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[ad_1] SEOUL – Coffee prices have soared in recent years, owing to unfavorable weather conditions and supply shortages in major producing countries like Brazil, India and Vietnam. But even if consumers are paying more for their daily cup, coffee farmers are seeing little of the gain because they lack sufficient bargaining power.Since the 1950s, coffee has been among the world’s most-traded commodities — at one point, it ranked second behind […]

[ad_1] Manila – The Philippines will develop islands in the South China Sea that it considers part of its territory to make them more habitable for troops, Manila's military chief Romeo Brawner told reporters Monday. The plans come amid heightened tensions between the Philippines and China, both of whom claim territory in the South China Sea and have traded accusations of aggressive behavior in the strategic waterway. Apart from the […]

[ad_1] Japan and Australia are discussing potential military cooperation in case of simultaneous contingencies in their nearby regions, government sources said Monday, apparently with China's growing maritime assertiveness in mind.Through the discussion and the development of examples of collaboration between the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Australian military, Tokyo envisions establishing bilateral defense cooperation guidelines with Canberra to clarify their role-sharing, the sources added.Increasing the sophistication and frequency of joint […]

[ad_1] The number of corporate bankruptcies in Japan in 2023 hit an eight-year high, a survey by Tokyo Shoko Research showed Monday. Business failures rose in all 10 surveyed sectors for the first time in 31 years, due to rising prices, deepening labor shortages and the full-fledged start of repayments of relief loans extended to help companies weather the COVID-19 crisis. Corporate bankruptcies with liabilities of at least ¥10 million […]

[ad_1] Melbourne – Naomi Osaka fell at the first hurdle in her Grand Slam comeback on Monday, losing 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) to Caroline Garcia in the first round of the Australian Open.A single break proved enough for the French 16th seed to win the opening set against her rusty opponent and she dominated the second set tie-break to progress in Melbourne.Japanese star Osaka, who has won four Grand Slams, stepped […]

[ad_1] Most Japanese companies in China cut investment or kept it flat last year, and a majority don’t have a positive outlook for 2024, with only a quarter saying they expect the economy to improve.More than 400 companies said they cut investment in China last year, according to a survey of 1,713 firms by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China. That was slightly worse than the previous […]

[ad_1] Lone yokozuna Terunofuji hit the first stumbling block of his injury comeback at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday, losing a marathon bout against No. 1 maegashira Wakamotoharu.The 32-year-old grand champion is aiming to get back on track at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan after withdrawing from the past three tournaments with severe back pain. He has also been dealing with ever-present concerns about his knees, which have undergone […]

[ad_1] Nearly half of the companies on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's prime section have responded to a call to disclose plans to improve capital efficiency, the bourse said on Monday, as it released for the first time a list of those who had complied.The list, which did not include some of Japan's biggest and most influential companies such as Toyota Motor and SoftBank Group, marks the culmination of the bourse's […]