INSIDER
US sanctions hundreds of firms accused of supplying Russia's war machine
Read full article: US sanctions hundreds of firms accused of supplying Russia's war machineThe U.S. has imposed sweeping sanctions against hundreds of firms across Russia, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, accusing them of providing products and services that enable Russia’s war effort and aiding its ability to evade sanctions.
UN report says that education, social safety nets vital for Asia to grow rich, cope with aging
Read full article: UN report says that education, social safety nets vital for Asia to grow rich, cope with agingA report by the United Nations says that as economies in Asia and the Pacific slow and grow older, countries need to do more to ensure that workers get the education, training and social safety nets needed to raise incomes and ensure social equity.
Stock market today: Asian markets are mixed after a slow day on Wall St ahead of US inflation update
Read full article: Stock market today: Asian markets are mixed after a slow day on Wall St ahead of US inflation updateShares are mixed in Asia after U.S. stock indexes held at a near standstill ahead of some potentially market-moving reports.
3 Red Sea data cables cut as Houthis launch more attacks in the vital waterway
Read full article: 3 Red Sea data cables cut as Houthis launch more attacks in the vital waterwayThree cables under the Red Sea that provide global internet and telecommunications have been cut as the waterway remains a target of Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
A UN agency targets 35% growth in aquaculture production by 2030 to meet demand and fight hunger
Read full article: A UN agency targets 35% growth in aquaculture production by 2030 to meet demand and fight hungerThe U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization has set a target to further increase aquaculture production to meet rising demand for seafood and to fight global hunger and undernourishment.
Stock market today: Asian shares are mixed, with China up after state fund says it will buy stocks
Read full article: Stock market today: Asian shares are mixed, with China up after state fund says it will buy stocksShares are mixed in Asia, where Chinese markets advanced after a government investment fund said it would step up stock purchases.
Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are idling car factories and delaying new fashion. Will it get worse?
Read full article: Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are idling car factories and delaying new fashion. Will it get worse?Attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthi rebels have unraveled a key global trade route, forcing vessels into longer and more costly journeys around Africa.
Biden delays consideration of new natural gas export terminals, citing climate risk
Read full article: Biden delays consideration of new natural gas export terminals, citing climate riskThe Biden administration is delaying consideration of new natural gas export terminals in the United States, even as gas shipments to Europe and Asia have soared since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Houthi attacks on commercial ships have upended global trade in vital Red Sea corridor
Read full article: Houthi attacks on commercial ships have upended global trade in vital Red Sea corridorThe attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthi rebels have scared off some of the world’s top shipping companies and oil giants.
Europe's strategy to boost its computer chip industry and compete with Asia gets final approval
Read full article: Europe's strategy to boost its computer chip industry and compete with Asia gets final approvalEuropean Union member states have given final approval for the bloc’s master plan to expand semiconductor production.
Stock market today: Asian shares extend losses after China reports lower growth than expected
Read full article: Stock market today: Asian shares extend losses after China reports lower growth than expectedShares are mostly lower in Asia as optimism over a Wall Street rally is countered by worries about the Chinese economy.
Russia halts landmark deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain at time of growing hunger
Read full article: Russia halts landmark deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain at time of growing hungerRussia has halted a breakthrough wartime deal that allows grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where hunger is a growing threat and high food prices have pushed people into poverty.
Stock market today: Asian shares mostly lower, tracking Wall Street retreat
Read full article: Stock market today: Asian shares mostly lower, tracking Wall Street retreatShares are mostly lower in Asia after Wall Street benchmarks retreated following the S&P 500's rise to its highest level since the spring of last year.
Ukraine pushes to extend wartime grain deal at talks with Russia, Turkey and U.N.
Read full article: Ukraine pushes to extend wartime grain deal at talks with Russia, Turkey and U.N.The Ukrainian government is seeking to extend a wartime deal that allowed the country’s grain to get to nations in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Bank: Asia must quit coal faster to stem worst climate woes
Read full article: Bank: Asia must quit coal faster to stem worst climate woesAsia must rapidly cut fossil fuel subsidies and plow more money into a clean energy transition to avoid catastrophic climate change that puts its own development at risk.
Russia, Ukraine extend grain deal to aid world's poor
Read full article: Russia, Ukraine extend grain deal to aid world's poorTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and United Nations officials say an unprecedented wartime deal that allows grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia has been extended.
