March 28th, 2024

Japan's tale of two economies

BOJ's historic rate hike means little to struggling consumers and small businesses

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The Big Story

Japan's tale of two economies: BOJ hike and stock boom yet to trickle down

'Lost decades' linger for most in spite of record pay raises and Nikkei highs

Many Japanese consumers and workers at small companies have yet to see real-life benefits from the country's recent flurry of economic good news.

The U.N. Security Council has been unable to pass any new resolutions against North Korea for over six years.

Datawatch

U.N. sanctions on North Korea have been losing their bite

Pyongyang has been boosting trade amid discord in the international community

The opening ceremony for China's military base in Djibouti in August 2017: One of its ostensible missions is to fight piracy.

Opinion

Red Sea inaction proves China is not a 'responsible stakeholder'

Beijing well-positioned to join fight against Houthi piracy but is standing aside

For his 2022 presidential election campaign, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s PR team portrayed him as a youthful "cool uncle" who would bring unity to a divided nation.

Opinion

Prabowo followed Marcos' election playbook, for better or worse

Indonesians now must wait to see if next president takes authoritarian path

Hong Kong's Legislative Council passed the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance after less than two weeks of deliberation.

The Nikkei View

Hong Kong's future darkens as new security law takes effect

Beijing's coercive governance is now complete, further driving away foreign talent

Aerial photo of the port of Songkhla (Photo by the port of Songkhla)

Business Spotlight

Thai ports bemoan competitive decline as Srettha pushes 'land bridge'

Shipping industry questions potential demand for $28bn megaproject

Rebuilding America's chip supply chain is shaping up to be a bigger challenge than expected, despite hefty investments by TSMC, Intel and their suppliers.

Technology

TSMC, Intel suppliers delay U.S. plants on surging costs, labor crunch

At least 5 chemical makers slow expansion as industry awaits CHIPS Act funds

State-owned Naura Technology Group is China's largest chip equipment maker. (Photo by Shunsuke Tabeta)

Semiconductors

China chip expo shows investment buildup amid plans for huge new fund

Beijing seeks to grow domestic supply chain free from U.S. restrictions

InfiniVAN holds a cable pulling ceremony on the island of Boracay in November 2022. The Philippines consist of over 7,100 islands, meaning submarine cables are key to stable internet access. (InfiniVAN)

Telecommunication

Philippines' undersea cable network to boost call center industry

Project expected to bring stable internet and new jobs to more remote islands

Turbines silhouetted in the sunset at Noshiro Port, Akita, Japan, will form part of the country's biggest offshore wind farm as Japan seeks to allay fears of impacts on fishing communities while ramping up its wind power capacity fivefold by 2030. (Photo by Masayuki Kozono)

Asia Insight

Japan sails close to offshore wind snags as fisheries, tech challenges lurk

Fishing co-ops must clear plan to connect turbines to central grid amid seabed doubts

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, far left, and top military officials attend a funeral on March 17 for officers killed in a militant attack.

International relations

Pakistan's strikes in Afghanistan hint at new government's hard line

Experts warn tackling Pakistani Taliban threat will be more difficult than ever

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Paro International Airport in Bhutan on March 22, paying a two-day state visit to the tiny but strategic Himalayan nation also courted by China.

International relations

Modi visits Bhutan to shore up India's position amid Chinese outreach

Thimphu keeping New Delhi 'in the loop' on boundary talks with Beijing, experts say

Vo Van Thuong is Vietnam's second president to leave office in two years.

Politics

Vietnam president's resignation suggests party power struggle

Vo Van Thuong was viewed as contender to become next general secretary

The ringgit's fall against the Singapore dollar creates gains for Malaysians working in Singapore.

Currencies

Malaysians working in Singapore gain spending power as ringgit slumps

Migrants eye properties, cars at home as salaries rise in local currency terms

A beach on the Philippine island of Palawan: For one recent group of Indian holidaymakers, Palawan offered the natural beauty of such popular tourist destinations as Mauritius or the Maldives but without the crowds and higher prices.

Life

'Dupe destination' boom hits social media

Travel trend gathers momentum as vacationers seek copycat locations

Bakarwali horses enjoy tranquility in the lush pastures near a nomadic settlement in Aru, a village in India-administered Kashmir. (Photo by Syed Jazib Ali)

Tea Leaves

Nomadic culture on the Himalayan front line

Climate change, conflict and development threaten Bakarwal tribe's existence