• Tech

    Tech

    1 November 2026
    David Sowerby, co-CEO of Arbitr Group, says traditional dubbing has not always captured a speaker's passion and nuance. (Photo by Minako Yamashita)
    A worker climbs up a giant crane at the construction site of the Yongin semiconductor cluster in Yongin, South Korea in July. The country's economy grew faster than expected in the third quarter on strong semiconductor exports and investments.
    Trade

    South Korea exports nearly double in October on AI investment boom

    Total exports for January-October period reach $930bn

    1 November 2026
    Binance co-CEO Richard Teng said on X, "Our users will not bear the financial impact of this incident."
    Cryptocurrencies

    Binance says it has covered 90% of losses from $6.3bn hack

    FBI blames North Korean-backed TraderTraitor for the theft

    1 November 2026
    Hyperscalers are conducting global fundraising to finance AI buildouts. (Source photos Nikkei and Reuters)
    Bonds

    Yen bond offerings hit record $16bn as AI funding race reaches Japan

    Alphabet raises funds in May, followed by Hon Hai and Zurich Insurance

    1 November 2026
    The tech sell-off picked up pace after Amazon and Intel results fueled worries around AI.
    Markets

    Wall Street closes sharply lower as AI cash burn fears spark tech sell-off

    Crypto firms slide after reports that hackers stole $6.3bn from Binance

    31 October 2026
    Nittetsu Mining is working toward autonomous driving for large dump trucks at its Torigatayama Quarry Complex. (Photo by Arata Shigeno)
    Technology

    Japan miner to address labor crunch with self-driving dump trucks

    Nittetsu Mining to introduce autonomous vehicles at limestone quarry by 2033

    31 October 2026
    Data center-linked demand for MLCCs is surging, but some worry about the sustainability of the AI boom. (Source photos Nikkei)
    Supply Chain

    Japan's Murata to invest $6.3bn in capacitor production for AI over 5 years

    Investments in MLCC capacity to be at home, Philippines, China and Thailand

    31 October 2026
    A Micron memory chip. Strong investment in data centers has seen profits at memory makers soar. (Photo by Shintaro Ino)
    Semiconductors

    Memory chip makers outearn Alphabet, other tech giants on AI demand

    Kioxia, Samsung reap benefits of spending surge, but investors start to doubt staying power

    31 October 2026
    Binance said it could freeze additional funds as it works with law enforcement agencies, token issuers, blockchain intelligence firms and other industry partners to trace and freeze additional assets.
    Cryptocurrencies

    Binance suspends withdrawals and freezes funds after $6.3bn hack

    Bitcoin price tumbles on what may be biggest cryptocurrency theft ever

    31 October 2026
    Through the partnership, the companies plan to deploy a fleet of electric SUVs with Waymo driving technologies in addition to taxi specifications typical for Japan. (Toyota Motor)
    Transportation

    Toyota and Waymo to roll out driverless robotaxis in Japan in 2027

    Next phase of partnership to be base for large-scale commercial deployment

    31 October 2026
    The government has urged top U.S. AI developers to provide expanded access to their advanced cybersecurity models. (Source photos by Reuters)
    Artificial intelligence

    Japan asks Anthropic, OpenAI for more access to advanced models

    Tokyo moves to bolster nation's cyber defenses as attacks mount

    31 October 2026
    Data center demand is driving sharp growth in Kioxia memory sales, while rising chip prices lift its smartphone business.
    Semiconductors

    Kioxia net profit to surge 15-fold to $8.7bn this quarter

    AI investment fuels robust demand for semiconductor memory

    30 October 2026
    A COSCO container ship at the port of San Antonio in Chile. The company's profit jumped 80% in the third quarter, thanks in part to higher freight rates.
    Companies

    Chinese shipping, coal stocks outperform AI as earnings outlooks diverge

    Gains fueled partly by Iran war side effects offer contrast to tech rout

    30 October 2026
    Foxconn Chairman Young Liu, right, told attendees at its annual tech day that the company is not just an assembler "moving boxes around" but can build state-of-the-art equipment such as Nvidia's DSX POD (left), a modular container-sized AI factory. (Source photos by Lauly Li)
    Technology

    Foxconn chief downplays AI bubble concerns, sees strong 2027 growth

    Leading contract manufacturer plans major supply chain expansion in Texas

    30 October 2026
    Historically, the party of the sitting president tends to lose seats in the midterms, which take place roughly halfway into a president's four-year term. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Yuki Nakao and Reuters)
    Editor-in-Chief’s Picks

