Australia could be the next nation to finalise a free-trade agreement with Europe, if a deal can be reached on farm exports in the near future

Xi reminds Trump that arming Taiwan is a 'red line', while discussing developments in Venezuela and Iran. Later, news emerged of talks on a new arms deal with Russia

Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi hails the retrieval of rare earths from close to 20,000 feet below sea level as a world first. She faces an election on Sunday.

PM Mark Carney is heading to Delhi and Canberra in March to ramp up his country's diversification to more friendly "middle-power" trading partners

Takaichi plans to dissolve parliament on Friday ahead of the snap vote on February 8 for all 465 seats in the lower house of parliament

The Nikkei and the Hang Seng Indexes fall after Trump's threat to impose tariffs on eight EU nations over bid to take over Greenland - but gold soars to a new high

Diversification of trade to Africa, SE Asia and other regions, helps China manage US tariffs, but it also highlights its weak domestic economy, analysts say

The Nikkei shot up on Tuesday amid widespread speculation that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will call a snap election, possibly in just a month's time

German government sources said there are high expectations that a deal could be signed at the end of January after "very intensive" talks between Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Modi on Monday

A three-month curb on Chinese exports of rare earths, like that seen during 2010, could cost Japanese businesses 660 billion yen ($4.21 billion)

Japan will conduct a deepsea mining test next month off its most easterly island, where the seabed is believed to be rich in manganese and rare earth elements

Expanding forests in eastern China and restored grasslands in other areas have led to a movement of moisture that scientists are now seeking to comprehend