Europe

From left, Mitsubishi Motors President Takao Kato, Nissan Motor President Makoto Uchida and Renault CEO Luca de Meo hold a news conference near Paris on Dec. 6.
Nissan-Renault alliance

Nissan's go-it-alone shift clouds Renault alliance

French automaker presents three-way strategy to media in show of unity

7 December 2023
Since Giorgia Meloni became prime minister in October 2022, she has dropped hints about pulling Italy out of China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Belt and Road

Italy's Belt and Road exit shines light on ties ahead of EU-China summit

PM Meloni makes move after calculating that membership failed to yield benefits

7 December 2023
Japan's SoftBank has been looking to expand further beyond telecommunications. (Photo by Mayumi Tsumita)
Business deals

SoftBank unit to spend $500m on Irish startup in drive beyond telecom

Taking 51% stake in company providing services for internet-connected cars

5 December 2023
Trucks line up in Osaka: New rules capping overtime hours for truck drivers in Japan are forecast to cut the country's cargo delivery capacity by more than a third by 2030. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)
Asia Insight

Japan's 2024 problem? Trucker overtime curbs risk an economic pileup

Multiple industries brace for impact of move to tackle chronic driver shortage

5 December 2023
An EV battery production line in Hefei, China: A global green-tech supply chain should not aim at displacing Chinese production.
Opinion

'Green tech partnership' offers way to de-risk while decarbonizing

Dependence on China carries supply risks beyond just geopolitics

5 December 2023
China's slowing economy is contributing to persistent manufacturing inventory gluts worldwide.
Business trends

China slowdown swells global manufacturing inventories

Industrial machinery among sectors hit hardest by falling demand

5 December 2023
Japanese automaker Toyota considers local production of electric vehicles important to local consumption as it makes plans to expand its European networks. (Images provided by Toyota)
Automobiles

Toyota to make 20% of new vehicles in Europe electric by 2026

Japanese auto group faces multiple hurdles including securing supply chains

4 December 2023
Anton Yuriev, co-founder of the Greco restaurant. (Photo by Ilona Makedon)
Ukraine war

Ukraine entrepreneurs bring new businesses in war-hit economy

From restaurant to 'dry shower,' new launches exceed closures despite Russia's invasion

2 December 2023
AUKUS leaders U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gather at a naval base in San Diego in March 2023.
Defense

AUKUS to step up testing of maritime drones amid China buildup

U.S., U.K. and Australian defense chiefs vow to advance open Indo-Pacific

2 December 2023
Graphite anodes are a key component of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.
Supply Chain

China's graphite export curbs take effect with uncertainty for EVs

Chinese battery material makers' push abroad raises questions over access

2 December 2023
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, center, poses with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, right, and Claire Coutinho, Britain's secretary of state for energy security and net zero, in Dubai on Dec. 1. (Photo by Sayumi Take)
Climate Change

Vietnam, EU set investment plan for G7-backed energy transition

Hanoi seeks multilateral support for cutting coal reliance

2 December 2023
A lack of talent and funding to advance technology have sent Japan sliding in an annual digital competitiveness ranking. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura) 
Economy

Japan sinks to new low in digital ranking on talent shortage

Tokyo, just ahead of Malaysia, falls further behind South Korea, Taiwan and China

1 December 2023
COP28 President Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber speaks at the opening of the climate conference in Dubai.
COP28

COP28 launches climate fund for vulnerable nations

UAE and EU pledge bulk of initial $400m, while Philippines calls for emission cuts

1 December 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks in a group interview in Kyiv: "There will be an understanding of peace and security in the future only if Russian troops are not on our territory." (Photo courtesy of Public Interest Journalism Lab)
Ukraine war

Zelenskyy says no Ukraine peace talks until full Russian withdrawal

President worries Israel-Hamas war will sap aid to his beleaguered country

30 November 2023
Keppel seeks to expand its asset portfolio beyond Asia through the acquisition of Aermont Capital. (Photo courtesy of Keppel)
Property

Singapore's Keppel to buy European real estate firm for up to $1bn

Asset manager eyes expansion beyond Asia with Aermont Capital purchase

30 November 2023
Asia is increasingly turning to wind and other sources of renewable energy as it battles to reduce carbon emissions.
DealStreetAsia

Swiss investor launches $500m Asia-focused climate strategy

Firm called responsAbility Investments targets renewable energy, other sectors

29 November 2023
Nissan will focus on the development of engines that will be used in its e-Power brand hybrid vehicles.
Automobiles

Nissan to cut engine types by 60% as it strives to electrify

Japanese automaker will focus on EVs and hybrid models from 2028

29 November 2023
A banner promoting the South Korean city of Busan's bid for World Expo 2030. (Photo by Ahn Seong-bok)
Economy

Riyadh beats South Korea's Busan to host World Expo 2030

Saudi capital also competed with Rome for the five-yearly event

29 November 2023
Jean-Dominique Senard, chairman of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, addressed the French-Japanese Business Summit remotely in Tokyo. (Photo by Mayumi Tsumita)
Business trends

Innovation key to solving global issues, says Renault chairman

French-Japanese cooperation encouraged in business summit

28 November 2023
MTR's overseas operations contributed 55% to its total revenue in 2022, when it reported a loss. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Transportation

Hong Kong's MTR to partially exit Swedish train operation

Company relies more on real estate as its overseas and local rail businesses suffer

25 November 2023
A Nissan Leaf being built in the U.K.: Nissan plans to upgrade its Sunderland auto factory so it will be able to produce three electric vehicle models. (Photo courtesy of Nissan Motor)
Automobiles

Nissan to invest up to $2.5bn more in U.K. for EV and battery production

Gigafactory to mark Japanese automaker's third British battery plant

24 November 2023
Demonstrators in Berlin wearing masks depicting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping protest human rights conditions in China in June. (dpa via AP)
Opinion

Germany needs to prove its new China strategy is more than talk

Chancellor Scholz has gone too far in seeking to avoid offending Beijing

23 November 2023
Monastiraki Square in Athens. Greece has an "excessively cautious attitude" around Taiwan sovereignty, analysts say
International relations

Greece warns officials not to attend Taiwan events over China fears

Athens says contact with Taipei risks 'serious problems' for bilateral relations

23 November 2023
Vietnam is increasing the number of short-haul flights, which emit 100 times the carbon of road transport, despite targeting net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Transportation

Vietnam bets on new airports to boost tourism and supply chains

Plan flies in face of net zero goal as flights emit more carbon than trains

23 November 2023
CEFJ and CCI Paris Ile-de-France Chairman Dominique Restino: "Japan and France can share many things between each other."
International relations

Japan-France ties 'model' for Europe and Asia, says CEFJ chief

French business leader says 'stability' vital for good economic relations

22 November 2023