Economy

A clerk tends to a customer in Manila: The Philippines is among the Southeast Asian countries pushing to revive economic activity despite a persistent virus threat.
Economy

ASEAN 'crisis like no other' shifts focus from COVID to economy

Q2 contractions and rising fiscal pressure spur reopenings and trade initiatives

21 August 2020
A medical personnel uses a bag-mask valve at an isolation facility in Metro Manila on May 1: few problems are insurmountable when collaborative science rise to the occasion.
Opinion

Reimagining Asia's response to COVID-19

Purpose-driven leadership, digital transformation and collective effort are critical

19 August 2020
After a dramatic election and a big coronavirus-driven plunge in second-quarter GDP, Singapore's government is serving up more economic support.
Coronavirus

Singapore adds $5.8bn of COVID aid as 'hub' economy stutters

Aviation and tourism sectors take priority in fifth round of stimulus

17 August 2020
Workers who crossed into Singapore from Malaysia on Aug. 17 board a bus prepared by their employer to take them to quarantine locations. (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto)
Coronavirus

Singapore-Malaysia border reopening restores economic lifeline

Crossing quota filled as workers and employers rush to undo COVID damage

17 August 2020
A Pimalai Resort & Spa employee sanitizes doorknobs and other frequently touched spots. (Photo courtesy of Pimalai Resort & Spa)
Coronavirus

Robots in, buffets out: Asia hotels try socially distant hospitality

Safety trumps human touch as countries ease COVID rules and push staycations

16 August 2020
The coronavirus has Singapore headed for its worst economic performance in its 55-year history.
Economy

Singapore narrows 2020 GDP forecast to -5% to -7% as outlook dims

PM Lee warns of more economic pain, with COVID crisis 'far from over'

11 August 2020
Icons of Chinese online apps are pictured with that of Facebook: supporting concentrated monopolies has become official policy across much of Asia.
Opinion

Asia's regulators ignore rising influence of Big Tech at their peril

Market power of Alibaba, Reliance, Tencent and Gojek could outweigh US behemoths

5 August 2020
Singapore's contact tracing app TraceTogether: the government struggles to get even 25% of citizens to download the app. (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto)
Opinion

Failed COVID-19 tracing apps must be abandoned to restore public trust

Asia has led the way with surveillance technology, but citizens remain unconvinced

31 July 2020
Singapore is one of many Asian economies suffering from rising unemployment rates.
Economy

Singapore unemployment hits 2.9% as COVID slams workers Asiawide

City-state's retrenchments more than double in second quarter

29 July 2020
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, left, has named Workers' Party Secretary-General Pritam Singh, right, the "leader of the opposition" in a first for the city-state. © Nikkei montage/Source photos by Getty Images
Asia Insight

Singapore's 'democratic dawn'? Parties adapt to new landscape

Ruling PAP under pressure to save economy while opposition faces test of ideas

28 July 2020
A view of the land link between Singapore and Malaysia under lockdown: The governments are preparing to restart business travel.
Coronavirus

Malaysia and Singapore aim to open travel 'green lane' on Aug. 10

Plan will enable essential business and let workers in for 3-month stints

14 July 2020
With the election over, recovering from the coronavirus is the Singaporean government's No. 1 priority.
Economy

Singapore GDP falls 12.6%, raising post-election pressure on Lee

COVID triggers technical recession with worst quarterly contraction on record

14 July 2020
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (left photo) and Sengkang Group Representation Constituency Workers' Party candidates Jamus Lim, Louis Chua and Raeesah Khan (left to right in right photo) are pictured. (Source photos by Reuters and Getty Images)
Singapore election

Singapore ruling party's 'politics of fear' prove less effective

PAP allows WP to secure 10 seats despite increasing pressure on opposition party

13 July 2020
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong checks his phone at a People's Action Party office during vote counting in the early hours of July 11.
Singapore election

Singapore PM heads for 'rocky economic shoals' with election bruises

Opposition gains seen as beginning of the end of PAP's 'absolute control'

11 July 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has hit Asian economies hard. Conditions in the ASEAN5 countries and India are still deteriorating, with trade and movement of people restricted in an attempt to control the spread of the virus. 
Economy

ASEAN and India sink into deep minus growth: JCER survey

Acceleration of digitization expected due to COVID-19 pandemic

7 July 2020
Lee Hsien Loong, pictured during his walkabout on July 3, has been slow to remake the city into an innovative power,
Opinion

Singapore election must offer new vision for economy

Coronavirus and US-China trade war have exposed city-state's weaknesses

6 July 2020
Singaporeans will on Friday go to vote for general elections that would likely give People's Action Party a fresh new term to lead the country. 
Your Week in Asia

Singapore election, Fast Retailing results, Smoore's Hong Kong IPO

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

5 July 2020
The symbol of the Islamic State terrorist group on a smartphone: when it comes to extremist content online, time is of the essence.
Opinion

Tech companies continue evading accountability for violent content

Governments must step in to stop platforms allowing pro-terrorist material

5 July 2020
A textile worker lies down outside a factory after it was shut due to the lockdown in Bhiwandi, India, on Apr. 1: the worst is yet to come as a severe export slump lies ahead.
Opinion

Asia has an unemployment crisis waiting to happen

Export collapse will expose how tenuous many workers' jobs are

1 July 2020
Progress Singapore Party leader Tan Cheng Bock greets voters on June 28 with Lee Hsien Yang, right, the estranged brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Singapore election

Singapore parties play up COVID policies before race starts Tuesday

Opposition platforms also target government's controversial 'fake news' law

29 June 2020
Lee Hsien Yang, the estranged younger brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, on Sunday greets a voter during a walkabout ahead of the general election in Singapore.
Your Week in Asia

China's CO2 rules, Luckin investors meet, Singapore campaigning begins

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

28 June 2020
Beverage manufacturers have already pledged to reduce sugar content.
Opinion

Singapore's sugary drink restrictions will not help citizens' health

Nutri-Grade labels stigmatize healthy drinks and promote confusion

28 June 2020
The pandemic-induced slowdown may offer the Asia-Pacific region a prime opportunity not only to catch up on environmental targets, but also to lay the groundwork for a greener future. © Illustration by Hiroko Oshima
Asia Insight

Asia risks missing 'green' economic reset after coronavirus

Except in South Korea, experts see absence of environmental resolve in region

23 June 2020
 A bus passenger has his temperature checked in Tokyo on June 19: The previous day the Japanese government announced the lifting of all travel restrictions. (Photo by Kei Higuchi) 
Coronavirus

Japan reopens for business, pinning hopes on tracing app

Despite risks of new outbreak, domestic travel resumes; bars back in action

19 June 2020
A woman wears a face shield and protective mask at a station in Jakarta as the government eases restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 on June 8.
Coronavirus

Indonesia tops Singapore as Southeast Asia's COVID-19 hot spot

Experts warn against full reopening of economy before virus is stamped out

17 June 2020