Politics

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's abhorrence of high interest rates resulted in close to 15% inflation in 2020.
Asia Insight

Erdogan swallows 'bitter pills' as inflation again rocks Turkey

Architect of past growth blasts president for letting currency slide and cash flee

16 March 2021
Rafael Grossi, the International Atomic Energy Agency's director-general, speaks to Nikkei at IAEA headquarters in Vienna on March 12. (Photo by Markus Igel)
Interview

Iran uranium enrichment nears critical level: IAEA chief

Rafael Grossi says more robust inspections needed as US tries diplomacy

14 March 2021
A prototype of the Altay tank for which Turkey is hoping to develop and build with the help of South Korean companies. 
Aerospace & Defense Industries

Turkey turns to South Korean companies to help build battle tank

Ankara seeks new partners in arms production as the West and Japan block sales

12 March 2021
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif looks on during a meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi in Tehran.
International relations

Japan urges Iran to take 'constructive approach' to Biden overtures

Tokyo's strong ties with Tehran and Washington could give it role in deal

11 March 2021
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, pictured in September 2018: she would be loath to trigger passionate sentiments among religious factions.
Opinion

Is Bangladesh moving to normalize relations with Israel?

Increased cooperation offers clear benefits for both countries

1 March 2021
U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday directed U.S. military airstrikes in eastern Syria against facilities belonging to what the Pentagon said were Iran-backed militia. 
Iran tensions

US launches airstrikes against Iranian-backed militia in Syria

Pentagon spokesman says Biden will 'act to protect American and Coalition personnel'

26 February 2021
Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and Prime Minister Imran Khan. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are finding more areas of common interest, like Arabian Sea security.
International relations

Pakistan efforts to mend fences with Saudi-led bloc bear fruit

Islamabad also maintains strong ties with counter-alliance of Turkey and Iran

22 February 2021
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing speaks during a Feb. 3 meeting. (MRTV/Handout via REUTERS) 
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar junta targets sweeping data access with cybersecurity bill

Telecoms face content and service controls, and civil groups cite privacy threat

12 February 2021
Israel Defense Forces personnel conduct epidemiological investigations at the Corona Task Force Headquarters in Ramle -- part of the IDF's COVID-19 response, which also includes a data-gathering "Knowledge Center."
Coronavirus

Israel military minds aid COVID battle and rapid vaccine rollout

IDF intelligence-led project soaks up knowledge as Asia plays catch-up

10 February 2021
A South Korean-flagged tanker that was seized by Iran is seen in the Persian Gulf off the Iranian coast on Jan. 4.
Iran tensions

South Korea and Iran remain split over tanker seizure issue

Seoul caught between pressures from Washington and Tehran

6 February 2021
Iranian Revolutionary Guard boats escort a South Korea-flagged tanker. Iran is trying to strong-arm Joe Biden into returning to the negotiation table.
Comment

Iran challenges Biden with South Korea tanker seizure

US sanctions spark game of brinkmanship that risks spiraling out of control

24 January 2021
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu receives his second dose of the coronavirus vaccine on Jan. 9.
Coronavirus

Israel sprints ahead with COVID vaccines as Asia seeks faster jabs

World-leading pace fueled by universal care, big data and political urgency

19 January 2021
Bekir Bozdag, then Turkey’s justice minister, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi sign the extradition treaty in May 2017, with Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Xi Jinping presiding.
International relations

Turkey accused of trading Uighurs for Chinese vaccine

Sinovac shots begin after delays, stirring suspicion of 'under the table' deal

14 January 2021
A Pakistani sentry at the Angoor Adda outpost on the border of South Waziristan with Afghanistan. 
Belt and Road

Pakistani militants against Belt and Road targeted in Afghanistan

Killings of separatist sympathizers among Baloch 'refugees' rise in Kandahar

9 January 2021
The South Korean-flagged Hankuk Chemi was seized Jan. 4 in waters off Oman with 20 crew members on board.
International relations

Iran sends warning to US friends with South Korea tanker seizure

Seoul weighs using frozen assets to purchase vaccines for Tehran

7 January 2021
The South Korean-flagged tanker seized by Iran is seen on Jan. 4 in this picture supplied by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps via Iran's West Asia News Agency.
International relations

South Korean vice minister to seek tanker's release on Iran visit

Seoul sends special forces to Strait of Hormuz amid tensions over frozen billions

5 January 2021
Human rights activist Le Van Dun, right, livestreams on Facebook in a coffee shop in Hanoi.
Technology

Asia dilemma: social networks pressed by Turkey and Vietnam to censor critics

YouTube and Facebook weigh reputation damage of bowing to repressive governments

3 January 2021
In an interview with Nikkei Asia, SOCAR's vice president said "there are no obstacles left to build new pipelines in the Caspian Sea." (Source photos by Reuters and AP)
International relations

Azerbaijan readies gas for EU as Central Asia energy hopes soar

Caspian output to reach Europe while Turkmenistan eyes supplier role, SOCAR says

30 December 2020
Pakistan's rickety old rail network, much of it dating from British colonial times, is one of the stumbling blocks to better rail connections between West and East Asia. 
Belt and Road

Turkey, Iran, Pakistan rail link to China's Belt and Road

Oriental express service for the 21st century connecting West Asia to China

29 December 2020
Biden has suggested three agenda items for his summit: fighting corruption, anti-authoritarianism, and human rights.
Opinion

Asia's wise heads are wrong to dismiss Biden's big idea

President-elect's democracy push is worth considering

9 December 2020
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had not earned the wrath of Gulf states when he attended this investment conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in October 2018.
International relations

Pakistanis pay price as Islamabad joins Turkey-Iran-Malaysia bloc

UAE blocks key source of income as it refuses to issue work visas to Pakistanis

4 December 2020
Tanks at Japanese refiner Eneos' Kiire storage yard in southern Japan will be used as an oil reserve. (Photo courtesy of Eneos)
Energy

Japan and Kuwait build 3m barrel oil reserve for Southeast Asia

Tanks on Japanese soil meant to keep companies running during supply disruption

2 December 2020
Police investigate the scene of the attack that killed prominent Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, outside Tehran, on Nov. 27.
International relations

Tensions rise after killing of suspected Iran nuclear mastermind

Tehran points finger at Israel and vows to 'strike as thunder' at killer

28 November 2020
Greece, Cyprus and Israel intend to connect their power grids in a way advocates say might foster the use of renewable energy. (Source photos by Reuters) 
International relations

Anti-Turkey alliance runs through Europe-Asia electricity link

Greece, Cyprus and Israel intend to plug in as China cash raises EU eyebrows

25 November 2020
U.S. President Donald Trump, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and South Korean President Moon Jae-in are seen on a screen before the start of the virtual G-20 meeting hosted by Saudi Arabia.
International relations

G-20 to 'spare no effort' for equitable COVID-19 vaccine access

Pandemic and its economic impact at the center of two-day summit

23 November 2020