Economy

The Loire River near the Anjou-Bretagne bridge in Ancenis-Saint-Gereon, France, was no more than a dry riverbed on June 13: No one is immune.
Opinion

U.N. Secretary-General: We need a renewables revolution

Rescuing our burning planet depends on accelerating our transition

28 June 2022
A containership docked at the Indian city of Kochi: India opted out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership free trade grouping but is looking for alternatives.
Trade

India, EU resume free trade talks after near-decade freeze

Two sides hope to overcome sticking points as they aim to reduce China reliance

27 June 2022
Vietnam is the world's second-largest clothing exporter after China.
Trade

Vietnam textile and apparel exports hit record high in first half

Southeast Asian country's trade pacts contribute to 23% on-year increase

24 June 2022
Russian soldiers guard fields of wheat in the southeast Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia on June 14: The current economic crisis is not mainly linked to an excess of demand but to insufficiency of supply.
Opinion

Inflation functions as a tax on the weakest

Serious shortages are taking hold of the essential elements of life

22 June 2022
A woman walks past an electronic board showing Nikkei Sock Average in Tokyo on June 17: The benchmark index was down nearly 2.7% at one point. (Photo by Yo Inoue)
Markets

Tokyo shares slide ahead of Bank of Japan's policy decision

Monetary tightening by central banks in Europe triggers recession concerns

17 June 2022
Europe's support for wider global use of the yuan undermines future sanctions in case of a conflict over Taiwan.
Opinion

Growing European preference for China's currency is risky

IMF decision to increase its yuan reserves has significant geopolitical implications

12 June 2022
The apparel industry dumps 92 million tons of textiles a year. The European Union hopes new rules will increase recycling, repair and second-hand retail. (Source photos by Ken Kobayashi and AFP/Jiji)
Business Spotlight

From China to India, Asia braces for EU plan to kill fast fashion

Supply chains may have to shift to recyclable, durable clothes -- with uncertain consequences

10 June 2022
The European Union is set to upgrade economic ties with Taiwan -- home to major semiconductor companies such as TSMC. (Source photos by Shinya Sawai and Reuters) 
International relations

Taiwan, EU to boost economic ties to secure chip availability

Both sides focus on supply chain resilience in light of Ukraine war and COVID

1 June 2022
Foreign tourists visit Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo's Asakusa district during August 2015. Japan has begun reopening its borders to leisure travelers on a trial basis. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Travel & Leisure

Japan tops global tourism index for 1st time, despite tight borders

World Economic Forum praises country for wealth of travel infrastructure

24 May 2022
A soldier takes part in a training exercise in Ukraine. Ukrainian troops are fighting to regain control of the southern part of the country from Russia.
Interview

'Time running out' to save Kherson from becoming Russian

Southern Ukrainian city faces economic battle for its future, mayor says

24 May 2022
A Russian tanker delivers oil to Norway in April. The European Union announced a proposed ban on Russian oil imports last week.
Trade

Russian oil tankers turn to stealth shipments under sanctions

Ship data shows sharp rise in crude with no set destination

12 May 2022
HSBC's logo in Hong Kong: The risks facing international banks have increased significantly.
Opinion

HSBC is the canary in the financial coal mine

Storied bank's future has implications for the geography of global banking

9 May 2022
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivers a speech at the Guildhall in London on May 5.
International relations

Transcript: Japan PM Kishida's speech in London

Invest in Kishida: Japanese leader reaffirms ties with U.K., calls for new form of capitalism

5 May 2022
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida calls on the business community to "invest in Kishida" in a speech in London on Thursday.
Economy

Kishida urges U.K. traders to invest in 'new form of capitalism'

Japanese prime minister gives speech in the City of London

5 May 2022
Floods and other natural disasters caused by climate change have led to the mass displacement of people in many parts of the world.
Datawatch

Climate refugees: The world's silent crisis

Number of people displaced by natural disasters could top 200m by 2050

2 May 2022
A demolished shop in the area that saw communal violence, pictured on April 20 in New Delhi's northwest Jahangirpuri neighborhood: Hindu nationalists have intensified their attacks on India's Muslim minority.
Opinion

West not about to abandon India, despite communal tensions

Underlying story is one of remarkable political and social stability

26 April 2022
German carmakers rely primarily on local production in China, but some had begun sending cars there from Europe by rail. 
Ukraine war

BMW and Audi suspend shipments by train to China

Railway official cites client worries about insurance and Russian confiscation

26 April 2022
How could hard-right candidate Marine Le Pen, left, rack up such a strong result against sitting Emmanuel Macron in the first round of the French presidential election? Quite easily, argue Eric Protzer and Paul Summerville, co-authors of the recently published book "Reclaiming Populism." (Source photo by AP) 
Books

Books: French election highlights the why, when and where of populism

Emerging conundrum unsettling advanced economies highlights 'Japanese exception'

23 April 2022
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, shakes hands with his British counterpart Boris Johnson after a joint press conference in New Delhi on Friday.
International relations

Modi and Johnson agree on new Anglo-Indian security partnership

Leaders also discuss Ukraine crisis in talks between 'special' friends

22 April 2022
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend a meeting during the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov. 2, 2021. (File photo by Reuters) 
International relations

China in mind, British PM visits India to boost Indo-Pacific ties

Johnson expected to urge Modi to take a strong stand against Russia

21 April 2022
The Mallnow compressor station which mainly receives Russian natural gas in Brandenburg, Germany, on March 29: Gas supplies are harder to reroute.
Opinion

A ban on Russian energy will hurt Europe more than it helps Ukraine

Western governments should avoid 'act now, think later' policies

14 April 2022
An 11-year-old boy carries a bag of cobalt on his back in southern Congo in July 2018: The risks of forced labor increase as you move deeper into the supply chain.
Opinion

Japan must embrace chance to make companies more responsible

European law offers a road map to a world where workers are valued and protected

11 April 2022
The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in Lubmin, Germany. Its certification was suspended during the run-up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 
Ukraine war

G-7 resists going after $1bn-a-day Russian energy revenue

Despite civilian killings, West and Japan avoid painful cuts

8 April 2022
European Commissioner for Financial Services Mairead McGuinness addresses reporters in Brussels on Feb. 2. In working toward a low-carbon future, the EU will phase out the highest-carbon energy sources like coal. 
Opinion

Toward carbon neutrality: the role of the EU sustainable finance strategy

Geopolitical situation underlines the need to move away from fossil fuels

6 April 2022
Ukraine is one of the world's largest agricultural producers, growing vital crops like wheat and corn.
Ukraine war

Global wheat shortage looms as summer risk over Ukraine war

Russian invasion, Western sanctions threaten to choke supply from 2 crucial exporters

31 March 2022