Economy
China factory activity unexpectedly grows as some bottlenecks ease
Analysts expect GDP slowdown to continue, with demand remaining soft
East Asia
Politics
Kenta Izumi elected leader of Japan's main opposition in runoff
Constitutional Democrats give task of reforming party to 47-year-old
Economy
Japan's population drops to 126m in 2020 census, down 0.7% vs. 2015
Results highlight economic strain of shrinking workforce and more elderly
IPO
Japan's online banks struggle to deliver blockbuster IPOs
Low valuations indicate limited excitement for Rakuten and SBI units
Media & Entertainment
Naver and Daum ban Yonhap for running advertorials as news
South Korea's key news agency wonders how it can move forward
COVID vaccines
Shionogi and Daiichi Sankyo join hunt for omicron vaccine
Japanese drugmakers prepare to modify shots under development
International relations
Japan struggles to nail down Kishida visit to White House
New prime minister yearns early visit, but Biden focused on domestic issues
China tech
Alibaba market cap sinks by half in a year since Ant IPO shelved
China's e-commerce leader loses ground to rivals like JD.com as regulators crack down
Asia Insight
China-Pakistan Belt and Road Initiative hits buffers
Disagreements, terrorism and COVID-19 stymie CPEC projects
Opinion
Why South Korea should join the CPTPP
With the window closing on Seoul's leverage, time is of the essence
International relations
Taiwan's Tsai hosts Baltic lawmakers, seeking closer cooperation
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have no diplomatic relations with the island
Semiconductors
Auto chip shortage shows new sign of easing as inventories rise
Renesas and other suppliers see 1st uptick in 9 months, but demand remains high
Coronavirus
Japan to suspend entry of overseas travelers due to omicron
Foreign nationals to be barred, reversing earlier relaxation of restrictions
International relations
Xi pledges 1bn COVID vaccines doses at China-Africa forum
Continent serves as key supplier of crude oil and minerals for Beijing
Caixin
China new mobile payment rules to target cross-border gambling
Central bank to push firms to differentiate 'individual' and 'merchant' bar codes
Media & Entertainment
Sony taps Japan's nascent 'local 5G' market
Ultrafast networks could provide tailwind for conglomerate's many businesses
Automobiles
Nissan to invest nearly $18 billion to speed electric car rollout
Japanese automaker to introduce 23 new models, including 15 EVs
Climate Change
Japanese power companies bet on 'zero-emission thermal'
Industry tries to buy time for fossil fuel plants as pressure to go green mounts
International relations
Solomon Islands unrest magnifies Pacific unease over China ties
Calm returns but perceptions of 'checkbook diplomacy on steroids' persist
Coronavirus
Japan considers further border controls over omicron variant
Some countries outside southern Africa expected to be on restricted list