Philippines

Abortion laws in Asia reflect demographic trends, the sway of religion and social traditions. In South Korea (pictured), abortion was illegal until 2019, when it was decriminalized despite opposition from the Christian community.
The Big Story

Abortion in Asia: The limits of choice

The overturning of Roe v. Wade could be a watershed for U.S. women's rights. Is the same true in Asia?

15 June 2022
Department of Finance Assistant Secretary Juvy Danofrata says Concentrix's decision shows tax incentives "apparently [are] not the main consideration [for doing] business in the country." (File photo by Yumi Kotani) 
Business trends

Philippines' largest call center gives up tax perks for remote work

Government says U.S. outsourcer Concentrix may let 100,000 staff work from home

10 June 2022
The Okada Manila casino in Entertainment City: Japanese gambling tycoon Kazuo Okada’s group took over the property on May 31 and installed new management. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Travel & Leisure

Listing of Philippine casino Okada Manila still on, says U.S. SPAC

CEO of 26 Capital confident messy boardroom dispute will be resolved

10 June 2022
A Starlink satellite: SpaceX aims to provide satellite-based internet service in Southeast Asia. (Photo courtesy of SpaceX)
Telecommunication

Satellite internet poised for big bang of growth in Southeast Asia

SpaceX, local telecoms and startups rush to enter archipelagic region

9 June 2022
Grab will license data it collects from partner drivers and users to tech companies, logistics services and telcos. (Source photos by Ken Kobayashi and Grab)
Startups

Singapore's Grab takes on Google in digital mapping

Diversifying Southeast Asian super app group markets its 'hyperlocal' data

8 June 2022
Jose C. Laurel V, the Philippines' ambassador to Japan, makes an unusual request in Tokyo on June 8: He wants Japanese consumers to pay more for bananas. (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto)
Inflation

Philippines asks Japanese retailers to raise banana prices

Embassy says farmers are suffering amid an 'unrealistic and unfair' situation

8 June 2022
A call center in the Philippines before the pandemic. The industry has feared an exodus if workers who have grown accustomed to working from home are forced back into the office too quickly. (File photo by Yumi Kotani)
Business trends

Philippine outsourcing revenue hits record amid work-from-home push

Call center-led industry logs $29.5bn revenue as it makes 120,000 hires

8 June 2022
Like father like son? For many Filipinos who lived through the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., left, the recent election of Ferdinand Jr. has stirred up a lot of ghosts. (Nikkei montage/photos by Getty Images)   
Tea Leaves

For 'Marcos babies,' election highlights memories and meanings

Can long-forgotten political expressions make a comeback?

8 June 2022
Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. attends a news conference at his headquarters in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, on May 23: He should roll back his populist antics.
Opinion

Philippines' Marcos must not squander his family's second chance

Fully embracing good governance would be an important first step

7 June 2022
The battle for control over Okada Manila, a $2.4 billion integrated resort and casino, has heated up in recent days. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Media & Entertainment

Okada Manila's Hong Kong parent rejects tycoon's casino takeover

Fight for control over Philippine integrated resort continues with new lawsuits

6 June 2022
Passengers at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi: Vietnam has stripped away many of its COVID-19 rules, including travel restrictions.
COVID-19 Recovery Index

Vietnam, Philippines jump up COVID Recovery Index after easing rules

Cambodia and South Korea lead Asia while Taiwan slips to 113th place

3 June 2022
Billionaire Enrique Razon wants to take control of the Malampaya gas field, a crucial energy project in the Philippines. (Source photo by Shell and Getty Images)
Business deals

Philippine billionaire Razon eyes takeover of Malampaya gas project

Potential deal comes amid Duterte donor Dennis Uy's stalled buyout bid

2 June 2022
Elon Musk's Starlink will make its first foray into Southeast Asia in the Philippines, a country struggling with slow internet connection speeds. (Source photos by Getty Images/AP)
Telecommunication

Elon Musk's Starlink poised to enter Philippine internet market

Satellite-based service provider aims to begin operating in fourth quarter

27 May 2022
Sheep swarm around a solar farm in the Australian state of New South Wales.
Energy

Philippines' ACEN adds battery storage to huge Australian solar farm

Ayala unit builds one of the country's biggest renewables projects

27 May 2022
Philippine President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr., right, named central bank Gov. Benjamin Diokno as his finance secretary. (Source photos by AP and Reuters)
Philippine elections

Philippines' Marcos picks central banker Diokno as finance chief

Incoming leader says economy is priority; warns Beijing on South China Sea

26 May 2022
Philippine president-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. speaks to reporters in Manila on May 23.
Philippine elections

Marcos officially declared Philippines' next president

Dictator's son and Duterte's successor set to be sworn in on June 30

25 May 2022
Nikkei Asia won prizes for its coverage of Asia's "tech underclass" and for its cover image on the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan
Announcements

Nikkei Asia wins five prizes at WAN-IFRA Asia awards

Judges recognize coronavirus pandemic coverage, photography and U.S.-China feature

23 May 2022
Ferdinand Marcos Jr., foreground, will be the latest Philippine president who is the son or daughter of a previous leader. His parents, Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and wife imelda, are seen balcony of the Malacanang Palace in Manila in 1986. Marcos Jr. can be seen next to his father. (Source photos by Ken Kobayashi and Getty Images) 
Comment

Marcos' Philippine election win is lesson in democracies' failures

Triumph of dictator's son shows big flaw in Biden effort to battle autocracy

20 May 2022
Top Indonesian drugmaker Kalbe Farma and Filipino consumer goods distributor Ecossential Foods announce a joint venture on May 18 in Manila. Kalbe is aiming to expand its presence in Southeast Asia. (Photo courtesy of Kalbe Farma)
Pharmaceuticals

Indonesia's top drugmaker Kalbe Farma to boost ASEAN expansion

Philippine venture 'first step,' executive says, with Middle East on the horizon

19 May 2022
Like the Trump administration before it, the Biden administration takes the position that unfettered trade liberalization hurts American workers. (Source photo by Reuters) 
Biden's Asia policy

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework is not an FTA: 5 things to know

Tailored pact seeks to counter China's clout while protecting U.S. workers

19 May 2022
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte seeks to ease congestion in Manila with a subway system.
Engineering & Construction

Japanese builder Tokyu wins $338m bid to dig Manila subway tunnels

Order part of President Duterte's congestion-easing project in capital

19 May 2022
Incoming Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., left, held a call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday. (Source photos by Ken Kobayashi and AP) 
Philippine elections

Marcos says Philippine-China ties 'set to shift to higher gear'

In Xi call, incoming leader says both sides must address 'minor disagreements'

18 May 2022
Food vendors in Bangkok have raised prices due to the heavy inflation hitting Thailand.
Economy

Southeast Asia recovery at risk over inflation, China lockdowns

Thailand and Philippines downgrade GDP outlooks for the full year

18 May 2022
Just a week after winning the Philippines presidential election, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. made an unannounced "private" trip to Australia. (Source photos by Ken Kobayashi and AP) 
Philippine elections

Marcos visits Australia for vacation after Philippines election win

President-in-waiting makes unannounced trip as investors await cabinet line-up

17 May 2022
Taiwan cloud-kitchen operator JustKitchen wants to be the item of choice on the menu of Southeast Asian food delivery rivals. (Photo courtesy of JustKitchen)
Interview

Taiwan's JustKitchen takes on Grab in ASEAN cloud-kitchen race

Startup eyes Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand with mobile app, food delivery

16 May 2022