Russian arms dealer, son and front firms hit with sanctions
Read full article: Russian arms dealer, son and front firms hit with sanctionsA Russian arms dealer, his son and a group of front companies across Asia, Europe and the Middle East and their leadership have been targeted for U.S. sanctions in an effort to quell Russia’s access to weapons to continue its invasion of Ukraine.
China and Russia veto new UN sanctions on North Korea
Read full article: China and Russia veto new UN sanctions on North KoreaChina and Russia have vetoed a U.N. resolution sponsored by the United States that would have imposed tough new sanctions on North Korea for its spate of intercontinental ballistic missile launches that can be used to deliver nuclear weapons.
Taste all the flavors of the Pacific at this Ann Arbor restaurant
Read full article: Taste all the flavors of the Pacific at this Ann Arbor restaurantWith some dishes inspired by Japanese flavors, and others from Korea, Pacific Rim in Ann Arbor gives you a taste of its namesake. Michelle Oliver takes us there to Dine in the D.
US to remind China of Pacific interests amid Ukraine tension
Read full article: US to remind China of Pacific interests amid Ukraine tensionThe Biden administration is making a push to remind China that the U.S. remains involved and active in the Indo-Pacific despite Washington's current preoccupation with a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Intel to build $20B Ohio chip facility amid global shortage
Read full article: Intel to build $20B Ohio chip facility amid global shortageChipmaker Intel says it will invest $20 billion to build a factory in central Ohio in an attempt to help alleviate a global shortage of chips that power everything from phones to cars to home appliances.
Asian shares rebound; Wall St headed for weekly decline
Read full article: Asian shares rebound; Wall St headed for weekly declineShares are higher in Asia as investors stepped up buying despite another decline on Wall Street that kept the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq on track for their first weekly losses in three weeks.
'Afghan:' Migrant graves in Turkey testify to border perils
Read full article: 'Afghan:' Migrant graves in Turkey testify to border perilsPlain concrete gravestones painted with a number and the word “Afghan” mark the final resting places of dozens of unidentified migrants who died trying to enter Turkey through the rugged border with Iran.
This award-winning bakery blends flavors from around the world
Read full article: This award-winning bakery blends flavors from around the worldWhat do you get when you blend flavors from Algeria, Asia, and France in desserts? Likely, something unique and refreshingly different than the norm. One local woman is bringing these flavors together for our enjoyment, again as she opens her second location of Warda Pâtisserie in Midtown.
Turkey eases COVID-19 restrictions but keeps many curfews
Read full article: Turkey eases COVID-19 restrictions but keeps many curfewsTurkey’s interior ministry has lifted a full lockdown that had ordered people to stay home to fight COVID-19 infections, shifting to a less-restrictive program that still involved curfews on weeknights and weekends.
Red Cross warns that coronavirus cases are exploding in Asia
Read full article: Red Cross warns that coronavirus cases are exploding in AsiaThe International Federation of the Red Cross says coronavirus cases are exploding in Asia with over 5.9 million new confirmed infections over the past two weeks.
Suez Canal blockage adds to pressure points in global trade
Read full article: Suez Canal blockage adds to pressure points in global trade(Maxar Technologies via AP)The plight of a mammoth container ship stuck in Egypt’s Suez Canal has highlighted still more pressure points in global trade, a year after supply chains were disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. The Panama-flagged, Japanese-owned ship has been lodged in a single-lane stretch of the canal for nearly a week, holding up $9 billion each day in global trade. The disruption from the Suez Canal blockage is less dramatic but not insignificant. The canal carries over 10% of global trade, including 7% of the world’s oil. The Suez Canal accounts for 30% of the world’s daily shipping container freight.
S&P 500 returns to a record high after best day in weeks
Read full article: S&P 500 returns to a record high after best day in weeksStocks rose in afternoon trading on Wall Street Friday with technology companies and banks leading the way higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 453.40 points, or 1.4%, to 33,072.88, and both it and the S&P 500 set all-time highs. The higher yields helped lift stocks of banks, in part because higher interest rates allow them to make bigger profits from making loans. Steelmaker Nucor climbed 8.9% for the biggest gain in the S&P 500, and miner Freeport-McMoRan rose 5.9%. AdSince interest rates began rising last autumn, tech stocks have been most caught within the the market's crosswinds.
