November 11th, 2021

Thailand's billionaire boom

How energy tycoon Sarath Ratanavadi shot to fortune in Asia's most unequal country

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The Big Story

Thailand's billionaire boom: the rise of Sarath Ratanavadi

How the energy tycoon shot to fortune in Asia's most unequal country

Sarath Ratanavadi, Thailand's new energy king, built his fortune via his power company, Gulf Energy. A man of mystery, he is rarely photographed and keeps his affairs private.

A luxury condo overlooks a street in a BDD chawl, a low cost housing development by the Bombay Development Department of the British government, in Worli. (Photo by Kamlesh Pednekar)

Business Spotlight

India's financial capital Mumbai gets a makeover

Colonial-era tenements to be swept away as big property developers move in

Indonesian President Joko Widodo resumes overseas visits in October after a nearly two-year hiatus while facing major global challenges. (Nikkei montage/Reuters/AP)

Asia Insight

Jokowi breaks out of shell to broaden Indonesia's global horizons

Can president reassert Jakarta's claim to lead the developing world?

Toshiba plans to split itself into three companies to enhance shareholder value and profits.

Toshiba in turmoil

Toshiba to split into 3 companies by 2023

New entities to list separately to maximize shareholder returns and profit

Saudi Aramco President and CEO Amin Nasser shares his thoughts on green energy transitions and oil prices on Nov. 9. (Photo by Karina Nooka)

Global Management Forum 2021

World needs 'inclusive, equitable' energy transition: Saudi Aramco CEO

Top execs from Shiseido, BHP, other global companies share visions at Nikkei forum

U.S. beef is sold in a supermarket in Tokyo. Rising prices for the meat have hit shoppers in Japan. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)

Market Spotlight

Beef price surge piles pressure on restaurants and retailers

Asian demand comes up against global supply constraints

Japanese automakers are hesitant to bet on electric vehicles, with Toyota reluctant to forsake the internal combustion engine

Asia's climate crisis

Japan automakers take the hard road

Scepticism over electrical vehicle transition highlights wider global battle

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at the opening ceremony of the China International Import Expo in Shanghai on Nov. 4.

Trade

Xi says open to discussion on state-owned companies in CPTPP talks

President also puts industrial subsidies on table to pave way for trade pact

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, the founder of Vietjet airline, is one of Asia's self-made female billionaires.

Education

Why an Oxford college is renaming itself for Vietnam's richest woman

Vietjet founder Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao's $211m gift to Linacre draws criticism

Chinese tourists arrive in Bangkok on Nov. 1. While some may come, China's own strict rules look likely to put a damper on Thailand's tourism recovery for the time being.

Coronavirus

Quarantine-free Thailand faces tourism hurdle: China's COVID rules

Long isolation upon return and other policies seen dampening prospects

Japan's high vaccination rate and relatively widespread resistance from past infections appear to be working together to keep daily case numbers low.

COVID-19 Recovery Index

Japan leads Asia in COVID Recovery Index as Singapore lags

Region's most-vaccinated countries diverge in ranking, at least for now

Students study English together at the Beijing Language and Culture University in December 2007: China still has time to repair its damaged cultural ties with the U.S.

Opinion

China must not shut the door to cultural exchanges with the U.S.

Self-imposed isolation could exacerbate misunderstandings

Netflix claims that "Squid Game" has generated $900 million.

Opinion

'Squid Game' shows hard economics of South Korea's soft power

Success of cultural exports shows how the country's cultural wave is spreading

A view of South Korea's presidential Blue House in Seoul. Will President Moon Jae-in use his remining months in office to improve battered ties with Japan?

The Nikkei View

South Korea should not leave tarnished Japan ties for next government

Icy relationship impedes economic activity and harms regional security

Kaew Sinpattananon, right, current proprietor of Sin Do Tailor, with Hiroka “Vee” Limviphuvadh of VL by Vee. The two were collaborative partners for the Made in Charoenkrung initiative. (Courtesy of Made in Charoenkrung)

Life

Reinventing old Bangkok through art, craft and design

Creative initiative brings traditional and cutting-edge businesses together through 'Made in Charoenkrung'

When a gold-painted head appeared early in 2020, perched on a concrete plinth in a Melbourne park, no one quite knew what to make of it. (Screenshot from Bundoora Homestead Art Centre's Vimeo)

Tea Leaves

Golden heads and fake hotels -- a salve in pandemic times

Melbourne's eclectic public art encourages political expression in lengthy lockdowns