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February 21st, 2019

Is Modi good for business?

Grading an ambitious first-term agenda

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The Big Story

Has Narendra Modi been good for business?

Tough reforms have recharged confidence, but protectionism and demonetization stain his record

Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to the crowd at a campaign-related event in the state of Haryana, on Feb. 12, 2019. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)
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The Big Story

Modi's business reforms: Nikkei Asian Review's report card

The prime minister's ambitious agenda receives mixed marks

BHP's Mount Whaleback mine in the ore-rich Pilbara region of northwest Australia. Pilbara is only one facet of the company's declared strategy to become a "fully integrated, highly automated" mining company by 2025. (Courtesy of BHP)
Company in focus

Mining giant BHP goes digital in race for survival

To break the commodities cycle, old industry embraces big data

South Korean protesters rally in Seoul in November to demand compensation from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for people forced to work for the company during World War II.  (Photo by Yosuke Onchi)
Business trends

Businesses fret about Japan-South Korea diplomatic spat

Lawmaker's remarks about Japanese emperor add to tensions

Home to Southeast Asia's largest ride-hailing service provider, Singapore is No. 1 in the world when it comes to people grabbing taxis via a mobile app.
Business trends

Southeast Asia eclipses China as world's mobile economy hot spot

Thais, Indonesians and Singaporeans are big-time online bankers, shoppers and ride-hailers

Google plans to release a cheaper version of its Pixel smartphone as demand for premium handsets flags. (Photo by Arisa Moriyama)
Companies

Google plans cheaper smartphone to draw users into internet empire

Tech giant seeks to exploit Apple woes to drive hardware expansion

People enter the Goldman Sachs global headquarters, also known by its address as 200 West Street, in New York's lower Manhattan.
Interview

Goldman will learn and rebound from 1MDB scandal, says CEO

Solomon says bank will use 'different lens' when doing business in emerging markets

Fudan University School of Management jumped into eighth place in Asia. (Courtesy of Fudan University)
Business trends

Mainland China and South Korea make marks in FT's MBA ranking

Shanghai schools Ceibs and Fudan rise as students gravitate to Asia

Cosco Shipping Ports, which has terminal operations around the world, is making its first foray into South America. 
Belt and Road

Cosco's Peru port buy latest in China's Belt and Road push

Deal adds South America to shipper's global network

In the next fiscal year that begins in April, India plans to spend 6 billion rupees on exploration of coal and lignite.
Companies

Coal India profit beats estimates on higher prices

Slowing output growth remains a concern for world's biggest coal producer

The venture will add several thousand autos to Go-Jek's four-wheel ride-hailing service Go-Car, all equipped with Astra's fleet management system. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Sharing Economy

Singapore cab operator defies Go-Jek threat and posts profit

ComfortDelGro gains from overseas buys and state plans to regulate ride-hailers

Illustration by Eric Chow
Asia Insight

Why Japan risked condemnation to restart commercial whaling

The industry is tiny, but for Tokyo, it is part of a much bigger picture

Chinese President Xi Jinping was hailed last year as the new keeper of the global economic order. This year he was denounced at Davos as a grave threat to freedom. (Nikkei montage/Reuters)
International relations

China’s 'ham-handed' PR moves hurt its global image

Canada, Australia and EU push back at Beijing over perceived hostage diplomacy

Maria Ressa, the CEO of online news platform Rappler, arrives to post bail in Manila on Feb. 14. The site has clashed with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. 
Politics

As Southeast Asia muzzles media, investors do business as usual

Cases like Rappler chief's ordeal in Manila haven't slowed record money flows

President Rodrigo Duterte gestures during a ceremony to mark the return of the Balangiga bells taken by U.S. soldiers as war booty 117 years ago, at Balangiga, central Philippines, on Dec. 5, 2018.
Politics

Duterte wants Philippines renamed 'Maharlika'

To reflect pre-colonial past, president revives name advocated by Marcos

After India and China, the Philippines has the third highest amount of remittance inflows in the world.
Economy

Remittances from overseas Filipinos hit record, but growth slows

Trade tensions, sluggish global growth weigh on key pillar of Philippine economy

Southeast Asia faced several headwinds in 2018, including escalating U.S.-China trade tensions and weakening local currencies.
Economy

Trade war hits SE Asia, growth down for first time in 3 years

US-China dispute weighs on Singapore and Thailand economies in 2019

Improving infrastructure has been the signature policy of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, pictured here at a construction site of the Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit network in 2015. (Photo by Keiichiro Asahara)
Politics

Widodo slammed for infrastructure policy in second TV debate

Newly built railways and airports 'not being used,' opposition challenger says

A worker climbs onto a crude oil train at a transloading facility in the U.S. state of Wyoming. American innovation has let U.S. shale oil companies produce commercially even at prices of $50 a barrel or less. 
Commodities

Asia turns to US oil as shale producers open taps

South Korea boosts imports eightfold in bid to shrink trade surplus

China has begun to promote its own concept of human rights.
Opinion

China's peacekeepers -- new resources, new values

Democratic nations should resist Beijing's attempts to downgrade human rights

Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko smile as they start a parade from the palace on the day of his enthronement.
Opinion

Heisei Japan -- the center cannot hold

Beneath a stagnant surface, profound social change is taking place

Australia's banking industry has long failed to act in the best interests of clients.
Opinion

Australia will rue missed chance to cut banks down to size

Commission addressed misconduct but not underlying problems in an over-mighty sector

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, left, and his South Korean counterpart, Kang Kyung-wha, are pictured here at their meeting in Munich on Feb. 15. 
The Nikkei View

Japan and South Korea must end the cycle of distrust

Both governments need to prevent icy ties from hurting thriving private-sector exchanges

Outside the iconic Raffles Hotel 
Arts

Singapore -- history haunts the ultra-modern state

City's 200th anniversary celebrations stir controversy over past and present identities

A modern take on a Taiwanese classic: sausage wrapped in sticky rice at 886 in Manhattan (Photo by Ben Hon)
Life

Taiwanese cuisine's delicious secret set to emerge

Cheap and cheerful rechao restaurants are a cultural institution

Bangkok now boasts the world's 15th largest total of buildings of 150 meters or taller, and more are on the way.
Tea Leaves

Stop the baht bus -- I want to get off!

Bangkok's breakneck development is destroying the charm of the city I love