Wall Street stocks were little changed early Wednesday amid uncertainty over ongoing U.S.-China trade developments, while tepid U.S. inflation data boosted speculation of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut.

Inflation in China rose to its highest level in more than a year in May driven by surges in pork and fruit prices caused by the African swine fever epidemic and bad weather, official data showed Wednesday.

But while prices are increasing, demand remains weak because of the trade war with the United States and economic uncertainty.

A rainforest area the size of Spain will have been destroyed by firms growing consumer staples like palm oil in the decade to 2020 -- industry's self-imposed deadline to end deforestation, Greenpeace said Tuesday.

The EU's powerful anti-trust authority on Tuesday blocked the merger of German industrial conglomerate Thyssenkrupp with Indian steel giant Tata, an expected veto that kills the deal.

Gazing over his wheat field in northeastern Syria, farmer Adel Othman expects a bumper crop this year, but two rival authorities squabbling over his harvest have dashed his enthusiasm.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government was set to present an austerity-focused budget Tuesday, weeks after the country reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund for a $6 billion bailout.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said he was "concerned" by the planned merger between U.S. missile maker Raytheon and United Technologies.

President Donald Trump on Monday said he still expects to talk with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the upcoming G20 summit, warning he will impose new tariffs if there is no meeting.

Hanoi has vowed to crack down on manufacturers illegally using "Made in Vietnam" labels on items destined for America to dodge punishing tariffs as the U.S.-China trade spat drags on.

A proposed merger between Renault and Fiat-Chrysler remains a "good opportunity," France's finance minister said Monday, after the Italian-American carmaker withdrew the offer over "unreasonable" political resistance from Paris.