Features

A medical worker in Shanghai's Lujiazui financial district, just after the city's lockdown was lifted in early June. China's anti-COVID measures remain among the world's strictest. 
The Big Story

Self-isolated: China's lonely zero-COVID battle in spotlight as Xi seeks third term

As 20th Party Congress approaches, China appears trapped by draconian anti-virus policies

12 October 2022
The image of a freewheeling Hong Kong has undergone a disturbing transformation over the past few years, one that government officials are scrambling to fix.
Asia Insight

Hard sell: Hong Kong polishes image tarnished by security law, COVID

Emissaries go abroad to tell 'good story,' win back business and investment

11 October 2022
Gold has been on a downward price trend in 2022, reflecting the attractiveness of holding U.S. dollars instead
Market Spotlight

Gold loses shine amid rising interest rates and strong dollar

Inflation can still propel it higher next year, analysts say

10 October 2022
Slow to embrace cloud computing, Japanese businesses are seen as losing their competitive edge.
Datawatch

Slow cloud migration hinders digital transformation in Japan

Off-site data services comprise 4% of IT spending, a third that of North America

9 October 2022
Stream article image
Business Spotlight

SoftBank adjusts its vision

The Vision Fund revolutionized startup investing. So why is Masayoshi Son rethinking his strategy?

7 October 2022
How will President Xi Jinping, center, handle the two Lis, Premier Li Keqiang, left, and Shanghai party chief Li Qiang? (Nikkei montage/Kyodo/Reuters/Getty Images)
China up close

Analysis: China's power struggles were ferocious in 1972 and remain so today

Normalization with Japan was risky for all the players involved

6 October 2022
A combination of post-pandemic debt, inflation and currency fluctuations has thrown central banks throughout Asia into chaos this year. 
The Big Story

The money blizzard: Asia's central banks reckon with the aftermath of COVID-19

Governments from Japan to Thailand grapple with inflation, currency chaos and 'zombie companies' after biggest-ever bailout

5 October 2022
From left, Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, and Zhong Shanshan (Nikkei montage/AP/Reuters/Getty Images)
Datawatch

Asia has over 950 billionaires, outnumbering all other regions

Rich Asians are becoming more common, particularly in China and India

4 October 2022
A competition for the best of the best workers is heating up across Asia, as governments and companies seek the talent they need to accelerate growth in the wake of COVID-19.
Asia Insight

From Singapore to Thailand, Asia dangles visas to lure high-fliers

New programs kick off as companies struggle to find skilled workers

4 October 2022
A customer hands over Sri Lankan rupee banknotes at an open market in the capital, Colombo. The country is currently experiencing its worst economic crisis in decades. 
The Big Story

Asia's ticking debt bomb: Sri Lanka crisis sounds alarm bells across region

Disaster looms in Laos, Bangladesh and elsewhere as China seems reluctant to take losses on Asian loans

3 October 2022
The resilience displayed by Southeast Asian stocks contrasts sharply with North Asian peers, which are susceptible to trade and dependent on China.
Market Spotlight

ASEAN stocks calm investors despite turmoil in other regions

Emerging markets rebound as economies reopen, but China still weighs on Asia

3 October 2022
Unicorns and smaller startups have entered a stage testing them for balance.
Datawatch

Unicorns' growth strategy reaching turning point

SBG, other nontraditional investors squeeze money, prioritize profit

2 October 2022
Asian and U.S. chipmakers are building and expanding facilities across America as the federal and state governments roll out incentives for investment. (Source photos by Yifan Yu, Samsung and TSMC) 
Business Spotlight

Chipping in: How U.S. states woo the likes of TSMC and Samsung

Subsidies, big tax breaks and size of the workforce go into the equation

30 September 2022
Xi Jinping's aged foe is Song Ping, right, who 19 years ago took on Jiang Zemin. (Nikkei montage/Kyodo/Reuters)
China up close

Analysis: 105-year-old party elder sends blunt message to Xi

Reform and opening up is the only path for China, Song Ping says

29 September 2022
Chinese efforts to develop suspected dual-use ports in countries surrounding India -- dubbed a "string of pearls" -- have attracted attention for years.
Asia Insight

Indian Ocean rivalry: China's naval maneuvers irk New Delhi

Submarine deals and ship deployment hint at Beijing's power projection

27 September 2022
North Korea has been making progress in making its missiles harder to detect and intercept, increasing the threat of nuclear strikes against the U.S. and its allies in East Asia. (Source photo by Korea Media/Kyodo) 
Datawatch

North Korea strives to make missiles harder to intercept

Arsenal with variable trajectories account for 40% of firings since 2019

26 September 2022
A Leapmotor C11: this year's IPO deal value in Hong Kong is expected to be boosted by Thursday's listing by the Chinese electric vehicle maker.
Market Spotlight

Hong Kong IPOs suffer from business downturn and China tension

Fundraising at lowest since 2013 as lack of policy clarity hits market

26 September 2022
A worker arranges staple goods inside a Reliance supermarket in Mumbai, India. The company wants to get its consumer brands on the shelves of retailers around the nation.
Business Spotlight

From soap to soda: India's Reliance ramps up consumer goods push

Adani Wilmar, Unilever, ITC face fresh competition from massive conglomerate

23 September 2022
Chinese President Xi Jinping was able to maneuver Vladimir Putin into publicly acknowledging China's "questions and concern" about Russia's war in Ukraine. (Source photos by Reuters)
China up close

Analysis: Xi's new diplomacy keeps Putin's war at arm's length

China reaches out to Kazakhstan, as Central Asian country sours with Moscow

22 September 2022
Inside a Manutronics Factory in Bac Ninh province, Vietnam. The country is trying to repeat the industrial success of Taiwan and South Korea but might be a few decades too late.
The Big Story

Vietnam's battle to climb the global value chain

The country earns global factory status but fears it will remain an 'assembly platform'

21 September 2022
A report by Freedom House says the Chinese Communist Party "and its proxies are using more sophisticated and coercive tactics to shape media narratives and suppress critical reporting" -- accusations Beijing rejects.
Asia Insight

China builds global media muscle to amplify its message

Study shows how country with dismal press freedom record sways reporting abroad

20 September 2022
After a muted first half of 2022, global investors turned net buyers of Indian stocks in July as its equity markets provide respite from widespread economic gloom. (Source photos by AFP/Jiji and screenshot from BSE's website) 
Market Spotlight

India stocks and bonds lure in foreign investors

Growing expectation of inclusion in benchmark global index

19 September 2022
Tech titan Alibaba has gotten into the ready-to-eat food business via its investment in Freshippo, whose offerings can be seen at this Hema Supermarket in Shanghai. (Photo by CK Tan)
Business Spotlight

China's food businesses seek the recipe to satisfy home diners

Pre-prepared meal kits have been a COVID hit with consumers but pitfalls remain

16 September 2022
Xi Jinping's upcoming Central Asia victory lap might be designed to distract from his administration's muddy economic policy. (Source photos by Akira Kodaka and Xinhua/Kyodo)
China up close

Analysis: Xi prepares to wave magic wand for more power

Upcoming changes to party constitution will be precursor to bigger changes next spring

15 September 2022
After record rain during this year's monsoon season, much of Pakistan was overwhelmed by floods in late August. These submerged buildings are in Jafferabad, Balochistan.
The Big Story

Pakistan floods drive calls for climate justice

The rift between rich, carbon-emitting countries and the vulnerable, developing world is widening

14 September 2022