Economy

Hong Kong's fell three places in IMD's business competitiveness ranking this year, weighed down by growing civil unrest in the territory and weaker economic growth.
Economy

Hong Kong tumbles down IMD world competitiveness ranking

Singapore still the world's most business-friendly economy

16 June 2020
Essential workers walk outside a regional screening center amid the coronavirus outbreak in Singapore on June 9.
Coronavirus

Singapore says virus 'under control' as reopening hits phase 2

Shops and restaurants to reopen as speculation of snap election looms

15 June 2020
A child and her mother rest inside a shelter for people who are unable to feed themselves in Manila on April 1: developing Asia must bail out households.
Opinion

Asia needs rapid action to prevent millions falling into poverty

Coronavirus shock exposes how unstable economic growth has been

15 June 2020
Workers load steel products for export onto a cargo ship at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, China, on May 27.
Commodities

China recovery drives commodity prices higher in Asia

Rebound in steel and chemicals has buyers stocking up

7 June 2020
Li Keqiang told reporters at a press conference on May 28 that China is willing to consider joining the CPTPP.
Opinion

US must take seriously China's interest in Pacific trade pact

Beijing sees CPTPP as way to reduce reliance on America during trade war

6 June 2020
Singapore's pharmaceutical exports surged 170%. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)
Economy

Southeast Asia exports buoyed by medicine and food during pandemic

Singapore and Thailand see increased trade despite global slowdown

5 June 2020
A student demonstrates how to wash hands during an awareness campaign about COVID-19 at a school in Chennai on Mar. 14: this simple instruction is impracticable for most of the 2.4 billion people who live in water-scarce areas.
Opinion

Coronavirus advice highlights Asia's terrible water scarcity

Hand-washing to prevent catching COVID-19 is impossible for billions

5 June 2020
Singapore's gross domestic product is expected to shrink by 4% to 7% this year -- one factor the ruling party will be weighing in its election calculations.
Politics

Singapore weighs early election after coronavirus 'circuit breaker'

Opposition decries unclear rules for safe campaigning amid pandemic

2 June 2020
Massage parlors in Thailand can now provide up to two hours of service at a time. Workers at a salon on Surawong Road, Bangkok wear face shields. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Coronavirus

Thailand reopens massage parlors as Singapore ends 'circuit breaker'

Southeast Asia relaxes restrictions, cautious about second coronavirus wave

1 June 2020
A factory in China: IMF officials say a drive by countries to bring manufacturing home from overseas would create a "vicious cycle." 
Economy

IMF warns against rush to bring manufacturing home after pandemic

Fund expects limited financial 'scarring' thanks to fast policy action

28 May 2020
Workers carry mattresses to set up a quarantine facility amid concerns about the spread of COVID-19 in Howrah, on the outskirts of Kolkata.
Business trends

How red tape could bury Asia's virus-stricken startups

Businesses across the region struggle to access financial assistance

28 May 2020
Asia is exercising an advantage over the "wild" West, remaining more cautious about reopening stores and restaurants amid the risk of additional novel coronavirus outbreaks. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
The Big Story

Exits from coronavirus lockdown split 'wild' West from 'cautious' East

Economies are impatient to reopen. Experts say it will trigger a second wave of infections

27 May 2020
Singapore is bracing for the pandemic's economic impact to last long after business begins to restart.
Economy

Singapore adds $23bn of virus relief after flagging 4-7% GDP fall

Q1 contraction of 0.7% seen as start of long struggle as infections near 32,000

26 May 2020
Japan's state of emergency to combat the coronavirus, initially scheduled to be lifted on May 31, will be maintained in metropolitan Tokyo for now. (Photo by Masayuki Terazawa)
Coronavirus

Japan weighs lifting Tokyo's coronavirus emergency May 25

Restrictions scrapped in Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures as outbreak eases

21 May 2020
Japan on Thursday will examine whether to ease coronavirus restrictions in Tokyo. The city has a significantly lower death toll than similarly sized global cities. (Photo by Kai Fujii)
Coronavirus

Japan reassesses Tokyo and Osaka emergency restrictions Thursday

New cases in capital slow, but unease over low testing remains

20 May 2020
People walk at Changi Airport. Singapore looks to restart sectors accounting for about three-quarters of its economy on June 2.
Coronavirus

Singapore to reopen finance and wholesale on June 2

Retail stores and restaurant dining likely to resume in July

19 May 2020
Credit rating agencies have their eyes trained on the fiscal health of economies in developing Asia.
Asia Insight

Asia faces financial health check after going big on stimulus

Countries must spend wisely or leave future generations under piles of debt

19 May 2020
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's news conference on the coronavirus emergency is displayed on a large screen in Tokyo on May 14.
Coronavirus

Asia and world seek different paths to exit coronavirus crisis

Singapore, India, and US look to strike balance between public and economic health

16 May 2020
Migrant workers wait for volunteers from the Alliance of Guest Workers Outreach to distribute free meals in the Little India district of Singapore.
Coronavirus

Singapore revamps notorious migrant dorms with more social distance

Migrant workers move to less crowded housing to avoid clusters

14 May 2020
A volunteer outreach program distributes free meals to migrants who are unable to work in Singapore's Little India district in April
Coronavirus

Singapore to test all 300,000-plus migrant workers for coronavirus

Authorities tackle spike in infections as city-state looks to reopen next month

13 May 2020
The Beijing Capital International Airport may start receiving more travelers if the Chinese government can seal agreements with more countries a fast-track procedure for business travelers.
Economy

China proposes fast-track entry for Japanese business travelers

Arrangement lets in fliers who test negative for COVID-19

12 May 2020
Checking in will not be required at parks -- but it is still encouraged. (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto)
Coronavirus

Singapore's SafeEntry check-in system plugs holes in virus tracing

As economy reopens, officials rely on QR code scans at thousands of locations

11 May 2020
Shanghai Disneyland will reopen this week since it closed on January 25 amid China's coronavirus lockdown. 
Your Week in Asia

Shanghai Disney, Sony results and Bitcoin 'halving'

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

10 May 2020
Registered practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine will be allowed to sell retail products in Singapore, starting May 5, as the coronavirus outbreak eases and the city-state gradually reopens for business.
Coronavirus

Singapore reopens Chinese drugstores and barbers with tracing system

City-state will restart businesses in phases, beginning May 5

2 May 2020
Meat, fish vegetables and fruit are among the items covered under a mutual supply initiative signed by Singapore and New Zealand.
Trade

TPP countries defy protectionist trend to maintain supply chains

Singapore teams with New Zealand and Japan to keep food and medical gear flowing

2 May 2020