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Asia Insight

Coronavirus-torn Asia looks to reconnect with 'travel bubbles'

From Singapore to Taiwan to Australia, plans promise relief for shattered industry

2 June 2020
Candlelight vigils are held every year in Hong Kong's Victoria Park to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Critics say the cancellation of this year's event is politically motivated. 
Your Week in Asia

Hong Kong Airport, Zoom results and Tiananmen anniversary

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

31 May 2020
The Courier Mail is one of a handful of News Corp. Australia newspapers that will continue publishing a print edition.
Media & Entertainment

News Corp. stops presses at over 100 Australian newspapers

Most periodicals to switch to digital-only format as coronavirus sinks revenues

29 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
A moratorium on insolvent trading appears to have allowed many Australian businesses to forge ahead, when they normally would have had to wind up their operations.
Economy

Australia risks 'insolvency tsunami' when coronavirus aid ends

'October cliff' looms for weak businesses that were likely doomed before pandemic

26 May 2020
Children wearing protective face masks play near the entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing on May 22. 
Coronavirus: Free to read

Coronavirus: Week of May 17 to May 23, China reports zero new cases

Malaysian PM under self-quarantine; Singapore case count exceeds 30,000

23 May 2020
Students from China at the Australian National University in Canberra: Chinese students looking for English-language education have few options outside of Australia, as the U.S. and U.K. struggle with the virus.
Opinion

China and Australia's relationship is souring but not weakening

COVID-19 and politics are driving them apart but trade keeps them together

23 May 2020
A Chinese flag placed on a street in Belgrade, Serbia, pictured on Apr. 13: countries which are reliant on China are being required to thank Beijing for the medical supplies.
Opinion

Winning compensation from China for coronavirus is a long shot

Legal claims stand no chance, but there are other kinds of punishment

22 May 2020
China is now telling the world that it was quick and effective in responding to the coronavirus, and that it intends to assert itself more in global and maritime affairs.
International relations

China turns aggressive on global stage ahead of Congress

Australia, Japan and the US encounter a confident and determined China

19 May 2020
Visitors take in "Aquaman -- The Exhibition" at Warner Bros. Movie World on Queensland's Gold Coast in Australia. (Village Roadshow Theme Parks via AAP)
Business deals

Theme parks are closed, but Australian operator offered $300m bid

Village Roadshow in buyout talks with private equity group BGH

19 May 2020
A banner of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Xi Jinping in Belgrade, Serbia, pictured on May 11: more than 100 countries have received China's anti-virus overtures with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
Opinion

China wants to know if you are with it or against it

Beijing has divided world with coronavirus policies, making countries take sides

16 May 2020
Countries around the world are racing to create a vaccine for COVID-19.
Coronavirus: Free to read

Coronavirus: Week of May 10 to May 16, Trump calls 14 vaccines promising

Indonesia fell into trade deficit in April; global deaths top 300,000

16 May 2020
Virgin Australia is responsible for 5,000 jobs in the home state of Queensland.
Business deals

Virgin Australia's home state weighs bailout for bankrupt airline

Queensland will look 'carefully' into rescue, state treasurer says

15 May 2020
The startup is targeting Australia, New Zealand, the U.K. and U.S. with a digital home lending platform that streamlines the lending process.
Startups

Australia fintech startup Verteva raises $21.4m from NZ's Bolton

Funding earmarked for new markets and business expansion in home lending

14 May 2020
Virgin Australia, which in April said it owes creditors nearly 7 billion Australian dollars, is receiving "a high level of interest from a number of high-quality" potential buyers.
Business deals

Virgin Australia administrator expects 19 bidders

Temasek and Bain Capital among the potential buyers of the coronavirus casualty

13 May 2020
Governor Shaktikanta Das at a news conference in Mumbai, pictured on Feb. 6: in return for handing its wallet to Team Modi, the RBI should extract reform pledges.
Opinion

World watches as India's central bank prepares to fund government

Direct financing of fiscal deficits is looking attractive despite inflation risks

4 May 2020
A soldier guards an empty street following the lockdown in Manila on Apr. 24: policymakers need to cushion the current impact, even if it entails costs later on.
Opinion

Stimulus-driven inflation is the least of Asia's problems

Cost of inaction is much higher than putting too much money into system

3 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
Chinese military hospital ship the Peace Ark travels on the Pacific Ocean: the ship launched free medical services for the citizens of Vanuatu in July 2018.
Opinion

China's coronavirus aid to Pacific islands is part of geopolitical game

Beijing is using health care to improve relations in strategically significant area

23 April 2020
Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd said on Tuesday it has entered voluntary administration to recapitalise the business and emerge in a stronger financial position
Transportation

Virgin collapse hints at further turmoil facing Asian airlines

Government support critical to industry's overall survival

21 April 2020
News tops the list of online services that Indian consumers are willing to pay, says the World Economic Forum, followed by music, radio and video.
Media & Entertainment

China and India lead surge in demand for news subscriptions

Growing risk of information gap among low-income earners, WEF report says

21 April 2020
Facebook will have to pay media organizations for news content used on its platform in Australia.
Technology

Australia to require Facebook and Google to pay for news

Mandatory code will direct ad revenue to ailing media companies

21 April 2020
Most of the mutton consumes in Japan is imported meat.
Commodities

Japan's sheep meat import prices remain high despite coronavirus

Chinese demand grows, while Australian supply drops amid droughts and fires

19 April 2020
Despite doubts about China's transparency, analysts give it credit for its aggressive pandemic response, including in Wuhan where the outbreak started.
Coronavirus

South Korea and China earn high marks in pandemic safety ranking

Israel leads while Philippines and Indonesia lag on venture fund's list

14 April 2020
China's Landbridge Group signed a 99-year lease for the strategically important Darwin Port in Australia's Northern Territory in 2015, sparking concerns about Chinese influence over national interests.
International relations

Australia tightens foreign investment rules after market tumble

Move seen as aiming at Chinese bargain hunters as coronavirus rattles stocks

14 April 2020