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December 26th, 2019

2020 in focus

The companies, people, events and trends that will shape Asia in the year ahead

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The Big Story

Asia in 2020: from tech turmoil to SoftBank's next crisis

Watch these emerging trends and political flashpoints in the year ahead

While many of 2019's big themes stemmed from the worsening trade war, 2020 may hold other surprises. (Photo illustration by Nikkei)
Beijing wants the soft power that internationally popular films can generate, but studios are struggling to deliver. (Original images from "GG Bond: Lollipop in Fantasy" and Reuters)
Industry in focus

Blockbuster or bust: China's film industry is in a bind

Tighter censorship and dwindling cash hinder quest for global hits

© Illustration by Michael Tsang
Aerospace & Defense Industries

Mitsubishi jet turns to Europe while awaiting US takeoff

Orders reach 490 as Japanese plane maker aims to leave delays behind

Pedestrians pass Google's New York City office in Manhattan. Big Tech companies have grown too large, technology investor Peter Thiel says.
Interview

Google is too big to innovate, Peter Thiel says

Billionaire slams Silicon Valley for overpromising and underdelivering on change

India's crude steel production shrank 3.4% on the year in October.
Business deals

2-year quest to buy Essar exposes risk of India investment

Tangles with government and in court dragged on as bottom fell out of steel market

Cows graze in an oil production field in Midland, Texas. Banpu's shale acquisition in the U.S. state will more than triple its output of natural gas.
Energy

Thai coal major Banpu buys US shale gas assets for $770m

Investor pressure drives shift away from carbon-heavy fuel

The Forestias on the outskirts of Bangkok will provide villas and condos, retail outlets and a sports center all set in a forest ecosystem (conceptual drawing provided by Magnolia Quality Development).
Property

Thai CP Group bets on $4bn project to snatch TCC's crown

Leading conglomerates compete to build country's biggest property development

Wool prices are on the upswing due to the extended drought in Australia, which supplies 40% of the global market.
Commodities

Historic drought in Australia rattles global farm goods market

Wool, wheat and sugar prices spike as exports dwindle

Top Glove plans to have 861 production lines producing as much as 91.4 billion pieces of gloves by December 2021. (Photo courtesy of the company)
Health Care

Malaysia's Top Glove upbeat on growth, net profit edges higher

Continues to add production lines as demand remains firm, shares gain on outlook

Cathay Pacific said on Tuesday that although its November passenger traffic was affected by soft sentiment on routes to and from the U.S., services to India were a bright spot, as were transit services.
Transportation

Cathay Pacific's turbulent flight could roll into early 2020

Airline sees weak first-half for cargo but is cautiously optimistic

Reliance Industries, India's largest company by market capitalization, is run by its billionaire chairman, Mukesh Ambani.
Business deals

Reliance and BP to form venture to grow India fuel retail network

Jio-BP plans to quadruple fuel stations to 5,500 across country in 5 years

© Illustration by Michael Tsang
Asia Insight

Manila Vice: Xi and Duterte grapple with online casino crime

China wants to kill thriving industry; the Philippines aims to tame it

The niqab is not common in Indonesia, but is worn by women who belong to the country's more conservative Muslim groups.
Politics

Niqab ban debate shows Jokowi's tough stance on Islamic hard-liners

Indonesian president risks alienating nonviolent groups, experts warn

China purchased 24 Russian Su-35 fighter jets in 2015. Moscow considers Beijing's technology theft as just another cost of doing business with its cash-flush southern neighbor.
International relations

Russia up in arms over Chinese theft of military technology

Beijing's rise as a major armaments exporter is a double-edged sword for Moscow

Japanese travelers can visit many overseas destinations visa-free, thanks to their country's reputation for political and economic stability, and its low crime rate. (Photo by Yuki Nakao)
Tourists dress up for a visit to Tokyo's Sensoji, one of the capital's most popular attractions. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Economy

Tourism to Japan drops for 2 months as South Koreans stay away

Travelers from China and US make double digit gains in November

Myanmar Leader Aung San Suu Kyi is welcomed by supporters waving Myanmar flags outside the airport as she arrives from the Netherlands on Dec. 14 in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)
Politics

Genocide trial strengthens Suu Kyi's unifying power at home

Myanmar leader defends military at ICJ hearing

A woman at work in a Singapore lab: Women in the country are well represented in traditionally segregated industries, such as engineering and cloud computing.
Economy

Singapore rises in gender equality ranking as Philippines slips

Japan exhibits largest gap between men and women among advanced economies

Riot police fire tear gas on Sep. 29: their helmets have had one-way-mirror privacy film adhered to visors since late June.
Opinion

Hong Kong protesters are naming and shaming police officers

Disclosing private information on Telegram is unethical but empowering

A laborer whose name is excluded from the final list of the NRC stands at a construction site of a detention center in Assam on Sep. 1: the real challenge is what India is going to do with the people who do not make it on to the NRC.
Opinion

India's citizenship changes are immoral and self-defeating

Making it harder for Muslims to become citizens risks global backlash

A crude oil terminal in Ningbo Zhoushan port, China: Asian importers will need to continue accelerating the building of their strategic oil reserves.
Opinion

Trade war and strong dollar threaten Asia's oil security in 2020

Oil prices were benign in 2019 but have significant potential to swing

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held official talks for the first time in 15 months. 
The Nikkei View

Abe and Moon should turn thaw into strategic cooperation

First Japan-South Korea summit in 15 months is significant, but relations remain fraught

A male oracle leads a large group of devotees during the annual Kodungallur Bharani festival, in the Indian state of Kerala. (Photo by Hans Kemp)
Life

Snapping Asia's ancient ceremonies

From crocodile biting to hungry ghosts, Hans Kemp records the region's rituals

Jaffna crab curry served at the Palmyrah restaurant. (Photo by Palmyrah)
Tea Leaves

Sri Lankan crab curry spreads hope and flavor

A regional dish may help heal the wounds of a bitter civil war