Asian markets rose Wednesday as new tit-for-tat tariffs by China and the United States were seen as lighter than feared, while there are hopes the two sides will eventually avert a damaging trade war.

The United States ranks near the bottom of the list of countries with the best commitment to global development, while France dropped several places, a report released Tuesday found.

Asian markets mostly rose Tuesday after Donald Trump said he would thump China with another round of tariffs but give some room for talks before jacking them up to the highest rate.

Saudi Arabia on Monday announced it has signed off on a $1 billion investment in U.S. carmaker Lucid Motors with the aim of helping the Tesla rival roll out electric cars.

Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund said Monday it had secured its first ever international loan, boosting the kingdom's diversification drive after its flotation of state oil giant Aramco stalled.

Britain's economy would suffer "substantial costs" if it leaves the European Union next March with no divorce agreement in place, the International Monetary Fund warned Monday.

Asian markets sank on Monday following reports that Donald Trump is planning to hit China with another round of tariffs, dealing a blow to hopes for talks between the two economic giants.

The heir to the Samsung empire and the leaders of several other South Korean conglomerates will go to Pyongyang this week for an inter-Korean summit, Seoul announced Sunday.

Surging worldwide demand for almonds is pushing Spanish farmers to replace traditional wheat and sunflower fields with almond orchards, transforming the landscape in the south of the country.

France will keep a less restrictive version of its "exit tax" on wealthy people who take assets out of the country, and not completely scrap it as President Emmanuel Macron pledged earlier this year.

The 30 percent levy was introduced by former president Nicolas Sarkozy to keep top earnings from leaving France for countries with lower tax rates.