Middle East

Carlos Ghosn, above, and attorney Junichiro Hironaka (Nikkei montage)
Nissan's Ghosn crisis

Ghosn lawyers propose camera surveillance to secure bail

Defense team calls prolonged incarceration of ex-Nissan chairman 'extremely unfair'

4 March 2019
Novatek's first Arctic liquefied natural gas plant, on Russia's Yamal Peninsula, began operating in 2017. The company is seeking Japanese support for the second.
International relations

Russia's Arctic LNG project aims to tempt fuel-hungry Japan

US shale revolution spurs Moscow to look east for new markets

4 March 2019
The Saudi Crown Prince meets Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on his recent visit to New Delhi, Islamabad and Beijing.
Opinion

Asia's energy importers must beware of bringing in Middle East tensions

Saudi foreign investment plans, including in Pakistan, India and China, risk provoking Iran

27 February 2019
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, right, speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, during their summit in Beijing on Feb. 22.
International relations

Saudi prince cozies up to Xi as US pressures both

Countries cement $10bn deal to build petrochemical complex in China

23 February 2019
A Jet Airways-operated Boeing 737. Financial troubles have forced the airline to halt payments to some aircraft leasing companies.
Companies

Jet Airways shareholders approve bank-led rescue

Debt-for-equity swap eases cash crunch while search for longer-term investor continues

23 February 2019
Qatar's Energy Minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi.
Interview

Qatar well-positioned to meet Asian LNG demand, minister says

Gulf nation bullish on upping gas production and remains doubtful of renewables

21 February 2019
Godiva's Japanese business spans 300 locations, including this store in Tokyo.
Business deals

Godiva sells Asia business to South Korea's MBK for $1bn

Private equity firm wins drawn-out bidding war for chocolatier

21 February 2019
Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrive ahead of their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Feb. 20.
International relations

Saudi prince talks $100bn investment during India visit

Indian official lauds 'tremendous opportunities' in the South Asian economy

21 February 2019
According to the credit rating agency, the recovery will be supported by the financing demand for fiscal deficit and scheduled refinancing of Islamic bonds. 
Money market

Global Islamic bond issuance to hit record in 2020, Moody's says

Indebted governments of Muslim-majority nations to drive market past $93bn mark

19 February 2019
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, right, greets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Khan government has built a relationship of mutual support with Riyadh.
International relations

Saudi crown prince plots diplomatic comeback with Pakistan aid

Mohammed bin Salman plays to friendly crowds to move past Khashoggi scandal

19 February 2019
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
International relations

India's Modi set to ask visiting Saudi prince for cheaper oil

New Delhi may sidestep Khashoggi murder in hopes of infrastructure investment

16 February 2019
People walk under Chinese flags in the Old City in Kashgar in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.
International relations

Turkey calls China's Uighur detentions 'shame for humanity'

Dispute over poet's reported death puts Belt and Road projects at risk

13 February 2019
Masayoshi Son speaks during a joint announcement with Toyota Motor Corp. to make new venture to develop mobility services in Tokyo, Japan, October 4, 2018. 
Companies

SoftBank's Son leaves open question of succession

Contenders wait in wings as CEO says he isn't ready to retire

12 February 2019
Carlos Ghosn and his wife Carole in Cannes, France in 2017
Nissan's Ghosn crisis

Renault alerts prosecutors over Ghosn-Versailles deal

Ex-chairman held his own wedding at palace four months after sponsorship signing

8 February 2019
The Big Bad Wolf book fair has toured cities in eight countries in Asia. (Photo by Yuichi Nitta)  
Business trends

Affordable English-language bookseller arrives in Myanmar

Yangon fair marks eighth country for Big Bad Wolf Books after Thailand and Philippines

7 February 2019
A gas rig operated in the Gulf of Thailand by state-owned PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP).
Companies

Thai oil major PTTEP wins first Mideast foothold with UAE deal

Partnership with Italy's Eni seeks to boost profitability

5 February 2019
India's oil demand recovered strongly in 2018, due in part to strong sales of commerical vehicles. (Photo by Mamoru Yago)
Economy

India to outpace China in increasing oil demand, report says

New Delhi says it will keep importing Iranian oil despite looming US sanctions

3 February 2019
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
International relations

Saudi crown prince plays Asia card amid Western criticism

Regional energy tour aimed at countering Western criticism over Khashoggi murder

30 January 2019
China has poured huge amounts of money into developing the port of Gwadar, a key hub in its China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, but Pakistan has now opened the door for Saudi investment in an oil refinery in the area, stoking tensions.
International relations

Saudi investment in Pakistan stokes tensions with China

Riyadh's billion dollar refinery projects in Gwadar seen irking Beijing

28 January 2019
China, Russia and Turkey have been buying gold to replace U.S. Treasury bonds as they look to reduce their reliance on the dollar.
Commodities

China builds up gold reserves in shift away from dollar

Currency weakness and tensions with US spur moves to diversify

24 January 2019
Naresh Goyal, chairman of Jet Airways, speaks during a news conference in Mumbai in November 2017.
Companies

Lenders of India's Jet Airways delay decision on Etihad bailout

UAE airline proposes to buy shares at steep discount

17 January 2019
Japanese oil distributors plan to resume imports of Iranian oil using an exemption that the U.S. government agreed to in November.
International relations

Japan to restart importing Iranian oil

Exemption from US sanctions allows banks to handle transactions temporarily

15 January 2019
Motonari Otsuru, right, chief lawyer for former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn, holds a news conference in Tokyo on Jan. 8. (Photo by Kaisuke Ota)
Nissan's Ghosn crisis

Ghosn could spend extra months behind bars, lawyer fears

Defense says 'no reason' for detention, asks for Nissan ex-chairman's release

8 January 2019
SoftBank has reportedly scaled back plans to invest as much as $16 billion in WeWork. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Business deals

SoftBank's lavish tech bets under scrutiny amid market turmoil

Son reins in WeWork investment after $30bn in new deals for 2018

8 January 2019
A key question is whether U.S. shale production can offset planned cuts by OPEC and others, said Daniel Yergin in a recent interview. (Photo by Shihoko Nakaoka)
Interview

Oil to hover in $60 to $80 range in 2019, says analyst Yergin

India looks particularly promising as investment market for the industry

6 January 2019