EXPLAINER: Suez Canal block could hit product supply chains
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Suez Canal block could hit product supply chainsThis satellite image from Cnes2021, Distribution Airbus DS, shows the cargo ship MV Ever Given stuck in the Suez Canal near Suez, Egypt, Thursday, March 25, 2021. The skyscraper-sized cargo ship wedged across Egypt's Suez Canal further imperiled global shipping Thursday as at least 150 other vessels needing to pass through the crucial waterway idled waiting for the obstruction to clear, authorities said. The iconic shipping journal Lloyd’s List estimates that goods worth $9.6 billion pass through the canal every day. Jim Burkhard, who heads crude oil research at IHS Markit, said the impact on the global oil market will be limited if the canal is cleared soon. Wood Mackenzie analyst Lucas Schmitt said only a few LNG shipments were near the canal when the blockage occurred.
Asian stocks advance on optimism over pandemic recovery
Read full article: Asian stocks advance on optimism over pandemic recoveryShares were higher across Asia on Friday after a strong gains on Wall Street driven by hopes for a powerful recovery from the pandemic. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)BANGKOK – Shares were higher across Asia on Friday after a strong gains on Wall Street driven by hopes for a powerful recovery from the pandemic. Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul and Shanghai all gained and U.S. futures also were higher. Investors have been moving money away from expensive tech stocks as part of a broader shift to stocks tied more closely to economic growth. The Russell 2000 index of smaller stocks outdid the rest of the market, climbing 2.3% to 2,183.12.
Supply bottlenecks leave ships stranded, businesses stymied
Read full article: Supply bottlenecks leave ships stranded, businesses stymiedIn this Wednesday, March 3, 2021 photo, container cargo ships are seen docked in the Port of Los Angeles. The pandemic has wreaked havoc with the supply chain since early 2020, when it forced the closure of factories throughout China. The cluster of ships offshore are perhaps the most dramatic symptom of an overwhelmed supply chain. Ships holding as many as 14,000 containers have sat offshore, some of them for over a week. But when all those trucks hit the road, there aren’t enough available when dockworkers are trying to unload the next ships in port.
Asian markets follow Wall St lower after Fed bump
Read full article: Asian markets follow Wall St lower after Fed bumpAsian stock markets followed Wall Street lower on Friday after rising U.S. bond yields pulled stocks lower, dampening enthusiasm driven by the Federal Reserve's promise of low interest rates. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)BEIJING – Asian stock markets followed Wall Street lower on Friday after rising U.S. bond yields dampened buying enthusiasm driven by the Federal Reserve's promise of low interest rates. Overnight, Wall Street's benchmark S&P 500 index closed down 1.5%, putting it on track for its first weekly loss in three weeks. The S&P 500 fell to 3,915.46. Bank stocks did well because investors bet higher interest rates would translate into higher profits.
Asia shares mostly higher after US stocks gain for fifth day
Read full article: Asia shares mostly higher after US stocks gain for fifth day(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)BANGKOK – Asian shares mostly rose on Tuesday, cheered by a rally to all-time highs on Wall Street. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 rose 0.7% to 3,368.94 after having been down 0.5% in early trading, extending its winning streak to a fifth day. Technology stocks, airlines, cruise operators and other companies that rely on consumer spending helped lift the market. The mild drop in yields has affected bank stocks, where investors have placed big bets that higher yields would translate into banks charging borrowers higher rates. The bond market has pulled tech stocks mostly lower this year, because as yields push interest rates higher, they make high-flying stocks look expensive.
China, North Korea loom as Blinken, Austin head to Asia
Read full article: China, North Korea loom as Blinken, Austin head to AsiaThat makes consultations with the reclusive country's neighbors, Japan, South Korea and China, all the more critical. Meanwhile, U.S. and South Korean negotiators have overcome years of contentious discussions under Trump to reach a tentative deal on paying for the American troop presence in South Korea. He served in the Philippines and Indonesia during the Trump administration and was also previously the special envoy for North Korea. For all of Biden's suggestions that he will reverse Trump's overt hostility to China, Biden has yet to countermand a single one of his predecessor's policies. “After the work of the past 50 days, Secretary Blinken and I will enter the meeting with senior Chinese representatives from a position of strength,” Sulllivan said Friday.
