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May 31st, 2018

Work in progress

Japan quietly opens the door to foreign workers as its labor pool shrinks

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The Big Story

Famous for its resistance to immigration, Japan opens its doors

Number of foreign workers doubles in five years as nation faces labor crisis

Indonesian trainees harvest cabbages at a farm in Ibaraki Prefecture. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
A Taiwanese student, right, practices serving customers at a Lawson convenience store in Tokyo. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
The Big Story

Part-time saviors: Foreign students help plug Japan's labor gap

Convenience stores and delivery companies are among the biggest beneficiaries

Carlos Ghosn says any reworking of the capital ties between Renault and Nissan must take into account the needs of all shareholders. (Photo by Manami Yamada)
Company in focus

Future of Nissan-Renault Alliance faces investors' scrutiny

Ghosn navigates delicate balancing act amid conflicting views of sustainability

U.S. President Donald Trump and Foxconn CEO Terry Gou congratulate each other at the White House on July 26, 2017, after the two annouce plans to build a display panel plant.
Companies

Foxconn opts to make smaller displays at Wisconsin plant

Major Apple supplier says $10bn investment plan is unchanged

Chinese tourists, like this one in a Tokyo drugstore, have taken a liking to Japanese brands. (Photo by Hideyuki Miura)
Asia300

Alibaba to bulk up shopping list of Japanese products

CEO says 'great import center' will find quality goods for Chinese consumers

Alibaba is trying to dethrone Line's Rabbit Line service in Thailand.
Asia300

Alibaba out to dominate mobile pay in Southeast Asia

In Thailand, market leader Line faces serious challenge from the Chinese group

Gaming machines at the MGM Cotai in Macau. The Las Vegas-based company is now hoping to operate a casino resort in Japan.
Companies

Japan's casino market can top Singapore, says Las Vegas executive

MGM chief seeks local partners as Tokyo takes big step toward legalization

Morpheus, the $1.1 billion casino hotel designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Zaha Hadid will open for business on June 15.
Companies

Macau gaming tycoon veers from Russia toward Japan

Lawrence Ho links divestment to effort to seek new license

Go-Jek says it will begin serving four South Asian countries within several months. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)
Business trends

Go-Jek goes head to head with Grab in expansion drive

Ride-hailing to spearhead Indonesian market leader's $500m regional foray

The National Stock Exchange building in Mumbai
Passengers check in at Thai Airways counters at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Companies

Ailing Thai Airways picks new president after two-year search

Sumeth Damrongchaitham tasked with turning around the loss-making company

Axiata reported a net loss of 147.41 million ringgit for the three months ended Mar. 31.
Nikkei Markets

Axiata swings to 1Q loss As India business drags

Telekom Malaysia net profit slips 32% on year on weaker revenue

Tata Motors said it will invest 4.5 billion pounds in new Jaguar Land Rover models as well as technology in the current fiscal year that started on April 1.
Companies

Tata Motors' quarterly profit slumps on weak Jaguar Land Rover sales

British luxury unit suffers 46% fall in pre-tax profit

© Nikkei photo illustration
Asia Insight

China-Australia friction intensifies deep in the South Pacific

Tug of war over submarine internet cables carries high security stakes

South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during a press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on May 27.
North Korea Crisis

Moon says Kim has will for 'complete denuclearization'

North Korea ready to accept US conditions, wants guarantee of security

Reporters from five countries observe the dismantling of North Korea's nuclear testing facility on May 24.
North Korea Crisis

North Korean site 'demolition' largely for show, warn experts

Footage does not prove testing tunnels 'completely dismantled' as touted

Kuala Lumpur's benchmark stock index has fallen as much as 3.7% since the day before the election.
Malaysia in transition

Malaysia's hidden debt and 'insolvent' state fund raise alarm

Investors flee as US rate hikes compound Mahathir's fiscal challenges

A man installs an electric transformer by a wheat field in India -- many villages are still without power.
Economy

Many Indian villagers still waiting for promised electricity

Modi's rural power campaign has yet to reach 31 million homes

A counter-terrorism police officer walks past burned motorcycles after a blast at a church in Surabaya on May 13.
Politics

Indonesia passes tougher terror law after Surabaya attacks

Greater military role and longer detentions follow bombings that used children

Laem Chabang Port in the Eastern Economic Corridor, a special economic zone the government has established for the development of high-tech industries. (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara)
Politics

Thailand considers express visa issuance to lure foreign business

Junta to amend law to allow greater inflow of talent from overseas

Ousted Philippine Supreme Court Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno waves to supporters at a rally outside the Supreme Court building on Taft Avenue, metro Manila, on May 11.
Opinion

Duterte heads for an imperial presidency

Chief justice's ousting brings the Philippines closer to authoritarian government

If China and India can form a united front, the unlikely double could help minimize the impact of renewed American sanctions.
Opinion

Iran sanctions -- dreaded deja vu for Asia

China and India must resist Trump, defend their interests and keep oil trade open

Mahathir's supporters celebrated his election victory, but can he meet their expectations?
Opinion

Mahathir, Anwar and the Islamist threat

Malaysia must see full recovery of democracy, or risk ethnic and religious strife

Indonesia's central bank was quick to take a defensive action.
Opinion

Argentina should set alarm bells ringing in Asia

Indonesia's interest rate rise highlights need for urgent defensive action

Hondas await export in Yokohama. New U.S. tariffs would force the Japanese company and other carmakers to reshape their supply chains.
Opinion

Trump's auto tariff plan risks sparking a trade war with key allies

Import restrictions on such a huge scale could pummel the global economy

Kumon students complete worksheets at their own speed, regardless of their grade level.
Companies

Asian-style cram schools captivate American parents

Japan's Kumon and South Korea's Eye Level seen as path to coveted US schools