Fitch cut its outlook on China’s sovereign credit rating to negative on Wednesday, citing risks to public finances as the economy faces increasing uncertainty in its shift to new growth models. The outlook downgrade follows a similar move by Moody’s in December and comes as Beijing ratchets up efforts to spur a feeble post-Covid recovery in the world’s second-largest economy …

South Korea’s opposition was heading towards a landslide victory on Wednesday in parliamentary elections, exit polls indicated, in a major blow to President Yoon Suk Yeol. The outcome if confirmed will at the very least leave Yoon as a lame duck for the three remaining years of his term in office, and could even open the way for his impeachment. …

A year after its offices were surveyed by tax officials, the BBC in India split its news-gathering operations from Wednesday with the launch of Collective Newsroom, The Indian Express reported. According to the report, Collective Newsroom — an Indian-owned media company that will produce content for the British broadcaster — is helmed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rupa Jha and fellow directors Mukesh Sharma, Sanjoy Majumder, …

A shooting between rival groups left three people wounded during Eidul Fitr celebrations on Wednesday, police in the US city of Philadelphia said. Police gave no indication that the event itself was targeted. “We are very, very fortunate today that we did not have more individuals shot and anyone killed,” Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel told reporters. In mid-afternoon as around …

OJ Simpson, the American football star and actor who was acquitted in a sensational 1995 trial of murdering his former wife but was found responsible for her death in a civil lawsuit and was later imprisoned for armed robbery and kidnapping, has died at the age of 76. Simpson, cleared by a Los Angeles jury in what the US media …

Massive heatwaves across East Asia and the Pacific could place millions of children at risk, the United Nations warned on Thursday, calling for action to protect vulnerable people from the soaring temperatures. Global monitors have warned that 2024 is shaping up to be the hottest year on record, marked by climate extremes and rising greenhouse gas emissions. Data from the United Nations …

Russia and Germany on Thursday urged countries in the Middle East to show restraint and Israel said it was preparing to “meet all its security needs” in a region on edge over an Iranian threat to strike Israel. The German airline Lufthansa, one of only two Western carriers flying to Tehran, extended a suspension of its flights to the Iranian …

The United States has topped long-time leader China as Taiwan’s main export market for four consecutive months due to a surge in demand for microchip products and AI technology, Taipei’s finance ministry said on Friday. Self-ruled Taiwan is a microchip-manufacturing powerhouse, churning out the world’s most advanced silicon wafers necessary to power everything from e-vehicles and satellites to fighter jets …

Beijing on Friday criticised the United States, Japan and the Philippines and defended its actions in the South China Sea as “lawful” after US President Joe Biden hosted a trilateral meeting in Washington. Biden on Thursday pledged to defend the Philippines from any attack in the South China Sea at the White House summit, which came amid repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine …

ISLAMABAD: The district and sessions judge (DSJ) on Tuesday adjourned hearing on the appeals against the conviction of former prime minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi in a case related to contracting Nikkah during the latter’s Iddat period. The counsel for the complainant Khawar Fareed Manika remained absent. Judge Shahrukh Arjumand resumed hearing on the appeals. Barrister Chaudhry …