With sale of the Venetian, Las Vegas Sands exits the Strip
Read full article: With sale of the Venetian, Las Vegas Sands exits the StripFILE - This Aug. 2, 2005 file photo shows the Venetian Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Las Vegas Sands is selling the real estate and operations of its Venetian casino resort and Sands Expo and Convention Center to VICI Properties and Apollo Global Management in a deal worth $6.25 billion. Under Adelson, the company's focus turned to Asia years ago, where revenue eventually outpaced even the operations on the Las Vegas Strip. AdThe global pandemic broadsided Las Vegas, shuttering the Strip where Las Vegas Sands has been the biggest operator for years. The Venetian, located on the Las Vegas Strip, has three luxury hotel towers with gaming, entertainment, shopping and dining.
Asian shares track Wall St decline as bond yields rebound
Read full article: Asian shares track Wall St decline as bond yields reboundAsian shares fell Thursday, tracking a decline on Wall Street as another rise in bond yields rattled investors who worry that higher inflation may prompt central banks to raise ultra-low interest rates. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)BANGKOK – Asian shares fell Thursday, tracking a decline on Wall Street as another rise in bond yields rattled investors who worry that higher inflation may prompt central banks to raise ultra-low interest rates. Shares have yoyo'd recently with fluctuations in bond yields. When yields rise quickly, as they have in recent weeks, it forces Wall Street to rethink the value of stocks. U.S. government bond yields rose Wednesday after easing a day earlier.
Asian stocks follow Wall Street higher after Fed pledge
Read full article: Asian stocks follow Wall Street higher after Fed pledgeMajor indexes are off to a mixed start on Wall Street as gains for banks and industrial companies are offset by losses in Big Tech stocks like Apple and Amazon. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)BANGKOK – Asian stock markets followed Wall Street higher Thursday after the Federal Reserve chairman said the U.S. central bank is in no hurry to withdraw support for the economy. Overnight, Wall Street hit a new high after chairman Jerome Powell said the Fed sees no sign inflation might rise out of control. Global stock prices have soared over the past six months on hopes for a coronavirus vaccine and central bank promises of abundant credit to support struggling economies. The central bank earlier indicated it would let the economy “run hot” to make sure a recovery is well-established following the deepest slump since the 1930s.
Asian shares slip on jitters over inflation, interest rates
Read full article: Asian shares slip on jitters over inflation, interest ratesShares fell in Asia on Wednesday as investors weighed the possibility that inflation might prompt central banks to adjust their ultra-low interest rate policies. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)TOKYO – Shares fell Wednesday in Asia as investors weighed the possibility that inflation might prompt central banks to adjust their ultra-low interest rate policies. Investors remain increasingly focused on a big tick up in bond yields and how it affects stock valuations. However, “Despite reassuring comments on lower rates from the U.S. Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, Asia markets continued to look to concerns with regards to the rising bond yields," Pan said. The bet mostly paid off, as big tech companies reported big profits last year.
Asian shares drop after US stocks' worst day since October
Read full article: Asian shares drop after US stocks' worst day since OctoberAsian shares skidded on Thursday as a reality check set in about longtime economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic, giving Wall Street its worst day since October. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)Asian shares skidded on Thursday as a reality check set in about longtime economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic, giving Wall Street its worst day since October. Daily deaths had been mostly in single-digit figures until recently, but are now surpassing 100 people a day. On Wall Street, a sell-off in technology companies sent shares tumbling in a reversal from the market's recent moves to record highs. As a whole, analysts expect S&P 500 companies to say their fourth-quarter profit fell 5% from a year earlier.
Asian shares mixed as boost from US stimulus package fades
Read full article: Asian shares mixed as boost from US stimulus package fadesAsian shares were mixed Wednesday after a lackluster day on Wall Street, as the boost from President Donald Trumps signing of the coronavirus relief package faded. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)Asian shares were mixed Wednesday after a lackluster day on Wall Street, as the boost from President Donald Trump’s signing of the coronavirus relief package faded. It is still on track to end the month 7.7% higher, more than twice as much as the S&P 500. The S&P 500 fell 8.32 points to 3,727.04. With two days of trading left in 2020, the S&P 500 is up 15.4% this year, while the Nasdaq is up 43.2%.