    Editor's Choice: What the US midterms mean for Asia

    Akito Tanaka shares his weekly reflections and recommendations

    30 October 2026
    Marubeni, one of Japan's five big trading houses, sees physical constraints for energy and resources arising from the AI boom as an opportunity for growth. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
    Interview

    Japan's Marubeni looks to profit from bottlenecks arising from AI boom

    CEO says energy, resource constraints can be source of growth for trading house

    30 October 2026
    Startup Saolatek conducts weekly demonstrations to share knowledge about unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Vietnam's security ministry has asked the public to photograph people launching UAVs near airports, which is deemed a safety risk. (Saolatek)
    Technology

    Vietnam drone intrusions prompt airport safety response nationwide

    Government acts after 73 flights disrupted near Ho Chi Minh City's main airport

    30 October 2026
    One remote pilot can monitor the surroundings and positions of multiple drones. (Aeronext)
    Aerospace & Defense Industries

    Japan prepares for commercial drone flocks after operating limit lifted

    Rule change expected to expand rural logistics, infrastructure inspection

    30 October 2026
    Intel issued weaker-than-expected guidance for the fourth quarter, with revenue expected to be in the range of $15 billion to $16 billion. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
    Semiconductors

    Intel shares sink more than 20% as PC slowdown stretches into 2027

    Weak outlook overshadows 21% revenue growth driven by data centers and AI

    30 October 2026
    South Korea's Viva Republica will enter Japan through the purchase of Tokai Tokyo's Cheer Securities. (Photo by Rie Ishii)
    Business deals

    Operator of South Korea's Toss app to buy online Japanese brokerage Cheer

    Viva Republica pursues growing appetite for investing among younger consumers

    30 October 2026
    A KDDI data center in the city of Sakai, Japan, is seen from above. The company operates data centers in 10 countries. (Photo by Yo Inoue)
    Artificial intelligence

    Japan's KDDI to build another data center in London

    Group spends nearly $300m to acquire land for latest project

    30 October 2026
    The launch of Upbond's platform coincides with a change to Japan's tax-free shopping rules in November. (Photo by Yuri Fukino)
    Cryptocurrencies

    Japan's Upbond to offer tax-free shopping refunds in JPYC stablecoin

    Wallet platform to speed repayments to foreign travelers after move away from exemptions

    30 October 2026
    The Vietnamese government's massive public investments are also a factor behind the country's growth.
    Economy

    Vietnam to overtake Indonesia in per capita GDP in 2026: IMF

    Country draws Foxconn, Samsung high-tech manufacturing as alternative to China

    30 October 2026
    The underwater drones Japan already deploys are primarily used in mine clearance. (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force)
    Defense

    Japan aims to deploy underwater drones for sub surveillance

    Move seeks to counter Chinese submarines, alleviate crew recruitment challenges

    30 October 2026
    Export prices for both DRAM and NAND memory chips have soared. (Photo by Shintaro Ino) 
    Semiconductors

    AI boom, soaring memory prices lift Japan's chip exports 41%

    Semiconductor demand helps blunt trade deficit fueled by high crude prices

    30 October 2026
    Drivers for Gojek, the on-demand services platform of GoTo, in Jakarta. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
    Transportation

    GoTo's ride-hailing earnings drop on Indonesia driver commission cap

    Fintech business boosts tech group's profit in July-September quarter

    29 October 2026
    Stream article image
    #techAsia

    Alphabet spells out more AI capex, China+1 doesn't add up

    The inside story on the Asia tech trends that matter, from Nikkei Asia and the Financial Times

    29 October 2026
    The world's largest memory chipmaker said on Oct. 29 that strong demand for its products is expected to continue, driven by accelerating competition to build AI infrastructure and the widespread adoption of personal AI agents.
    Semiconductors

    Samsung posts tech's biggest ever profit with blockbuster third quarter

    Stock still slumps with investors unhappy about AI boom's dividends

    29 October 2026
    Proxima Fusion in Munich is partnering with Japan's Fujikura on a possible manufacturing facility in the German state of Lower Saxony to produce a critical fusion reactor component. (Proxima Fusion)
    Technology

    Google-backed fusion start-up taps Japan to revive German industrial base

    Proxima Fusion chief says companies moving to China over lack of cheap nuclear power

    29 October 2026
    Kasikornbank CEO Kattiya Indaravijaya speaks during an interview in Bangkok. (Photo by Jiro Ose)
    Wealth Management

    Thailand's Kasikornbank taps AI to expand wealth management customer base

    CEO Kattiya says technology can help analyze needs, provide suitable services

    29 October 2026