HSBC Holdings' interim chairman Brendan Nelson will move into that role on a permanent basis, in a surprise move that came seven months after the Asia-focused lender started a search to replace its former chair Mark Tucker.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner in the Kremlin on Tuesday for talks on a possible way to end the deadliest European conflict since World War Two.

An acute global shortage of memory chips is forcing artificial intelligence and consumer-electronics companies to fight for dwindling supplies, as prices soar for the unglamorous but essential components that allow devices to store data.

Taiwan is looking forward to re-establishing ties with former ally Honduras and has been in touch with both of the presidential candidates who are friendly towards Taipei, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said on Wednesday.

China has issued the first batch of new rare earth export licences that should accelerate shipments to certain customers, a source said on Tuesday, fulfilling a key outcome of the summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.

Police have arrested 15 people on suspicion of manslaughter in a criminal inquiry into last week's tragedy at the Wang Fuk Court complex.

Russia and the U.S. did not reach a compromise on a possible peace deal to end the war in Ukraine after a five-hour Kremlin meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump's top envoys, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

Centrist Nasralla takes slim lead in Honduran presidential election plagued by delays as Trump alleges fraud

There is no room for compromise when it comes to Taiwan's security, while freedom and democracy are foundational values that have nothing to do with ideological disputes, President Lai Ching-te told army reservists on Tuesday.

World stocks rose on Tuesday, regaining their poise after wobbling the previous day and lifted by an extended upswing in tech and AI sentiment as investors also continued to wager the Federal Reserve will lower U.S. interest rates next week.

China's services activity expanded at its slowest pace in five months in November, as growth in new orders softened despite a boost from foreign demand, according to a private survey released on Wednesday.

The Netherlands' economic affairs minister said on Tuesday he has canceled a visit to China that he had planned for December, citing scheduling differences.

China has issued the first batch of new rare earth export licences that should accelerate shipments to certain customers, a source said on Tuesday, fulfilling a key outcome of the summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.

A leaked set of 28 U.S. draft peace proposals emerged last week.

There is no room for compromise when it comes to Taiwan's security, while freedom and democracy are foundational values that have nothing to do with ideological disputes, President Lai Ching-te told army reservists on Tuesday.

Global shares fell and U.S. Treasury yields rose on Monday as investors took a breather following five straight sessions of gains and ahead of key economic data that could support bets on Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.

Hong Kong's leader said a judge-led committee will investigate the cause of the city's deadliest fire in decades and review government oversight of building renovations blamed for fanning a blaze that killed at least 151 people.

Stocks made muted gains and traders were wary on Tuesday, following a slide in cryptocurrencies and a global bond selloff triggered by a looming interest rate hike in Japan.

Hong Kong authorities said they had arrested 13 people for suspected manslaughter in a probe into the city's deadliest fire in decades, pointing to substandard renovation materials for fuelling a blaze that has claimed at least 151 lives.

China and Japan gave conflicting versions of a maritime confrontation involving their coast guards and a Japanese fishing vessel around the disputed Senkaku Islands on Tuesday.