alt

August 29th, 2019

Untangling SoftBank

Masayoshi Son has to sell out to achieve his $108 billion vision

View all editions

The Big Story

SoftBank's Vision Fund 2: more firepower, bigger questions

Masayoshi Son faces a relentless pace of exits and IPOs to achieve his 300-year vision

Masayoshi Son's first Vision Fund had earth-shaking effects. But with massive scale comes close scrutiny -- and its even bigger sequel must convince investors that the vision can be profitable. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
SoftBank Group Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son visits Jakarta in July. Also pictured: the co-founder of ride-hailing unicorn Grab, Anthony Tan, second from left, and the co-founder of e-commerce unicorn Tokopedia, William Tanuwijaya, right.
The Big Story

Hungry for growth, Vision Fund-backed startups turn investors

Buying spree may come at the cost of weaker business focus

Chinese startup AutoX is one of only four companies to receive a robotaxi license from California. (Photo Courtesy of AutoX)
Startups in Asia

Professor X readies self-drive cars for China's busy streets

Led by ex-Princeton scholar, AutoX gathers AI dream team with global ambitions

A thin, foldable active-matrix OLED screen from BOE Technology Group is shown during an exhibition in Beijing last year.
China tech

Apple puts China's BOE to test for cutting-edge iPhone screens

China's display champion helped by state subsidies to take on Samsung, LG

A number of Cathay Pacific employees say they fear their political views could cost them their jobs. 
Hong Kong protests

Beijing's political reach casts shadow over Hong Kong business

Cathay Pacific's troubles illustrate dilemma for multinationals amid protests

Neuron Mobility's battery-powered scooters are an increasingly common site in front of Bangkok cafes and in wealthy residential districts.
Business trends

E-scooter sharing services help people get around in Thailand

As the two-wheelers jostle for space, road safety is becoming an issue

Indonesian ride-hailer Go-Jek, which calls itself a super app, will now offer more than 20 services on its platform to millions of users in five Southeast Asian countries.
Sharing Economy

Go-Jek to enter Malaysian market in new challenge to Grab

In principle approval comes days after Go-Jek founder met with Mahathir

Japan's smaller pharmaceutical companies see promise in the growing middle class in Southeast Asia. 
Pharmaceuticals

Japan's midsize drugmakers find niche in richer Southeast Asians

Market set to double by 2030 as economic growth promotes lifestyle diseases

Once grouped together with Alibaba Group Holding and Tencent Holdings, Baidu is losing steam to ByteDance.
China tech

Baidu stock surges despite 62% profit drop

Search giant blames slowdown on softening macroeconomy

Stream article image
Nikkei Markets

Bank of East Asia flags risks to outlook as profit slumps

Expects second-half loan impairments to be higher than in the year-ago period

 NMDC, India's biggest iron-ore miner, is facing a major risk to its business model
Companies

NMDC faces output loss after Indian state revokes mine lease

Shares of the company fall to lowest in three-and-a-half years

Southeast Asian unicorns are rearing up and gaining the attention of venture capitalists in other parts of the world. (© Illustration by Michael Tsang)
Startups

Southeast Asian startups gain global venture capital spotlight

Young companies in region received $8.58bn in first seven months of 2019

A palm plantation in Indonesia: Palm oil was the country's second-biggest export in 2018, bringing in over $20 billion.
Asia Insight

Palm oil: Indonesia and Malaysia push back as EU clamps down

Producers threaten legal action while rushing to shore up industry

French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Donald Trump with other leaders at the G-7 summit in Biarritz, France.
International relations

Bare-bones G-7 statement fails to light the way for global economy

Summit highlights bloc's limitations in a protectionist world

President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference on the third and final day of the G-7 summit in Biarritz, France, on Aug. 26.
Trade war

Trump says China has no choice but to make trade deal

President cites comments from Beijing's lead negotiator as sign of progress

While the vast majority of foreign visitors enter Thailand on 30-day visas issued on arrival, most foreigners with longer visas must now report any address changes within 24 hours.
Politics

Thailand's Cold War immigration tactics unnerve long-term foreigners

Draconian 24-hour reporting requirement inhibits freedom of movement

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the younger brother of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, greets supporters in Colombo on Aug. 11. His promise of "ensuring security" is a message that is resonating with Sri Lanka's majority Sinhalese-Buddhist community.
Politics

Sri Lankan strongman eyes presidency in upcoming elections

Former leader Rajapaksa's brother vows security after Easter bombings

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman enters parliament on July 5 to present the government's 2019 budget, which included a proposal to issue foreign-currency debt.
Economy

India's plan to float foreign-currency bonds stalls

Experts warn of debt 'addiction' and fault lack of clear policy framework

Air India has lost money amid fierce competition against private carriers such as IndiGo, below.
Economy

India ramps up privatization of state enterprises

Longtime loss-maker Air India among 23 companies up for sale

All medals will be made from 100% recycled metal retrieved from used mobile phones and other gadgets. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Opinion

Open, welcoming Japan should be legacy of Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Country must focus on winning hearts and minds as well as medals

These robotic arms, welding a pump truck part at a factory in Hebei province, are cutting-edge technology, but the domestically-made industrial robot industry will miss Beijing's target of meeting 50% of Chinese market demand by 2020
Opinion

US is mistakenly making policy based on fear of China's tech abilities

High-tech industries are likely to miss Made in China 2025 targets

Lee Hsien Loong has been embroiled in a nasty spat with his younger siblings over the family compound.
Opinion

Singapore's family feud complicates fight against bad economic news

Lee Hsien Loong should have enacted reforms when GDP growth was still buoyant

South Korean President Moon Jae-in is briefed by officials on the General Security of Military Information Agreement at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on Aug. 22.
The Nikkei View

Seoul's pullout from intelligence pact sows seeds of instability

Cooperation with Japan and US vital as check on North Korean ambitions

Architect Kengo Kuma, photographer Sebastiao Salgado and contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang will speak at the International Council of Museums conference in Kyoto on Sept. 1-7. (Photos by © J.C. Carbonne/ © Yann Arthus-Bertrand/ Yvonne Zhao, courtesy of Cai Studio)
Life & Arts

Kengo Kuma, Sebastiao Salgado say museums must change with society

Acclaimed architect, photographer and contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang explore significance of museums in their works

Before an Ace suitcase hits the market, a lot of testing is done in the "torture room," right.
Companies

Japanese luggage titan Ace thrives with a little help from a 'torture room'

Diversification and a commitment to 'Made in Japan' give the decades-old business global cachet

Swe Swe Aung of social enterprise Doh Eain, left, and local teenager Hsu Lin Htet, who helped design the park (Photo by Lorcan Lovett)
Tea Leaves

Yangon puts 'girl power' into green spaces

Safety comes first in city park designed by young women