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October 4th, 2018

Unraveling China’s biotech boom

Easy access to patient data is giving Chinese biotech startups a leg up, but collaboration with the U.S. may be under threat

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The Big Story

China's great leap forward in biotech

Access to vast amounts of patient data fuels innovation -- and controversy

A researcher at biotech startup BeiGene prepares samples at a lab in Beijing.
The CIA has long been concerned biological threats, including the use of anthrax bacteria, seen above.
The Big Story

China and the new frontier of biosecurity threats

Security experts warn of 'biological extortion' and other emerging risks

New Garuda Indonesia chief executive Askhara Danadiputra, right, has quickly sought to repair labor-management ties that frayed under predecessor Pahala Mansury, left.
CEO in the news

Garuda Indonesia's new boss promises workers a happier bumpy ride

Airline's union gets wish for CEO change but investors want results

Stream article image
Trade war

Trump's Asian tech tycoon pals feel strains of trade war

US confrontation with China rattles plans of SoftBank, Foxconn and Alibaba

Thais shop at a Makro supermarket in Bangkok. CP All aims to modernize grocery shopping in neighboring countries where people rely on traditional markets. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Companies

Thai CP takes wholesale store to neighboring countries

Operator of 7-Eleven stores moves Makro chain into Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar

Ride-hailing operator Grab currently controls 80-90% of the Singapore market, according to a June 2018 report.
Sharing Economy

Singapore fine is 'minor bump' in Grab's ride-hailing dominance

SE Asian regulators seek to preserve competitive environment following Uber merger

Didi Chuxing, which has expanded as far away as Mexico, has added Osaka to its international network.
Sharing Economy

Didi makes Japan debut with Osaka taxi-hailing service

SoftBank-backed Chinese company caters to tourists with local partners

China is a major growth market for soccer.
Business trends

Asian companies look to score business from soccer boom

Sport's growth in China and ASEAN offers an in with young consumers

Tasuku Honjo appeared at a news conference at Kyoto University on Oct. 1 after being awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. (Photo by Nozomu Ogawa)
Technology

US and Japan immunologists win Nobel Prize

Unleashing immune cells against tumors led to cancer therapy breakthrough

Buyers at CK Hutchison group stores will be able to spread out payments over up to 60 months, an option that makes it easy to pay for the latest smartphones.
Business deals

CK Hutchison offers Hong Kong's youth mobile loans with fintech tie-up

WeLab also gives smartphone buyers 60-month payment option

M1, Singapore's third-largest mobile provider, warned that "continuing the status quo risks stagnation and further decline in shareholder value."
Business deals

Singapore's Keppel leads bid for M1 in telecom shake-up

Imminent arrival of 4th player plus 5G equals sector realignment

Lenovo Group's quarterly sales from the data center business jumped 70% over a year.
Business deals

Lenovo strengthens big data analysis with help of US partners

Chinese PC maker teams with NetApp and eyes further partnerships

Japanese who joined the workforce after the bubble face bleak prospects, since the corporate ladder is crowded with colleagues 10 years older. (© Illustration by Luis Mendo)
Asia Insight

'Lost generation' haunts Japan, Abe and the BOJ

Workers frozen out in the 1990s now lack the spending power the economy needs

The Indonesian rupiah has lost 9% of its value against the dollar since the start of the year.
Economy

Fed rate hike triggers immediate tightening in Southeast Asia

Indonesia and Philippines try to defend currencies amid fresh pressure

As one of the few corporate leaders in Malaysia critical of 1MDB's governance, the resignation of CIMB Chairman Nazir Razak was unexpected.
Malaysia in transition

Malaysia's CIMB boss becomes latest target of Mahathir shake-up

1MDB scandal claims Chairman Nazir Razak as 'unwarranted casualty'

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, center, welcomes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in during the inauguration of a smartphone plant in Noida, India in July. (courtesy of Samsung)
Business trends

Moon warms to Samsung for help on jobs and North Korea

South Korean prosecutors excuse Lee family from union sabotage indictment

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, speaking to the U.N. General Assembly, blamed the deadlock in denuclearization on U.S. "coercive measures."
N Korea at crossroads

North Korea says it will not disarm first, blaming US sanctions

Foreign Minister Ri calls for end of war declaration in UN speech

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has made it clear that he intends to stay in power after elections due next year, but without the backing of the junta, governing the country will be much more difficult.
Politics

Prayuth's bid to stay in power spurs fears of political turmoil

Concerns grow over ability to govern without junta backing

Denny Tamaki responds to reporters following his victory in the Okinawa gubernatorial race on Sept. 30.
Politics

Okinawa's new governor to escalate clash over US base

Tamaki, who opposes Tokyo's relocation plan, wins in rebuke to ruling party

Chinese manufacturing growth slowed in September to the lowest non-holiday level in two years.
Trade war

Trade war fatigue hits China's manufacturers

Purchasing index shows slower growth as tariffs weaken export orders

Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda's stock-buying program is reaching its limit.
Opinion

BOJ's huge stock-buying program reaches its limits

Time to consider reducing purchases, which distort valuations and raise governance questions

India must challenge China to help the Maldives retain strategic autonomy. (Source photos by Reuters)
Opinion

Beijing loses a battle in the Maldives -- but the fight for influence goes on

The archipelago shows democracy's power, but will struggle to resist lure of Chinese money

Beijing must unlock the potential of the private sector.
Opinion

The mysterious Mr Wu and the growing threat to China's private companies

To revive the economy and survive the trade war, Beijing must stop favoring state groups

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump at their meeting in New York on Sep. 26
The Nikkei View

Japan, US must not miss this chance for constructive trade talks

Abe cannot allow Trump to use tariff threats as a policy tool

Bhawesh Niroula and his wife, Sonia, inspect the withering of tea leaves at Niroula's Tea Factory. (Photo by Manob Ghosh)
Life

Small tea maker makes it big in Darjeeling

'Mini factory' breaks the plantation model to empower growers and workers

Batik patterns are drawn with melted wax using an instrument called a canting. (Photo by Akiyoshi Inoue)
Life

Batik's big revival

Indonesia's ancient dyeing technique finds new fans young and old

The sun sets behind Mount Fuji as seen from Tokyo's Jingu Gaien district, where the new National Stadium for the Summer Games is being constructed. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)
Tea Leaves

The politics of summer time blues

Can Japan find a cure in time for the 2020 Olympics?