Japan’s government said Thursday it received “positively” US Donald Trump’s pause on new tariffs but still “strongly” demands that Washington reconsider other levies. “We received the latest US announcement positively,” chief government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi told a regular briefing. But he added: “We continue to strongly demand that the United States reviews measures on its reciprocal tariffs,…
U.S. President Donald Trump said he would impose a 10 percent baseline tariff on all imports to the United States and higher duties on some of the country’s biggest trading partners, drawing defiant responses from leaders and governments. Here’s how top officials and governments around the world reacted: Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun: “Under…
Germany’s conservative CDU/CSU alliance led by Friedrich Merz won Sunday’s elections with between 28.5 and 29 percent of the vote, according to first TV exit polls. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) followed in second place with 19.5 to 20 percent, roughly doubling its result in the last election in 2021, based on initial figures…
Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Albert P. Khorev told Russian News Agency, TASS, that countries cooperate constructively within the United Nations. He said, In this Year, Russia and Pakistan will focus on cooperation in energy, industry, including the modernization of the Karachi Steel Mills, agriculture and transport. Russia stands ready to intensify cooperation with Pakistan on…
The Active Investor Plus visa initially brought in about NZ$1 billion ($570 million) annually by attracting wealthy individuals. However, stricter rules introduced in late 2022 caused applications to plummet. New Zealand is revamping its “golden visa” program, removing the English language requirement and easing other restrictions to attract wealthy investors and boost its post-recession recovery….
Multiple wildfires in the Los Angeles area have left at least 10 people dead and thousands more with damaged or destroyed homes. Putting everything back together could take billions of dollars and a decade of rebuilding, experts say. The wildfires have ripped through an area of about 20,000 acres, or around twice the size of Manhattan, and left…
The new Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Saturday his first official overseas trip would be to Saudi Arabia during a call with the Kingdom’s Crown Prince, the president’s office said. Lawmakers elected the 61-year-old army chief on Thursday, bringing to an end two years without a president for the multi-confessional, crisis-wracked country. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed…
Germany is pushing the EU to ease sanctions on Syria as western countries seek to build bridges with its new rulers, diplomats said Tuesday. The 27-nation bloc had imposed wide-ranging sanctions on the regime of ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad and broad swathes of the country’s economy during its civil war. Berlin is now pressing to facilitate financial…
Cyberattacks on Taiwan government departments doubled in 2024 from the previous year to an average of 2.4 million attacks a day, the island’s National Security Bureau said, adding most of them were launched by Chinese cyber forces. Taiwan has in recent years complained about what it sees as China’s “grey-zone harassment” – from daily military…
In his first news conference since his election victory six weeks ago, President-elect Donald Trump covered the Ukraine war, mysterious drones flying over New Jersey, the future of TikTok and lawsuits aimed at the media he often loves to hate. Trump displayed the loquaciousness and bravado of his 2017-2021 White House years as he held court in…
A defiant South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol faces a second impeachment vote on Saturday over his short-lived attempt to impose martial law, a move that shocked the country, split his party and imperilled his presidency half way through his term. His move to impose military rule on Dec. 3 was rescinded barely six hours later after parliament defied troops…
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and agreed to boost military cooperation between the two nations, Pyongyang state media said Saturday. The US and South Korea have accused the nuclear-armed North of sending more than 10,000 soldiers to help Russia fight Ukraine, with experts saying Kim is eager to gain…
US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday named billionaire Scott Bessent as his Treasury secretary, choosing the hedge fund manager to help execute an agenda promising tax cuts and tariffs. Bessent, who is chief executive officer of Key Square Group, has called for an extension of tax cuts from Trump’s first term, wants to reassert American energy dominance,…
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra had a phone call with US President-elect Donald Trump, her office said on Tuesday, during which they both pledged to support each others’ administrations. Paetongtarn, who took office in September and is Thailand’s youngest premier, reiterated her country’s readiness to work with the United States, according to a statement, which…
US President Joe Biden and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will meet for the last time Saturday, a day after both leaders warned of turbulent times ahead for the world as Donald Trump returns to the White House. Their final encounter, taking place on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru, has been overshadowed by…
