Japan, China trade chiefs chat briefly at APEC; first since dispute
Ryosei Akazawa, right, Japan’s minister of economy, trade and industry, attends an APEC meeting in Suzhou, China, on May 22. © Reuters
· Staff Writer
Follow the story
Business & Economy
A focused view of neutral reporting on Business & Economy, brought together across publishers.
Explore all topics →
Neutral reports only
Newest first · UTC+11:00Japan shipbuilding town looks to foreign workers, AI amid labor crunch
Japan's shipbuilding industry faces labor shortages throughout the supply chain, but digital technologies aimed at saving labor bring their own challenges. (Photo by Mayuko Suzuki)
· Staff Writer
Alec Holdings secures $1.7bn construction contract for Sphere Abu Dhabi | The National
Construction and engineering company Alec Holdings has won a $1.7 billion contract to lead the development of the highly anticipated Sphere Abu Dhabi, which will also boost its position in the emirate's key tourism developments.
· Alvin R Cabral
How illegal factories are undermining China’s solar overcapacity crackdown
Beijing has been striving to rein in severe overcapacity in the solar industry. But the sector is still plagued by illegal facilities, an insider says
· Coco Feng
How illegal factories are undermining China’s solar overcapacity crackdown
Beijing has been striving to rein in severe overcapacity in the solar industry. But the sector is still plagued by illegal facilities, an insider says
· Coco Feng
Gulf countries maintain credit ratings and stable outlooks amid Iran war uncertainties | The National
Five Gulf countries have maintained their credit ratings and stable outlooks amid the US-Iran war, largely due to their sufficient fiscal buffers that have acted as a cushion against economic shocks.
· Alvin R Cabral
K-beauty's next formula: Makeup that works like skincare
Clean skin trends give rise to skincare-makeup hybrids that trade heavy coverage for nourishing formulas
· No Kyung-min
Cavanough team set for big day at Gunnedah meeting
Scone horseman Brett Cavanough is banking on weight of numbers to give his stable a successful day at Gunnedah on Sunday.
· John Schell
Caution and long-term thinking as budget adds to softening real estate market
Sat 23 May 2026 at 4:56pm
· Stephanie Richards
Wingtech sues Dutch unit Nexperia for US$1.17b as battle for control escalates
Nexperia and its executives carried out ‘discriminatory restrictive measures’ under China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, Wingtech says
· Ji Siqi
As France tries to reset relations with Africa, China’s influence looms large
Paris pitches a €23 billion investment ‘jolt’ to win over countries like Kenya after losing ground in the Sahel
· Jevans Nyabiage
As France tries to reset relations with Africa, China’s influence looms large
Paris pitches a €23 billion investment ‘jolt’ to win over countries like Kenya after losing ground in the Sahel
· Jevans Nyabiage
Malaysian food startup aims to commercialize lab-grown unagi
Researchers examine methods for producing cultivated meat using bioreactors at Cell AgriTech's laboratory in Penang. (Photo by Kentaro Takeda)
· KENTARO TAKEDA
Tanker reports security incident near Yemen’s Socotra Island
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said a tanker carrying petroleum products reported a security incident about 200 nautical miles west of Yemen’s Socotra Island after a small craft carrying five people approached the vessel.
· Middleeasteye
High oil prices help Gulf states weather regional turmoil
Major global credit rating agencies have maintained the sovereign ratings of key Gulf states despite the economic uncertainty caused by the war with Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
· Middleeasteye
Wall Street keeps rising, even as US households keep getting more discouraged
NEW YORK — The split between Wall Street and most US households grew wider Friday as U.S. stocks rose to the finish of their eighth straight winning week, the best such streak since 2023. That’s even though a survey showed US consumers are feeling even worse about the economy.
· Associated Press
‘Amazon.com of South Korea’ Is New Source of Tension With U.S.
Last November, President Trump and his South Korean counterpart, Lee Jae Myung, unveiled a landmark investment and security deal, pledging to open a new chapter in the seven-decade alliance between their nations. Six months on, that bonhomie has turned into gridlock.
· Choe Sang Hun
Why water rights will become the asset class of the 21st century | The National
For a century, the resource that shaped global politics was oil. The next contest is forming around something the market has never properly priced: water.
· Amro Zakaria
UK officials suggested single market for goods with Europe
Officials suggested that the UK and Europe establish a single market in goods trade as part of the next phase of its Brexit reset, the BBC understands.
· Faisal Islam
First home buyer pays $970,000 for inner west unit, as investors go quiet
A first home buyer with financial support from his mother paid $970,000 for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in Ashfield at auction on Saturday.
· Robyn Willis
China’s home-cleaning robot enters the consumer service market | South China Morning Post
A home cleaning service launched on 58.com puts robots to work assisting professional cleaners by carrying out repetitive tasks.
