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May 21st, 2020

"NOTHING will come out"

The death of Indian entrepreneur V.G.Siddhartha revealed a tangled web politics and debt

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The Big Story

Death of the coffee king: power and money in corporate India

V.G. Siddhartha's death exposed a spiral of debt and political connections gone bad

With coffee plantations, slick cafe outlets and eco-resorts, V.G. Siddhartha was the picture of a successful entrepreneur -- until his sudden death in 2019 revealed a tangled web of politics and debt. (© Illustration by Michael Tsang)
The world's most important chipmaker has managed to walk a fine line between China and the U.S., but that will become increasingly difficult as time goes by. (Nikkei Montage/Reuters)
Business Spotlight

Chip titan TSMC caught in crossfire between US and China

Geopolitical risks mount for Taiwan group after Trump's crackdown on customer Huawei

Donald Trump's rhetoric toward China has increased its ire as the U.S. deals with a worsening coronavirus outbreak.   © Reuters
Most read in 2020

US pushes China decoupling, wiping billions off Apple and Boeing

Huawei ban sets up game of chicken between world's biggest economies

Jets belonging to Singapore Airlines and its Scoot budget carrier are pictured on the tarmac at Changi Airport in Singapore on March 11. Asian airlines are reeling as passenger numbers have sharply declined this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Transportation

Historic loss at Singapore Airlines showcases Asian aviation woes

Lacking hopeful signs, Cathay Pacific reviewing 'all aspects of business'

Workers assemble engines at a Nissan plant in Barcelona.
Automobiles

Nissan to cut capacity by 20% and close a plant in Spain

Exclusive: Renault and Japanese partners that feuded post-Ghosn move closer

Nissan is struggling with decreasing car sales amid the coronavirus pandemic. The company has prepared structural reform plans including a steep cut in global production capacity.
Automobiles

Nissan to raise up to 500 billion yen in first bond issue in 4 years

Automaker secures liquidity in response to pandemic and sales slump

Credit rating agencies have their eyes trained on the fiscal health of economies in developing Asia.
Asia Insight

Asia faces financial health check after going big on stimulus

Countries must spend wisely or leave future generations under piles of debt

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's news conference on the coronavirus emergency is displayed on a large screen in Tokyo on May 14.
Coronavirus

Asia and world seek different paths to exit coronavirus crisis

Singapore, India, and US look to strike balance between public and economic health

Quarantine officers spray disinfectants at a night club in Itaewon on May 12.
Opinion

South Korea must fight the homophobia hindering coronavirus battle

LGBTQ clubbers exposed to COVID-19 are afraid to come forward and get tested

Migrant workers look out from their balconies at a dormitory on Apr. 6: the pandemic calls for a examination of the attitudes toward migrant workers.
Opinion

Singapore must rethink how it treats migrant workers

Coronavirus outbreak highlights poor pay, crowded dormitories and prejudice

Chinese President Xi Jinping gives an address after a naval fleet review in the South China Sea in 2018.
The Nikkei View

China must not flex muscle as neighbors grapple with pandemic

Beijing steps into vacuum left by virus-hit US and ASEAN

The popular Khao Gaeng Jek Pui street-food stall on Mangkon Road. The eatery has since moved to a new location as the authorities seek to clean up the city’s sidewalks. (Ben Davies)
Life

Bangkok's heritage vanishes as urbanization speeds up

Venerable buildings and communities are being torn down in the name of progress

Festivalgoers release lanterns into the sky at the Pingxi Lantern Festival in Pingxi, Taiwan, in March 2018. 
Tea Leaves

Success against coronavirus may bring tourism reward

Taiwan and South Korea likely to be seen as safe destinations when outbreak ends