IN BRIEF (Page 8)

Trade tensions put businesses on edge

US businessman Peter Shiao had worked hard with his Chinese capital partners to create an investment fund, but as they prepared to announce it this year, China-US trade tensions escalated, forcing them to make an abrupt change of plans.

Voices across America

US President Donald Trump on Friday slapped tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese products, the first shot in a trade war between the two countries. The move prompted Beijing to immediately impose tariffs on US products worth $34 billion annually - from soybeans and seafood to sport-utility vehicles and whiskey. Here are comments from some US states affected by the tariffs.

Germany reaches deal on migration

BERLIN - The parties in Germany's ruling coalition have reached deal on a package of measures to deal with asylum-seekers who have already registered in other European Union states, and vowed to push ahead with an immigration law this year.

Third night of riots after police shooting

NANTES, France - Cars and buildings were set alight on Friday in a third day of rioting in western France over the fatal police shooting of a young man, the latest flare-up of tension between French police and youths in poor suburbs with large immigrant populations.

Canada braces for fallout from tariffs

With retaliatory tariffs on US goods going into effect on July 1, Canadian industries from automobiles to groceries will bear the brunt of an ongoing trade dispute between North American allies, some experts have said.

Iraq bans farming summer crops as water crisis grows dire

MISHKHAB, Iraq - The country has banned its farmers from planting summer crops this year as the country grapples with a crippling water shortage that shows few signs of abating.

Rescuers race to drain water to save 12 trapped boys, coach in Thailand

With more rain coming, rescuers are racing against time to pump out water from a flooded Thailand cave before they can extract 12 boys and their soccer coach with minimum risk, officials said on Thursday.

Kim Dotcom loses latest extradition appeal

WELLINGTON - Internet entrepreneur and Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom can be extradited to the United States to face racketeering and criminal copyright charges, New Zealand's Court of Appeal ruled on Thursday.

Experts: BRICS members could use good governance to fight social ills

JOHANNESBURG - BRICS members could use good governance to alleviate social ills, including grinding poverty and inequality between the rich and the poor, according to experts.

Tensions flare up despite global efforts

Tensions between the United States and Iran further escalated ahead of a key diplomatic meeting in Vienna on Friday, with the Iranian leader threatening to block the Strait of Hormuz and the US vowing to keep the waterway open.

Kremlin denies involvement in 2nd UK poisoning

The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia is concerned over a second case of nerve agent poisoning in England, emphasizing that Russia has nothing to do with either case.