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Analysis: Xi Jinping tests Trump’s limits with Pacific SLBM firing
Economy

Analysis: Xi Jinping tests Trump’s limits with Pacific SLBM firing

Xi Jinping had an ulterior motive in launching an SLBM over the Pacific Ocean on July 6 -- to see if Donald Trump might acquiesce to a suggestion that Barack Obama long ago snubbed. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters and PLA Navy's WeChat account) Route sent a message to the Philippines while avoiding South Korea fallout Katsuji Nakazawa is a Tokyo-based senior staff and editorial writer at Nikkei. He spent seven years in China as a correspondent, and later as China bureau chief, and was the 2014 recipient of the Vaughn-Ueda International Journalist prize.

July 16, 2026
Taiwan eyes local AI as digital ‘bulwark’ against Chinese influence
Economy

Taiwan eyes local AI as digital ‘bulwark’ against Chinese influence

TAIDE aims to counter global models' tendency to reflect mainland language, views Taiwan's TAIDE is being developed as a homegrown AI model built with local data on top of open source foundations. (Illustration by Nikkei) TAIPEI -- Taiwan is rushing to further develop its local generative artificial intelligence model, aiming to protect its language and culture by countering the mainland Chinese content that other models are trained on.

July 16, 2026
China’s GDP growth rate of 4.3% marks slowest pace in over three years
Economy

China’s GDP growth rate of 4.3% marks slowest pace in over three years

Weak consumption weighs in second quarter; outlook hinges on exports remaining robust A worker assembles a wind turbine generator at an industrial park in Baotou, in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, on June 13. The country's industrial production rose 5.4% in the first half of 2026, driven by robotic and semiconductor sectors. © Reuters TOKYO -- China's growth momentum slowed in the second quarter after a strong start to the year, underscoring the fragile state of the economy even though trade tensions with the U.S. and turmoil in the Middle East have so far been less damaging than feared.

July 15, 2026
Japan’s family photo app expands globally, chasing 100 million users
Economy

Japan’s family photo app expands globally, chasing 100 million users

Developer eyes services in local languages as home market faces declining birthrate Japanese photo sharing app FamilyAlbum allows parents to easily share photos of their children with relatives. It also offers photo printing and photo book creation services. (Source photos by Mixi) TOKYO -- FamilyAlbum, a Japanese developed app for sharing photos and videos mainly with family members, has ambitions to aggressively expand its number of users and services in overseas markets after surpassing 30 million of them on a cumulative basis as its home market faces population decline.

July 15, 2026
Bangladesh unifies QR payments to formalize cash-based economy
Economy

Bangladesh unifies QR payments to formalize cash-based economy

Nationwide rollout of Bangla QR expected to boost tax revenue and financial inclusion With Bangla QR, customers of any participating bank or mobile financial service can pay any merchant by scanning one QR code, consolidating an array of incompatible payment systems that had limited moves toward a cashless economy. (Screenshot from Bangladesh Bank's Facebook page) DHAKA -- Bangladesh has rolled out a nationwide interoperable QR payment system in an ambitious push to reduce the country's dependence on cash, formalize a vast informal economy and accelerate financial inclusion.

July 15, 2026
Indian capital promotes EVs to tackle severe air pollution
Economy

Indian capital promotes EVs to tackle severe air pollution

Delhi's smog-shrouded traffic in December, one of the most polluted times of year. © Reuters NEW DELHI -- The Delhi government, which administers India's capital region, is intensifying efforts to combat its alarming air pollution, including a new 150-billion-rupee ($1.57 billion) electric-vehicle push targeting vehicle emissions, a leading polluter.

July 15, 2026
Amazon courts China sellers with US customs-friendly warehouses
Economy

Amazon courts China sellers with US customs-friendly warehouses

New facility near Shanghai port follows Shenzhen center, with another coming soon Amazon's booth at a cross-border commerce exhibition in Hangzhou in early July: The company is expanding its warehousing in China. (Photo by Wataru Suzuki) HANGZHOU, China -- Amazon is building new warehouses near key ports in China to tap demand for compliant trade amid growing scrutiny of imported goods at U.S. customs.

July 15, 2026
KFC faces possible closures after cyberattack on Japan’s Nichirei
Economy

KFC faces possible closures after cyberattack on Japan’s Nichirei

Shares of food distribution company fall 5% as disruption widens The KFC fried chicken chain might have to shorten operating hours at some stores or temporarily close them as it deals with disruptions to ingredient deliveries after a cyberattack on food logistics company Nichirei. (Photo by Yui Sato) TOKYO -- Kentucky Fried Chicken stores in Japan may face temporary closures or shorter operating hours after a cyberattack crippled the distribution network of Nichirei, the nation's largest frozen food maker, disrupting deliveries of key ingredients, including chicken.

July 15, 2026
Australia unveils AI standards to shape roll out of technology
Economy

Australia unveils AI standards to shape roll out of technology

Albanese says country will regulate data center construction and training of models Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivers a speech titled "AI in Australia's Interests" at the University of Sydney on July 15. © Reuters BANGKOK -- Australia will implement "world-leading" artificial intelligence standards, building on its pioneering role in establishing a social media ban for children to "shape the future rather than letting the future of AI shape us," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Wednesday.

July 15, 2026
Indonesia’s Indika Energy bets on gold as coal volatility increases
Economy

Indonesia’s Indika Energy bets on gold as coal volatility increases

Miner navigates rising policy uncertainty, geopolitics and decarbonization push Indika Energy's gold project in Indonesia's South Sulawesi province. The miner is accelerating diversification into gold as coal demand and prices become increasingly volatile. (Indika Energy) JAKARTA -- Indonesian coal miner Indika Energy is preparing to kick off production at its first gold mine early next year, with the company's president stressing to Nikkei Asia the importance of the bullion business in coping with rising coal price volatility.

July 15, 2026
China’s big three airlines lose up to $1.33bn amid Middle East war
Economy

China’s big three airlines lose up to $1.33bn amid Middle East war

Long-struggling China Southern, Air China and China Eastern all blame fuel prices A China Southern Airlines Airbus A321 plane is towed at Changi Airport in Singapore: The carrier expects to post the biggest loss among the country's big three. © Reuters TOKYO -- China's big three state-owned airlines expect to report deeper first-half net losses than last year, mainly due to higher fuel prices as the war in the Middle East drags on.

July 15, 2026
Taiwan orders dozens of sea drones to fend off China’s maritime squeeze
Economy

Taiwan orders dozens of sea drones to fend off China’s maritime squeeze

Government institute to build with US partner; ex-official says hundreds needed Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling attends an event to unveil a new Coast Guard patrol ship in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on May 15. The government is working to bolster the force's capabilities with sea drones. © Reuters TAIPEI -- Taiwan has decided to award contracts for dozens of sea drones for its Coast Guard, a high-ranking official close to the matter told Nikkei Asia, tapping U.S. technology as it races to strengthen defense and counter China's expanding maritime operations in the region.

July 15, 2026