SHANGHAI -- China Baowu Steel Group, the world's largest steel producer, has entered discussions to absorb China's seventh-ranked peer Shandong Iron and Steel Group.

Shandong's core subsidiary Shandong Iron and Steel Co. announced Wednesday that the parent company sent a notice that it has started negotiations toward a "strategic reorganization" with Baowu.

If a deal is reached, it would be the latest in a string of acquisitions by Baowu. In September 2019, the company bought a majority stake

TOKYO -- With a week to go before the opening ceremony for the Tokyo Olympics on July 23, Japan is ramping up preparations for the arrival of athletes, coaches and staff from around the world.

Nearly all Olympic venues in Tokyo have been blocked off to regular traffic as of Thursday, while Olympic organizers plan to keep athletes in their own bubble to minimize the spread of the coronavirus.

The Summer Games will kick off as the Japanese capital, under a fourth state of emergency , confronts another wave of COVID-

LONDON -- British parliamentarians voted Thursday in favor of a motion to call on the government to diplomatically boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022 unless alleged atrocities in Xinjiang are ended.

The lifting of Chinese sanctions on U.K. citizens and entities was another condition.

While the motions are not legally binding, the actions demonstrate the growing concern among lawmakers in the West over China's alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang and the clampdown on Hong Kong. This follows a similar move by the European parliament last

Hamish McDonald is a former foreign editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and regional editor of the Far Eastern Economic Review.

Out of sight, out of mind could be the Australian government's mantra when it comes to awkward worker compensation issues. At the start of the supply chain that brings Australian fruit and vegetables to consumers in both domestic and overseas markets, there have long been troubling stories about the workers who labor in fields and orchards to harvest the bounty.

Go to a town like Bundaberg -- center of a region

TOKYO/OSAKA -- Shimano's showroom at its headquarters in Osaka is a shrine to the technology that has made the company a household name in global cycling.

A bicycle weighing just 7 kg and kitted out with its high-specification components, can be lifted easily with one hand. Shimano staff point out items such as its Dura-Ace line, developed in 1973 for competitive road racing and again on show in this year's Tour de France, which ends this weekend in Paris.

Just

TAIPEI -- "Foreign chipmakers vying for U.S. subsidies will keep their valuable intellectual property on their own shores, ensuring that the most lucrative and cutting-edge manufacturing stays there."

In Politico last month, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger took aim at Washington's decision to subsidize the $12 billion chip fabrication plant being built by rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. in Arizona.

The U.S. lured TSMC with the promise of generous support as part of its effort to break its reliance on foreign

NEW YORK -- U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel affirmed on Thursday their countries' commitment to defending democratic principles and the importance of a level playing field in business, signaling a united front against China and Russia.

"We will stand up for democratic principles and universal rights when we see China, or any other country, working to undermine free and open societies," Biden said during a joint news conference.

Merkel said she discussed with Biden the need to respond to China's non

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong had its busiest day for initial public offerings in six months on Friday, reinforcing the city's role as a listings venue when regulators in both China and the U.S. are putting a chill on foreign IPOs by mainland companies.

Five companies begin trading on the city's stock exchange, after raising a combined $630 million, marking the biggest day for IPO listings since Jan. 8.

The newcomers include clinical testing firm Kindstar Globalgene Technology, pearlescent pigment maker Global

BANGKOK -- Thailand's sugar cane growers are some of the world's most productive, but they face two major challenges: a severe drought attributed to climate change and growing health consciousness among consumers.

According to the Thai Sugar Millers Corporation, an industry group, domestic sugar production for the 2020-21 crop year (November 2020 to October 2021) will be around 6.6 million tons, the lowest level in a decade and less than half the 1