Asia shares trend higher; Japan data offsets Wall St losses
Read full article: Asia shares trend higher; Japan data offsets Wall St lossesShares were mostly higher in Asia on Monday as the Bank of Japan's quarterly "tankan" survey showed stronger than expected business sentiment in a further sign the economy is recovering from recession. The quarterly “tankan” survey by the Bank of Japan, released Monday, showed business sentiment has improved sharply with expectations for a recovery from a year-long recession. The tankan measures corporate sentiment by subtracting the number of companies saying business conditions are negative from those responding they are positive. The Shanghai Composite index rose 0.7% to 3,369.12 and South Korea's Kospi fell 0.3% to 2,762.20. The index rose 0.2%, to 30,046.37.
Asian stocks mixed after Wall St slips near record high
Read full article: Asian stocks mixed after Wall St slips near record highIn this photo provided by the New York Stock Exchange, specialist James Denaro works at his post on the trading floor, Thursday Dec. 3, 2020. U.S. stocks are inching further into record heights Thursday, as Wall Street continues to coast following its rocket ride last month powered by hopes for coming COVID-19 vaccines. The company told The Wall Street Journal testing and setting up a supply chain took longer than expected. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 slipped to 3,666.72. Brent crude, used to price international oils, was 91 cents higher to $49.62 per barrel in London.
S&P 500 closes at record as possible vaccine lifts markets
Read full article: S&P 500 closes at record as possible vaccine lifts marketsTOKYO – The S&P 500 closed at a record high on Friday as optimism built among investors that a coming vaccine for the coronavirus will help end the shutdowns that have devastated the economy. The S&P 500 added 48.14 points, or 1.4%, to 3,585.15, rising above the index's previous closing record of 3,580.84 set back in early September. The S&P 500 ended the week up 2.2%. Stocks in the S&P 500 energy sector rose more than 16% this week, while tech stocks were essentially flat. “I still think the dust is kind of settling from that vaccine news as investors think about how to be positioned,” he said.
Asian shares slip on faltering hopes for COVID vaccines
Read full article: Asian shares slip on faltering hopes for COVID vaccinesStocks fell back across Asia on Thursday after gains for big technology shares pushed most Wall Street benchmarks higher. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index gained 0.4% to 25,459.13 despite a report that machinery orders fell in September, suggesting weakness in corporate investment. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 0.1% to 26,206.78 and the Shanghai Composite index declined 0.3% to 3,332.24. Markets have been riding a wave of relief over hopes for a potential vaccine to beat back the pandemic. Strategists along Wall Street are raising their forecasts for stock prices on expectations that political control of Washington will remain split between the parties.
Marriott bounces back as activity in China surges
Read full article: Marriott bounces back as activity in China surgesMarriott saw dramatic improvement in the third quarter as travel demand rebounded in China. Average occupancy at hotels in China hit 61% during the quarter, down just 10% from a year ago. Sorenson said leisure travelers who might usually go abroad are staying in China, boosting occupancy rates. Business and group demand is weaker, partly because international business travel — which normally accounts for 25% of Marriott's business in China — is down significantly. The trend toward remote work could accelerate a shift the industry was already seeing away from business travel, Sorenson said.
Asia tracks Wall St rally as markets shrug at election limbo
Read full article: Asia tracks Wall St rally as markets shrug at election limboThe benchmark index had gained 3.5% before the market lost some of its momentum toward the end of the day. The Shanghai Composite index rose 0.6% to 3,297.34. But after a tumultuous overnight session in global markets where Trump prematurely declared victory, markets acted as if the occupant of the White House might be secondary. It may take days for a winner of the White House to emerge, and professional investors say they’re bracing for sharp market swings in the meantime. Stocks tend to rise regardless of which party controls the White House.
US futures, Asia markets rise as investors eye US election
Read full article: US futures, Asia markets rise as investors eye US electionBEIJING – U.S. futures rose and Asia markets posted gains as investors worldwide await the results from the U.S. presidential election. Dow futures were up 0.6% and the S&P 500 futures rose 1.6% as of 10:25 p.m. Eastern time after falling earlier as election returns began coming in. The gain in the futures follow a strong performance in regular trading on Wall Street. What investors fear is the prospect of a contested election, one that drags on and injects even more uncertainty into markets. The moves in global markets follow a solid finish for stocks on Wall Street Tuesday.
