Politics

The International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, on March 16 ordered Russia to immediately halt its military operations in Ukraine.
Ukraine war

Indian judge votes against Russia at top United Nations court

Move comes despite Modi government's neutrality on Ukraine invasion

17 March 2022
The U.S. is reportedly sending the cutting-edge killer drone Switchblade to Ukraine. (AeroVironment via AP)
Ukraine war

Biden to send armed drones to Ukraine, increasing defense aid

Announcement of $800m package comes as Zelenskyy asks Congress for support

17 March 2022
In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting on Feb. 25 but could not even adopt a resolution to condemn the act.
Comment

Russian invasion exposes U.N. Security Council's utter impotence

Time to reform the body, including possible expulsion of Moscow

17 March 2022
Prime Minister Kisida announces that Japan will no longer treat Russia as a "most favored nation." (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
Ukraine war

Japan revokes Russia's 'most favored' status over Ukraine

Kishida mentions Sakhalin-2 LNG project in regard to Japan's energy security

16 March 2022
Watsons put its brand on its Russian stores in 2018, 13 years after buying local health and beauty chain Spektr. 
Ukraine war

Li Ka-shing's Watsons drugstore chain pulling out of Russia

Group says decision made in January over 'unsatisfactory performance'

16 March 2022
Exxon Mobil has announced it is exiting the Sakhalin 1 oil project. (Exxon Neftegas via Kyodo)
Energy

Shadow of Iran oil failure looms over Japan's Sakhalin decision

Pressure to leave Russia echoes Azadegan exit, which opened door for China

15 March 2022
Russia has threatened to make payments on dollar-denominated debt in rubles, even when bond terms do not allow for it.
Bonds

Russia default risk mounts as Moscow threatens ruble repayments

Nearly half of foreign-currency reserves frozen under Western sanctions

15 March 2022
The Kremlin towers is reflected in a display of McDonald's on Mar 9, which temporarily close all of its restaurants in Russia: the massive actions taken by multinationals will probably bring China to a rethinking.
Opinion

China can see the limits of bailing out Russia's economy

Beijing will support Moscow as long as it does not fall foul of Western sanctions

14 March 2022
As Russia is discovering, the ability to access currency reserves depends on the goodwill of G-7 nations.
Opinion

Japan's banks suddenly hold huge leverage over China's economy

Accessing dollars outside the U.S. is not as easy as it sounds

14 March 2022
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has fired up scrutiny of Moscow's military ambitions in other parts of the world, shining the spotlight on projects in places such as its remote Far East. (Source photos by Reuters)
International relations

Russia looks to Northern Sea Route as its military ambitions expand

Moscow aims to use Arctic waters as strategic link between Asia and Europe

13 March 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Victory Day parade in Moscow in May 2019. Putin wants to restore Russia as a great power and gain more international respect. (Handout photo from Kremlin Press Office)
Opinion

Reviving the empire: Putin follows path of Stolypin and Stalin

Russian invasion reflects Ukraine's tragic, war-torn history

13 March 2022
Buildings and fuel storage tanks are ablaze at Antonov Airport in Hostomel, Ukraine, on March 11. (Satellite image by Maxar Technologies via AP)
Ukraine war

Fighting rages outside Kyiv, evacuations threatened again

Russian forces accused for shelling mosque in Mariupol

12 March 2022
The Atamanskaya compressor station for Power of Siberia, the only currently operational gas pipeline between Russia and China.
Energy

China turns to Russian gas to curb dependence on Quad members

Beijing and Moscow eye pipeline capacity equal to half European demand

12 March 2022
The walls and towers of the Kremlin are reflected in a window of a McDonald's restaurant in Moscow. The U.S. fast-food chain has decided to close all its stores in Russia. 
Ukraine war

Russia's asset seizure threat confronts companies with grim choices

Businesses risk facing Russian courts, long arbitration as Moscow fights exodus

12 March 2022
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang parried questions about why Beijing had not condemned Russia's invasion.
China People's Congress

China's Li calls Ukraine crisis 'disconcerting' and urges cease-fire

In last news conference, premier says achieving 5.5% growth 'will not be easy'

11 March 2022
Refugees from Ukraine at Berlin's central station on March 8. Over 2 million have fled the country since Russia's invasion, according to UNHCR.
Ukraine war

Ukraine war tests Japan's refugee policy that admits just 1%

Bill to expand asylum eligibility scrapped under criticism

11 March 2022
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has roiled global metal markets, with Turkey's steelmakers rushing to ramp up production and boost their exports. (Source photos by Turkey Steel Producers Association and Reuters) 
Business Spotlight

Turkey's steelmakers grab for market share from China, Russia, Ukraine

Industry sets expansion plan to capitalize on global disruption

11 March 2022
Hong Kong's Animoca Brands has suspended Russian accounts from its blockchain-based game "The Sandbox." (Photo courtesy of Animoca Brands)
Media & Entertainment

Ukraine war protests find virtual platforms as gamers speak out

EA and Sony halt Russia business, while Animoca shuts out players there

11 March 2022
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov sits in front of his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba during a tripartite meeting chaired by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, in Antalya, Turkey on March 10. (Turkish Foreign Ministry via AP)
Ukraine war

Russia and Ukraine fail to agree cease-fire at meeting in Turkey

Foreign ministers blame each other after highest bilateral talks so far in war

10 March 2022
Customers shop at Moscow's first Uniqlo store after its opening in April 2010.
Ukraine war

Uniqlo suspends Russia business, reversing earlier decision

Japan retailer cites operational challenges and worsening conflict

10 March 2022
Building of the Long Phu 1 thermal power plant has been delayed in Vietnam's Mekong Delta because of U.S. sanctions against a Russian contractor. (Photo courtesy of PetroVietnam's PTSC)
Ukraine war

SWIFT sanctions add twist to Vietnam-Russia coal plant dispute

Hanoi refrains from condemning Ukraine invasion by its old Soviet partner

10 March 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Beijing Olympics in February: On social media, some Chinese users are calling him "the Great Emperor."
International relations

China's online pro-Putin fest drowns out anti-war sentiment

Nationalist netizens seem to have free rein; experts paint more nuanced picture

10 March 2022
Cryptocurrency players in Singapore are keen to show they are abiding by the city-state's financial sanctions on Russia. (Source photos by AP) 
Cryptocurrencies

Singapore's Russia sanctions pile pressure on crypto players

Digital asset platforms scour transactions as Ukraine war enters third week

10 March 2022
Kunashiri, called Kunashir in Russia, is one of the islands that has stood in the way of a peace treaty between Japan and Russia for decades.
International relations

After Ukraine, Japan reverts to old line on Russian-controlled islands

Shinzo Abe's nuanced language gone as outlook for negotiations dims

10 March 2022
Although only a few countries are restricting imports of Russian oil, many companies are shying away from the fuel over logistical and ethical concerns.
10 March 2022