Lebanon on Tuesday began new talks with the International Monetary Fund on a bailout to help the country emerge from the worst economic crisis in its history, with progress stalled by its inability to pass banking reforms.

China's trade surplus exceeded $1 trillion for a second straight year, according to official data released Tuesday, as pressure mounts for greater balance in trade with Beijing.

Exports in October surged 35.2% from a year earlier, the customs agency said. Exports have grown rapidly this year, supported by high-tech goods like semiconductors and autos.

Voters have sent a strong election-year message to the new Democratic congressional majority and President Donald Trump: Repair the damage inflation has done to the economy.

Trump, who campaigned on the idea that a Democratic victory in the midterms would trigger a 1929-style economic depression, has maintained that the economy is booming. Since his party lost in Tuesday's voting, he has claimed he is willing to work with Democrats in the House and Senate, though that's not something he has done much of in the past.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has unveiled a budget aimed at making Canada less dependent on the United States as President Donald Trump's trade war reshapes the allies' economic relationship.

The budget, titled "Masters of Our Destiny," proposes $142.1 billion Canadian (US$101.6 billion) multiyear spending and tax breaks, including incentives to attract investment and billions for energy, infrastructure and culture.

The U.S. job market likely bounced back last month from a disappointing September. Layoffs are low, and most Americans enjoy unusual job security.

But hiring has probably remained too modest to deliver much relief to those looking for work. And wage gains haven't been keeping up with persistently high inflation.

Belgium's King Philippe on Friday rejected the resignation of Prime Minister Bart De Wever and sent him and the governing coalition back to work on a long-running crisis over the country's budget.

De Wever had handed in his resignation on Monday after budget talks broke down. But the king, who oversees the formation of national governments, said he was "withholding his decision" on whether to approve.

Japan has protested to Moscow after Russia placed four subsidiaries belonging to Japan Tobacco Inc. under the temporary management of a Russian company and demanded that the measure be withdrawn immediately, Japanese officials said Friday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told reporters that the Japanese government is aware of Russian President Vladimir Putin's order imposed on the Japanese cigarette maker's subsidiaries that operate in Russia.

The Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and Anghami are bringing students closer to the realities of the regional digital and entertainment industry through a live business case focused on one of the most relevant audiences for brands today: Gen Z.

The collaboration reflects OSB’s commitment to fostering experiential learning, enabling students to apply classroom concepts to real business challenges and critically reflect on their application in practice. The Anghami live case brings this learning orientation to life by engaging students in an open-ended challenge where they must interpret consumer needs, assess business opportunities, and develop recommendations that respond to an industry partner’s priorities and constraints.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in a statement carried by state media Friday that two oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz, a day after Tehran claimed five other tankers had similar fates.

Since the outbreak of the Middle East war on February 28, Tehran has sought to limit traffic through the strategic waterway, which normally carries about one-fifth of global oil consumption.

World shares were mostly higher Thursday, though heavy selling of artificial intelligence-related stocks offset gains for some markets following the U.S. midterm elections.

South Korea's Kospi sank more than 5% and the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo lost nearly 2%. Oil prices were mixed after the Dow industrials jumped more than 3% on Wednesday following the Republicans' loss of control of the U.S. Congress.