Business May 27, 2021
China tech giants spend billions to fuel growth after crackdown
Companies are digging deep into their pockets to open up new avenues of growth as Beijing curtails their most lucrative businesses from fintech to e-commerce.
Business / Corporate May 25, 2021
Smart rings seen as new frontier for cashless payments
by Shiho Takezawa and Masatsugu Horie
As retailers around seek ways to make it easier to shop seamlessly without touching anything, MTG in Japan is betting its technology can rule them all.
Business / Economy May 25, 2021
Tokyo mobile data fees second lowest among six world cities, survey finds
In the previous government survey conducted last year, the Japanese capital saw the highest fee for 20GB plans.
Business May 19, 2021
Taiwan aims to keep chip production humming as COVID-19 spreads
by Debby Wu and Miaojung Lin
Taiwan’s government has pledged to try to keep the world supplied with chips even as COVID-19 cases escalate, while anticipating a limited impact from its worst outbreak so far. If only domestic consumption is hit and the outbreak ends by June 30, gross domestic product ...
Asia Pacific May 19, 2021
How Myanmar's military moved in on the telecoms sector to spy on citizens
by Fanny Potkin and Poppy Mcpherson
Intercept spyware gives the military the power to listen in on calls, view text messages and web traffic, and track the locations of users without the assistance of telecom firms.
Commentary / World May 18, 2021
The expected high-growth sectors in the post-recovery decade
by Michael Spence
Businesses that survived the pandemic closures (many with support from fiscal programs) will experience rapid expansion, powered by pent-up demand.
Commentary / Japan May 18, 2021
In meeting today’s great challenges: Think 'moonshot'
by Brad Glosserman
There are many potential moonshots, from creating a COVID-19 vaccine to solving global warming. What makes them different is they address extraordinary, if not existential, challenges.
Business May 17, 2021
Apple and Microsoft’s rivalry had cooled. Now it’s back and getting testier.
by Mark Gurman
At a virtual product launch in November for Apple’s Mac reboot, actor John Hodgman appeared in a nerdy, ill-fitting suit before a white backdrop. "Stop, hang on, wait, one more thing, hi, I’m a PC,” he said, reprising the popular Mac vs. PC television ...
Commentary / World May 16, 2021
Regulators may be doing Alibaba a favor after all
by Tim Culpan
Of great concern is that this core business once again contributed all of the operating profit because the rest of Alibaba’s divisions remain a drag on earnings.
Business May 14, 2021
Roaring cryptocurrency cacophony drowns out rest of Wall Street
Even for a market that’s famous for its wild volatility and gimmicks, the past week’s cryptocurrency news set new records for jaw-droppers.
Business / Corporate May 14, 2021
Forklift driving becomes a desk job with Phantom-Mitsubishi deal
by River Davis
Via the tie-up, the firms will offer forklifts that can rove around a warehouse in California, controlled by workers sitting at a desk a continent away.
Business / Tech May 13, 2021
South Korea unveils $450 billion push to seize global chipmaking crown
by Sohee Kim and Sam Kim
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix will lead more than 510 trillion won of investment in semiconductor research and production in the years to 2030 under a national blueprint devised by Moon.