Tokyo lost decades when a property bust led to an economic slump. Could the same phenomenon undo Xi Jinping’s ambitions?

Chinese groups are racing to build a global supply chain as protectionist barriers rise

Veteran leftwinger aiming to close the gap with rightwing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro before Sunday’s ballot

Demand from wealthy travellers leaving kingdom pushes up prices more than 50%, brokers say

Volodymyr Zelenskyy participates in discussions in Oslo that also involve Donald Trump’s envoy

‘Realist’ critics of Nato echo Moscow’s talking points on Ukraine

Tokyo asks US to help convince Beijing to ease chokehold on yttrium and avert manufacturing shutdown

Countries from Canada to Argentina have seen surge in investment and production as buyers rush to replace supply lost to Hormuz disruption

The gig economy has become an informal safeguard as the country’s strong headline figures mask heavy discontent

Credit default swaps are becoming a bellwether hedge for AI sentiment

Shares in Elice sink in Seoul, adding to rising concern about AI valuations

Jio Platforms aims to list at $107bn valuation amid stock market downturn, tougher competition and goading from Elon Musk

Residents in remote region of Shaoguan hope country’s AI infrastructure push will deliver boom that has long eluded them

Also in today’s newsletter: Saudi Arabia postpones ‘Davos in the desert’ and French bond sell-off intensifies

Cyril Ramaphosa says Pretoria wants to take advantage of growing tariff-free access benefits with Beijing

US judge rules Abdulrahman Alfozan should not be released on bail after US government argued he had ‘considerable support from a foreign government’

Global index provider has repeatedly raised concerns over investability in south-east Asia’s largest economy

Flagship Future Investment Initiative was scheduled to begin next week in Riyadh but will now take place next year

The franchise is being recast as a privilege citizens must repeatedly prove they deserve

AI infrastructure designs may now need to incorporate blast-resistant concrete, jamming gear and missile-defence systems