Middle East

Chinese flight staff pose during a ceremony for Fuzhou Airlines.
Business trends

Pilot shortage hits Asian airlines as passenger traffic surges

Safety concerns rise amid push to get flight trainees quickly airborne

1 June 2019
Muslim students offer prayers during Ramadan in Indonesia. Smartphone notifications that alert people to break their fast have become popular in the country, which has the world's largest Muslim population.
Startups

Asian Muslim tech startups hope to lure Islam's 1.8bn followers

Investors see the potential as internet majors like Google enter market

22 May 2019
The Kharg Island Oil Terminal: Iranian exports are expected to remain locked out of the market for the foreseeable future.
Opinion

Asian crude importers can join hands over Iran sanctions

Opportunity for India and China to launch oil buyers' club after Trump's waiver ban

17 May 2019
Vinay Dube resigned as Jet Airways CEO with immediate effect on Tuesday.
Companies

Jet Airways exodus continues as CEO quits amid stake sale

Second high-profile departure in two days signals more trouble

15 May 2019
Jet Airways planes are seen parked on the tarmac at Chattrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. The struggling carrier has halted all flights.
Business deals

Etihad makes conditional bid ahead of Jet Airways deadline

Abu Dhabi-based carrier says other investors need to step forward

11 May 2019
Fuel pumps at a gas station in Mumbai. More than 10% of India's crude oil imports come from Iran.
International relations

India and Turkey signal uncertainty over Iran oil ban

Importers question whether to follow US sanctions as waivers run out

4 May 2019
Iranian oil exports to four Asian countries including China jumped 36% in March.
Commodities

Asian imports of Iranian oil balloon ahead of full US ban

Beijing expected to battle Washington over Iran sanctions as waivers end

2 May 2019
China takes in about 400,000 barrels of Iranian oil a day, while India imports 300,000 barrels a day, 
International relations

Trump cancels Iran oil waivers granted to major Asia importers

China, India, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan affected, but White House promises supply

23 April 2019
Mubadala's chief executive, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, said the UAE sovereign wealth fund will invest more in Asian tech startups through SoftBank's Vision Fund."
Interview

Abu Dhabi sovereign fund eyes more tech investments in Asia

Mubadala, SoftBank Vision Fund and Microsoft woo startups to Mideast hub

19 April 2019
Jet Airways aircraft sit on the tarmac at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. The Indian airway has grounded all flights as of April 17.
Companies

Jet Airways suspends all flights after cash runs out

Indian carrier's plight deepens as lenders await outcome of bidding

18 April 2019
Carlos Ghosn is pictured with his wife Carole at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
Nissan's Ghosn crisis

Ghosn's wife returns to Tokyo for questioning in misconduct probe

Spotlight on funds passed to company where Carole Ghosn was president

10 April 2019
Former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn speaks in a video released by his defense lawyers on April 9. (Courtesy of Ghosn's legal team)
Nissan's Ghosn crisis

Ghosn warns Nissan will fail after 'dirty game' to oust him

Ex-chairman's video statement released days after he was arrested for the fourth time in Tokyo

9 April 2019
A vehicle believed to be carrying Carlos Ghosn leaves his residence in Tokyo on April 4. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Nissan's Ghosn crisis

Prosecutors arrest Ghosn for fourth time

Ex-Nissan chief calls charges over alleged payment to Omani associate 'outrageous"

4 April 2019
Former Nissan Motor and Renault chief Carlos Ghosn leaves his lawyer's office in Tokyo on March 12. He was arrested in Japan this past November on suspicion of financial improprieties.
Nissan's Ghosn crisis

Renault warns prosecutors of Oman payments under Ghosn

Distributor received millions in suspect dealer incentives, according to automaker

2 April 2019
A woman shows the Careem app in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Dubai-based ride-hailing company has built a large profile across the Middle East.
Business deals

Uber buys rival Careem in $3bn play for Middle East growth

US ride-hailing leader extends reach as IPO nears

27 March 2019
Ethnic Uighur protesters hold East Turkestan and Turkish flags at a demonstration against China in Istanbul last month. Turkey’s government is seeking to integrate its strategically important position between Asia and Europe into China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.
Belt and Road

China ramps up pressure on Turkey over Uighur policy

Ankara balances economic interests against cultural ties with Muslim minority

26 March 2019
People pass through a business district of Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara)
Business deals

Turkey's appliance king chases Asian growth with Bangladesh deal

Arcelik buys Singer for $75m to ready for rising white goods demand

23 March 2019
The Iconsiam shopping mall in Bangkok. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Companies

Thai malls bet $5bn on post-election tourism boom

Siam Piwat and The Mall Group bet they can convert new visitors into big spenders

22 March 2019
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Netanyahu's official residence in Jerusalem on March 21.
Politics

US warns Israel its China deals are risk to intelligence sharing

Pompeo tells key ally that Huawei presents 'real risk'

22 March 2019
Naresh Goyal, chairman of Jet Airways, at a news conference in Mumbai in November 2017
Business deals

Jet Airways lenders seek crisis funding as Etihad bargains hard

State Bank of India chief says resolution plan for airline almost ready

20 March 2019
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, left, and China's Premier Li Keqiang depart after a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 3, 2018. 
Most read in 2019

Pakistan distances itself from China's Belt and Road

Islamabad diverts $171m from CPEC to fund projects legislators want

20 March 2019
The Tokyo District Court rejected an appeal filed by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors' Office asking the court to reverse its decision to grant bail to Carlos Ghosn. (Photo by Hiroshi Tamehiro)
Nissan's Ghosn crisis

Ghosn to be released after months in detention

Former Nissan chairman to leave jail as soon as Wednesday after paying $9m bail

6 March 2019
Vingroup's Vsmart phone is assembled at a plant in Hai Phong, Vietnam, in December 2018. REUTERS/Kham
Companies

Vingroup invests in global R&D network to accelerate shift to tech

Vietnam property company launches S Korea facility, with additional plans in US, China, Israel

5 March 2019
Former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn was granted bail by a Tokyo court on March 5.
Nissan's Ghosn crisis

Ghosn granted bail on third request

Tokyo prosecutors' last-ditch appeal only thing standing in way

5 March 2019
Fruit is one of Turkey's chief exports to Japan, but Ankara faces tougher competition after Tokyo's tariff-reducing trade deal with the European Union.
International relations

Japan eyes June trade deal with Turkey

Tokyo's EU pact pushes Ankara to seek level playing field with Europe

5 March 2019