Organic food is often presented as a healthier, greener or more ethical choice. But when people decide whether to pay extra for organic milk, eggs or vegetables, something else is going on. Organic food belongs to a curious category that economists call “credence goods”. These are the products whose key qualities can’t be verified even after you’ve bought them. There’s no way that you can tell by looking at, tasting or cooking a food item whether it was genuinely produced to organic standards. Instead, you have to take it on…
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U.S. and global oil and gas prices surged higher Monday as concerns grew that attacks by Israel and the U.S. on Iran could spiral into a broader war and disrupt global energy supplies. The U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Saturday that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of other senior government officials while talks between Washington and Tehran over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program were reported to be ongoing. European benchmark Brent crude oil surged by as much as 13% in early trade on Monday,…
The Trump administration signaled a possible climb in some U.S. tariffs above 10%, but provided few specifics. Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative, said Wednesday that the 10% tariff on imported goods was likely to increase. “Right now, we have the 10% tariff. It’ll go up to 15% for some and then it may go higher for others, and I think it will be in line with the types of tariffs we’ve been seeing,” Greer said on Fox Business’ “Mornings with Maria.” Trump first announced a 10% global tariff hours…
Japanese companies will finance investments valued at $36 billion in energy and minerals projects in Ohio, Texas and Georgia as part of a trade agreement that will cut U.S. tariffs on Japanese imports to 15%, according to the Trump administration. The announcement is part of Japan’s 2025 agreement to invest $550 billion over the next four years at the direction of the U.S., with the funds aimed at rebuilding and expanding core American industries. In October, the Trump administration provided details on Japanese investments of up to $332 billion to…
Dear reader, as you read this, the curtain is rising on the most significant and heartwarming moment of the year for countless Chinese families. Wanderers have returned to their nests, and lights are glowing in millions of homes. The opening act of this grand festival is, and always will be, the Nianyefan – the Chinese New Year’s Eve reunion dinner. It is more than just a carnival for the taste buds; it is a totem of emotion and belonging. However, if we zoom out and look at the rising steam…
Japan is preparing to lift long-standing restrictions on lethal weapons exports, marking another step in the erosion of its post-war arms export taboo. While the reform creates new diplomatic and commercial opportunities and allows deeper security cooperation with regional partners, Japan’s defence industrial base remains small, costly and capacity-constrained. Domestic procurement demands and labour shortages mean exports will likely remain modest, limiting the policy’s practical and strategic impact on regional military balances. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government is looking to loosen Japan’s long-standing restrictions on weapons exports, marking another step…
The search for rare earths for energy transition is often regarded as a form of neo-colonialism, and today it is the area in which this phenomenon manifests itself most clearly, especially due to its geopolitical and economic effects. However, there are other neo-colonial practices that are less visible but with equally negative consequences at the local level. One of these is the export of waste to Africa and Asia by Western countries, particularly the export of plastic, clothing, and electronic waste. The export of waste to the Global South is…
The second largest natural gas producer in northwest Louisiana and east Texas has sold its assets to Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi. Aethon, a Dallas-based company that operates in the prolific Haynesville shale formation, agreed to a deal worth approximately $7.5 billion, according to an announcement on Friday. Mitsubishi agreed to pay $5.2 billion for Aethon’s equity interests and will assume approximately $2.33 billion in net debt. The company expects the transaction will close in the second quarter of 2026. Aethon’s Haynesville shale assets currently produce about 2.1 billion cubic feet a…
Japan’s first superconducting quantum computer designed and built entirely with components developed domestically began operating at the University of Osaka at the end of July. The new system uses a chip with superconducting quantum bits, derived from metals that exhibit negligible electrical resistance when cooled to temperatures near absolute zero. All the components, including the quantum processing unit developed at the Institute for Research in Physics and Chemistry (RIKEN), are housed in a cryogenic device that allows for extremely low temperatures. Developed in partnership with companies such as Fujitsu, the…
Trump’s Venezuela operation marks a move towards ‘Donroeism’ as the United States seeks to assert dominance over the Western Hemisphere. While this shift may create strategic space for China by reducing the likelihood of direct US–China confrontation, it is unlikely to directly trigger Chinese military action over Taiwan. Instead, a key determinant will be the credibility of the US response to a Taiwan contingency — which appears increasingly uncertain. While Japan remains dependent on the United States for its security, it could bolster regional stability by pursuing a more autonomous…