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March 31st, 2022

Thailand's elephant in the room

COVID-19 dealt a heavy blow to a global leader in animal tourism

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The Big Story

Thailand's elephant tourism endangered by COVID blow to global travel

Plunge in visitor numbers throws animals and owners into crisis

Teerapong "Non" Sakdanarongsri, a former mahout at a commercial elephant park, enjoys a quiet moment with Sierra, a 16-month-old female elephant who already weighs 400 kg. At Elephant Freedom Village, the camp he founded eight years ago, only "positive reinforcement techniques" are used. (Photo by Adam Oswell)
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

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has upended auto supply chains, hitting everything from aluminum used in car panels to key materials for microchips. (Source photos by AP, Reuters and Getty Images) 
Business Spotlight

From chip crunch to war: Automakers grapple with supply chain woes

Geopolitical turmoil sparks questions over long-term supply of key EV materials

How would the financial hub of Shanghai fare in a Taiwan crisis? Big capital outflows from China have been observed since the start of the Ukraine war.
Indo-Pacific

China exit? Russia crisis has businesses thinking the unthinkable

Capital flight may have already begun as investors fear Taiwan contingency

SMBC Nikko headquarters in Tokyo. The company and some employees are accused of market manipulation in violation of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. (Photo by Mizuho Miyazaki)
Markets

SMBC Nikko, 5 company officials indicted for market manipulation

Vice president arrested as scandal deepens at major Japanese brokerage

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has signed amendments to the Public Service Act, which lift the 40% foreign ownership limit in industries such as telecommunications, airlines, domestic shipping, railways and railways.
Economy

Philippines allows foreigners to own telcos, airlines and railways

Duterte signs law easing investment rules months before stepping down

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a session of the Russian Energy Week International Forum in Moscow in October.
Interview

Energy guru Yergin: Putin has destroyed the economy he built

As the world heads to a scramble for oil, Iran emerges as key alternative source

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

A delivery worker passes food to a woman over the barriers of an area in Shanghai under lockdown. The financial hub recorded its highest daily infections this week.
Coronavirus

Shanghai becomes China's COVID epicenter as cases surge

Financial hub denies 'rumors' of plans for a citywide lockdown

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

A destroyed Russian vehicle on the road in Sytniaky, Ukraine, on Mar. 5: this is a turning-point moment for the world.
Opinion

Russia's war on Ukraine will create a new kind of Cold War

New diplomatic infrastructure will take years to build

A maternity hospital that was damaged by shelling in Mariupol on Mar. 9: the Ukraine war has changed global geopolitical considerations.
Opinion

It is time for China to decide whose side it is on

Costs of supporting Russia's war far outweigh any potential gains

Stop here for dried seafood.
Life

The fight to keep Hong Kong's neon lights ablaze

Once ubiquitous, the glowing signs are in danger of fading out

"Squid Game" star Park Hae-soo: "Becoming an international actor wasn't really at the forefront of my mind," says Park.  
Arts

'Squid Game' star reflects on the global allure of South Korean culture

Park Hae-soo was working at a BBQ restaurant when the 'hallyu' boom hit

Bongbong Marcos, sitting beneath a portrait of his father, photographed by director Lauren Greenfield during filming of "The Kingmaker." (Courtesy of Evergreen Pictures/©Lauren Greenfield)
Tea Leaves

A bruising ride on the Bongbong bandwagon

How 'The Kingmaker' warned of a resurgent Marcos regime in the Philippines