic about a major increase in coronavirus infections as new daily...
Russia postpones Cuba debt payments amid warming relations
By Polina Devitt and Dave Sherwood
MOSCOW/HAVANA - Russia has agreed to postpone some debt payments owed to it by communist-run Cuba until 2027, its lower house of parliament said...
West unveils sanctions with more ready if Russia carries out full-scale Ukraine invasion
MOSCOW/DONETSK/WASHINGTON - Western nations on Tuesday punished Russia with new sanctions for ordering troops into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine and threatened to go...
75% of people want single-use plastics banned, global survey finds
LONDON — Three in four people worldwide want single-use plastics to be banned as soon as possible, according to a poll released on Tuesday, as United Nations members prepare to begin talks on a global treaty to rein in soaring plastic pollution.
Ukraine wants peace but won’t give up its land to Russia, president says
By Pavel Polityuk and Matthias Williams
KYIV - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia of wrecking peace efforts and ruled out making any territorial concessions in an address to the...
Australia plane had ‘right’ to watch China navy vessel in its waters -PM Morrison
By Kirsty Needham
SYDNEY - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said an Australian surveillance plane was doing its job when it was "put under threat" with a...
More women take top UK Plc roles, but there’s room for improvement – report
Women now make up nearly 40% of the boards of Britain's biggest 100 companies, compared with just 12.5% a decade ago, with recommendations in...
Putin orders Russian troops to Ukraine after recognizing breakaway regions
MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine after recognising them as independent on...
Biden, Putin agree in principle to Ukraine summit
US PRESIDENT Joseph R. Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed in principle to a summit over Ukraine, the French leader said on Monday, offering a possible path out of one of the most dangerous European crises in decades.
Credit Suisse had clients tied to corruption — reports
CREDIT SUISSE GROUP AG managed accounts for clients involved in human rights abuses, corruption and drug trafficking, according to newspaper reports based on leaked data on more than 18,000 accounts that together held more than $100 billion.