Much business in Asia is still done the old way — trust is the most important asset. As the region becomes the biggest source of dollar bonds in the developing world, however, investors are starting to question whether they need more in writing. It’s high time. For one thing, bond fund managers are talking about limiting the freedom of …

  Britain’s Supreme Court has given UK members of Parliament the power to stop Brexit. Unfortunately, it’s a power they don’t seem to want. In its ruling, the court said that an act of Parliament is necessary to authorize Theresa May’s government to invoke Article 50, the European Union’s exit clause. MPs will almost certainly approve the enabling act and …

  Damascus government and rebel factions fighting to overthrow it came face-to-face for the first time on Monday in Kazakhstan, where the representatives of Russia, Turkey and Iran sought to bolster a shaky cease-fire which is in place since last month. The Astana gathering is the first time Syrian government representatives are sitting down with an opposition delegation made up …