President Donald Trump vowed to be flexible toward "real friends" of the United States as the White House prepared Thursday to roll out punitive trade tariffs -- singling out Germany for criticism and adding Australia to a list of likely carve-outs.

President Donald Trump pledged Thursday the United States would show "flexibility" to "real friends" concerning planned steel and aluminum tariffs, ahead of an expected signing ceremony to formalize the controversial measures.

German luxury carmaker BMW said Thursday its 2017 net profit soared 26 percent to a record 8.7 billion euros ($10.7 billion), driven by strong demand for electrified vehicles and a tax bump from the United States.

The chief executive of the World Bank urged U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday to be "careful" before imposing controversial steel and aluminum tariffs, warning that they could affect global trade.

Ratings agency Moody's downgraded its assessment of Turkey's ability to pay back its debts further into junk territory, citing concerns over monetary policy, reform delays and institutional strength.

Japanese authorities Thursday ordered two cryptocurrency exchanges to suspend operations as part of a clampdown following a massive hack that saw thieves steal hundreds of millions of dollars in virtual currency.

The tourism industry is booming as travelers find ever more intrepid ways of exploring the globe and receding security fears revive old favorites.

Long queues of men line the streets of Yemen's rebel-held capital Sanaa waiting alongside empty propane gas canisters they are desperate to replace so they have fuel to cook.

The EU on Wednesday said it would strike back against U.S. President Donald Trump's threatened steel and aluminum tariffs, with counter-measures against flagship U.S. products such as peanut butter, orange juice and bourbon whiskey.

"Certain types of bourbon are on the list as are other items such as peanut butter, cranberries, orange juice," EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem told reporters after the European Commission, which handles trade matters for the bloc, discussed the tariffs.

The star-shaped walls of the hilltop town of Elvas dominate the plains of Portugal's southern Alentejo region near the border with Spain.