Southeast Asia

A man linked to Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings is escorted by police officers after being charged by a court in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on Sept. 18.
An effigy of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte are displayed during a rally in Quezon City, Philippines, in July.
Opinion

The walls are closing in on the House of Duterte

Next year's midterms could be most consequential in Philippine history

19 September 2024
QR payment systems are becoming basic infrastructure in Southeast Asian nations. (Photos by Atsushi Tomiyama and Ken Kobayashi)
Finance

Malaysia and Cambodia lead QR payment expansion in ASEAN

Cross-border links and tourist services add to region's growing digital money usage

19 September 2024
Island Hospital in Penang. The northern Malaysian state has become a hot spot for medical tourism. (Photo courtesy of IHH Healthcare)
Health Care

Malaysia's $900m hospital deal signals battle in medical tourism

Analyst predicts more M&As in growing sector after IHH's buyout in Penang

19 September 2024
Arsjad Rasjid, left, has been ousted as chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and replaced by Anindya Bakrie, right. Rasjid and his supporters, who are fighting the takeover, have been barred from the organization's Jakarta headquarters, background. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters)
Economy

Turmoil in the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce: 5 things to know

Analysts see takeover as aligning group with President-elect Prabowo

19 September 2024
The March disaster killed six people and paralyzed a major transportation artery for the U.S. Northeast. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/handout via Reuters)
Transportation

U.S. sues Singaporean owner, operator of cargo ship that wrecked Baltimore bridge

Justice Department calls disaster 'entirely avoidable' result of 'foreseeable errors'

19 September 2024
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, right, stands in the rain with Atsushi Ueno, the Japanese ambassador to Cambodia, at the port project completion ceremony on Sept. 12. (Photo by Yuji Nitta)
Supply Chain

Cambodia's Japan-funded port to quintuple capacity

Sihanoukville port anticipated to become major economic gateway for country

19 September 2024
Indonesia's Central Bank Governor Perry Warjiyo expects inflation to remain low for the rest of the year and in 2025.
Economy

Indonesia's central bank cuts rate to boost economic growth

Bank Indonesia trims policy rate by 0.25% in first lowering since 2021

18 September 2024
Facial verification is facilitated by Singpass, a national digital identity platform that enables users to securely access government and business services online.
Cybersecurity

Singapore rolls out facial verification for online banking

Major retail lenders step up security measures to tackle phishing scams

18 September 2024
U.K. Trade Minister Douglas Alexander tells Nikkei Asia in Bangkok that the new Labour government sees Southeast Asia as a key 'growth engine' for its trade policy. He was speaking on Sept. 18 ahead of signing an enhanced trade partnership with his Thai counterpart. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)
18 September 2024
Curbing methane emissions from rice paddies is a global challenge. (Photo by Tadanori Yoshida)
The Nikkei View

Japan should lead way in promoting eco-friendly agriculture in Asia

Sharing technology for reducing emissions from rice cultivation is first step

18 September 2024
Commentators speculate that the replacement of Arsjad Rasjid, right, by Anindya Bakrie, left, as KADIN's head is linked to maneuvering by Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Source photos by AFP/Jiji and Reuters) 
Economy

Indonesian business community stunned by chamber of commerce takeover

KADIN leadership change resembles political party maneuvers

18 September 2024
Bank of Ayudhya, also known as Krungsri, holds an event in Bangkok on Sept. 17 to mark the new program's launch. (Photo by Kenya Akama)
Finance

Thai bank Krungsri to help companies expand to Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam

MUFG-owned lender joins forces with peers in ASEAN economies

18 September 2024
A trainer for the Bamar People's Liberation Army shouts during a training session at a camp in territory belonging to the Karen National Liberation Army in the Myanmar state of Karen on March 6.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar military intensifies civilian killings and arrests, U.N. report says

Forces said to have killed 5,350 civilians since Suu Kyi government deposed

18 September 2024
Residents wade through flooding at a broken bridge in Myanmar's capital, Naypyitaw, on Sept. 17.
Natural disasters

Myanmar victims push Southeast Asian death toll from Typhoon Yagi past 500

Flooding affects an estimated 631,000 people across the country

17 September 2024
After the weekly cabinet meeting, Thai Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira finally provided initial disbursement details on Pheu Thai's long-delayed 10,000 baht handout scheme that has caused concern in financial circles, including at the Bank of Thailand. (Photo by Adryel Talamantes)
Economy

Thai cabinet approves first tranche of 10,000 baht handout

Flagship Pheu Thai scheme to prioritize poor and disabled this month

17 September 2024
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra delivers her government's policy proposal to parliament in Bangkok on Sept. 12. 
Economy

Thai PM Paetongtarn pleads for stability to stimulate economic revival

New leader guarantees medical marijuana, pitches casino complexes

17 September 2024
A collapsed bridge over Vietnam's Red River has become emblematic of the destruction wrought by Typhoon Yagi.
Natural disasters

Vietnam to rebuild key bridge in wake of devastating super typhoon

Damage from worst storm to hit nation in 70 years estimated at $1.6bn

17 September 2024
ACEN plans to close this coal plant in the Philippine province of Batangas 10 years early in 2030. (ACEN)
Finance

Singapore leads new finance system to speed ASEAN decarbonization

Transition credits to turn early coal plant closures into win-wins

17 September 2024
A view of the city skyline in Singapore, home to many firms in the private equity industry.
Opinion

Asia's private equity needs to adapt to a new slower growth reality

Firms must transform by focusing on value creation and operational expertise

17 September 2024
Indonesians are coming to Japan to improve their skills, labor minister Ida Fauziyah said. (Photo by Tokuyuki Matsubuchi)
Japan immigration

Indonesia to more than double Japan-bound workers: labor minister

Japan should consider recognizing Indonesian qualifications, Ida Fauziyah says

17 September 2024
Outbound Chinese foreign direct investment has rebounded but remains far below prepandemic highs.
Business trends

Chinese deal activity shifts toward emerging markets and into greenfields

New database shows Chinese outbound investment behavior has changed postpandemic

16 September 2024
The government has struggled to make good on a populist money handout campaign promise by Pheu Thai, the main party in the governing coalition. 
Economy

Thailand expects less than 40m to get handouts, official says

Some 36 million have already registered for controversial economic stimulus

16 September 2024
Philippine Navy Commodore Emilio Orio Jr., center right, welcomes German sailors on Sept. 16 as they make a port call in Manila. (Photo by Yuki Fujita)
Defense

German Navy says it exercised right to pass through Taiwan Strait

Two naval ships stop at Manila as nations bolster defense cooperation

16 September 2024
A recent report published by the Economist Intelligence Unit says, "Singapore has solidified its position as an international financial center, benefiting from China's crackdown on the rival business hub of Hong Kong." (Source photos by Ken Kobayashi)
Finance

Singapore to 'mop up' finance business leaving Hong Kong: report

EIU says Japan and India also to benefit amid Chinese markets' challenges

16 September 2024