Two same-sex couples in military marry in first for Taiwan
Read full article: Two same-sex couples in military marry in first for TaiwanLesbian couple Yi Wang, right, and Yumi Meng show their wedding rings during a military mass weddings ceremony in Taoyuan city, northern Taiwan, Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. Two lesbian couples tied the knot in a mass ceremony held by Taiwan's military on Friday in a historic step for the island. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)TAOYUAN – Two lesbian couples tied the knot in a mass wedding held by Taiwan's military on Friday in a historic celebration with their peers. Taiwan is the only place in Asia to have legalized same-sex marriage, with more than 4,000 such couples marrying since the legislation passed in May 2019. The mass wedding with 188 couples was the first time same-sex couples have been wed and celebrated at a military ceremony.
Asian stocks fall on worries over rising virus cases, US aid
Read full article: Asian stocks fall on worries over rising virus cases, US aidPeople wearing face masks walk past a bank's electronic board showing the Hong Kong share index in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. Asian shares headed lower Wednesday on worries about rising virus counts and Washington's inability to deliver more aid to the economy. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)Asian shares headed lower Wednesday on worries about rising virus counts and Washington's inability to deliver more aid to the economy. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 0.3% in morning trading to 23,420.93, while South Korea's Kospi declined 0.2% to 2,325.22. The U.S. dollar weakened to 104.30 Japanese yen from 104.41 yen late Tuesday.
Asian shares slip after Wall St's worst day in a month
Read full article: Asian shares slip after Wall St's worst day in a monthA woman walks past a bank's electronic board showing the Hong Kong share index at Hong Kong Stock Exchange Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. Shares skidded in Asia on Tuesday after surging coronavirus cases and waning hopes for U.S. economic stimulus gave Wall Street its worst day in a month. Stock benchmarks fell in Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Sydney. This upcoming week is the busiest of this quarter's earnings season, with more than a third of the companies in the S&P 500 index scheduled to report. Still, by Friday, 84% of S&P 500 companies had reported better results than analysts had forecast, according to FactSet.
US stocks shake off a wobbly start and end mostly higher
Read full article: US stocks shake off a wobbly start and end mostly higherU.S. stock indexes closed mostly higher Friday, though the S&P 500 posted its first weekly loss in four weeks. Treasury yields remained near their highest levels since June. Before this week, the S&P 500 had notched a weekly gain three weeks in a row. American Express fell 3.6% and chipmaker Intel sank 10.6%, the biggest decline in the S&P 500, after reporting weakness in its data center business. Treasury yields dipped but remain near their highest levels since June.
Mixed Philippine reaction on pope nod on gay civil unions
Read full article: Mixed Philippine reaction on pope nod on gay civil unionsMANILA – Pope Francis’ endorsement of same-sex civil unions drew mixed reactions Thursday in the Philippines, Asia’s bastion of Catholicism, with a retired bishop saying he was scandalized by it while an LGBT group welcomed the pontiff’s remarks with relief. President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman said the Philippine leader has long expressed support to same-sex civil unions but added it needed to pass through Congress. Retired Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said he “had very serious doubts about the moral correctness” of the pontiff’s position. He said it ran against long-standing church teachings, which explicitly permit only the union of man and woman whether in civil, legal or church sacramental unions. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte has long supported same-sex civil unions and the papal endorsement may finally convince legislators to give their approval.
Asian shares lifted by stronger China growth numbers
Read full article: Asian shares lifted by stronger China growth numbersA woman walks by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. Shares advanced in Asia on Monday after China reported its economy grew at a 4.9% annual pace in the last quarter, with consumer spending and industrial production rising to pre-pandemic levels. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Asian shares track Wall Street fall as virus aid hopes fade
Read full article: Asian shares track Wall Street fall as virus aid hopes fadeAsian shares fell moderately Tuesday, echoing Wall Street's decline as hopes faded Washington will come through with badly needed aid for the economy before the U.S. presidential election. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 dropped 1.6%, its worst day in more than three weeks. The S&P 500 fell 56.89 points to 3,426.92. The index has gained 7% so far this month, outpacing the 1.9% gain for the broader S&P 500. The benchmark S&P 500 has notched a gain in each of the past three weeks.