AFP Two years after devastating floods, banana planters in Ivory Coast have staged a comeback, eyeing an increase in production and new markets for the popular fruit. The west African country, which has grown bananas for more than 50 years, was annually exporting almost 300,000 tonnes of fruit before disaster struck. In Nieky, a vital banana-growing region, many have …

WASHINGTON China suffered a significant setback this month in its bid for dominance in the South China Sea, and its leaders are following a familiar script after such reversals: They’re making angry statements but taking little action while they assess the situation. The U.S. is playing a characteristic role in such a flare-up, too. Rather than crowing about victory, it’s …

  Japan has taken a bold step and Abenomics is once again at play. But will it yield the desired results? This is a pertinent question which has no easy answer. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced a 28-trillion yen ($266 billion) economic stimulus package ahead of the crucial Bank of Japan (BoJ) meeting. BoJ is also expected to …