US says it opposes Chinese ‘coercion,’ after Belize, Paraguay ministers sanctioned
TAIPEI — The Trump administration opposes “coercion and aggression” by China against countries for exercising their sovereign rights, the US State Department said, after Beijing sanctioned Belizean and Paraguayan ministers over their ties to Taiwan. Paraguay and Belize are two of just 12 countries to maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. China says Taiwan is […]
IMF cites AI slowdown, spiking yields as looming global market risks
BANGKOK/WASHINGTON — The International Monetary Fund warned on Tuesday against “complacency” in global financial markets, citing risks from an artificial intelligence-driven selloff, rising government bond yields, or cyberattacks as potential threats facing still-resilient markets. The IMF said in its Global Financial Stability Report that AI investments have so far helped offset economic drags from war […]
AirAsia in talks with Malaysian government over potential funding support, sources say
HONG KONG — AirAsia co-founder Tony Fernandes met with officials from Malaysia’s finance ministry two weeks ago to discuss potential government support for Southeast Asia’s largest low-cost airline, said three people with knowledge of the matter. The talks reflect growing government concerns about the financial health of the country’s largest domestic carrier following a spike […]
FAA tells US airlines to exercise caution in Saudi Arabia flights, citing safety risks
WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration told US airlines on Sunday to exercise caution when flying to or over Saudi Arabia, citing safety threats tied to ongoing military activities and navigation system interference. The FAA Notice to Airmen, which lasts until December 10, follows strikes on Saturday and Sunday on Riyadh’s international airport. The attack […]
Pope Leo says he will undergo surgery for small growth on lung
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo said on Sunday that doctors had detected a small growth on his lung during a recent health check and he would be undergoing surgery this week to remove it, in the first health scare of the 71-year-old pontiff’s tenure. Leo told pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square for his weekly Sunday […]
Trump calls for replacing Ukraine’s Zelensky in tussle over diesel deal with Russia
US PRESIDENT Donald J. Trump on Saturday called for Ukraine to replace its leader Volodymyr Zelensky and railed against Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, a day after announcing a diesel supply deal with Russia that had drawn a sharp rebuke from Mr. Zelensky. In some of his harshest criticism yet of the White House, […]
Africa’s biggest IPO exposes continent’s cross-border investing barriers
NAIROBI — The historic stock market debut of Nigeria’s Dangote refinery was billed as an opportunity for investors across Africa to own a stake in the continent’s largest refining complex and finance its own industrial development. But the $1.6 billion share sale was not registered as a public offering outside Nigeria, the prospectus showed, leaving […]
US to livestream Army execution of Fort Hood shooter, Pentagon official says
WASHINGTON — The US will livestream the Army’s upcoming firing squad execution on December 3 of Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, in a 2009 shooting spree, a Pentagon official said, in what would be an unprecedented move. Mr. Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, is set to become the first person […]
Britain removes East Jerusalem consulate signage as Israeli shutdown deadline expires
JERUSALEM — Workers removed signs and plaques at the British Consulate in East Jerusalem overnight after Israel ordered it shut by Thursday over London’s plans to impose sanctions on settlements in the West Bank, further damaging strained ties between allies. Reuters journalists saw workers in the consulate remove a plaque reading “British Consulate General” and […]
British diplomats to remain at scaled-down mission in Jerusalem
JERUSALEM/LONDON — Britain and Israel announced on Thursday that the nearly 200-year-old British diplomatic mission in Jerusalem would stay open at a smaller scale and with a new name, in a compromise after Israel ordered the consulate shut in a sanctions dispute. Under the last-minute agreement, Britain will rename the consulate, founded in 1839, as […]