WORLD

BEIJING | Xinhua | China’s southernmost island province of Hainan is poised to gain a more diversified and higher-quality economic structure following the launch of island-wide special customs operations on Thursday, said Huang Hanquan, a Chinese economist. Huang, head of the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research, made the remarks in …

NEW YORK | Xinhua | The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Tuesday threatened to take countermeasures against the EU over what it described as the bloc’s controversial regulations on service providers. “If the EU and EU Member States insist on continuing to restrict, limit, and deter …

BEIJING | Xinhua | Following the launch of island-wide special customs operations on Thursday, the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) will establish a policy and institutional framework compatible with a high-level free trade port in a phased manner, which will further accelerate its opening-up, according to a Hainan FTP official. …

BEIJING | Xinhua | China’s Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) is set to officially launch island-wide special customs operations on Thursday, a landmark step underscoring the country’s unwavering commitment to expanding high-standard opening up and advancing an open world economy. In the latest episode of China Economic Roundtable, an all-media …

WASHINGTON | Xinhua |  U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a proclamation expanding the list of countries subject to full or partial entry restrictions to cover around 40 countries, effective on Jan. 1, 2026. Trump “signed a Proclamation expanding and strengthening entry restrictions on nationals from countries with demonstrated, …

SYDNEY | Xinhua | A mass shooting took place on Sunday evening at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, killing at least 16 people and injuring dozens of others. This marks the deadliest shooting incident in the country since 1996. Here’s what we know so far about the shooting. WHAT HAPPENED? …

WASHINGTON, the United States | Xinhua | U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday filed a defamation lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), accusing the broadcaster of misleadingly editing his speech related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and seeking billions of dollars in damages. The complaint, filed with the …

SYDNEY | Xinhua |  Australia’s leaders at a snap National Cabinet meeting on Monday agreed to take decisive action to strengthen gun laws following a fatal mass shooting Sunday night at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement that he and the leaders of Australia’s states …

Carriers buoyed by unprecedented efficiency, but African operators lag amid high costs, older fleets London, UK | THE INDEPENDENT | Global airlines are on track to achieve a record net profit of $41 billion in 2026, the International Air Transport Association said in its latest outlook, as carriers squeeze historic …

BEIJING | Xinhua | With a high-level meeting wrapped up in Beijing this week, China set out a clear roadmap for how it intends to steer the economy as the next five-year plan period is set to begin. The annual Central Economic Work Conference, chaired by President Xi Jinping, laid …