Europe

Company representative Toshio Shinko seen with the barrels his company is using to produce organic soy sauce in France. (Photo courtesy of Yuasa Soy Sauce)
Food & Beverage

A rare vintage: organic soy sauce brewed in Bordeaux barrels

Japanese brewer from seasoning's birthplace teams with famed French chateau

7 May 2023
A Marriott hotel in Hangzhou, China. The world's largest hotel group reported a net income of $757 million in the first quarter, doubling its total from the year before.
Travel & Leisure

China domestic travel rebound fuels earnings at Marriott, Hyatt

Hotel revenues recover after end of zero-COVID despite soft international travel

6 May 2023
European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde. 
Inflation

ECB raises rates by 25 basis points to 3.25% in inflation fight

Central bank will stop reinvesting cash in Asset Purchase Programme from July

4 May 2023
In-car payments will allow drivers to make automatic payments for services, including electric vehicle charging and software updates. 
Automobiles

Japan's Sumitomo teams with Vodafone on in-car payments

Partners to start offering SIM-based service in U.K. and Germany this year

4 May 2023
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg speaks to reporters ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels in October 2022.
Indo-Pacific

NATO to open Japan office, deepening Indo-Pacific engagement

Two sides to upgrade cooperation on cyber, disruptive tech and disinformation

3 May 2023
HSBC Holdings, known for the two regal lion statues that sit outside its Asia head office in Hong Kong, will vote May 5 on a proposal to split its Asia operations from its London headquarters. 
The Big Story

HSBC battles shareholder revolt as breakup vote looms

Bank’s balancing act between U.K. and China appears increasingly untenable

3 May 2023
German Minister for Digital and Transport Volker Wissing speaks with Nikkei Asia on April 28 in Tokyo. (Photo by Yuki Kohara) 
G-7 in Japan

Banning generative AI is not an option for Germany: minister

European digital ministers at G-7 meet back use after Italy bans ChatGPT

28 April 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke for an hour by phone on April 26.
Ukraine war

Xi's call with Zelenskyy seen as attempt to blunt European criticism

Talk came after China's envoy to France questioned sovereignty of ex-Soviet states

28 April 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, rolled out the red carpet for French President Emmanuel Macron on his recent state visit to Beijing.
Comment

Macron's Taiwan comments expose muddled China policy

Desire for European third way overshadowed by message of autonomy from U.S.

27 April 2023
Luke de Pulford, right, poses for a photo with former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, left, former U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss and former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at an Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China symposium in Tokyo in February.
27 April 2023
Xi Jinping has put Emmanuel Macron in an uncomfortable position ahead of the Hiroshima G-7 summit in May.
China up close

Analysis: For wolf-warrior envoy in France, it's mission accomplished

Ambassador Lu Shaye sends nod to Putin with comment on ex-Soviet sovereignty

27 April 2023
Margrethe Vestager is the European Commission's executive vice president and commissioner for competition. (Photo by Takashi Tsuji)
Interview

EU eyes new rules for generative AI this year: Vestager

Bloc to weigh labeling requirement for works made by ChatGPT and similar tools

25 April 2023
Credit Suisse has been mired in a series of scandals in recent years, culminating in its rescue by rival UBS.
Finance

Once close, Credit Suisse and SoftBank enter bitter court battle

Yearslong Greensill dispute reignited with UBS takeover of Swiss lender looming

23 April 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping gave French counterpart Emmanuel Macron a warm welcome to China.
21 April 2023
A South Korea-made K2 tank in Poland. Seoul will also provide Poland with ammunition.
Ukraine war

South Korea exports munitions to Poland, hints at Ukraine aid

Possibility of supplying weapons to Kyiv depends on Russia: Korean official

21 April 2023
The influence of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is growing. Recent polls show it has surpassed the Greens as Germany's third most popular party. (Source photo by Reuters) 
International relations

China finds unlikely allies in Germany's far right and far left

Foreign policy alignment of AfD and Left Party could weaken hawkish China bent

20 April 2023
Norges Bank Investment Management will vote against board nominations in Japanese companies that have no female representation. (Source photo by Reuters, screenshot from fund website)
Companies

Norway's sovereign fund to vote against all-male boards in Japan

Some 300 Japanese listed companies could face Scandinavian censure

19 April 2023
Group of Seven foreign ministers on April 18 wrapped up their three-day meeting in Karuizawa, Japan. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)
G-7 in Japan

G-7 ministers unite to condemn Chinese and Russian 'rule by force'

France reaffirms that it's on same page after Macron's Taiwan remarks

19 April 2023
Taiwan will open a representative office in Mila, its second in Italy. (Source photo by Reuters and graphic by AP)
Taiwan tensions

Taiwan to open second representative office in Italy

Traditionally a China supporter, EU nation is wary of Beijing's threats

17 April 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on March 21: Moscow and Beijing cannot be split. (Sputnik/Vladimir Astapkovich/Kremlin via Reuters)
Opinion

Macron is wrong to see China and Russia as separate concerns

Through partnerships, democracies can reinforce security in Europe and Asia

17 April 2023
Global battery demand is likely to outstrip supply in the near term, says Virginijus Sinkevicius, European commissioner for environment, oceans and fisheries. (Photo by EV/Georges Boulougouris)
Technology

Europe, Japan can help ease rollout of EV battery rules: EU official

Cooperation key to lowering regulatory burden on carmakers and suppliers

17 April 2023
Natural gas is flared at a refinery. G-7 environment and energy ministers will call for a phase out of unabated natural gas use.
Climate Change

G-7 ministers to call for natural gas phaseout

Environment, energy policy chiefs meeting fails to set date for coal exit

16 April 2023
Artificial intelligence can be used in surveillance systems. The EU is concerned that AI technology within the bloc could be transferred to other countries for applications that raise human rights issues.
International relations

EU weighs outbound investment curbs on AI and biotech, eyeing China

Brussels aligns with U.S. on leak risks while strengthening trade ties with Beijing

15 April 2023
The meeting will be a curtain raiser for the leaders summit to be held in Hiroshima, Japan in May.  (Source photos from G-7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting website)
G-7 in Japan

G-7 foreign ministers to meet amid Macron's China storm

Germany's Baerbock says Europe cannot be indifferent to Taiwan tensions

14 April 2023
The Burbo Bank offshore wind farm near New Brighton, Britain: Until recently, the U.K. had more offshore wind turbines installed than any other country.
Opinion

Japan can be a green energy superpower

Offshore wind can provide more electricity than country now uses

14 April 2023