alt

May 16th, 2019

Life without Jack

Alibaba searches for new growth in the post-Ma era

View all editions

The Big Story

After Jack: Alibaba searches for new growth in the post-Ma era

Challenge to Amazon and Microsoft in cloud services could bring conflict with Washington

After overseeing two decades of stunning growth at Alibaba, Executive Chairman Jack Ma Yun prepares to hand the reins to current CEO Daniel Zhang Yong in September.
Daniel Zhang Yong, right, the chairman-in-waiting of Alibaba. Current Executive Chairman Jack Ma Yun, left, has "[been preparing] this succession plan for 10 years," he says.
The Big Story

When the guru steps down: tech companies face the succession question

Jack Ma has been gradually handing power to Daniel Zhang for years

Nikkei illustration
Startups in Asia

Japan's Google-backed AI pioneer plots a quantum leap

Analyzing retail data only scratches the surface of Abeja's ambitions

Tencent scored a 33-fold increase in market capitalization to $437.8 billion over the past decade. (Nikkei montage/Reuters)
Companies

Asia is home to 50% of world's fastest growing companies

Tencent leads 1,679 'ten baggers' and India emerges as top incubator, data show

Coal is still the cheapest power source for most Southeast Asian nations, with power generation by coal expected to double by 2030. (Getty Images)
Thailand is one of nine telecom markets where Axiata and Telenor are active.
Business deals

Telenor CEO vows to 'control' Asia tie-up with Axiata

Singtel and Viettel are also bent on Southeast Asian domination

Carole Ghosn appears with her husband, former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn, in Tokyo on March 9. 
Interview

Exclusive: Ghosn's wife says she has 'nothing to do' with allegations

Japanese court's restriction on contact designed to 'punish' her husband

The Nikkei Asian Review was recognized by a global publishing organization for its coverage of tensions between Nissan and Renault ahead of Carlos Ghosn's arrest.
Announcements

Nikkei Asian Review takes top prize in breaking news in regional journalism award

Asian Media Awards recognize reporting on Nissan-Renault tensions ahead of Ghosn's arrest

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing, which owns the London Metal Exchange (LME) and the Qianhai Mercantile Exchange in China, has said it intends to extend LME trading into the Asian time zone.
Nikkei Markets

HKEx to keep focus on China and costs amid trade war clouds

Quarterly profit rises as stock connect lifts revenue despite weaker trading

The revenue dropped primarily due to weaker commodity prices, a stronger rupee, and lower volumes at aluminum and zinc operations, the company said in a statement.
Companies

Vedanta fourth-quarter profit slumps 46% on weaker metal prices

Closure of copper smelter, iron ore mines also hurts company

Office workers pass a Singapore Post branch in Singapore's central business district.
© Illustration by Michael Tsang
Asia Insight

South Korea banks on Vietnam alliance after China chill

Northeast and Southeast Asian partners prioritize economic ties over frictions

Thailand's senators, all hand-picked by the junta, are expected to vote for incumbent Prayuth Chan-ocha for the job of prime minister. 
Thai election

Prayuth close to securing Thai PM job as king backs senate

Junta-picked senators given nod but lower house majority still necessary to govern

Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is planning to buy Premier League team Crystal Palace. (Source photos by Reuters/Getty Images)
Business trends

Thaksin seeks to buy Premier soccer team, shrugging off political woes

Thailand's self-exiled former PM in talks with debt-laden Crystal Palace

The proposed list of new tariffs targets more than 3,800 items including smartphones and laptop computers, which had until now been excluded from the tariff war.
Trade war

US reveals tariffs on $300bn of Chinese goods, including phones

Asian tech companies prepare to initiate contingency plans

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speaks to media in Kuala Lumpur on May 9. (Photo by Ying Xian Wong)
Malaysia in transition

Mahathir to stay PM for 'at least' another year before succession

Malaysian leader stresses anti-corruption as 'most successful achievement'

Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou made a splash with his decision to seek a presidential nomination from the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang.
Politics

Gou's Taiwan presidential bid stalls over mainland ties

Populist Kaohsiung mayor emerges as formidable rival to Foxconn chief

A Chinese military vehicle carries a Pterodactyl I aerial drone at a parade in Beijing. Parents' reluctance to send their only children into combat has the military searching for less dangerous options.
Comment

AI arms race risks rise of uncontrollable killer robots

US, China and Russia poised to field unmanned weapons before global rules take shape

Go-Jek chief executive and founder Nadiem Makarim
Nikkei Asia Prizes

The man who created Indonesia's virtuous cycle

Nadiem Makarim is expanding the 'Go-Jek economic sphere'

Professor I Chiu Liao is known as the "father of aquaculture in Asia." (Photo by Toshiyuki Kumagai)
Nikkei Asia Prizes

Taiwan's 'Father of Prawn Farming' built an Asian industry

I Chiu Liao wins Nikkei Asia Prize for making a lavish seafood affordable

Laurice Guillen helped establish the Cinemalaya Foundation to support young filmmakers in the Philippines. (Photo by Jun Endo)
Nikkei Asia Prizes

Philippine film foundation flipped the script for a 'dead' industry

Cinemalaya Foundation wins Nikkei Asia Prize for fostering young artists

Indonesian refinery projects have a revolving door that regularly sees the arrival and departure of potential partners.
Opinion

Pulling Indonesian oil refining out of decline

End fuel subsidies and develop a positive approach to foreign investment

The first two leaders' debates of the campaign between Scott Morrison, left, and his challenger Bill Shorten did not discuss foreign policy at all.
Opinion

Time for Australia's campaigning leaders to debate China?

Politicians avoid arousing voter concern despite Huawei and South China Sea disputes

Infrastructure design should incorporate the views of women, who have different requirements from men.
Opinion

Japan's chance to raise quality of global infrastructure

In pushing for G-20 consensus, Tokyo must keep Beijing on board despite concern over Belt and Road

The Trump administration has begun preparations to impose tariffs of as much as 25% on another $300 billion of Chinese imports.
The Nikkei View

'Tariff man' Trump plays a dangerous game by threatening all sides

US is right to call out China on trade, but brute force is not the answer

The Ganga Aarti is one of Varanasi's main touristic draws. (Photo by Kit Yeng Chan)
Life

Varanasi cleans up despite Ganges pollution failure

India's holiest ancient city is modernizing, with help from volunteers

Foreign tourists check out bottles of Japanese sake at a department store in Ginza, Tokyo. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) 
Life

Japanese sake goes global, intoxicating many

From sommeliers to master brewers, the drink is winning devotees abroad

Home delivery: part of an accommodation unit is trucked onto the site of Clement Canopy. (Photo by Ken Barrett)
Tea Leaves

Life imitates Lego in Asia's urban innovation

Stacked and printed dwellings change face and pace of old-fashioned building