Trump Mobile investigating potential exposure of would-be customers’ personal information
Phone company launched by Donald Trump’s family says names and contact details appear to be affected, but not credit card or banking information
· Catie Mcleod
For China’s ailing developers, retail frenzy greets semiconductor side-hustles
Unprofitable real estate firms see shares soar after buying into silicon assets, and analysts weigh whether it is a safe bet or banking on a big bailout
· Daniel Ren
For China’s ailing developers, retail frenzy greets semiconductor side-hustles
Unprofitable real estate firms see shares soar after buying into silicon assets, and analysts weigh whether it is a safe bet or banking on a big bailout
· Daniel Ren
Toyota's luxury car seats become home furniture
Toyota Boshoku, a Toyota group company, which designs seats for the Crown luxury vehicle as well as premium seats on some of Japan's shinkansen bullet train lines, will sell its new desk chair at six specialty stores in the country. (Source photos by Yuta Suzuki and Toyota Boshoku)
· Staff Writer
Trump tells Kevin Warsh to do ‘own thing’ as Fed chair sworn in
U.S. President Donald Trump stressed that he wants Kevin Warsh to independently lead the Federal Reserve, as he looked to downplay investor concern that he would pressure the new central bank chief on policy decisions.
· No Author
Investors in AI-driven bubble risk forgetting painful lessons
AI-driven stock market hype is not independent of what is happening in the rest of the economy
· Andrew Sheng
Investors in AI-driven bubble risk forgetting painful lessons
AI-driven stock market hype is not independent of what is happening in the rest of the economy
· Andrew Sheng
Many companies seeking spot in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis industry park, new chairman says | South China Morning Post
The head of the new company set up by the government to accelerate development of the megaproject reveals demand for space is strong.
Money trail leads to obscure Israel lobby entity, then runs dry
Don't pay so you can read it. Pay so everyone can!
· Stephanie Tran
Elbit signs deal with German submarine manufacturer TMKS to expand ties between Israel, Germany
Elbit will expand its ties with the German submarine manufacturer TKMS, after both companies signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday.
· UDI ETZION
Atlanta Continues To Dominate Among World's Busiest Airports
In 2025, the world’s busiest airport was not in Dubai, London, or Tokyo.
· Tyler Durden
The biggest budget myths: why claims of ‘massive tax bills’ and an investor exodus fall short
In the backlash to changes to capital gains tax, many claims have been made and not all of them stack up
· Patrick Commins
[Vantage Point] The uncomfortable math behind Jollibee’s MSCI demotion
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
· gdecastro0289
Inside the costly trend charging up Australia's classic car scene
LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE
· Sbsaustralia
‘Wallabies is the end goal’: Pritchard brothers’ dream alive despite PNG Chiefs meeting
Brumbies centre Kadin Pritchard has left the door open to a potential NRL switch to the PNG Chiefs, but says he and his brother Treyvon have plenty of unfinished business in rugby.
· Jonathan Drennan
How leaks, demands and a phone call derailed Estée Lauder’s deal to create a $40B luxe giant
See more of our coverage in your search results.
· Reuters
She was killed by her stalker. Could social media companies have saved her?
Warning: This article contains details of domestic violence and violent death that some readers may find distressing
· Sheila Flynn
Putin left China, without a pipeline deal. Why didn’t the Hormuz crisis open the valve?
Though this week’s China-Russia summit featured many agreements, none progressed the long-delayed Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline
· Alice Li
Putin left China, without a pipeline deal. Why didn’t the Hormuz crisis open the valve?
Though this week’s China-Russia summit featured many agreements, none progressed the long-delayed Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline
· Alice Li
China's 'Seven Titans' tech stocks slump as deflation overpowers AI boom
Much of the growth posted by China's tech giants after the rise of DeepSeek has been erased. (Source photos by Reuters)
· Staff Writer
UK pitched single market for goods with EU in pursuit of deeper trade ties
Exclusive: Top British official presented idea in Brussels but sources say it was rebuffed
· Jennifer Rankin, Rowena Mason
China Restricts Fentanyl Precursor Chemical Exports To North America After Trump-Xi Talks
One week after President Donald Trump's China summit with President Xi Jinping, where the two superpower leaders focused on issues ranging from bilateral trade to the Hormuz chokepoint, there appears to be measurable progress on one key 'MAGA' issue: the flow of fentanyl precursor chemicals into North America.
· Tyler Durden
Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime market doubles daily trading value over a year
A pedestrian walks by an electronic signboard in Tokyo showing stock prices on May 22. (Photo by Nanami Sato)
· Staff Writer
Qualcomm's stock pop shows investors are 'waking up' to boom in AI devices
Qualcomm shares surged 12% on Friday and are now up 75% in the past month, as the chipmaker's increasingly central position in the physical AI boom becomes more apparent to Wall Street. The stock is trading at a record.
· Katie Tarasov
FDA staff blindsided by move allowing more e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches onto US market
WASHINGTON — Senior officials in the Food and Drug Administration’s tobacco center were blindsided by a recent decision that opens the door to allowing more unauthorized electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches onto the U.S. market, The Associated Press has learned.
· Associated Press
Australia's slowdown, family fortunes — and the investment bet heading sky-high
LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE
· Sbsaustralia