Business Spotlight
With 7-Eleven on buyout menu, Japanese owner Seven & i reaches crossroads
Couche-Tard targets food business, U.S. market; regulatory, antitrust issues weigh
Politics
South Korea's Yoon vows to reform pension plan set to run dry in 2055
Facing aging population, government eyes benefit adjustments and higher premiums
Opinion
Dubai sets global standard for ethical use of AI
Guidelines highlight importance of moral considerations in evolving landscape
Sports
ASICS to end sales of baseball gloves and bats in shift to running shoes
Once partner to Ichiro and Shohei Ohtani calls time on low-margin, Japan-focused goods
Food & Beverage
Japan's Yoshinoya puts ostrich on the menu and in skin care line
Restaurant chain eyes hedge against food shortages as mainstay beef prices soar
Artificial intelligence
Acer aims to boost AI PCs to 40% of shipments next year
Price of Copilot+ models to come down as chip supplies improve, CEO says
Politics
Japan interest rates, defense buildup push budget requests above $800bn
Record spending could go even higher on wage, inflation measures
Finance
Japan's MUFG Bank to enter electricity futures market in October
Key lender to invest in risk management startup to assist new players
Energy
Japan's TEPCO to invest $3.2bn in power grid to meet AI demand
Electric utilities build more substations as data centers, chip plants drive consumption
Telecommunication
NTT and Chunghwa Telecom launch all-optical link between Japan, Taiwan
First international connection using the Japanese company's next-gen tech
Commodities
Antimony, gallium prices soar as China widens rare-metal export curbs
Buyers scramble to stock up on minerals amid uncertainties over tighter controls
Finance
Japanese banks' lending rates rise for 7th straight month
Trend seen expanding from floating-rate loans to mortgages and other debt
Retail
Japan's Mercari app expands crossborder shipping to Taiwan
Move comes as China's Temu, Shein lead direct-to-consumer business
Energy
China oil majors tighten investment while doling out record dividends
Sustainability in question amid downstream weakness, need for cheap Russian feedstock
U.S. elections 2024
Kamala Harris faces challenges in attracting Indian American support
Longtime Democratic voting bloc attracted by Republican tax cuts, small business support
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Commodities
Thai rice prices hit two-month peak, Bangladesh hit by floods
With Indian rice no longer significantly cheaper, buyers seek other options
Hong Kong security law
Hong Kong's Stand News editors and owner convicted of sedition
Human rights groups condemn verdict under 1938 law as latest hit to press freedom
Trade
China will not impose anti-dumping measures on EU brandy, for now
European producers remain concerned tariffs could still come in future
Transportation
Indonesian app-based taxi drivers strike in protest over low pay
Motorbike drivers gather by offices of Gojek and GoTo, calling for government support
South China Sea
U.S. 'ready' to assist Philippines with South China Sea resupplies
Manila says it will only seek American aid if nationals are on 'verge of dying'
US-China tensions
Xi tells Sullivan to view China 'rationally' ahead of planned Biden call
U.S. national security adviser also has rare meeting with top China general
Natural disasters
Toyota extends production halt as strong typhoon pounds southern Japan
Other manufacturers follow suit as Typhoon Shanshan causes damage and injuries
#techAsia
India's iPhone hopes and South Korea's EV concerns
The inside story on the Asia tech trends that matter, from Nikkei Asia and the Financial Times
Business deals
Nippon Steel outlines upgrades to two U.S. Steel mills amid buyout opposition
Japanese giant proposes extending operations for decades with $1.3 billion investment
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Electric vehicles
China EV makers' profitability mixed amid price war, trade barriers
Manufacturers look to local partnerships and cost cutting to overcome duties