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August 10th, 2023

Uncertain waters

Coastal communities from Japan to Jeju brace for Fukushima wastewater release

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The Big Story

Coastal towns brace for Fukushima water release, from Japan to Jeju

Distrust of TEPCO and fear for small businesses fuel anxiety, despite IAEA approval

Coastal towns brace for Fukushima water release, from Japan to Jeju
Seth Fischer, founder of Hong Kong-based activist investment firm Oasis Management. The company has pushed for change at such Japanese companies as Nintendo and elevator maker Fujitec. 
Interview

Japan has 'long way to go' on governance reform: Oasis founder

Despite rally, stocks still cheap beyond biggest companies, Seth Fischer says

Apple CEO Tim Cook visits his company's first India store in Mumbai in April: Domestic iPhone 14 production suggests that supply chain pessimism about the country has started to fade.
Opinion

India can be a bigger winner in the supply chain shift from China

U.S. and allies see the country as a trustworthy alternative sourcing hub

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. waves before his speech to Congress on July 24 in Manila: His first year in office was a quintessential political honeymoon.
Opinion

Marcos will not be able to keep playing safe on everything

Philippine president has avoided confrontation but has tough decisions to make

A clothing retailer in Hulu Langat on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur engages with buyers on TikTok Shop. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Business Spotlight

TikTok takes on Shopee, Tokopedia in ASEAN e-commerce race

Buyers and sellers flock to shopping feature while authorities fret

Universal Studios Japan drew more visitors in 2022 than its Florida and Hollywood counterparts. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)
Travel & Leisure

Universal Studios Japan jumps into world's top 3 most-visited theme parks

Super Nintendo World, anime characters help make USJ a draw for international travelers

VinFast's plant in Vietnam's Haiphong is 90% automated, according to the company's CEO. (Photo by Yuji Nitta)
Automobiles

Vietnam Vingroup's ambition to take on Tesla hits bumpy road

VinFast struggles to generate profit amid heavy upfront investment

Margot Robbie stars in "Barbie," which has reached over $29 million at the box office in China. 
Media & Entertainment

In China, 'Barbie' moves women to tears, 'triggers' men to walk out

Greta Gerwig's blockbuster film resonates as gender issue gains traction

Some Bollywood insiders and opposition critics say more films are promoting the agenda of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. But an Information Ministry official said the BJP simply wants to "inculcate good cultural and social values through movies."
Asia Insight

Bollywood becomes political battleground as India's election looms

Some filmmakers find amplifying Modi government's message is good for business

Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter jets of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force: Over the past year, the number of Chinese military planes flying around Taiwan has sharply increased.
Taiwan tensions

China's military speeds preparations to blockade Taiwan

Move has been gathering steam since Pelosi's 2022 visit to island

A new presidential palace is going up in Nusantara: Some government functions will be transferred from Jakarta to the new capital in 2024. (Photo by Nana Shibata)
Economy

Indonesia's new capital aims to be 'economic growth center'

Nusantara construction 'on schedule'; 60,000 people expected in 2024: officials

The subject of Yunte Huang's new book "Daughter of the Dragon," Chinese American film star Anna May Wong was a global icon yet struggled against stereotypes.
Books

Biography brings Hollywood icon Anna May Wong back into focus

'Daughter of the Dragon' revives image of first Chinese American film star

Newborns are dressed in Valentine's Day costumes at a Bangkok hospital. Cesarean sections are popular in Thailand partly because they make it easier for parents to control the timing of a birth, such as on an auspicious date.
Tea Leaves

Thai women are losing faith in labor

Superstition, fear and convenience converge in C-section boom