United News of Bangladesh

Japanese stock prices declined and Chinese markets were little-changed Wednesday while trading in most other Asian economies was closed for Christmas Day.

Major U.S. stock indexes ended nearly flat Tuesday after an abbreviated trading session ahead of Christmas Day.

Chinese authorities recently announced that the country would remove a ban on imports of Japan's deboned beef under 30 months old starting Dec. 19.

China said Monday it plans to slash tariffs as of Jan. 1 on more than 850 products including frozen pork, asthma and diabetes medications and some high-tech components to better develop its economy.

The leaders of China, Japan and South Korea are holding a trilateral summit in China this week amid feuds over trade, military maneuverings and historical animosities. Most striking has been a complex dispute between Seoul and Tokyo, while Beijing has recently sought to tone down its disagreements with its two neighbors.

Colombia on Friday instructed Uber to stop operating after a lawsuit by a group of taxi drivers that accused the ride-sharing app of unfair business practices.

A company that operates ships laying sections of a new German-Russian pipeline said Saturday that it is suspending those activities after the approval of U.S. legislation threatening sanctions.

Ukrainian and Russian officials say final details have been worked out for a contract that will continue shipments of Russian gas to European markets.

Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht said Friday that it has "fired" its one-time CEO Marcelo Odebrecht, who this month granted media interviews and reportedly began giving information to the company's compliance department.

Fiat Chrysler said on Friday its has sold its cast iron automotive components business operated through its subsidiary Teksid to Brazil's Tupy for 210 million euros ($233 million).