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May 28th, 2020

SECOND WAVE

Asia's economies are reopening, but is it too early?

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The Big Story

Exits from coronavirus lockdown split 'wild' West from 'cautious' East

Economies are impatient to reopen. Experts say it will trigger a second wave of infections

Asia is exercising an advantage over the "wild" West, remaining more cautious about reopening stores and restaurants amid the risk of additional novel coronavirus outbreaks. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Masayoshi Son spoke this week of "unicorns" plunging into a steep valley due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Nikkei Montage/Source photo by Ken Kobayashi and screenshot from SoftBank YouTube page)
Business Spotlight

SoftBank and Son search for path out of 'Coronavirus Valley'

Pandemic adds to pressure on founder and CEO to show his Midas touch

Orix of Japan and HNA of China are joint venture partners in Dublin-based Avolon (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters) 
Companies

Japan's Orix rejects taking over aircraft leasing JV with HNA

Avolon seen as candidate for sale by cash-strapped Chinese conglomerate

Customers at Uniqlo's Ginza flagship are told to wear masks and sanitize their hands. (Photo by Kento Igami)
Retail

Brushing restraint aside, Uniqlo keeps doors open in Japan

'Closing is easy,' CEO says as casualwear chain applies lessons learned from China

Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo will start selling face masks this summer at its stores, as global demand surges for protection against the coronavirus.
Companies

Uniqlo to debut 'cool and dry' face masks

Parent Fast Retailing to use same material as AIRism underwear

The Shanghai skyline: In a survey of 150 companies across countries like China, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand earlier this month, Knight Frank said 28% of respondents expected to reduce their office space.
Property

From Shanghai to Bangkok, office demand set to plummet

Landlords brace for coronavirus-led downturn

Suu Kyi opened the new Facebook account on April 1 and has posted messages about COVID-19 almost every day. (Nikkei photo illustration/Source photo by Getty Images)
Asia Insight

Suu Kyi's Facebook surge reveals fragility of Myanmar democracy

Ruling party primed for election but cannot rely on leader's charisma forever

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang returns to his seat next to President Xi Jinping after announcing that due to "uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 pandemic," the government would not set an annual economic growth target for the first time in decades. 
China People's Congress

China abandons economic growth target for first time in decades

Move suggests country may not reach goal of doubling 2010 GDP this year

Protesters flee from tear gas during a May 24 march against China's plans to impose national security legislation on Hong Kong.
Hong Kong protests

Hong Kong protests flare anew as Beijing tightens vise

Six hospitalized and 180 arrested as crowds denounce planned national security law

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks at a May 25 meeting of his government's coronavirus advisory panel with member Shigeru Omi, left, a former World Health Organization official. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
Coronavirus

Abe comes down on side of economy with decision to reopen Tokyo

Prime minister stops short of stricter criteria for new coronavirus cases

A banner of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Xi Jinping in Belgrade, Serbia, pictured on May 11: more than 100 countries have received China's anti-virus overtures with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
Opinion

China wants to know if you are with it or against it

Beijing has divided world with coronavirus policies, making countries take sides

The headquarters of ABS-CBN, pictured on May 5: what lies at the heart of the attack on the channel is personal vendetta and petty politics.
Opinion

Duterte government's shutdown of ABS-CBN threatens Philippine freedom

News network closure comes as president consolidates pandemic powers

Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Premier Li Keqiang applaud during the second plenary session of China's National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on May 25
The Nikkei View

China faces challenging times as it forgoes GDP target

Beijing should heed market's warning on Hong Kong security law

An imam, joined by just two mosque employees, leads the prayer at Kuala Lumpur’s National Mosque on April 24.
Life

What I learned from spending Ramadan under coronavirus lockdown

The pandemic taught me to look at Islam's holy month anew

Indonesia's famous Borobudur temple speaks of religious and cultural links to distant Nepal.
Tea Leaves

Finding Nepal in Indonesia

Cross-cultural links abound in Buddhist temple complex at Borobudur