OSAKA/TOKYO -- India is establishing itself as a global center for air conditioner production, thanks largely to government incentives that have spurred expansion by companies including Daikin Industries, a top player in the South Asian country.

New Delhi wants Daikin and its rivals to not only meet India's needs, but also use the country as an export base. India's diverse climate makes it an ideal test bed for technologies to meet the needs of emerging Asian and African economies set to drive demand for air conditioning in the

TOKYO -- The Tokyo Olympics have finally opened after a long journey filled with controversy, and an unprecedented one-year postponement because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The proceedings officially began with Friday's opening ceremony at the National Stadium , a mostly subdued affair mixed with joyous moments like a high-tech drone show, and capped by tennis star Naomi Osaka lighting the Olympic cauldron.

We're tracking the latest medal count .

Read our breakdown of the events to watch .

This blog file is now closed

SINGAPORE -- Exports from Southeast Asia have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, thanks to the economic recoveries in the U.S. and China lifting demand for the region's products..

Thailand, Vietnam and three other major economies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations reported exports in June that exceeded the numbers seen in June 2019. One of the biggest drivers of this phenomenon is the insatiable appetite for semiconductors amid the global chip shortage.

"Global demand is still strong," said Wong Siew Hai

BANGKOK -- As a wave of anxiety spreads across Asia with the continuing spike in coronavirus infections and deaths, the Maldives is basking in a rising tide of good fortune thanks to a hitherto unexpected source: Russian tourists.

Planeloads of Russian vacationers have been jetting into the Indian Ocean archipelago -- known for its remote, idyllic resort islands -- in record numbers, making Aeroflot, the Russian national carrier, an increasingly common sight at Velana International Airport, the South Asian nation's international gateway. The Russian airline is

TOKYO -- The Tokyo Olympics are well underway after a long journey filled with controversy, and an unprecedented one-year postponement because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The proceedings officially began with the opening ceremony at the National Stadium , a mostly subdued affair mixed with joyous moments like a high-tech drone show, and capped by tennis star Naomi Osaka lighting the Olympic cauldron.

We're tracking the latest medal count .

Read our breakdown of the events to watch .

Here are the latest developments:

Thursday,

TOKYO -- Japanese trading house Mitsubishi is entering Australia's carbon emissions trading market through a local specialist that helps farmers turn grazing land back into native forests, looking for lessons it can apply in North America.

The Tokyo-based company has acquired a 40% stake in Australian Integrated Carbon for an undisclosed sum, becoming the top shareholder.

AI Carbon provides guidance to livestock farmers, showing them how to regrow native vegetation lost due to deforestation or excessive grazing. Improvement techniques include fencing off an area and managing herding

TOKYO -- The Tokyo Olympics have finally opened after a long journey filled with controversy, and an unprecedented one-year postponement because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The proceedings officially began with Friday's opening ceremony at the National Stadium , a mostly subdued affair mixed with joyous moments like a high-tech drone show, and capped by tennis star Naomi Osaka lighting the Olympic cauldron.

We're tracking the latest medal count .

Read our breakdown of the events to watch .

Here are the latest developments:

HONG KONG -- U.S. banks from Goldman Sachs to JPMorgan Chase are hurrying to expand in China as the country opens up its financial markets -- but Citigroup's top regional executive says his bank will pick its opportunities carefully rather than get caught up in the rush.

The bank, one of the best-known international names in Asian financial services, is changing tack substantially in Asia, starting a big pullout from most retail banking . It will concentrate on wealth management, institutional banking and China, where

Nikkei Asia is tracking the spread of the coronavirus that was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

Cumulative global cases have reached 195,858,229, according to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The worldwide death toll has hit 4,185,411.

For more information about the spread of COVID-19 and the progress of vaccination around the world, please see our interactive charts and maps.

-- Global coronavirus tracker charts

-- Status of