Middle East

Reviving Thailand's tourism industry will involve reduced dependence on the China market, more arrivals from new markets, and maintaining attention on domestic travelers.
Travel & Leisure

Thai hotels court Indian and local tourists to fill China void

Europeans top returnees but cannot match Arab and Chinese spending

15 June 2022
A man appears to check the cost of cooking oil in a supermarket in Tehran. Surging food prices and other economic challenges are ramping up pressure on Iran's leaders to get nuclear talks with the West back on track. (West Asia News Agency via Reuters) 
Economy

Iran's hopes for economic recovery dashed by IAEA condemnation

In bid to save nuclear deal, spokesperson says all recent actions are 'reversible'

14 June 2022
The apparel industry dumps 92 million tons of textiles a year. The European Union hopes new rules will increase recycling, repair and second-hand retail. (Source photos by Ken Kobayashi and AFP/Jiji)
Business Spotlight

From China to India, Asia braces for EU plan to kill fast fashion

Supply chains may have to shift to recyclable, durable clothes -- with uncertain consequences

10 June 2022
Protesters hold placards demanding the arrest of Nupur Sharma, a spokeswoman for ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, in Mumbai on June 7: Anger spread to the Islamic world.
Opinion

Modi walks a tightrope between Hindu base and Muslim trade partners

India has no desire to jeopardize its growing relationship with the Islamic world

9 June 2022
India, China and Turkey recorded large increases in the numbers of tankers bringing Russian oil. (Source photos by AP and Reuters)
Energy

China, India and Turkey to siphon more Russian oil ahead of EU ban

Extra crude finds eager Asian buyers for now but scale of future demand is uncertain

9 June 2022
The Negev Summit held in Sde Boker, Israel, on March 28: The growing distance between the U.S. and its regional allies was on display.
Opinion

Biden needs to bring the Middle East closer to Asia

U.S. president's July trip to Israel and Persian Gulf offers a prime opportunity

9 June 2022
Ukrainian singer Ruslana gives a concert in the Turkish city of Antalya to support people from her country affected by the war with Russia. (Photo by Anadolu Agency)
Ukraine war

Turkey becomes magnet for Russians and Ukrainians alike

Country has been attracting staff, business from two sides of conflict

8 June 2022
Emirates Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim says the carrier's "fuel-fare charge" is pushing ticket prices up.
Interview

Fuel prices 'way above' what airlines can manage: Emirates exec

Carriers impose surcharges as rising costs threaten recovery

30 May 2022
A "Naruto" exhibit forms part of the Anime Village area at Saudi Arabia's Jeddah Season 2022.
Media & Entertainment

'Demon Slayer' and other anime take stage at Saudi festival

Japanese companies hope to export hits to Middle Eastern market

30 May 2022
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, pictured in Ankara on May 16, is not making his final price clear.
Opinion

West must learn to live with Erdogan the unpredictable

Turkish leader a live rebuke to those who say NATO is forcing everyone to toe its line

26 May 2022
Gas meters are on display at the 26th International Oil Gas Refining and Petrochemical Exhibition 2022 held at the expo center in Tehran on May 14.
Energy

Iran-Russia friendship turns sour over gas rivalry

Cheap supply from Moscow lures Tehran's traditional customers

22 May 2022
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Podcast

Asia Stream: Asia's Inflation Dilemma

Rising prices are hurting wallets across the world. The crisis is particularly bad in Sri Lanka and Turkey, and in Japan, people are facing inflation for the first time in decades.

20 May 2022
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses his ruling party at the Grand National Assembly in Ankara on May 18.
International relations

Turkey blocks start of NATO entry talks for Sweden and Finland

Biden confident about Nordic countries' prospects despite Erdogan's objection

19 May 2022
Greg Norman speaks during a press conference at Centurion Club in St Albans, U.K., on May 11: Norman went on to show a deftness of mind only matched by his swing.
Opinion

Saudi-backed golf tour a reminder that sport is never free of politics

Sporting arenas regularly play host to battles for justice and struggles for soft power

17 May 2022
Women in Kashmir are at risk from unscrupulous agents who lure them overseas with the promise of good jobs.
International relations

Kashmiri women lured to UAE describe labor trafficking 'hellholes'

India, Dubai authorities grapple with flow of people duped by shady agents

15 May 2022
Saudi Arabia accounted for about 18% of Thailand's crude oil imports in value terms for 2021.
Commodities

Saudi Aramco boosts oil exports to Thailand in PTT deal

Energy giants also look to partner on hydrogen and other green tech

14 May 2022
A Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard about 410 km southeast of Seoul. South Korea's relative proximity to the Philippines helped Hyundai edge out Turkey's Asfat in bidding for a Philippine patrol boat contract.
Business trends

Philippines picks South Korea over Turkey for patrol vessels

Deal with Australia's Austal scrapped due to price increase request

9 May 2022
The OPEC+ alliance is expected to ratify plans for a production increase for June of 430,000 barrels a day. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
Commodities

OPEC offers Europe little hope of quitting Russian oil

Cartel set to keep policy of only modest production increases at meeting

5 May 2022
The T129 ATAK, an all-weather attack helicopter developed by Turkish Aerospace, with Philippine pilots alongside at Col. Jesus Villamor Air Base in Manila, Philippines, on April 6. (Anadolu Agency)
International relations

Turkish defense contractors enjoy sales bonanza in Asia

Demand soars for cheap but battle-tested drones, choppers and corvettes

3 May 2022
Ministers attend a joint videoconference about a European data infrastructure project called Gaia-X in Paris in June 2020: The EU wants European data to be stored on European servers.
Opinion

Ukraine war accelerates new era of vertical globalization

Corporations can no longer put profits over politics

25 April 2022
Dubai's Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is described as the largest single-site concentrated solar power plant in the world.
Belt and Road

Shanghai Electric loses $650m on showcase Belt & Road project

State company cites 'inexperience' in overruns on Dubai solar power station

19 April 2022
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Most read in 2022

Turkish-made drones likely involved in Moskva sinking

Ukrainian official says Neptune missile was assisted by 'other equipment'

18 April 2022
The Russian Navy's guided missile cruiser Moskva sails through the Bosporus in Istanbul during June, on its way to the Mediterranean Sea.
Ukraine war

Turkey's grip on Black Sea access hinders Russia after Moskva sinking

Ankara will allow no replacement ships from Moscow to pass, experts say

16 April 2022
Tomatoes for sale at a street market in Istanbul. Turkey's consumers are grappling with surging prices as inflation hit its highest level in 20 years in March.
Finance

Turkey holds key rate at 14% even with inflation at 61%

Bank blames rising prices on external factors, as economists see CPI hitting 70%

14 April 2022
Production in Myanmar's Yadana gas field faces possible disruption as Western operation partners prepare to pull out. (Photo courtesy of PTTEP)
Energy

Russia-Ukraine war prompts PTTEP to produce more oil and gas

Thai exploration arm invests massively to boost profits, secure energy supply

14 April 2022