Ukraine war

Ukraine is one of the world's largest agricultural producers, growing vital crops like wheat and corn.
Ukraine war

Global wheat shortage looms as summer risk over Ukraine war

Russian invasion, Western sanctions threaten to choke supply from 2 crucial exporters

31 March 2022
An analysis of Russian President Vladimir Putin's speech on the anniversary of the annexation of Crimea indicated lower stress levels but an inward-looking mindset. (Source photo by Getty Images)
Ukraine war

Is Putin cracking? Voice analysis belies steely exterior

Russian leader's initial optimism of conflict gave way to high stress, audio indicates

31 March 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, presents a medal to Valery Gergiev in 2016. The two are known to be friends.
Politics

Sudden disharmony: Pro-Putin maestros get the boot in Europe

Ukraine invasion poses moral dilemma for Russian musicians abroad

29 March 2022
Nayara Energy owns India's second-largest single-location refinery, as well as a power generation business, all-weather port and 6,500 retail outlets.
Ukraine war

Russian-owned Indian refinery faces funding squeeze

Nayara Energy debt rating under review as sanctions hit major shareholder Rosneft

29 March 2022
Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Mar. 18: he looks and sounds increasingly like the pitiless Kremlin dictator. (Handout photo from Kremlin Press Office)
Opinion

Vladimir Putin turns to the Stalin playbook

The Great Terror continues to haunt Russia

29 March 2022
Country risks in Russia have come into focus for Japanese banks with the sanctions imposed in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
Finance

Japan's top banks face hefty losses on $8bn Russia exposure

Rising country risk requires reserves despite uninterrupted loan repayments

29 March 2022
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar meet before a Quad gathering in Australia during February.
International relations

U.S. to hold '2-plus-2' talks with India, targeting Russia ties

Exclusive: New Delhi seeks sanctions waiver for arms deal with Moscow

29 March 2022
Russia plays a critical role in the International Space Station. (Photo courtesy of JAXA/NASA)
Science

Russia grows isolated in scientific community after Ukraine invasion

International Space Station and vaccine research face potential blow from severed ties

29 March 2022
Costs were already rising before Russia invaded Ukraine. Now, Asia's businesses and households are being squeezed even harder. 
Asia Insight

Inflation starts to bite in Asia on war, COVID, supply squeeze

Growing public anger puts governments to the test ahead of elections

29 March 2022
A logo for a fast-food restaurant "Uncle Vanya" from a Russian patent filing, left; A closed McDonald's restaurant in the Moscow region. (McDonald's photo by Reuters)
Business trends

From McDonald's to IKEA, Western brands' Russia exit breeds copycats

Threat to seize assets hangs over companies' decision to distance themselves

29 March 2022
Sinopec is involved in two major projects in Russia, a production joint venture with Rosneft and development of a chemical and processing complex with Sibur. 
Ukraine war

China's Sinopec to keep buying Russian oil and gas, exec says

President calls purchases 'normal trading cooperation'

28 March 2022
A musician plays guitar March 9 outside a currency exchange office that halted operations in St. Petersburg, Russia. China has little interest in undertaking an adventurous rescue operation of the Russian economy.
Opinion

China will not abandon Russia, but it will not be much help either

Adventurous operation to rescue Moscow not high on Beijing's agenda

28 March 2022
The war in Ukraine is causing supply chain turmoil and threatening demand for the consumer electronics industry. 
Supply Chain

Apple to cut iPhone, AirPods output amid Ukraine war uncertainty

Lower orders to suppliers are early sign of pressure on tech industry

28 March 2022
As the conflict in Ukraine rages, war insurance can give shippers some peace of mind as their freight travels via the China-Europe Railway Express.
Supply Chain

China opens wallet to keep trans-Eurasian express moving

Operators cover 'war insurance' and slash rates

28 March 2022
The approval rating of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet has moved up for the first time since December 2021.
Politics

67% approve of Kishida's handling of Ukraine war: Nikkei poll

Japanese leader's overall approval rating rises 6 points to 61%

28 March 2022
A containership off Singapore: Europe accounts for 9% of ASEAN exports, according to Maybank.
Ukraine war

ASEAN faces 'collateral damage' from Ukraine war's Europe impact

From Singapore to Thailand, spillover threatens COVID-hit economies anew

27 March 2022
Geopolitics will, at some stage, force banks to choose between the dollar framework and a rival yuan system.
Opinion

The risks of a global financial schism are mounting

Precedent set by Russian sanctions dramatically increases geopolitical instability

27 March 2022
Tesla has raised electric car prices in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Automobiles

Tesla, BYD raise electric car prices on nickel turmoil

Essential metal in car batteries at over $30,000 per ton after invasion

27 March 2022
Russia's membership in the G-20 is at risk after its invasion of Ukraine. 
Ukraine war

Debate over Russia's G-20 seat creates headache for Indonesia

Summit host nation says Putin already invited, worries over development-focused agenda

27 March 2022
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, walks with national security adviser Jake Sullivan on their way to the White House Situation Room. (Photo courtesy of the White House)
Indo-Pacific

Japan's 3 Ukraine takeaways: Be ready, show grit, don't wait for U.S.

Gun-shy Biden, wary of World War III, fuels 'nuclear sharing' talk in Tokyo

26 March 2022
A woman cries as she comforts her son outside the main train station in Lviv, Ukraine, on March 5. At right, a destroyed armored vehicle in the southern city of Mariupol. (Source photos by AP)
Ukraine war

Ukrainians' daily lives: The first casualty of Russia's invasion

Displaced people tell tales of hardship and coping during wartime

26 March 2022
NATO headquarters in Brussels. Japan is the only Group of Seven member that does not belong to the alliance.
International relations

Eyeing Asia flashpoints, Kishida warms Japan's ties with NATO

First talk by leaders since 2017 come as Tokyo faces assertive China, Russia

26 March 2022
If conventional methods stall in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has two options, analysts say: humiliating retreat or escalation to weapons of mass destruction. (Source photos by Reuters and AP) 
Ukraine war

Why chemical weapons constitute a red line: 5 things to know

Russia thought to have sarin, VX, mustard gas and others in arsenal

25 March 2022
A freeze in financing for Arctic LNG 2, a $23 billion development project in Russia, may delay the start of its operations, which had been slated for 2023. (Photo by Yohei Ishikawa).
Ukraine war

Japan and France freeze investment in Russia's Arctic LNG 2 project

Start of $23bn plan could be delayed as sanctions keep banks from sending money

25 March 2022
Joe Biden listens as Narendra Modi speaks during a Quad nations meeting at the White House in September 2021: it is a safe bet that Biden and Modi are envisioning very different world orders.
Opinion

Ukraine war gives developing economies a chance to dislodge U.S.

Joe Biden is unlikely to get the new world he is hoping for

25 March 2022