--Car sales and e-commerce saw rising spending in the U.S. in November

--China extends visa-free transit stays

--Tokyo city government is to trial a four-day work week next April

--China extends visa-free transit stays to 240 hours

--Macao SAR is leveraging unique advantages to foster financial innovation

--German Chancellor Olaf Scholz loses confidence vote

--Property sales recover in Shanghai amid loosening purchase restrictions

--Celebrations are underway to mark the 25th anniversary of Marco's return to China

--China's "ice city" Harbin gears up to welcome winter tourism boom

--Shenzhen sees a major increase in foreign trade in the first three quarters of 2024

--ECB cuts rates again to boost growth and keeps the door open for further cuts

--Macao gears up for 25th-anniversary celebrations of its return to China

• China's year-end shopping festival is in full swing, giving insights into Chinese consumption power and expectations for major e-commerce platforms.

• The tech-driven Nasdaq Composite Index hit a historic milestone, breaking above 20,000 for the first time in Wednesday trading.

• In aviation news, our reporter took to the skies in an eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) vehicle, demonstrating China's pioneering efforts in revolutionizing travel technology.

--Beijing sees an 8% increase in online signing volume for second-hand residential homes in November

--Asian Development Bank trims outlook for developing Asia

--Federal Reserve rates soared under the Biden administration

--Key symposium held to solicit advice on China's economy

--China's foreign trade surges 4.9% in January-November

--French President Macron calls for cross-party talks to form a new government after PM Barnier resigns

--China's consumer inflation up 0.2% in November

--South Korea's Finance Minister pledges to address potential economic fallout

--Growing demand of ski enthusiasts stimulates China's ice and snow economy

--President Emmanuel Macron addresses the nation after French PM resigns

--South Korean ruling party chief says President Yoon Suk Yeol needs to be suspended from office

--China boosts training to nurture highly skilled individuals

--Ruling People Power Party vows to oppose South Korean President Yoon's impeachment

--Hard left party demands President Macron's resignation after government collapses

--China set for rapid expansion of 5G technologies by 2027