The Big Story

A perfect storm of political unrest, climate change and disruptions brought on by the war in Ukraine is pushing food security in Asia to crisis point. In Indonesia (pictured), shortages of cooking oil prompted a blanket ban on palm oil exports in late April. 
The Big Story

Asia's food crisis: Ukraine war triggers chain reaction of shortages

Deadly combination of conflict, misgovernance and climate change threatens widespread hunger

18 May 2022
A sharp decrease in visitor numbers during the pandemic coupled with a tightening of gaming laws means Macao is having to rebrand its identity as the world's casino hub.
The Big Story

Macao bets on a new future as China cracks down on gambling

Pressure from Beijing and pandemic travel rules are forcing the gamer's paradise to diversify

11 May 2022
Western energy companies have started pulling out of the Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2 (pictured) oil and gas projects in Russia's Far East. Japan's international reputation could be on the line if it does not follow suit.
The Big Story

Walking a tightrope: Ukraine war puts Japan's energy security on thin ice

As Western sanctions on Russia pile up, Tokyo weighs pulling out of Sakhalin projects

4 May 2022
More than 35 years after his late father was exiled, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the leading candidate to be the Philippines' next president.
The Big Story

The Marcos revival: How late Philippine dictator's son went from exile to election favorite

Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. aims for presidency to secure dynasty's comeback

27 April 2022
The Fangchenggang Nuclear Power Plant in China, which leads Asia on nuclear power, will begin operation this year. Sanctions on Russian fossil fuel and looming decarbonization deadlines are causing many Asian governments to reconsider their stances on nuclear energy. 
The Big Story

Asia's nuclear power dilemma: Ukraine war drives energy turnarounds

From Japan to Singapore, Russia sanctions and carbon-zero targets push states to reconsider nuclear energy

20 April 2022
After seven Russian banks were banned from SWIFT following the invasion of Ukraine, China is hoping its own Cross-border Interbank Payment System, CIPS, will be enough to weather potential future sanctions from the West. 
The Big Story

China scrambles for cover from West's financial weapons

Spooked by sanctions on Russia, Beijing looks to build on its own international payments system

13 April 2022
Female students across Afghanistan were crushed by news that their return to senior schools was to be postponed by the Taliban on March 23. The future of young women at institutions such as the Edrak Institute of Higher Education (pictured) remains bleak. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/UN Women)
The Big Story

Dark futures: Afghanistan's women reel from Taliban school ban

U-turn on female education jeopardizes international legitimacy and economic recovery

6 April 2022
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)
The Big Story

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

Plunge in visitor numbers throws animals and owners into crisis

30 March 2022
Indonesian President Joko Widodo's ability to charm is increasingly being tested as he tries to please both the public and big business. (Photo by Dimas Ardian)
The Big Story

Unfinished business: Indonesia's Jokowi still has lots to do

The 'People's President' talks to Nikkei Asia about growth, the new capital and whether two terms is enough

23 March 2022
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping meet in Beijing on Feb. 4. Putin has reportedly asked Beijing for military support for his war on Ukraine, leaving Xi and the powers' "no limits" partnership at a crossroads.
The Big Story

Player or played? Xi-Putin alliance faces defining moment in Ukraine

China seeks to appear impartial amid global scrutiny of military ties

16 March 2022
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong has been attending weekly court hearings in Seoul since Oct. 2020 for alleged financial crimes. The outcome of his trial will determine the future of the Lee family's hold over Samsung. (Photo by Jean Chung)
The Big Story

The trials of Samsung: Vice Chairman Lee's legal troubles could threaten tech dynasty

Jae-yong's court hearings illuminate entanglement of South Korean politics and conglomerates

9 March 2022
From period poverty to menopause, women's health issues have historically been sidelined by the medical industry. Ahead of International Women's Day, we take a look at some of Asia's femtech startups that are addressing women's unmet health care needs. 
The Big Story

Asia's femtech revolution: the quest for better women's health

Underserved by mainstream health care, women from India to Japan turn to technology

2 March 2022
Asia's military expenditure has surged more than 50% in the last decade, with China leading the pack. But will that spending result in actual conflict? 
The Big Story

Asia's arms race: China spurs military spending spree

The region's biggest players are shelling out on defense at an alarming rate. Is war on the horizon?

