Media & Entertainment

Pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow is arrested from her home in Hong Kong on Aug. 10.
Politics

Hong Kong's Agnes Chow and Jimmy Lai arrested under security law

Eight others also detained without bail in sweeping police action against activists

11 August 2020
A scene from the "Demon Slayer" movie.
Media & Entertainment

Sony sets out to conquer entertainment world with anime

Sector primed to take center stage among the group's studio businesses

8 August 2020
A screen showing characters from the Animal Crossing series video game is seen at a Nintendo store in Tokyo on June 10.
Media & Entertainment

Nintendo hits record as world plays games during pandemic lockdown

Gaming giant posts 427% rise in operating profit as demand for 'Animal Crossing' surges

6 August 2020
Cast member Liu Yifei attends the "Mulan" premiere in Los Angeles.
Media & Entertainment

'Mulan' comes to Disney+ in September as well as some theaters

Highly anticipated film will hit big screens in reopened markets, including China

5 August 2020
Sony's plan to launch its next-generation console PlayStation 5 around the end of the year is still on track. (Photo by Masayuki Kozono)
Companies

Sony's key image sensor business hit by smartphone market decline

Japanese group forecasts 12% drop in net profit for FY2020 amid coronavirus

4 August 2020
The cities of Seoul, left, and Tokyo both offer various advantages for businesses looking to move people out of Hong Kong. (Source photos by AFP/Jiji)
Media & Entertainment

New York Times move shows Seoul ready to rival Tokyo as Asia hub

South Korean capital has become an outward-looking and tech-savvy city

3 August 2020
Turkish games developer Masomo, which was acquired by Tencent last year, is currently developing a basketball game for mobile phones. (Photo courtesy of Masomo) 
Media & Entertainment

Turkish game developers attract interest from Tencent and Zynga

Agile companies such as Peak and Masomo coveted for strength in Asian market

3 August 2020
Japan's public broadcaster NHK has been criticized for competing too much with private TV companies. 
Media & Entertainment

Japan's NHK to reduce satellite TV and radio channels

Decision comes amid criticism from private broadcasters over competition

3 August 2020
Visitors play a video game at a stand at the 2020 ChinaJoy event in Shanghai.
Media & Entertainment

China gamers look for next big hits at Shanghai show

'ChinaJoy' is forum for smaller studios to showcase technology and products

1 August 2020
Australia wants tech platforms to negotiate "in good faith" with news outlets.
1 August 2020
As movie theaters remain closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, film producers in India are turning to online premieres of new releases. (Nikkei montage/Source images courtesy of Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Disney Plus Hotstar)
Business Spotlight

Digital Bollywood: Can Amazon and Netflix save Indian cinema?

Online premieres offer glimmer of hope for studios struggling in pandemic

31 July 2020
The South China Morning Post's newsroom at Times Square in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. (Photo courtesy of the company)
Media & Entertainment

South China Morning Post restores paywall as ad revenue falls

Hong Kong paper seeks new revenue stream to sustain its journalism

28 July 2020
Since reopening, Shanghai Disneyland has capped daily attendance at about 16,000 visitors, roughly 20% of its usual capacity, and that has been "a blessing," park-goers say.
Media & Entertainment

Shanghai Disney tries to keep magic alive as US faces second wave

Bob Iger's flagship resort avoids problems seen in Hong Kong and Florida

26 July 2020
The New York Times Building in New York. The company is set to move one-third of its staff in Hong Kong to Seoul due to concerns over the national security legislation.
Media & Entertainment

NY Times picks Seoul over Tokyo to diversify from Hong Kong

Foreign media in Chinese city face uncertainty after enactment of security law

15 July 2020
A woman with an Oculus Quest VR headset at Facebook Developer Conference in 2019. The tech group is now eyeing big growth in production of the devices.
Technology

Facebook and Sony ramp up output of gaming devices

Oculus VR headsets and PlayStation 5 benefit as demand soars in pandemic

15 July 2020
Complete control of the financial firm will make it easier for Sony to make deals.
Business deals

Sony completes $3.7bn takeover of financial unit

Company's face-to-face insurance marketing efforts stymied by coronavirus

15 July 2020
Nepal's Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, left, has been the subject of Indian propaganda built around the fears of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Source photo by Reuters) 
International relations

Nepal broadcasters block Indian news over 'insulting' propaganda

Tensions rise over tabloid-like smear targeting Nepalese prime minister

14 July 2020
For the first time in Japan, more companies have paid executives directly with shares than stock options.
Business trends

Japan sees 50% surge in companies paying executives with shares

Over 800 corporations align fortunes of top brass with shareholders

12 July 2020
A virtual tour in Fortnite by American rapper Travis Scott drew nearly 28 million viewers over three days.
Media & Entertainment

With Fortnite investment, Sony takes step to build streaming empire

Netflix fears wildly popular US game as a greater threat than cable TV

11 July 2020
ABS-CBN was forced to shut its popular flagship channel and radio stations on May 5 after its 25-year legislative franchise expired, resulting in an estimated 30 million pesos ($607,000) pesos in advertising losses daily.
Companies

Philippine broadcaster that angered Duterte loses key vote

ABS-CBN says 11,000 jobs at risk if its franchise not renewed

10 July 2020
Epic is known for the smash hit "Fortnite" as well as the advanced game engine "Unreal Engine." 
Media & Entertainment

Sony partners with 'Fortnite' producer ahead of PS5 launch

Japanese conglomerate to invest $250 million in US developer Epic Games

10 July 2020
Kuaidian was launched in 2017 as a dialogue-based storytelling platform in China. It later enabled user-generated content and dubbing for novels, posting and friending, as well as hashtag creation. (Screenshot from Kuaidian website) 
DealStreetAsia

Sequoia leads $100m financing round for Chinese storytelling app

Kuaidian CEO says short-form videos most effective in attracting paying users

9 July 2020
TikTok said after 'recent events' in Hong Kong it would stop operations there. China recently implemented a new national security law for the city. (Nikkei Montage/AP/Reuters) 
China tech

TikTok to quit Hong Kong after China brings in new security law

Pompeo warns Americans about using video app, suggests ban under consideration

7 July 2020
An open-top version of the Toyota 2000GT made an appearance in the Bond movie "You Only Live Twice."
Automobiles

Toyota reissues parts for classic James Bond supercar

Only 337 of the 2000GT, which stars in 1967 film, were ever made

7 July 2020
From left: Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki, Dentsu's Ryoichi Fukuyama and then-Ghibli executive Steve Alpert in Vienna while promoting "Princess Mononoke." (Courtesy of Stone Bridge Press)
Arts

New book goes inside Studio Ghibli with Hayao Miyazaki

Steve Alpert worked there for 15 years and knew major players

6 July 2020