Beijing’s Strategic Technology Push China has further widened its technological advantage over South Korea and moved ahead of Japan in several critical sectors, according to a recent review by Seoul’s science authorities. The findings highlight Beijing’s sustained commitment to strategic research and development. Over the past decade, Chinese policymakers have elevated science and innovation to…
First Projects Under Landmark Trade Deal Japan and the United States have officially launched the first round of investments under Tokyo’s massive $550 billion capital commitment agreed in last year’s trade framework. The announcement marks a significant milestone in bilateral economic cooperation. The projects were selected through a joint review process involving U.S. and Japanese…
Diplomats Reinforce Strategic Alliance Senior officials from Japan and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral security cooperation, signaling renewed urgency in strengthening one of the world’s most consequential alliances. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held extensive talks on the sidelines of the Munich Security…
Bitcoin Slides as Macro Anxiety Grips Markets Bitcoin entered late January under renewed pressure as global markets turned risk-off. Prices slipped below key psychological levels amid broad weakness across crypto assets, mirroring declines in equities and rising volatility in currency markets. While the pullback unsettled short-term traders, it also reignited long-running debates about Bitcoin’s sensitivity…
Rising Economic Giants and Shifting Global Power History shows that dramatic changes in the relative economic size of nations are not new. The late nineteenth century saw the United Kingdom eclipsed by the United States and Germany, reshaping global influence. After World War II, Japan’s rapid productivity growth altered global economic balances. More recently, China’s…
Dr. Amara Okafor, a former World Bank expert who focuses on stability in growing markets and government finances, looks at changes in government using both a big and detailed view based on real-world policy study. With over eight years of studying country-level risk and long-term policy changes, she sees Japan’s current division as a clear…
Sapporo Refocuses on Core Brewing Business Japan’s Sapporo Holdings has agreed to sell its real estate business in a deal valued at approximately $3 billion, marking a major strategic pivot for the historic brewer. The transaction reflects a broader effort to streamline operations and redirect capital toward its core alcoholic beverage business. The buyer consortium…
Washington Announces Global Pact to Strengthen AI Mineral Supply Chains The United States has unveiled a new multinational initiative aimed at securing and stabilizing supply chains for critical minerals essential to artificial intelligence systems. Announced in Washington, the pact called “Pax Silica” brings together major Asia-Pacific partners to counter growing concerns over China’s dominance in…
Jerome Powell faces growing scrutiny as the Federal Reserve pushes ahead with one of the fastest rate-cut cycles in decades. Unlike previous periods of easing, these reductions are occurring without a recession or financial crisis, making the situation historically unusual and increasingly controversial among economists. The Fed has lowered its benchmark rate by roughly 1.5…
TOKYO — December 8, 2025 — Japan is transforming the Osaka-Kansai Expo into a national experiment in circular economy practices, repurposing pavilion materials, reusing structural components, and recycling nearly all remaining waste. As the Expo’s dismantling begins, organizers say the effort could become a global model for sustainable event planning, influencing future international exhibitions, sporting…
