Beijing

The United States' deputy commerce secretary has confirmed the existence of a "deal" with Japan and China that will limit exports of chip-making tools.

"We can't talk about the deal right now," Don Graves said on the sidelines in Washington, quoted by Reuters and the Guardian. "But you can certainly talk to our friends in Japan and the Netherlands."

The outlook for the global economy is growing slightly brighter as China eases its zero-COVID policies and the world shows surprising resilience in the face of high inflation, elevated interest rates and Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine.

Dissident artist Ai Weiwei on Jan. 30 said the Chinese state's razing of his studios still fails to make "any sense" to him, as he launched his first design-focused exhibition, due to open in London in April.

Defying China, the president of self-ruled Taiwan affirmed the island's ties with the Czech Republic in a phone call with the Central European nation's President-elect Petr Pavel.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday that COVID-19 remains a public health emergency of international concern, its highest form of alert, Reuters reported.

The pandemic is likely at a "transitional moment" that continues to need careful management to "mitigate potential negative consequences," the organization added in a statement.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said tensions with China had eased, but expressed concern about Beijing's intentions on Taiwan.

Greece is ready to welcome back Chinese travelers after China's Covid-19 reopening, Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias told Xinhua.

"We are ready to greet our Chinese friends, travelers and tourists, in this new tourist season," he said on Thursday.

The outbreak of the pandemic put the brakes on an impressive increase in Chinese arrivals in Greece in recent years.

Armed with selfie sticks and freshly recovered from COVID, Chinese tourists ambled through bar streets in the country's backpacker haven of Dali, partying the stress of the past three years into oblivion.

As Lunar New Year approaches, China is seeing a domestic travel boom after the government abruptly dismantled its longstanding zero-COVID strategy last month.

China's economy grew last year at its slowest pace in four decades as it was hammered by COVID lockdowns and a property crisis but the forecast-beating reading raised hopes for a strong recovery as it reopens.

 President Joe Biden is set to host Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte for talks as the U.S. administration looks to persuade the Netherlands to further limit China's access to advanced semiconductors with export restrictions.