Politics

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
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
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
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
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
Scott Morrison's first trip overseas as Australian Prime Minister was to neighboring Indonesia in August.
International relations

Australia's canceled Israel embassy move shows country's Asian concerns

Government buckles amid backlash from Muslim-majority Indonesia and Malaysia

5 January 2019
The Indonesian rupiah was one of many Asian currencies that tumbled during the year, at one point hitting its lowest rate against the U.S. dollar in 20 years.
2018 in review

Emerging Asia challenged by slumping currencies throughout the year

Fed rate hikes and US-China trade war send value against greenback to new lows

30 December 2018
The government's probe into alleged corruption in a gas deal the previous administration signed with Qatar could backfire if much-needed imports are halted.
International relations

Pakistan's probe into Qatar gas deal risks worsening power cuts

PM Khan caught between pledge to rid corruption and country's energy needs

26 December 2018
Qatar is planning an ambitious new initiative with Malaysia and Turkey to serve the $2 trillion global Islamic finance market.
Economy

Qatar partners Malaysia, Turkey to conquer Islamic finance market

Gas-rich Gulf state aims to escape blockade by diversifying economy

22 December 2018
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison delivers a speech at the Sydney Institute on Saturday.
International relations

Australia recognizes West Jerusalem as Israeli capital

Prime minister says embassy will not move until city's status is settled

16 December 2018
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, and Turkey's then-Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan shake hands after agreeing to deepen cooperation in nuclear power generation in Istanbul in October 2013.
Economy

Japan to scrap Turkey nuclear project

Post-Fukushima safety measures doubled costs for Mitsubishi and partners

4 December 2018
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been making the rounds of "friendly countries" to seek a way out of economic turmoil. (Getty Images)
Economy

Pakistan turns to 'friends' after failing to secure IMF bailout

Analysts say Saudi and Chinese billions will not restore country's credibility

21 November 2018
U.S. President Donald Trump aims to squeeze Tehran while minimizing the effects on the American economy.
International relations

Japan, India and China among 8 exempt from Iran oil ban, US says

Trump reinstates all sanctions that were lifted by Obama in 2015 deal

6 November 2018
China’s presence in the oil tanker market is becoming increasingly strong.
Commodities

Oil tanker freight rates surge in Asia

US sanctions prompt importers to switch from Iran to Africa

31 October 2018
A gas pump hangs from the ceiling at a gasoline stand in Seoul.
Economy

South Korea to cut gasoline tax to avert further spending slowdown

Latest measure expected to offset rising crude prices and help indebted households

17 October 2018
The U.S. government has recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved its embassy earlier this year.
International relations

Australia's Jerusalem proposal puts Indonesia trade pact at risk

Morrison floats moving embassy while Muslim countries object

17 October 2018
U.S. President Donald Trump, right, has told his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to visit Riyadh "immediately" to meet with Saudi King Salman.
International relations

Trump sends Pompeo to Saudi Arabia, while Asia markets stumble

Corporate leaders pull out of international conference hosted by crown prince

16 October 2018
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani talk during a reception in New Delhi on Feb. 17. Securing ample supplies of energy is a crucial matter for India to support its economic growth. 
International relations

India to keep importing oil from Iran, brushing off US pressure

Despite sanction threats, New Delhi puts priority on obtaining low-cost energy

11 October 2018
India is actually expanding its economic ties with Iran by increasing its oil imports.
International relations

India chooses discounted Iranian crude and says 'no' to the US

Trump deputies silent on oil ban after foreign and defense officials' meeting

14 September 2018
The Indonesian rupiah has fallen 9% against the dollar since the start of the year.
Economy

Asian companies and consumers weighed down by sliding currencies

From Indonesia to Turkey, people struggle with rising prices and interest rates

3 September 2018