Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla, at the Future of Asia conference in Tokyo on June 12, proposed using Asian currencies for regional trade to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar. (Photo by Maho Obata) 
The Future of Asia 2018

Indonesian VP calls for Asian 'consensus' to fight protectionism

Jusuf Kalla warns of 'greatest trade war in history' after G-7 acrimony

12 June 2018
The Philippine labor department has ordered Jollibee Foods to convert more than 6,000 workers on short-term contracts to permanent staff.
Asia300

Southeast Asia confronts big business over short-term hiring

Philippines issues list of top employers including Jollibee and PLDT

7 June 2018
Wednesday, Bank Indonesia raised interest rates again, the second time in two weeks, in an off-cycle meeting.
Nikkei Markets

Risks expand for debt-heavy Southeast Asian markets

Domestic currencies weaken as capital flows out

31 May 2018
These cars, trucks and motorbikes are bottlenecked on a Jakarta street. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Southeast Asia taps AI and satellites to tackle traffic jams

Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur turn to technology to ease congestion

31 May 2018
Indonesia's central bank Bank Indonesia is raising interest rates again in a pre-emptive move to stabilize the rupiah.
Economy

Bank Indonesia raises interest rates for second time in a month

Extraordinary meeting follows new governor's vow to act 'pre-emptively'

30 May 2018
Indonesian trainees harvest cabbages at a farm in Ibaraki Prefecture. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
The Big Story

Famous for its resistance to immigration, Japan opens its doors

Number of foreign workers doubles in five years as nation faces labor crisis

30 May 2018
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International relations

Protectionism left out of APEC trade ministers' statement

Members call for 'removal of market-distorting subsidies'

26 May 2018
Indonesia's central bank raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time in almost four years on May 17 and is already considering another hike.
Economy

Bank Indonesia considers another rate hike on May 30

Central bank plans extraordinary meeting as rupiah continues to fall

25 May 2018
Kuala Lumpur's benchmark stock index has fallen as much as 3.7% since the day before the election.
Malaysia in transition

Malaysia's hidden debt and 'insolvent' state fund raise alarm

Investors flee as US rate hikes compound Mahathir's fiscal challenges

24 May 2018
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Asia Insight

Asia's war on 'fake news' raises real fears for free speech

Governments walk fine line between fighting rumors and stifling dissent

22 May 2018
Indonesia's central bank was quick to take a defensive action.
Opinion

Argentina should set alarm bells ringing in Asia

Indonesia's interest rate rise highlights need for urgent defensive action

21 May 2018
Indonesia is facing a rapid capital drain.
Economy

Indonesia and Brazil fall off easing track as capital bleeds out

Central bankers frantic to avoid Argentine-style currency depreciation

18 May 2018
Bank Indonesia wants to shore up the rupiah to prevent living costs from rising in the run-up to elections. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Indonesia raises interest rate for 1st time since 2014

Central bank's decision follows that of other Asian nations amid rupiah's slide

17 May 2018
HSBC Indonesia President Director Sumit Dutta says Indonesia's economy "absolutely should be booming." (Photo by Shotaro Tani)
Economy

Indonesia 'absolutely should be booming' says HSBC country head

Sound economic conditions mean sentiment could improve 'very fast'

15 May 2018
Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks to local authorities at one of the bombing sites in Surabaya on May 13. (Photo courtesy of the Indonesian presidential secretariat)
Politics

Church bombings in Indonesia's second-biggest city leave 13 dead

Islamic State claims responsibility for suicide attacks carried out by family

13 May 2018
East Timorese are set to vote in parliamentary elections on May 12.
International relations

East Timor heads for election after bad-tempered campaign

Vote comes after landmark maritime boundary deal with Australia

10 May 2018
Passenger complaints have been on the rise as Garuda has suffered numerous delays and flight cancellations.
Economy

Garuda pilots threaten strike unless 'cost cutter' is sacked

Union says new management is responsible for 'crazy' delays

10 May 2018
Containers at Rizhao Port in Shandong Province, China
Economy

Asian exports get boost from Trump tax cuts, IMF says

India and China will continue to drive global growth

9 May 2018
Higher minimum wages approved by Vietnam's government in 2017 will likely affect labor-intensive industries such as garment manufacturing.
Economy

Asian manufacturing expands in April but wage pressures grow

Job cuts followed pay rise in South Korea, PMI survey shows

9 May 2018