TOKYO -- As part of its campaign to convert aging, carbon-dioxide-spewing coal plants to run on biomass, Japanese energy company Erex will partner with South Korean engineering group Samsung C&T on building global supply chains for the cleaner fuel.

The companies, which recently signed a memorandum of understanding to partner on biomass, look to establish a joint venture in Japan next year to develop new fuels.

Erex plans to buy coal-run power plants from major utilities and refit them for biomass fuel, helping reduce

SHANGHAI -- China's Clover Biopharmaceuticals is set to debut on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong on Friday as it races to win regulatory approval and begin shipments of its COVID-19 vaccine.

Though founded in 2007, Chengdu-based Clover has yet to generate any operating revenue. Development of its COVID vaccine was financed by a grant worth up to $360.5 million from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the disease research funding group set up by the Gates

OSAKA -- Panasonic is technologically almost ready to start commercializing the cheaper, higher-capacity battery cells Tesla unveiled last year, the head of the Japanese industrial giant's newly consolidated battery division told Nikkei.

October saw Panasonic bring all of its battery-related operations under a new in-house energy company with Kazuo Tadanobu as its CEO. In a recent interview, Tadanobu discussed its partnership with Tesla and the possibility of working with other electric-vehicle companies, as well as plans for the energy company.

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TOKYO -- The corporate sector's impact on the climate will come under greater scrutiny as the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation is set to establish a global standard for companies' disclosure of such risks by June.

Environment-related disclosure standards have been difficult to implement because of a lack of consistency across jurisdictions. But if the disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions and other information is now required under a global framework, investors will be able to compare companies more easily. It is thought that such a framework will push companies to

TOKYO -- A third way has opened up in screen technology, and display trendsetter Apple is taking the lead.

The new MacBook Pro models unveiled in October feature mini-LED backlights, in a first for Apple's flagship line of laptops.

Mini light-emitting diodes seek to take the best of both worlds of leading screen technology, combining the low-cost advantages of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) with the blacker blacks and sharper contrast of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays.

"This is

TAIPEI -- A delegation from the European Parliament arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday, making its first visit to the island in an official capacity amid growing tensions between Beijing and Taipei.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement welcoming the "highly meaningful" visit by the seven-member delegation, which will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday.

The three-day trip comes as Taiwan faces mounting cross-strait tensions with China, which considers the island part of its sovereign claim. Taipei and Brussels

SYDNEY/TOKYO/BEIJING -- The world's biggest free trade agreement is set to take effect on Jan. 1, slashing tariffs for countries including Japan, China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

New Zealand Trade Minister Phil Twyford on Wednesday said his country had completed ratification of the the 15-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, following Australia.

Bringing together $25 trillion in economic output, the supersized trade pact covers roughly 30% of global gross domestic product, population and trade

WASHINGTON -- China is on track to quintuple its nuclear arsenal by 2030 to at least 1,000 warheads, the Pentagon said Wednesday in its annual report on Beijing's military power, markedly upgrading last year's assessment.

This year's edition of "Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China" also highlights Beijing's improving space and cyber capabilities as the People's Liberation Army advances toward its 2027 modernization goals, by which time

TOKYO -- Takara Bio will mass produce mRNA vaccines from next year on a contract basis, Nikkei has learned, becoming one of the first Japanese companies to build key manufacturing facilities that will help cut the nation's reliance on imports.

Takara Bio will repurpose equipment at its mainstay plant in Kusatsu, a city in Shiga Prefecture, with production starting as soon as January.

The operation will make plasmid DNA as well as mRNA vaccine starting material. Takara Bio expects to tap technology from clients to convert the starting material into