Middle East

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, left, and Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo wave to journalists at the presidential palace near Jakarta on May 23.
24 May 2023
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses supporters in Istanbul on May 18: No one should ever underestimate his skills as a campaigner.
Opinion

Turkish voters have forgiven government for incompetence, neglect

Erosion of middle-class living standards due to inflation shrugged off

22 May 2023
Leaders from the second summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation pose for a "family photo" in Jaipur, India, in August 2015. (Photo by NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Your Week in Asia

India-Pacific summit, Russian PM to China, Future of Asia event

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

21 May 2023
An official in Istanbul counts a vote on the day of Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14. 
Turkey elections

Turkey election in close race as Erdogan's fate watched

Vote counts for president, parliament continue as potential May 28 runoff looms

15 May 2023
Japan's consulate-general in Dubai hosted a shiitake mushroom tasting event in February. (Photo by Shuntaro Fukutomi)
Food & Beverage

Japanese cuisine gains fans in Middle East, buoyed by halal options

Increased access to affordable restaurants in region spurs food exports

15 May 2023
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, left, is battling his toughest re-election campaign against Kemal Kilicdaroglu. (Source photos by Reuters) 
Turkey elections

Turkey's Erdogan trails rival in toughest re-election battle yet

Too early to write off longtime leader after past victories, observers caution

13 May 2023
Some 64 million Turks are eligible to vote on Sunday, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, vying to beat key rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu. (Source photos by Reuters)
Turkey elections

Turkey heads to polls in landmark elections: 5 things to know

President Erdogan faces toughest battle of 20-year rule in tight leadership race

12 May 2023
Turkish citizens cast ballots for the May 14 parliamentary and presidential elections at the Turkish Consulate in Berlin on April 27. Germany is home to around 1.5 million Turkish voters, making it the equivalent of a large province.
Politics

Overseas Turks emerge as critical voice in tight presidential race

More voters abroad head out to early voting for Sunday's election

10 May 2023
A container ship moored at Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The U.S. seeks to create a major transport network that connects the Middle East with India.
International relations

U.S. eyes Mideast-India transport network to counter China

Saudi Arabia joins talks with Washington following Beijing-brokered detente with Iran

10 May 2023
The United Arab Emirates will host the COP28 summit in Dubai in November.
Opinion

2023 climate talks can deliver better results with more preparation

UAE should aim to shift focus of U.N. process from negotiation to action

9 May 2023
Emirates Airline Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim says travel demand from Asia is outstripping supply.  (Photo courtesy of Emirates Airline)
Travel & Leisure

Emirates bets on strong China demand after COVID opening

Gulf airline aims for full capacity by next March as Asia travel appetite grows

8 May 2023
Turkish presidential candidate and opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu speaks at a rally in the central Anatolian city of Nigde on May 4. 
Interview

Erdogan rival Kilicdaroglu vows to restore trust in Turkey

Candidate promises to normalize economic policy, pursue 'balanced' foreign policy

7 May 2023
Election posters on display in Bangkok ahead of polls on May 14, when more than 52m Thais will cast their votes to elect 400 constituent MPs and 100 party MPs to the lower house. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Your Week in Asia

Australia budget, ASEAN summit, Thailand and Turkey elections

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

7 May 2023
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, presidential candidate of Turkey's main opposition alliance, addresses supporters in Izmir on April 30. (Handout via Reuters)
Opinion

Economic turmoil has created an opening for Turkey's opposition

Nation Alliance needs to convince voters it has better solutions than Erdogan

2 May 2023
The golden mask of Pharaoh Tutankhamen is seen on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. It will be moved to the new Grand Egyptian Museum later this year.
Travel & Leisure

King Tut gets new home to help welcome Chinese tourists

Tomb relics to be center of attention at Grand Egyptian Museum

30 April 2023
The TCG Anadolu, a multipurpose amphibious assault ship, is seen in Istanbul on April 18. The timing of the ship's debut, coming mere weeks ahead of a presidential election, is no coincidence.
Politics

Erdogan's defense-heavy campaign shows off new 'drone carrier'

Turkish president wants voters to focus on muscle, not economy

22 April 2023
Many international students are drawn to universities in emerging countries due to lower tuitions and expanding job opportunities.
Datawatch

Foreign students flock to Global South for jobs, low fees

Overseas applicants rise sharply at universities in Argentina, Turkey, India

22 April 2023
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces a close re-election race after two decades in office.
Turkey elections

Turkey's Erdogan touts accomplishments ahead of tight election

Pro-Western rival Kilicdaroglu holds narrow lead in poll

15 April 2023
PTT's net-zero strategy fits with the Thai government's targets of carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2065.
Energy

Thailand's PTT to invest $7bn in green hydrogen with Saudi firm

State oil giant aims for decarbonization and diplomatic healing at the same time

11 April 2023
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, center, talks to members of the U-20 national soccer team at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta on April 1. 
Politics

Indonesia U-20 World Cup cancellation sparks political backlash

Potential Jokowi successor's anti-Israel rhetoric targeted for blame

11 April 2023
Direct reduced iron can be used in blast furnaces, reducing their coal consumption.
Commodities

Kobe Steel, Mitsui partner on low-CO2 iron processing in Oman

Plant would be among world's largest for greener feedstock amid decarbonization push

11 April 2023
Security forces guard the entrance to Pakistan's Chinese-built Gwadar Port in 2018. Separatists in Balochistan have targeted Chinese interests. (Photo by Getty Images) 
Terrorism

Pakistan's arrest of anti-China militant felt from Beijing to Tehran

Islamabad aims to secure Belt and Road as it vows new campaign against terror

10 April 2023
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, left, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hold a joint press conference in Ankara in November 2022.
International relations

Turkey likely to accept Sweden NATO entry after elections: analysts

Earthquake changes calculus, with Ankara needing better ties with West

6 April 2023
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang shake hands during a meeting in Beijing.
International relations

Top Iranian, Saudi envoys meet in China after 7-year hiatus

Bitter rivals take part in Beijing-brokered talks aimed at ending hostilities

6 April 2023
Iraq plans to lower oil output by 211,000 barrels per day alongside coordinated cuts by other producers.
Energy

OPEC+ to cut oil output, signaling clear break with U.S.

Move meant to lift prices and shore up oil producing nations' finances

4 April 2023