Middle East

Not since 2002, when Japan and South Korea jointly hosted the World Cup, have both countries played on the same night seeking a place among the last eight teams of the tournament. 
Sports

Japan and South Korea savor biggest World Cup night in 20 years

Bars and restaurants prepare to serve fans in early hours

5 December 2022
Leaders gather in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Nov. 11 for the 9th Heads of States Summit of Organization of Turkic States.
International relations

Turkic world sees 'risks and opportunities' as Russia stumbles

Turkey, EU, China seek to make inroads into Central Asia and the Caucasus

30 November 2022
Indonesian Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia at a news conference in Jakarta on Jan. 7: His country aims to build an OPEC-like organization to control trade in nickel, cobalt and manganese.
Opinion

Asia's middle powers are building new regional order

Loose minilateral groupings are helping address specific problems

27 November 2022
U.S. President Joe Biden hosted a meeting on Nov. 16 in Bali, Indonesia, with NATO and EU leaders to discuss a response to a missile blast in Poland. Turkey was not included. 
Comment

Did Biden snub Erdogan in Bali, or forget Turkey is part of NATO?

Ankara's balancing act is headache for Washington, but geography matters

26 November 2022
Fatih Tutak, owner-chef of the Michelin two-starred TURK Fatih Tutak in Instanbul, says his current success is the culmination of 16 years of restaurant experience in Asia. (Courtesy of TURK Fatih Tutak) 
Life

Istanbul star-struck as first Michelin Guide is launched

Local restaurants set sights on post-pandemic gastro-tourists

25 November 2022
England's Harry Kane wears a rainbow armband as he takes a knee prior to a Euro 2020 soccer championship round at Wembley Stadium in England.
Sports

FIFA threat makes World Cup teams abandon 'One Love' armbands

Players wearing anti-discrimination symbol would be shown yellow cards

22 November 2022
Central banks appear to be snapping up gold, but the identity of some of the biggest buyers is not clear.
Commodities

China thought to be stockpiling gold to cut greenback dependence

Buying of metal is at its fastest pace since the 1960s

22 November 2022
Ministers deliver statements during the closing plenary at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt on Nov. 20.
COP27

From landmark fund to emissions frustrations: 5 takeaways from COP27

World's biggest climate conference went deep into overtime

21 November 2022
Park Ji-sung in action against Portugal in June 2002: After South Korea's electrifying World Cup showing, the midfielder became a household name around the world.
Opinion

Asia should make the most of the return of World Cup

2002 tournament had tremendous impact on game's development in region

19 November 2022
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, left, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Jan. 25. The two are ushering in a new chapter in bilateral relations. (Saudi Royal Palace via AP)
International relations

Saudi crown prince visits Thailand, mending ties after 30-year rift

Mohammed bin Salman to seek clean energy and EV supply cooperation

18 November 2022
Larger than life: South Korean forward Son Heung-min adorns a skyscraper in Doha ahead of the FIFA World Cup, hosted by Qatar this year.
Business Spotlight

Why Asia Inc. is rushing to sponsor the Qatar World Cup

Concerns over human rights take back seat to reaching global audience

18 November 2022
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 CEO Nasser Al Khater: "Qatar is a trailblazer in the region."
Sports

World Cup Qatar chief says event will benefit Gulf region

CEO seeks to dispel concern over country's LGBTQ policy, migrant worker rights

18 November 2022
An image of Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is seen in a welcome advertisement in Seoul on Nov. 16. The desert kingdom's de facto ruler is visiting South Korea.
Business deals

Saudi Arabia inks deals with Samsung, Hyundai and other companies

Crown prince discusses NEOM smart-city project, defense with South Korea's leader

17 November 2022
Containers at Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi. An uptick in political engagement between key Asian and Gulf economies noted by experts is expected to result in tangible deals that will drive trade growth.
Trade

Saudi and Gulf state trade with emerging Asia to rise 60% by 2030

U.K. think tank says 'uptick in political engagement' boosts economic ties

7 November 2022
In a scene from “The Football Aficionado,” Zahra Khoshnavaz takes a selfie outside Tehran’s Azadi Stadium. The arena’s name means “freedom.” (Courtesy of Busan International Film Festival)
Arts

Tale of defiant Iranian female soccer fan echoes Tehran protests

'The Football Aficionado' wins best Asian documentary at Busan film festival

7 November 2022
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman seeks to diversify his country's oil-dependent economy.
Automobiles

Apple supplier Foxconn partners with Saudi wealth fund to build EVs

Ceer will license BMW technology for cars scheduled to roll out in 2025

4 November 2022
A drone believed to be an Iranian-made Shahed-136 flies over Kyiv in October.
Ukraine war

Ukraine war becomes showcase for military drone tech

Reported supply to Russia shows Iran's ability to work around sanctions, but may not last

3 November 2022
A newspaper with a cover picture of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by the Islamic Republic's "morality police" is seen in Tehran on Sept. 18. 
Society

Iran protests about more than women's rights

Citizens frustrated with decades of repression, economic misery

31 October 2022
Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh will host the 27th annual United Nations climate change conference (COP27) from Nov. 6 to 18.
Your Week in Asia

Vietnam leader in China, Hong Kong investment summit, COP 27

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

30 October 2022
A police motorcycle burns during a protest in Tehran on Sept. 19, left, while people relax on a street near the ocean on the Iranian island of Kish on Oct. 17. (Source photos by Reuters and Tala Taslimi) 
Iran tensions

Alternative realities and uncertain times in Iran

A Nikkei reporter describes her life in the country during a period of unrest

25 October 2022
An LNG tanker arrives in Japan. A colder-than-expected winter could further tighten the world's gas market. (File photo by Kyodo)
Market Spotlight

Scramble for LNG brings winter risks for Asia

Supplies and storage levels look adequate for now but concerns remain for 2023

24 October 2022
Stream article image
Podcast

Asia Stream: Iranians vs. the Islamic Republic: Who Will Win?

Iran's protests are over a month old. Will they lead to regime change?

19 October 2022
XPeng Aeroht, the largest flying car company in Asia and an affiliate of Chinese electric-vehicle maker XPeng, conducts the first flight of its electric flying car, the XPENG X2, at Skydive Dubai.
Interview

UAE open to China AI despite U.S. concerns: minister

Al Olama says 'no country is given an advantage'

15 October 2022
The Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, in this Sept. 29 photo. The country has been criticized for its treatment of migrant construction workers who built World Cup facilities.
Sports

Qatar and FIFA brace for on-pitch World Cup human rights protests

National associations plan to take stances, but guidelines remain unclear

15 October 2022
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet on the sidelines of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia on Oct. 13.
Energy

Putin suggests Turkey become regional 'gas hub' to Europe

Russian president pitches Erdogan on new pipeline to increase energy flows

14 October 2022