Russia & Caucasus

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, left, visits a fish-processing plant during a July 26 trip to the island of Iturup -- known as Etorofu in Japan -- in the disputed "Northern Territories."
The Nikkei View

Russian premier's visit to 'Northern Territories' unacceptable

Tokyo should assess Moscow's true intentions for disputed islands

28 July 2021
The Chinese city of Heihe as seen from Blagoveshchensk, Russia: The area was once a flashpoint for tensions between the giant neighbors. (Photo by Tatiana Simes)
International relations

Russian gateway to China eyes 'friendship' dividends after COVID

Backed by 20-year-old treaty, Blagoveshchensk banks on tourism and export boom

22 July 2021
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, talks to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in June 2019 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
International relations

Russia warms to Pakistan after three decades of cold ties

Moscow seeks new energy markets and to reclaim turf in geostrategic backyard

20 July 2021
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attend a summit in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on July 16. Afghanistan's neighbors are calling for greater economic assistance to the country.
17 July 2021
Russia, the leading arms supplier to Southeast Asia, is also promising COVID-19 vaccines and pushing other cooperation.
Asia Insight

Guns and jabs: Russia courts ASEAN caught between US and China

Arms sales and COVID vaccines help Moscow punch above economic weight

13 July 2021
Food delivery group Zomato is one of the most popular services in India. It has upsized its IPO target by 14% to $1.26 billion. (Photo by Rie Ishii)
Your Week in Asia

Zomato IPO, China GDP and Tokyo's new state of emergency

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

11 July 2021
A cyberattack on infrastructure can plunge a country into a crisis. 
Comment

In age of cyberwar, Japan's pacifist charter could spell defeat

Legal limits leave Tokyo's hands tied against threats to infrastructure

8 July 2021
A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer sails in formation during the Sea Breeze 2020 multinational maritime exercise, co-hosted by Ukraine and the U.S., in the Black Sea on July 25, 2020. Japan and Australia are participating this year.
Interview

Pentagon official touts NATO-Asia cooperation amid China threat

Europe policy director notes 'common security challenges' with Beijing and Russia

1 July 2021
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, second from left, sparred with top U.S. officials at a March meeting in Alaska.
International relations

China avoids repeat of Alaska clash with US at G-20

Blinken and Wang skip one-on-one while Beijing courts Russia

29 June 2021
The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world.
Climate Change

Unfrozen world: Arctic thaw becomes major source of global risk

From resource conflicts to reanimated microbes, threats emerge at top of the world

28 June 2021
Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing will attend an international security conference while in Moscow.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar junta chief woos Russia with Moscow trip

Min Aung Hlaing seeks stronger partnership to combat global rebuke

22 June 2021
Myanmar's military is assured of Russian support despite the much-maligned coup in February.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar general's visit to Russia keeps arms flowing to junta

Moscow defies West by rolling out welcome mat to leaders of coup

17 June 2021
Eugene Kaspersky, CEO of Kaspersky Lab, said the number of new computer viruses detected has increased over 20% since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
Interview

War on cybercrime demands global campaign: Kaspersky CEO

Russian security expert warns of Chinese-speaking hackers' attacks on Japan

16 June 2021
The BAM railway, also known as the "second Trans-Siberian Railway," is a major route connecting Europe and Asia.
Transportation

Russia uses military to modernize Far East railway

Prison labor also an option to offset lack of foreign workers amid COVID

13 June 2021
Diplomatic isolation has forced Putin into China's arms.
Opinion

Putin's Russia is a trap China should avoid

Strongman leaders get a lot worse after a decade in power

13 June 2021
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in Saint Petersburg, Russia on June 4.
5 June 2021
Joint Russian-Tajik drills near the Afghanistan border: Moscow has sought to strengthen its 201st military base in Tajikistan, its largest facility in Central Asia.
International relations

Russia fortifies Central Asia military clout before US Afghan exit

Moscow plays up terrorism but experts see possible American bases as motivator

27 May 2021
Stream article image
Indo-Pacific

Killer robots need ethical rules, US and Chinese analysts agree

Prospect of robots run amok raises thorny questions of accountability

27 May 2021
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet in Moscow on Feb. 24: They are due to meet again in Sochi.
International relations

Fresh off gold mine seizure, Kyrgyzstan president heads for Russia

Problems pile up for Japarov as Tajik border dispute simmers after deadly clashes

24 May 2021
Foreign ministers of the eight-member Arctic Council adopted a strategic plan May 20 to promote sustainable development in the region. These nations include the U.S. and Russia, while Japan and China hold observer status. 
International relations

Arctic Council adopts first strategic vision for High North

But economic development expected to spark disputes over maritime routes

21 May 2021
Twenty five F-35A Lightning IIs assemble on the flight line prior to taking off during an exercise at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska on April 7. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Air Force)
International relations

Russia calls for military meeting of Arctic states as tensions rise

Lavrov proposes gathering of general staffs of the eight countries.

21 May 2021
Cooling towers of a Czech nuclear power plant with Soviet-developed reactors. The four reactors under construction in China are being made with Russian technology.
Energy

China breaks ground on Russian-designed nuclear reactors

Xi and Putin tout partnership ahead of G-7 summit as US pressure mounts

20 May 2021
Russian nuclear submarines surfaced through the Arctic ice during drills in late March. (Photo courtesy of Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
International relations

US, Russia and China seek edge as battle for Arctic heats up

Washington and Moscow butt heads over drills as China eyes new Silk Road branch

19 May 2021
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken boards a U.S. government plane as he departs from Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 6. (Photo courtesy of the State Department)
International relations

Blinken heads north for unusually long 5-day Arctic tour

Bilateral meeting with Russia's Lavrov to pave way for Biden-Putin summit

15 May 2021
As the coronavirus exacerbates the so-called twin deficit in the U.S., the dollar may be starting to lose its draw as a reserve currency.
Currencies

US dollar loses shine as reserve currency for emerging economies

Washington's growing deficit drives central banks to euro, yen and gold

8 May 2021