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Financial markets may be the last guardrail on Trump

Since returning to the White House, Donald Trump has ushered in sweeping changes to international geopolitics and US government administration with little regard for norms that have constrained predecessors.

US growth figure expected to make for tough reading for Trump

US GDP figures for the first quarter are expected to show a sharp drop-off in growth -- and possibly even a recession -- reflecting a surge in imports before President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs came into effect.

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Mongolian LGBTQ youth fight for recognition through music, comedy

Mongolian influencer Anudari Daarya looks effortlessly glamorous and carefree in her social media posts -- but the classically trained pianist's road to acceptance as a transgender artist has been anything but easy.

India's elephant warning system tackles deadly conflict

In central India's dry forests, community trackers hunt for signs of elephants to feed into an alert system that is helping prevent some of the hundreds of fatal tramplings each year.

Japan rice prices soar as core inflation accelerates

Rice prices in Japan last month were almost twice what they were a year earlier, official data showed Friday, as core inflation accelerated in the world's number four economy.

Netflix earnings top forecasts despite economic turmoil

Netflix on Thursday reported quarterly earnings slightly better than analysts expected, saying it is staying focused on what it can control as the overall economy is roiled by US President Donald Trump's trade war.

Trump and Italy's Meloni talk up EU tariff deal hopes

Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni hit an optimistic note about a possible US-EU tariffs deal Tuesday as the far-right Italian prime minister mounted a charm offensive at the White House.

Netflix earnings in first quarter of 2025 top forecasts

Netflix on Thursday reported quarterly profit of $2.9 billion as revenue grew 13 percent with help from recent subscription price hikes.

Salvadoran soldiers stop US senator near prison holding expelled migrant

Salvadoran soldiers on Thursday barred a US senator who is in the country to seek the release of a man wrongfully deported by President Donald Trump's administration from visiting the prison where he is held.

Trump talks up EU tariff deal as Italy's Meloni visits

US President Donald Trump said he would "100 percent" reach a tariffs deal with the European Union as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia led a charm offensive at the White House on Thursday.

Google has illegal monopoly in ad tech, US judge rules

A US judge on Thursday ruled that Google illegally wielded monopoly power in the online ad technology market, in a legal blow that could rattle the tech giant's revenue engine.

Trump softens on Zelensky, says mineral deal coming 'soon'

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he doesn't hold Volodymyr Zelensky "responsible" for Russia's invasion of his country but continued to criticize the pro-Western Ukrainian leader.

Countries must 'make the best' of new multipolar world: IMF chief

Countries have no choice but to "make the best" of the fragmentation of the global economy by boosting ties with regional and like-minded countries, the head of the International Monetary Fund said in an interview Thursday.

Iran challenges four countries in UN court over jet it downed in 2020

Iran on Thursday filed a challenge at the International Court of Justice against Canada, Sweden, Ukraine and Britain over a UN aviation body's ruling against it related to the shooting down of a passenger plane in 2020.

Italy's Meloni, Trump talk up EU trade deal hopes

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and US President Donald Trump talked up the chances of cutting a tariff deal for the European Union, as Rome's far-right leader led a charm offensive at the White House on Thursday.

Swiss watch exports to US soared ahead of Trump tariffs

Swiss watch exports to the key US market soared nearly 14 percent in March, likely the result of retailers stocking up before US President Donald Trump announced his tariffs on countries worldwide.

World economy likely to avoid recession despite tariffs: IMF chief

The global economy is likely to avoid a recession despite the hit to growth from US President Donald Trump's tariff rollout, the head of the International Monetary Fund said Thursday.

China's Xi meets Cambodian leader as part of regional diplomatic blitz

Chinese President Xi Jinping met the Cambodian premier in Phnom Penh on Thursday on the final leg of a Southeast Asia tour in which he sought to strengthen regional trade ties.

France, UK mull migrant swaps in bid to stem Channel crossings

Paris and London are discussing a trial to deport undocumented migrants from the United Kingdom to France in exchange for allowing others to join family in Britain, France's interior ministry said Thursday.

N.Ireland designer Jonathan Anderson takes helm at Dior Men

French fashion giant Dior named the highly-rated designer Jonathan Anderson as creative director of Dior Men on Thursday.

Turkish central bank raises interest rate to 46 percent

Turkey's central bank hiked its key interest rate to 46 percent on Thursday after a month of protests over the arrest of Istanbul's opposition mayor and economic uncertainty provoked by US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs.

Trump's tariff storm a threat to dollar's dominance?

As President Donald Trump's tariffs threaten the US economy, questions are being asked about how long the dollar can maintain its status as the world's key trading and reserve currency.

UK mulls impact of landmark gender ruling

From toilets and changing rooms to sports pitches and hospital wards, a ruling by Britain's Supreme Court on the legal definition of a "woman" is expected to have far-reaching consequences.

Stocks diverge as ECB rate cut looms, Trump tussles with Fed

European stock markets dropped Thursday following Asian gains as investors awaited an expected interest rate cut by the European Central Bank while US President Donald Trump blasted the head of the Federal Reserve.

Nvidia CEO in Beijing as US tech curbs, trade war threaten sales

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang arrived in Beijing on Thursday, state media said, days after the United States curbed sales of its H20 artificial intelligence chips to China.

Italy's Meloni in Washington seeking EU tariff deal from Trump

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni meets with Donald Trump Thursday in Washington, hoping a personal charm offensive can help convince the US president to cut a more favourable deal on EU tariffs.

Asian markets boosted as 'Big Progress' made in Japan tariff talks

Tokyo led Asian stocks higher on Thursday as optimism over Japan-US trade talks offset Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell's warning that Donald Trump's tariffs could force officials to choose between fighting inflation or unemployment.

Taiwan's TSMC net profit soars as US tariff threat looms

Taiwanese chipmaking titan TSMC reported on Thursday a surge in net profit for the first quarter and forecast robust demand for artificial intelligence technology, despite the spectre of US tariffs on the critical sector.

Cartel recruitment at heart of Mexico's missing persons crisis

When Rubi Cruz recognized her husband's belongings among personal items found at a suspected Mexican drug cartel training camp, she feared the worst -- that he had become a victim of forced recruitment.

Mahrang Baloch, a child of the resistance for Pakistan's ethnic minority

Pakistan's Mahrang Baloch has risen to become the young face of a decades-old movement against rights abuses since she discovered her father's tortured body when she was a teenager.

Taiwan's TSMC says net profit rose 60.3% in first quarter

Taiwanese chipmaking titan TSMC reported Thursday a surge in net profit for the first quarter and forecast robust demand for artificial intelligence technology, despite the spectre of US tariffs on the critical sector.

Hermes to hike US prices to offset tariff impact

French luxury group Hermes said Thursday it would hike its prices in the United States to offset the impact of 10-percent import tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.

Sri Lanka's women-run hotel breaks down barriers

Time for the daily staff meeting at Sri Lanka's Hotel Amba Yaalu where woman manager Jeewanthi Adhikari jokes: "This won't look very serious, there are only girls around the table."

Spanish youth keep vibrant Holy Week processions alive

Clad in a traditional white tunic and purple sash, four-year-old Thiago could barely contain his excitement before taking part as a drummer in a Spanish Easter procession thronged by thousands.

The Japan Times - Economy (English)