US-French spat seems to simmer down after Biden-Macron call The most significant rift in decades between the United States and France seemed on the mend Wednesday after French President Emmanuel Macron and President Joe Biden got on the phone Wednesday to smooth things over.

Lithuania advises against use of Chinese phones Lithuania’s defense ministry on Wednesday said public institutions and consumers should be wary of using Chinese phones, warning about possible security flaws and data leaks.

North Korean paper calls for speedy harvests to minimize loss from natural disasters North Korea’s official newspaper on Thursday called for all-out efforts to speed up harvests of crops to minimize loss from natural disasters and maximize grain production amid worries about chronic food shortages.

Fed signals bond-buying taper coming ‘soon,’ rate hike next year The Federal Reserve said on Wednesday it will likely begin reducing its monthly bond purchases as soon as November and signaled interest rate increases may follow more quickly than expected as the U.S. central bank’s turn from pandemic crisis policies gains momentum.

New cases in 1,700s for 3rd day; post-holiday resurgence in store South Korea’s daily coronavirus cases stayed above 1,700 for the third day in a row Thursday on fewer testers during the three-day Chuseok holiday, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, that ended Wednesday, but concerns run high over a potential resurgence across the country down […]

Trump sues niece, New York Times over Pulitzer-winning tax story Former US president Donald Trump on Tuesday filed a $100 million lawsuit against his estranged niece Mary Trump and The New York Times, alleging they engaged in “an insidious plot” to obtain his tax returns for the paper’s Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation of his finances.

Top diplomats of South Korea, US, Japan reaffirm cooperation on North Korea The top diplomats of South Korea, Japan and the United States on Wednesday reaffirmed their cooperation in dealing with various regional issues, such as the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and climate change, the State Department said.

President Moon awards medals to Korean immigrants in Hawaii for fight against Japan’s colonization South Korean President Moon Jae-in awarded posthumous medals of honor to two Korean immigrants in Hawaii Wednesday, with their descendants in attendance at the ceremony.

US open to discussion with North Korea on end of war declaration: Pentagon spokesman The United States is open to discussing a possible end of war declaration with North Korea as it seeks to engage with the reclusive state in dialogue over a number of other issues, a Pentagon spokesman said Wednesday.