Korea's first auto plant in 23 years opens as 'half-wage factory'

SEOUL -- For the first time in 23 years, a new auto plant has begun operating in South Korea. The facility will be operated by Gwangju Global Motors (GGM), a newly established company led by the city government of Gwangju in the southwest. It was created with capital from Hyundai Motor and others, and will specialize in the contract manufacturing of small cars. Gwangju wants to attract industry and create jobs, and Hyundai was looking for a plant to which it could outsource production at low cost.


Coronavirus latest: India logs fewest cases in over 9 months

Nikkei Asia is tracking the spread of the coronavirus that was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

Cumulative global cases have reached 253,793,246 according to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The worldwide death toll has hit 5,106,342.

For more information about the spread of COVID-19 and vaccination progress around the world, please see our interactive charts and maps.

-- Global coronavirus tracker charts

-- Status of vaccinations around the

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Sea expands globally with European e-commerce, U.S. investment

SINGAPORE -- Singaporean tech group Sea is expanding its footprint in Europe, India and the U.S., drawing investor attention as a rare example of a Southeast Asian digital player that has gone global.


U.K. 'on track' to join CPTPP by 2022, trade official says

HO CHI MINH CITY -- The U.K. made headway on e-commerce and procurement discussions with members of an 11-country Pacific trade bloc, putting it "on track" to reach a post-Brexit dream of joining the CPTPP next year, a top U.K. trade official told Nikkei Asia.


China cram schools drop core tutoring programs amid crackdown

DALIAN, China -- As Beijing's sweeping new ban on for-profit tutoring and test-preparation services takes hold, two publicly traded industry leaders will shut down their mainstay operations and look elsewhere to stay afloat.


Coronavirus latest: China daily cases ease under zero-tolerance policy

Nikkei Asia is tracking the spread of the coronavirus that was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

Cumulative global cases have reached 253,793,246 according to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The worldwide death toll has hit 5,106,342.

For more information about the spread of COVID-19 and vaccination progress around the world, please see our interactive charts and maps.

-- Global coronavirus tracker charts

-- Status of vaccinations around the

Continue reading...

Xi and Biden begin virtual summit to establish 'guardrails' of relationship

NEW YORK -- U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping kicked off their first virtual summit on Monday evening U.S. time (Tuesday morning Asia time), waving to each other once they saw one another on the TV screen.


Small world no longer: Disney+ turns to Asia as growth stagnates

PALO ALTO, U.S. -- Propelled by a die-hard fan base and demand for stay-at-home entertainment during the coronavirus pandemic, Disney+ has solidified its standing among the world's top streaming services over the two years since its launch.


Labor crunch sends Japan restaurant pay to record high

TOKYO -- Japan's economic reopening has driven restaurants offering new part-time hires the most generous wages on record, as the latest industry figures show.


Wong Kar-wai masterpiece restores Hong Kong's mood for love

HONG KONG -- The rediscovery of Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai's languid masterpiece "In the Mood for Love" has provided some much-needed romance for a world -- and an international film industry -- blighted by COVID these past 20 months.