WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration is considering whether to add China’s top chipmaker SMIC to a trade blacklist, a Defense Department official said on Friday, as the United States escalates its crackdown on Chinese companies.

A Pentagon spokeswoman said the Defense Department was working with other agencies to determine whether to make the move against Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation ( 0981.HK ), which would force U.S. suppliers to seek a difficult-to-obtain license before shipping to the company.

SMIC

MANILA (Reuters) - The last time Marielle June Chunanon heard from her partner Dante Addug aboard the storm-struck Gulf Livestock 1, he told her he was frightened, and praying for typhoon Maysak to pass.

That message exchange between the Filipino couple was on Tuesday night, as a ferocious storm in the East China Sea battered the 130-metre (450-foot

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk met Volkswagen’s Chief Executive Herbert Diess for a courtesy visit during which Musk took a test drive in Volkswagen’s new electric car, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday.

ANKARA (Reuters) - Surging coronavirus cases in Ankara are stretching hospitals to the limit and Turkish authorities need to impose a fresh lockdown to bring the virus under control, doctors in the Turkish capital say.

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is ready for every possible outcome from Brexit negotiations with the European Union, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday.

“We’re ready for any eventuality,” he told reporters.

“We will get through this. It’s absolutely vital that our partners understand that the UK is going to do what we need

BENGALURU (Reuters) - Softbank-backed ( 9984.T ) Oyo Hotels & Homes is extending furloughs for some Indian employees by six months, it said on Friday, as an unabated rise in domestic coronavirus cases curbs travel and hits hotel revenues.

Oyo, once among the world’s

ATHENS (Reuters) - Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Friday Greece would start talks with Turkey to resolve a row in the Eastern Mediterranean once Turkish “provocations” ceased.

He spoke a day after NATO said the allies had agreed to launch technical talks to avoid any accidents in the region.

Tensions escalated last month after Turkey sent a seismic

LUCERNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - The world’s first electric-powered hydrofoil speedboat, which reduces energy consumption and noise - as well as sea sickness - by “flying” above the waves, has made its debut on Switzerland’s lakes.

The Candela Seven can hit speeds of 55 km per hour when its foils lift it out of the water. Its manufacturers say it travels further and smoother than other electric boats.

The foils reduce water friction - and the effect of waves slamming into the boat -

(Reuters) - Apple Inc said it was committed to freedom of information and expression in a document it has published on its humans rights policy - a move which follows increased pressure from shareholders.

The U.S. tech giant has come under fire for removing virtual network apps from its App store in China and at its February annual general meeting a shareholder proposal