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March 30th, 2023

Volt-face

Toyota's new chief Koji Sato vows to get serious about EVs

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The Big Story

Toyota's new chief Koji Sato vows to get serious about EVs

Faced with 'once in a century' industry transformation, world's biggest carmaker may be prisoner of past success

Toyota's incoming president Koji Sato, pictured at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January, is tasked with steering the world's largest automaker toward an electrically powered future. 
The Taiwanese government is cleaning silt from the Tsengwen Reservoir while the water level is extremely low. (Photo courtesy of Taiwan’s Water Resources Agency) 
Business Spotlight

Taiwan braces for drought in key chip hubs again

Water challenge comes as island pushes to maintain 'silicon shield' against China

The rehabilitation center at Sakra World Hospital in Bengaluru is the first of its kind in India. (Photo by Kunio Saijo)
Health Care

India taps Japanese tech to deliver health care to 1.4bn people

Fujifilm clinic helps diagnose tuberculosis in rural population

Baidu's Ernie Bot and OpenAI's ChatGPT each have their strong points. (Source photos by Getty Images and Reuters) 
Technology

Testing Ernie: How Baidu's AI chatbot stacks up to ChatGPT

Chinese bot avoids politically delicate topics, but both still works in progress

The grand military parade to mark Myanmar's 78th Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, the capital, on March 27 was attended by representatives of only ten nations. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Asia Insight

Myanmar military's might fails to crush decades-old resistance

Armed forces face no external threats, accused of widespread atrocities at home

Malaysia's national flag flutters at a construction site in Kuala Lumpur. In recent years, Malaysia has fallen behind giant neighbor Indonesia in attracting foreign direct investment.
Economy

Malaysia trails Indonesia in attracting foreign direct investment

Experts say reforms, political stability are essential for country to narrow gap

Japan's newest submarine Hakugei is delivered to the Ministry of Defense by Kawasaki Heavy Industries at a ceremony in Kobe on March 20.
Indo-Pacific

Japan's new Hakugei submarine packs a stealthy underwater burst

Lithium-ion battery extends deep-sea operations to better compete with China

A voter casts her ballot during Kazakhstan's parliamentary election on March 19.
Politics

Kazakhstan's new parliament has old look after reset falls short

Election marred by uneven playing field, apathy and allegations of irregularities

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, left; Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan; opposition candidate Paetongtarn Shinawatra; and Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. (Source photos by Reuters, AP and EPA/Jiji)
Thai election

Prayuth's last run: 5 things to know about Thailand's May 14 vote

Opposition chiefs lead opinion polls as PM faces off against former allies

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on March 6: He will turn 84 next month.
Opinion

The world is forced to guess Iran's intentions

Tehran may be just playing for time with conciliatory moves

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, meets with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on Sept. 27, 2022.
Opinion

Japan and India must draw closer to check Chinese expansionism

Relationship central to Indo-Pacific region's power equilibrium and stability

The shape of things to come? Polygon House, Karuizawa, Nagano prefecture, Makoto Yamaguchi, 2003. (Courtesy of Makoto Yamaguchi/Photo © Koichi Torimura)
Arts

The changing face of Japanese homes

Interior design is adapting to the circumstances of the post-pandemic world

A satisfying nasi campur meal -- a platter of brown rice served with seven different vegetable dishes -- on the Indonesian resort island of Bali. (All photos by Charukesi Ramadurai)
Tea Leaves

How vegans are stirring Southeast Asia's food scene

Search for sustainability and the pandemic are making diners think again