Features: News & Insights

Kamala Harris became the first-ever U.S. Vice President to visit Vietnam in August 2021, when she met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, in Hanoi.

The Big Story

Asia's odd couple: Vietnam and the U.S. find opposites attract

As China threat looms, Washington weighs up democracy with dominance in Pacific

20 July 2022

Gulls fly over Kabushima Shrine in Hachinohe, in Japan's Aomori Prefecture, on July 13. A U.S. travel magazine called the city "woefully overlooked." (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)

Asia Insight

Japan tourism after COVID: Industry aims for more sustainable boom

After Abe-era surge overwhelmed some areas, can Kishida spread the wealth?

19 July 2022

The death of Shinzo Abe, right, has robbed a powerful faction in the ruling LDP of its leader and could give Prime Minister Fumio Kishida more freedom to pursue his own agenda. (Nikkei montage/Uichiro Kasai/Ken Kobayashi/Tetsuya Kitayama)

Market Spotlight

Kishida emerges from Abe's shadow, but markets await policy details

Japanese PM's promise of 'new capitalism' leaves investors scratching their heads

18 July 2022

Feeding Asia

Asia's agricultural revolution: planting a high-tech future

Population, inflation, climate stoke innovation to grow more with less

15 July 2022

American education companies such as Chegg are eyeing growth in Asia at the same time as Indian startups like Byju's are seeking growth in the U.S. (Source photos by AP, screenshot from Chegg's YouTube page and Kosaku Mimura)

Business Spotlight

Indian and U.S. edtech companies battle for global dominance

Grab for market share takes on extra urgency as valuation woes and job cuts bite

15 July 2022

Shinzo Abe, Japan's assassinated former prime minister, left, and Chinese President leader Xi Jinping entered office a month apart in 2012. (Nikkei montage/Reuters/Getty Images/Ken Kobayashi)

China up close

Analysis: Dramatic final curtain on special Abe-Xi relationship

Chinese leader pays unusual respect to his arch rival of 10 years

14 July 2022

Shinzo Abe, photographed here for an exclusive interview with Nikkei in 2018, was Japan's longest-serving prime minister. His assassination shocked the nation and leaves the future of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party uncertain. (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara)

The Big Story

Japan after Abe: Political stability under threat?

Leaderless conservatives, economic challenges and uncertain future for Kishida all loom

13 July 2022

Shinzo Abe

In pictures: Shinzo Abe's most memorable moments

The events and relationships that defined Japan's longest-serving leader

13 July 2022

VAT refunds are heaping pressure on local governments already forced to take on a bigger share of China's overall tax bill -- just as revenue from land-use rights is drying up.

Asia Insight

China's hefty tax rebates batter COVID-hit local governments

Property crunch and virus policy heap pressure amid severe structural imbalance

12 July 2022

Activists who have long criticized mining companies now say the industry is painting itself green by arguing that extraction is crucial to the world reaching net-zero carbon emissions. (Source photos by Reuters and Nikkei)

Market Spotlight

Mining companies rebrand as heroes of energy transition

Metals vital for reaching net-zero, but industry carbon footprint clouds narrative

11 July 2022

Hong Kong's importance as a conduit for capital flowing into and out of China has increased, but its standing as an Asian financial center has declined. (Source photo by Reuters)

Datawatch

Hong Kong is transformed from Asia's financial hub to Xi's 'wallet'

City attracts more Chinese money, professionals but foreign exodus continues

9 July 2022

Quick commerce startups such as Swiggy, Blinkit, Dunzo and Zepto promise rapid deliveries of everything from chocolate to diapers. (Source photos by Getty Images and Reuters)

Business Spotlight

India's ultrafast delivery apps race to grab market share

Promise of 'instant gratification' shakes up the retail landscape

8 July 2022

Feeding Asia

India's poorest scald as cooking oil prices soar

War in Ukraine, limits on palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia, add fuel to fire

7 July 2022

Ｗho does Chinese President Xi Jinping trust the most? A pattern is emerging. (Nikkei montage/Kyodo/Reuters)

China up close

Analysis: Xi dispatches Fujian aides to polish up 'guns and swords'

Leader turns to decades-long subordinates but Zhejiang faction misses out on promotion

7 July 2022

Feeding Asia

Hunger in Asia on the rise

Inflation, COVID-19, climate, conflict drive food insecurity

6 July 2022

China's top two diplomats, Yang Jiechi, left, and Wang Yi, right, are set to leave their positions within the year. President Xi Jinping hopes to override retirement norms and rule for a third five-year term.

The Big Story

The next wolf warriors: China readies new generation of tough diplomats

As party congress looms, Xi Jinping set to replace foreign policy leadership

6 July 2022

A breast cancer patient smokes a joint in Bangkok after marijuana was decriminalized last month. Across Asia, cannabis policies remain broadly restrictive, with some inconsistencies and loopholes.

Asia Insight

Smoke signals: Thailand blazes trail for cannabis in wary Asia

Recreational use still far-off prospect as taboos persist from ASEAN to Japan

5 July 2022

Mahathir Mohamad was Malaysia's prime minister during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, when he took the controversial decision to defy IMF advice on how to manage the situation. (Source photo by Tetsuya Kitayama)

Market Spotlight

Mahathir: Deeper currency markets have cut risk of Asian financial crisis repeat

But former Malaysian PM says Sri Lanka is a lesson to region's governments

4 July 2022

Japan's aging population is demanding more long-term care, but hospitals remain beholden to their acute care wards and the financial incentives they offer. (Source photo by Kyodo)

Datawatch

The acute care dilemma at Japan's hospitals

1 in 3 beds meant for the critically ill fail to live up to expectations

2 July 2022

Under a clause in Vietnam's new Cinema Law, foreign producers must give script summaries to the government in their applications to film locally.

Business Spotlight

Vietnam lures Hollywood crews but censorship hangs over film sector

One-party state's Cinema Law bans 'reactionary ideas and social evils'

1 July 2022

President Xi Jinping is thought to have had the final say on the third aircraft carrier's name. (Nikkei montage/Kyodo/Reuters)

China up close

Analysis: New carrier's name, Fujian, mirrors Xi's Taiwan obsession

Leader spent 17 years in province of same name closely watching the island

30 June 2022

A quarter-century after Hong Kong was handed over to Chinese rule, the city's artists, educators and activists are leaving in droves, stifled by a crackdown on civil liberties and cultural expression.

The Big Story

Hong Kong's identity in crisis after 25 years of Beijing rule

Forced out of the city by China's crackdowns, the Hong Kong diaspora fight to save their culture from afar

29 June 2022

Australia was widely criticized as a climate laggard during the Scott Morrison years. New Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is out to change that -- and realize the country's renewable power potential.

Asia Insight

Australia coal sector braces as Albanese tackles carbon demons

Export hub of Newcastle wonders how it can escape another 'BHP moment'

28 June 2022

As of June 22, MSCI AC Asia ex-Japan index -- a gauge of the region's most-tracked stocks outside of Japan -- had dropped around 18% this year compared to the last six months of 2021 -- the biggest half-year decline since late 2011.

Market Spotlight

Inflation, supply chain disruptions dampen Asian stocks

Interest hikes in emerging markets create uncertainties this year

27 June 2022

Japan's ruling LDP has seen its support base shift from younger to older voters ahead of key upper house elections on July 10.

Datawatch

Boon or bane? Japan's LDP boosts support among older voters

Ruling party struggles to win over more 20- and 30-somethings ahead of July election

26 June 2022