Biden selects Los Angeles to host next Summit of Americas

MIAMI (AP) — The Biden administration has chosen Los Angeles to host a summit of leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean that is a key part of its outreach to a region increasingly being courted by U.S. adversaries such as Russia and China. The Summit of the Americas, to take...

German arms exports hit record after big sales to Egypt

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's arms exports reached record levels in 2021, largely due to significant sales of maritime and air defense weapons to Egypt, officials said Tuesday. Preliminary figures released by the Economy Ministry show Germany exported arms worth 9.35 billion euros...

Pandemic hasn't slowed China's love for US lobster

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — China is showing no signs of slowing its demand for American lobster this year despite disruption to the supply chain and international trade caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Chinese demand for the crustaceans grew dramatically during the 2010s in part...

China's economy grows 8.1% in 2021, slows in second half

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese leaders are under pressure to boost slumping economic growth while they try to contain coronavirus outbreaks ahead of next month's Winter Olympics in Beijing. The world's second-largest economy grew by 8.1% last year, but activity fell abruptly in the second...

Swine fever in wild boars worries Italy's pork industry

ROME (AP) — The discovery of African swine fever in northern Italy has Italian pork producers fearing significant economic damage to a major agricultural export and has forced curtailing of the official seasons to hunt for game and to gather prized truffles. Earlier this month, a...

UK says there is 'deal to be done' to resolve feud with EU

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s foreign minister expressed optimism Friday that there is a “deal to be done” to resolve a Northern Ireland trade dispute that has soured the U.K.’s relations with the European Union. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss struck an upbeat tone after her first...

China's trade surplus surges to record $676.4B in 2021

BEIJING (AP) — China’s politically volatile global trade surplus surged to $676.4 billion in 2021, likely the highest ever for any country, as exports jumped 29.9% over a year earlier despite semiconductor shortages that disrupted manufacturing. The country’s monthly trade...

Asian shares skid, tracking Wall Street retreat

BANGKOK (AP) — Asian shares slipped Friday after a retreat on Wall Street that left the Nasdaq composite down 2.5%. Tokyo fell nearly 2% and Hong Kong, Shanghai and Seoul also were lower. China reported its global trade surplus surged nearly 30% in 2021 to $676.4...

China's 2021 trade surplus swells to a record $676.4 billion as exports surge 29.8%

Dutch king won't use carriage criticized for colonial image

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Dutch king ruled out Thursday using, for now at least, the royal family's “Golden Carriage,” one side of which bears a painting that critics say glorifies the Netherlands' colonial past, including its role in the global slave trade. The...