From Falling U.S. Wealth to Indian Factory Closures, Oil Shock Raises Global Recession Risk
The United States’ war on Iran has pushed Brent crude above $109 a barrel, triggering a sharp rise in input costs for manufacturers worldwide. U.S. plastic‑bag producer Emerald Packaging faces resin prices that jumped from $0.45 to $0.85 per pound, while Indian aluminum extrusion plants have shut down due to gas shortages. Analysts, including Goldman Sachs, now see a U.S. recession risk of up to 30%, and the IMF is revising global growth lower amid soaring inflation. The shock is uneven, hurting energy‑import‑dependent economies like the UK while the U.S. and China are better positioned.
AI K-Pop Startup Galaxy Aims for IPO in Seoul and New York
Seoul‑based AI startup Galaxy, founded in 2019, is preparing a dual listing in New York and Seoul for 2027 after raising roughly $150 million. The company blends AI‑generated music, virtual avatars and life‑size robot idols, leveraging star power from G‑Dragon and a...
Tonga's Debt to China Hinders Rebuilding Effort Four Years After Eruption
Four years after the Jan. 15, 2022 Hunga Tonga‑Hunga Ha'apai eruption, Tonga is still wrestling with reconstruction while servicing a Chinese loan that has ballooned to over $100 million. The government paid $17.7 million to China in the year to June 2025, a sum...
Central Banks' Inflation Mood Puzzle: More Judgment than Science
Central banks are grappling with how to gauge inflation expectations as an Iran‑driven energy shock filters through the economy. Traditional surveys and market indicators prove too slow, prompting policymakers to rely more on judgment and real‑time qualitative data. New tools—such...
Pakistan's Crypto Diplomacy Paved Way for Key Role as U.S.-Iran Intermediary
Pakistan has leveraged crypto diplomacy to secure a non‑binding stable‑coin agreement with World Liberty Financial, the Trump family‑backed platform, after a high‑profile visit by CEO Zachary Witkoff in January. Bilal Bin Saqib, a self‑styled “crypto bro,” now chairs the Pakistan...
Lamborghinis Stranded in Sri Lanka as War Disrupts Asia's Used-Car Trade
The U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have choked the Strait of Hormuz, causing severe port congestion that left more than 500 Japanese‑exported cars idle at sea before finally off‑loading in Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port ten days late. Japanese firm...
New Zealand Struggles to Regain Economic Mojo without Housing Recovery
New Zealand’s economy is faltering as the housing market, long used as a growth engine, remains 20% below its pandemic peak despite the Reserve Bank’s aggressive rate cut to 2.25%. The RBNZ now projects flat house prices for the year, while...
Shockwave of War Is Rippling Through the Global Economy
The first collective economic health check since the U.S. and Israel struck Iran is underway, with purchasing‑manager indexes (PMIs) across the U.S., euro zone and other major economies expected to fall. Rising energy prices from disrupted shipping and production are...
‘Horrendously High’ Fares and Bomb Fears Upend Spring Travel
The Iran‑Israel war has shut Gulf transit hubs, wiping out up to 10% of global airline capacity. More than 46,000 flights were cancelled, driving fare spikes such as an 80% rise on Sydney‑London economy tickets and near‑tripling on Singapore‑London routes....
‘Mr. Lufthansa’ Taps Crisis Playbook to Tackle Costs and Union Battles
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr is leveraging his crisis‑management experience to improve margins, centralise the group and expand long‑haul capacity. After a 60% share‑price rise since early 2025, the airline posted its best punctuality in a decade with over 80% on‑time...
AI Translation Could Help Japanese Corporations Close the Disclosure Gap
Straker, a New Zealand‑based firm, has launched an AI‑driven platform that automatically converts Japanese financial statements into polished English documents. The tool promises near‑instant translation, delivering complete, investor‑ready financials without manual intervention. Japanese corporations, traditionally hampered by language barriers, can now...
A Family Fights to Keep Control of 157-Year-Old Firm in Japan
Sixth‑generation brothers Hironori and Takanori Aoki are battling Aeon and activist fund Oasis for control of the 157‑year‑old drug‑store chain Kusuri no Aoki Holdings. They have called an emergency meeting to adopt a poison‑pill that would dilute any shareholder acquiring...
Japan to Boost Aid for Video Games and Anime as New Pillar of Growth
Japan announced a major increase in government support for its content industries, including video games and anime, to accelerate overseas expansion. Overseas sales of Japanese media reached ¥5.8 trillion in 2023, and the government aims to lift annual export revenue to...