WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Detroit automakers and labor unions on Monday insisted that any U.S. trade deal with Japan contain strong provisions to combat currency manipulation and pry open Japan’s largely closed auto market before lowering any U.S. autos tariffs. At a hearing on U.S. negotiating objectives for trade talks expected to start early next year, […]

MUMBAI (Reuters) – The Governor of India’s central bank, Urjit Patel, resigned abruptly on Monday after a months-long tussle over policy with the government that has raised concerns about the bank’s independence as a national election nears. Government officials have been pressuring the Reserve Bank of India to allow some bad-debt-laden public sector banks to […]

NEW DELHI (BLOOMBERG) – India’s central bank governor unexpectedly resigned amid public clashes with the government, roiling markets and igniting fresh speculation over how independent the institution is from politics. In a short statement posted on the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) website, Dr Urjit Patel said he is stepping down “on account of personal […]

PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak’s arrest on his wife’s birthday has prompted his daughter to pen an emotional heartfelt post on Instagram. “I know today is not the easiest day for us but let’s take a moment to thank Allah that we are all healthy, alive and […]

BEIJING (REUTERS) – Police have detained dozens of churchgoers and leaders of one of China’s most prominent Protestant “house” churches, congregation members and activists said, in the latest government action against unregistered religious groups. Teams of police and state security officials in the south-western city of Chengdu came to the homes of leaders and members […]

HONG KONG – Two people were killed and more than 10 others injured after a runaway school bus mounted a pavement in Hong Kong on Monday (Dec 10), South China Morning Post reported. The accident happened at the junction of King’s Road and Hei Wo Street in North Point before 2pm. “An initial investigation shows […]

LONDON (Reuters) – Simmering tensions between the U.S. and China dented European shares on Monday as investors fled risk at the start of a highly uncertain week with Britain’s parliamentary vote on Brexit looming. The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 0.8 percent to hit a two-year low once more by 0830 GMT, with Britain’s FTSE […]

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The man accused of murdering a British backpacker in New Zealand the night before her 22nd birthday made his first appearance in the Auckland District Court on Monday, where the judge expressed sympathy to the victim’s family for their “desperate” grief. The backpacker, Grace Millane, was last seen entering a downtown […]

BERLIN (Reuters) – The president of euro zone finance ministers group said in an interview published on Monday that he hoped the Italian government would be able to submit a revised draft budget to the European Union. “The rules of the Stability and Growth Pact apply to all. I hope that the Italian government will […]

TOKYO (AFP) – Carlos Ghosn has gone from heading a powerful auto alliance to occupying a Tokyo cell on allegations of financial misconduct. The former Nissan chairman was indicted on Monday (Dec 10) for understating his pay, reported Kyodo. Ghosn denies any wrongdoing. Here are some key dates since his arrest. NOVEMBER 19: SHOCK ARREST Investigators […]