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January 12th, 2023

Battling the wave

China fights first surge of infections after zero-COVID U-turn

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The Big Story

China crests first infection wave since abandoning zero-COVID

Overloaded hospitals and morgues suggest true death toll is hidden and worst is to come

China's hospitals, like this one in Shanghai, have been overrun with mostly elderly COVID-19 patients since strict antivirus restrictions were dropped in December. But data suggests infections have already peaked. 
From chips to EVs to vaccines, Asian companies are set to shake things up in 2023. 
Business Spotlight

10 Asian companies to watch in 2023

From chipmakers to tech pioneers, these are names you will hear more of

An oversupply of semiconductors for data centers will likely last through the first quarter of this year, analysts say. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)
Semiconductors

Chip glut to last most of 2023 while automotive crunch persists

Inventory of memory, other semiconductors have swelled amid tech slump

Analysts and investors predict 2023 will offer more opportunities in Asia, though shaking off the challenges of last year may take time.
Market Spotlight

Why 2023 could be the best -- and worst -- year for VCs in Asia

Venture capitalists see pickup in deal activity, but expect difficulties in fundraising

A rice farmer gestures in Khon Kaen, Thailand. The country has strict regulations against importing foreign strains of rice, but industry insiders say Vietnamese seeds are finding their way in.  
Commodities

Vietnamese rice in Thailand's fields poses growing problem

Alien strains help farmers meet demand at low cost but dent national brand

An unregistered Afghan refugee near the Torkham border crossing in Pakistan: Women have compelling reasons to flee a regime that is stripping away their rights but face an uncertain future in crisis-hit Pakistan. (Photo by Jamaima Afridi)
Asia Insight

Afghan women fleeing to Pakistan trade precarious life for another

U.N. seeks 'durable solutions' in 2023 as Islamabad's crises cloud outlook

China's President Xi Jinping and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018: Amid calls for New Delhi to reduce trade with its neighbor and rival, experts say decoupling "is easier said than done."
International relations

India-China border clash spotlights New Delhi's trade conundrum

Calls grow for less reliance on neighbor but decoupling 'easier said than done'

The Maldives' then President Abdulla Yameen attends a meeting in Beijing in 2017. He brought the strategically located Indian Ocean nation closer to China, while his successor has adopted a pro-India approach.
Politics

Conviction of Maldives' pro-China Yameen overshadows election

Ex-president and current candidate's corruption appeal has high geopolitical stakes

A 'Rogue Russia" under President Vladimir Putin and 'Maximum Xi [Jinping]' are Eurasia Group's two biggest risks for 2023. (Source photos by AP) 
International relations

'Rogue Russia' and 'Maximum Xi' top 2023 risks: Eurasia Group

Emergence of truly disruptive AI could bring societies to tipping point

Carmen Reinhart says both the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank were late in acting against inflation.
Interview

Debt hampers fight against global inflation: Carmen Reinhart

Top economist warns worldwide recession is 'very likely'

Narendra Modi in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sept. 16: The strength of India is its independent diplomacy.
Opinion

2023 outlook: India will mark its rise by showing leadership

U.S. and China will face new tripolar world amid demographic shifts

A woman walks on the streets of Tehran without a mandatory headscarf on Nov. 1: The women of Iran took the lead in a bare-knuckle rebellion.
Opinion

Women deserve equal opportunity and are here to demand it

Averting demographic collapse requires changes in policies, careers and housework

An aerial view of the Art Gallery of New South Wales’ new building, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architects SANAA. (© Iwan Baan)
Arts

Sydney Modern bursts on art scene with daunting challenges

Visually dazzling, the city's new gallery leans heavily on inclusive sloganizing

The tea ceremony encourages us to slow down and appreciate the beauty in everyday life. (Nikkei montage/Photos by Getty Images)
Tea Leaves

Japan's life lessons in a cup of tea

Traditional tea ceremony remains relevant to contemporary life