Asia’s Potential Trade Hot Spots

Since the beginning of the summer, the conflict in northern Ethiopia's Tigray has spread to neighbouring regions, particularly to Amhara. The Ethiopian federal army, backed by regional Amhara forces and militias, is battling troops of the TPLF – the Tigray People's Liberation Front. Ever since the fighting broke out last November, the warring parties have been repeatedly accused of committing serious human rights violations. This new front is no exception. Our journalists were able to report from the Amhara region, where civilians are still paying a heavy price in this conflict. Maria Gerth-Niculescu and Marika Julien report.

Traditionally, the hills of eastern Rwanda were a place for growing coffee, sweet potatoes, sugar cane and bananas. But in recent years, new plants have also appeared, such as patchouli, geranium and eucalyptus. Whole villages have begun to transform them into essential oils, helping lift many inhabitants out of poverty. And demand is booming for these wellness products worldwide. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Olivia Bizot.

Cigarettes in Indonesia are already among the world's cheapest, but in times of economic hardship, a boom in illegal cigarettes is continuing.

Ali Maisam Nazary, head of foreign relations for the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF), an anti-Taliban military alliance which recently set up a parallel government in response to the Taliban taking power. Nazary claimed that the country's new rulers "are not victorious" in Afghanistan's north-eastern Panjshir region, that the "resistance is continuing" and that the NRF actually controls "more than half" of Panjshir, despite Taliban "propaganda" to the contrary.

In an interview with FRANCE 24, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai insisted the country was not in a new Cold War with China despite lingering tensions over trade. She also stressed that the US was keen to repair ties with France and Europe after a recent Australian submarine dispute, which led to the first-ever recall of a French ambassador to the United States.

Beijing is seeking the elimination of US tariffs, while Washington sees the discussions as a test of bilateral engagement between the two major economic powers.

Less than a year since the EU and UK struck a post-Brexit deal, the sides are apparently preparing for a trade war. Tensions over the Northern Ireland Protocol have pushed things to the brink.

China and India are struggling to obtain enough coal to get through the winter and power their pandemic recoveries. Soaring prices are exacerbating the energy crisis and raising urgent questions about climate goals.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces a comprehensive in-principle free trade agreement with the UK, arrived at after 16 months of talks. London said the deal ends tariffs on British exports such as clothing, footwear, ships and bulldozers. It estimated that trade between the two countries last year was worth £2.3 billion ($3.2 billion, 2.7 billion euros).

There's no end in sight to Ethiopia's Tigray conflict following days of airstrikes by federal government forces.

The president has again said that he has a commitment to defend Taiwan should China attack, contradicting the US's decades-old policy toward the island. It has prompted official clarification about the US's role in Asia.

The two countries join the ASEAN nations, China, South Korea, and Japan. The pact will cover 30% of the world's population and 53% of last year's exports.