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,…
Posts published in “Business”
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…
Tesla officially entered India in July 2025 and registered 243 cars in the country by 31 January 2026. Around 206 registrations occurred in 2025, while January 2026 saw 37. Maharashtra accounts for more than half of all Tesla registrations, followed by Delhi and Gujarat. Registrations peaked in September 2025 during the initial launch phase and then stabilised in later months. The numbers show that Tesla’s entry into India is still in a very early stage, concentrated mainly in large metro cities with higher-income buyers and stronger EV infrastructure. ContextElectric vehicles…
India’s economy grew steadily in 2025, with real GDP expanding close to 7 per cent despite global trade tensions. Growth has been broad-based, driven by rural consumption, government expenditure, resilient exports and modernisation across services and infrastructure. Looking ahead, sustainability will depend on continued progress in infrastructure modernisation, while carefully managing debt, the energy transition, trade diversification and poverty reduction. With these challenges effectively addressed, India is well positioned to maintain its strong growth momentum. India’s economy grew at a steady pace in 2025 despite a global climate of sluggish…
On February 6, the U.S. and India announced that they have reached a framework for an interim reciprocal trade agreement which lists tariff reductions on several products traded between the two countries. However, the announcement has raised concern among farmer groups and food security activists over potential increases in agricultural imports, including genetically modified (GM) grain. The India-U.S. joint statement says, “India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on all U.S. industrial goods and a wide range of U.S. food and agricultural products, including dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), red sorghum for…
India’s mineral production has seen consistent growth over the past six years, led by strong performance in iron ore, bauxite, and limestone. The metallic minerals segment has driven much of the value increase, while non-metallic minerals have shown steady, demand-based expansion. Mineral production is a key driver of industrial growth and energy transition worldwide. As countries compete for critical resources to support manufacturing and clean technologies, reliable and sustainable mineral supply chains have become strategically important. Minerals such as iron ore, bauxite, and limestone form the foundation of global industries,…