Hong Kong's CK Hutchison warns of legal action over Panama Canal ports

HONG KONG (AP) – Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings warned of legal action on Thursday against a Danish logistics and ports group, after the latter was tapped by Panamanian authorities to temporarily take over the operation of two critical ports at both ends of the Panama Canal from the Hong Kong conglomerate.

Wall Street calm after Supreme Court strikes down Trump's tariffs

NEW YORK (AP) - Wall Street kept calm after the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, and stocks ticked higher. The S&P 500 added 0.7% Friday following discouraging reports showing slowing growth for the U.S. economy and faster inflation. The Dow Jones added 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.9%.

Nicaragua blocks key pathway used by Cuban migrants to reach US

MEXICO CITY (AP) – Nicaragua’s government on Sunday blocked Cuban citizens from entering the country without a visa, effectively cutting off a key route for Cuban migration to the United States at a time when the Trump administration has put the Caribbean island in an economic chokehold.

Top Asia Pacific Breaking News: Morning Edition

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un lauded his nation’s improving economy and regional standing as he opened the country’s most important political event, where he is expected to set his domestic and foreign policy agenda for the next five years and further entrench his family’s authoritarian rule.

US strikes another alleged drug-trafficking boat in Eastern Pacific

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. military said Thursday that it has carried out another deadly strike on a vessel accused of trafficking drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean. U.S. Southern Command said on social media that the boat “was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.”

US economic growth weaker than thought in fourth quarter

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. economic growth slowed in the final three months of last year, dragged down by the six-week shutdown of the federal government and a pullback in consumer spending. The nation’s gross domestic product – the total output of goods and services – increased at a 1.4% annual rate in the fourth quarter.

Panama will not be threatened by China over Panama canal court ruling

PANAMA CITY (AP) – Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino on Thursday said he hoped an ongoing legal battle with a Hong Kong firm over operations of Panama Canal ports would “not escalate,” but that Panama’s government would remain firm in its ruling against the company.

Editorials from The Washington Post, New York Times, The Guardian and others

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

Hong Kong firm begins arbitration proceedings over Panama Canal contract

HONG KONG (AP) – Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings said Wednesday its subsidiary has started arbitration proceedings against Panama, after that country’s Supreme Court ruled a concession for the subsidiary to operate Panama Canal ports was unconstitutional.