U.S. President Joe Biden is seen speaking on the phone at his home in Wilmington, Delaware. The president will host the Quad leaders at his home for the first time this weekend. (White House handout via Reuters) 
Indo-Pacific

Quad will outlast Biden and Kishida, White House official says

President to host leaders at his house, move to institutionalize grouping

The S&P 500 hit another intraday record high on Sept. 19, one day after the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time in four years.
Markets

S&P 500 surges to record high close on euphoria over Fed rate cut

Falling jobless claims add fuel to expectations of soft landing

The Quad leaders pose for photo at the entrance hall of the Prime Minister's Office of Japan in Tokyo in May 2022.
Opinion

Hype cannot obscure the Quad's existential crisis

Attention must be refocused squarely on pressing Indo-Pacific challenges

Customers shop at the new GU flagship store in New York's SoHo on opening day Sept. 19. (Photo by Mana Yumi)
Retail

Uniqlo sister brand GU aims for 'fastest' growth with New York opening

Clothing chain banks on rising demand for discount fashion amid inflation

U.S. President Joe Biden addresses the Economic Club of Washington D.C.
Politics

Biden touts rate cuts but says 'not a declaration of victory'

President makes case for economic vision and importance of CHIPS act as term nears end

Seiko Epson has positioned industrial digital printers as a growth area. (Photo by Kohei Yamada) 
Business deals

Seiko Epson to buy U.S. printing software company for $590m

The deal for California-based Fiery is Japanese company's biggest since 2003 listing

19 September 2024
Stream article image
#techAsia

Tech's climate cost and TikTok's day in court

The inside story on the Asia tech trends that matter, from Nikkei Asia and the Financial Times

19 September 2024
KKR and Bain Capital go toe-to-toe to acquire Japanese systems developer Fuji Soft. (Source photos by screenshot from Fuji Soft's website and Yukinori Okamura)
Business deals

KKR deploys '2-step' counter to Bain in Fuji Soft takeover bid

With 30% of shares likely secure, new plan aims to acquire remaining at the same price

19 September 2024
No global framework exists to govern AI and the United Nations should lay the foundations of the first 'globally inclusive' AI governance framework, a U.N. panel says in a report.
Artificial intelligence

U.N. urges AI cooperation as 118 countries absent from global talks

No formal international agency needed at this point, report says

19 September 2024
The U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates on Sept. 18 in response to strong economic data.
Finance

Fed cuts rates for first time in 4 years, by half a percentage point

Yen at 142 to dollar following news of lower U.S. interest rates

19 September 2024
The March disaster killed six people and paralyzed a major transportation artery for the U.S. Northeast. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/handout via Reuters)
Transportation

U.S. sues Singaporean owner, operator of cargo ship that wrecked Baltimore bridge

Justice Department calls disaster 'entirely avoidable' result of 'foreseeable errors'

19 September 2024
A U.S. Steel plant in Pennsylvania.
Business deals

U.S. authority postpones decision on Nippon Steel deal

Maintaining American jobs and opposition to tariffs two issues that need to be addressed

19 September 2024
The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson transits the Indian Ocean. The U.S. military splits the Indian Ocean between three combatant commands. (U.S. Navy)
Indo-Pacific

U.S. and India to hold first dialogue on Indian Ocean this fall

'This is the new frontier,' Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell tells Congress

19 September 2024
FBI Director Christopher Wray said thousands of compromised devices were taken from a Chinese hacking group.
Cybersecurity

FBI strikes second Chinese hacking group, director says

Chinese IT firm accused of operating 'Flax Typhoon,' collecting intelligence

19 September 2024
U.S. tourist numbers have gone up around 50% from before the pandemic, far more than the average for all foreign visitors. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)
Travel & Leisure

U.S. credit card spending triples in Japan as tourists hit golf courses

Americans spend more on experiences, from sports to theme parks and lodging

19 September 2024
A container ship docked at Oi Container Terminal in Tokyo. Japan's overall trade balance in August resulted in a deficit for the second straight month. (Photo by Kohnosuke Urata)
Trade

Japan's exports grew for the ninth straight month in August

Shipments to the U.S. narrowly fell for first decline in almost three years

18 September 2024
Microsoft and BlackRock said the investments will be chiefly in the U.S. and the remainder in its partner countries.
Artificial intelligence

Microsoft and BlackRock to launch $30bn fund for AI infrastructure

Investment vehicle aims to help enhance AI supply chains and energy sourcing

18 September 2024
Nippon Steel's planned acquisition of U.S. Steel faces opposition from the American presidential candidates of both major parties.
Business deals

U.S. Steel CEO confident Nippon Steel deal will close 'on its merits'

Burritt eyes 'better and bigger' strategy with Japanese suitor

18 September 2024
The planned factory in Mexico would boost Koito's production capacity in the country by around 60%. (Koito Manufacturing)
17 September 2024
Shigeru Ishiba speaks at LDP headquarters on Sept. 12. Ishiba leads the latest Nikkei/TV Tokyo poll as the public's favorite for Japan's next prime minister.
Indo-Pacific

Asian NATO proposal by Japan's Ishiba seen as 'fantasy' in U.S.

'It's not what we're looking for,' Biden official says of LDP candidate's idea

17 September 2024
A Shaheen 3 surface-to-surface ballistic missile is displayed during a Pakistan Day military parade in Islamabad on March 23, 2019.
Defense

China-Pakistan defense ties threatened by new U.S. sanctions

Fresh measures from Washington target Chinese ballistic missile companies

17 September 2024
Ryan Routh is suspected in an apparent assassination attempt targeting former U.S. President Donald Trump. (Martin County Sheriff's Office via Reuters)
Crime

Suspected would-be Trump assassin has criminal history, ties to Ukraine war

Ryan Routh, accused of gun-related offenses, had criticized the ex-U.S. president online

17 September 2024
Intel is trying to turn itself around after a disastrous second-quarter earnings performance.
Semiconductors

Intel to make custom AI chip for Amazon Web Services

Chipmaker also awarded up to $3bn in government funding for chips for U.S. military

17 September 2024
Expectations are rising that Japan's next prime minister will bring about political change, but doubt remains whether the ruling party will embrace reform.
Asia Insight

Japan's next prime minister: Old guard, young blood or first woman?

9 candidates line up to lead LDP, which has ruled country for 65 of last 69 years

17 September 2024