The U.K. has its first Black government leader as Vaughan Gething is elected first minister of Wales

LONDON — LONDON (AP) — Vaughan Gething was elected first minister of Wales on Wednesday, becoming the first Black leader of a government in the U.K. Gething was elected government leader by members of the Welsh parliament in Cardiff, four days after winning the contest to be leader of Wales’ governing Labour Party. He secured … Read more

Doing business in China is growing tougher, more uncertain, European business group says

BEIJING — Uncertainty and “draconian regulations” have drastically raised risks for foreign businesses in China, a report by a European business group said Wednesday. The lengthy paper by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China urges China’s leaders to do more to address concerns that it says have “grown exponentially” in recent years. “This … Read more

Wales will get its first Black leader after Vaughan Gething wins a Welsh Labour Party contest

LONDON — Vaughan Gething won the Welsh Labour Party leadership contest on Saturday, and is set to become the first Black leader of Wales’ semi-autonomous government. Gething, who is currently Welsh economy minister, narrowly beat Education Minister Jeremy Miles in a race to replace First Minister Mark Drakeford. Drakeford announced late last year he would … Read more

China’s exports and imports beat estimates for first 2 months, signaling improving demand

HONG KONG — China’s exports and imports for the first two months of the year beat estimates, an indication that demand may be improving as Beijing attempts to speed up its economic recovery. Exports in January-February grew 7.1% from a year earlier, according to customs data released Thursday, up from a 2.3% rise in December. … Read more

Cash-strapped Egypt allows its currency to fall sharply against dollar, hikes interest rates

CAIRO — The Egyptian pound slipped sharply against the dollar on Wednesday after the Central Bank of Egypt raised its main interest rate and said it would allow the currency’s exchange rate to be set by market forces. The measures were meant to combat inflationary waves and attract foreign investment as the country experiences a … Read more

Hong Kong lifts curbs on property market, to spend more on tourism

HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s government has lifted curbs on property deals after home prices fell to a seven-year low, adding to the Chinese territory’s woes. Finance minister Paul Chan announced the move in a speech presenting the territory’s budget, which also raised spending on tourism promotion. He said all curbs, such as extra taxes, … Read more

Long-stalled Geneva motor show revs again as Renault, MG, BYD electrics roll onto its smaller stage

GENEVA — The century-old Geneva motor show is back in action for the first time in five years, and organizers are desperately trying to rev up its fortunes. The show skidded off track in 2020 — canceled at the last minute because of the coronavirus outbreak — and had been stalled until now. A handful … Read more

Singapore Airshow features aerial displays and the international debut of China’s C919

SINGAPORE — The Singapore Airshow – Asia’s largest – kicked off Tuesday with an array of aerial displays including some by China’s COMAC C919 narrow-body airliner. It’s the first time Singapore has opened the event to the public since 2020, when a scaled-down version went ahead as the COVID-19 pandemic was just starting. The biennial … Read more

Judge says Canada’s use of Emergencies Act to quell truckers’ protests over COVID was unreasonable

TORONTO — A Canadian judge has ruled that the government’s use of the Emergencies Act to quell weeks of protests by truckers and others angry over COVID-19 restrictions in 2022 was unreasonable and unconstitutional. Up to thousands of protesters clogged the streets of the capital of Ottawa and besieged Parliament Hill, demonstrating against vaccine mandates … Read more

After years of delays, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ties the knot

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — After almost five years of engagement and a postponement due to the coronavirus pandemic, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern married longtime partner Clarke Gayford in a private ceremony Saturday. Details of the event were closely held by the pair, but the ceremony is reported to have been staged at … Read more