23 February 2022
Former U.S. President Richard Nixon and his wife, Patricia, visit the Great Wall near Beijing during their trip to China in February 1972. Nixon was the first sitting U.S. president to travel to the country, kicking off a tumultuous half-century of U.S.-China relations. 
The Big Story

Nixon in China, 50 years on

Xi-Putin friendship usurps half a century of U.S. diplomacy

16 February 2022
Liberal news outlets in Hong Kong such as Apple Daily, whose shuttered headquarters are shown here, have been dropping like flies since a national security law was introduced in 2020. In their absence, pro-China publications have been gaining influence. (Photo by Paul Yeung)
The Big Story

Hong Kong's independent media fight to survive

Erosion of press freedom leaves door open for pro-China publications

9 February 2022
Ahead of the opening ceremony on Feb. 4, Beijing's rising COVID cases and the human cost of China's ruthless anti-virus policy are calling the zero-tolerance approach into question.
The Big Story

On thin ice: Winter Olympics reveal cracks in China's zero-COVID policy

With omicron's arrival, costs of zero-tolerance measures may outweigh benefits

2 February 2022
A barista serves coffee in one of Seoul's many trendy cafes, the demand for which is growing throughout Asia due to the emergence of a new breed of pandemic era coffee connoisseurs. (Photo by Jean Chung)
The Big Story

Asia's coffee revolution: From Indonesia to Vietnam, homegrown beans are back

More disposable income and TikTok trends push coffee ahead of tea

26 January 2022
As Eastern Europe edges closer to war, the U.S. and Russia are squaring off as China watches the outcome.
The Big Story

Ukraine crisis highlights superpowers' quarrel over spheres of influence

As Russia and the U.S. focus on Eastern Europe, China is taking notes for Taiwan

19 January 2022
China has been sending aid to Afghanistan, which is on the brink of a humanitarian crisis, since the withdrawal of U.S. troops last August. 
The Big Story

Too big to fail: China eyes Afghanistan investment amid fears of state collapse

Allies China and Pakistan keen to maintain regional stability after U.S. withdrawal

12 January 2022
Editors and writers of Nikkei Asia's Big Story take a look back at some of their favorite pieces from 2021.
The Big Story

Coups, couriers and COVID: The Big Story 2021 Hall of Fame

From the Tokyo Olympics to Myanmar, a year through the eyes of Nikkei Asia's cover story writers

5 January 2022
The results of our readers' 2022 predictions survey are in. Here's what you can expect from Asia at the Grammys, in the World Cup, at the gasoline pump, along the supply chain, in regard to marriage equality and how much longer you'll be wearing those masks.
The Big Story

Your predictions for Asia in 2022

From soccer to the supply chain, 2022 brings plenty of unknowns. We asked you to forecast what's in store.

29 December 2021
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is using an unconventional mix of soft and hard power to extend his influence throughout Eurasia. Gendarmerie officers at an oath-taking ceremony in Bursa, Turkey.
The Big Story

Making Turkey great again: Erdogan throws out the rule book

Ankara has pursued geopolitical power at all costs, but now the bill is due

22 December 2021
Following the emergence in early November of the omicron COVID-19 variant, pictured here, countries in Asia have stepped up travel restrictions and quarantine requirements.
The Big Story

Omicron in Asia: A wake-up call for COVID policymaking

New variant shows futility of border closures and vaccine hoarding

15 December 2021
Pandemic lockdowns, energy restrictions and chip shortages across Asia have led to an ongoing supply chain crisis, causing delivery delays for many electronic gifts this festive season.
The Big Story

Apple's nightmare before Christmas: Supply chain crisis delays gift deliveries

Two years of lockdowns, chip shortages, and energy cuts have finally caught up with the iPhone maker

8 December 2021
The USS Arizona was destroyed during the Imperial Japanese Army's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, nearly 80 years ago. Japan and the U.S. have yet to completely resolve matters of historical guilt and reconciliation.
The Big Story

Pearl Harbor 80 years on: Lessons and legacies

Japan and U.S. struggle to put fraught history to rest

1 December 2021