Reuters

TOKYO (Reuters) - Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group are considering selling 1.32 trillion yen ($8.5 billion) worth of strategic shareholdings in Toyota Motor, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing sources.

The two Japanese megabanks seek to sell into Toyota's share buybacks, Bloomberg said, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

($1 = 155.8100 yen)

(This story has been... (continue reading...)

By Rae Wee

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Asian stocks are set to snap a two-week losing streak on Friday after major central banks kick-started their rate easing cycle this week, adding to expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve could soon follow suit.

The European Central Bank (ECB) delivered a well-telegraphed rate cut on Thursday, a day after the Bank of Canada became the first G7 nation to trim its key policy rate.

The two join... (continue reading...)

(Reuters) - Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will "present the truth" about the war against Hamas in Gaza when he addresses the U.S. Congress on July 24 during a visit to Washington, Republican leaders said on Thursday.

Netanyahu will speak to a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement.

"I am very moved to... (continue reading...)

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Just over 170,000 migrants crossed the perilous Darien Gap that connects Panama to Colombia over the first five months of this year, Panama's migration agency said on Thursday, suggesting 2024 could again break records.

This is 2% higher than the nearly 167,000 who made the crossing in the same period of last year, data from the National Migration Service (SNM) showed, as more people embark on the dangerous crossing, many... (continue reading...)

By Kirsty Needham

(Reuters) - Australia's ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, cautioned in a speech that the global consequences of a war over Taiwan would be as great as the impact of the Second World War, making the world "a radically different place".

If Chinese President Xi Jinping, who turns 71 this month, wanted to achieve "final national unification" with Taiwan he would likely act in the next decade before he reaches his... (continue reading...)