Business Aug 1, 2019
Defying pushback, Japan set to remove South Korea from 'white list' countries
by Satoshi Sugiyama
South Korea had been the only Asian nation on Japan’s “white list,” from which no entity has ever been removed.
National Jul 31, 2019
Pompeo calls for 'standstill agreement' to give feuding Japan and South Korea time to cool off
A trade dispute between South Korea and Japan is threatening to spiral out of control, and both governments want the White House on their side. Now it seems their private messaging has helped spark a reaction from the United States. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ...
Business / Corporate Jul 31, 2019
Shares fall as Samsung reveals profit plunge and warns outlook unclear due to Japan export curbs
Samsung Electronics Co. warned Wednesday that Japanese controls on the export of chip-making materials was blurring its outlook and said it would delay a plan to return money to shareholders due to “significant new challenges.” The South Korean tech giant also posted a 56 percent ...
Business / Tech Jul 31, 2019
'Five Eyes' security alliance calls for access to tech firms' encrypted material
The U.S.-led "Five Eyes" intelligence alliance said on Tuesday that tech firms must allow law enforcement agencies access to encrypted material, warning that failing to do so put people at risk. After a two-day summit in London, senior ministers from the group comprising the United ...
World / Science & Health Jul 30, 2019
Innovation rush aims to help farmers, rich and poor, beat climate change
by Laurie Goering
In decades to come, African farmers may pool their money to buy small robot vehicles to weed their fields or drones that can hover to squirt a few drops of pesticide only where needed. Smartphones already allow farmers in remote areas to snap photos of ...
Business / Corporate Jul 29, 2019
SoftBank Group's $108 billion Vision Fund 2 draws in Microsoft and Apple
SoftBank Group Corp. has secured pledges from Microsoft Corp. and other investors of around $108 billion for a second Vision Fund aimed at investing in technology firms. The Japanese conglomerate itself plans to invest $38 billion in the fund, it said in a statement. Others ...
Business Jul 26, 2019
SoftBank to be top investor in $108 billion second Vision Fund, with CEO Son silent on Saudi role
The conglomerate aims to raise $108 billion for a second Vision Fund, replacing Saudi Arabia as the largest investor as its targets opportunities in cutting-edge technologies.
Asia Pacific Jul 26, 2019
Australia to create office dedicated to monitoring U.S. tech giants Facebook and Google
Australia said it will establish the world's first dedicated office to police Facebook Inc. and Google as part of reforms designed to rein in the U.S. technology giants, potentially setting a precedent for global lawmakers. The move tightens the regulatory screws on the online platforms, ...
Business Jul 25, 2019
As Japan and South Korea clash at WTO over trade, rest of world reluctant to get involved
Dropping South Korea from Japan’s white list will probably affect ¥630 billion ($5.8 billion) in annual exports of microchip-making equipment, lawmaker Norihiro Nakayama said Wednesday.
Business Jul 24, 2019
Trade controls on South Korea to hit exports of Japan's chip-making gear, lawmaker says
Japan's plan to drop South Korea from its "white list" of nations with minimum trade controls will probably hit ¥630 billion ($5.8 billion) in annual exports of microchip-making equipment to its neighbor, a Japanese lawmaker said on Wednesday. Semiconductor-making equipment is Japan's top export item ...
Business Jul 23, 2019
South Korea to report Japan's tightening of export controls to WTO
by Satoshi Sugiyama
The escalation comes almost three weeks after Japan slapped export controls on three chemical ingredients used by South Korea’s globally dominant chip and screen industries.
Business Jul 12, 2019
by Satoshi Sugiyama
Working-level talks between Japanese and South Korean export control officials ran over the intended time frame Friday, highlighting the complexity of the economic spat between the two Asian neighbors in the wake of Tokyo's decision to strengthen export evaluations on three chemicals key to ...