Bhutan

Axiata operates mobile services in Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Nepal. Telenor serves Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Business deals

Malaysia's Axiata and Norway's Telenor to merge Asia services

5G competition push regional rivals to join hands in challenge to Singtel

6 May 2019
Supporters of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party celebrate the U.N. Security Council's decision to blacklist Masood Azhar, head of Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed. REUTERS/Amit Dave
India elections

Modi boosted in election by UN listing of Pakistani terrorist

India's decadelong campaign finally given tacit greenlight by China

6 May 2019
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has made three changes in his economic team in less than a month, suggesting he has yet to set the stage for the country’s economic direction.
Economy

Pakistan appoints IMF official for new central bank governor

PM Khan's changes to economic team come amid new loan discussions

6 May 2019
Sri Lanka's Muslim population is unusually important in its business life.
Opinion

Sri Lanka and Asia's failure of tolerance

Island's tragedy highlights regional inability to counter sectarian divisions

6 May 2019
A woman lights a candle during a vigil to show solidarity with the victims of Sri Lanka's serial bomb blasts, inside a college in Kolkata, India on April 26.
Politics

Five things to know a week after the Sri Lanka bombings

Blasts a wake-up call to India and China, competing for influence on the island

28 April 2019
Security personnel keep watch at Galle Fort, one of Sri Lanka's most popular tourist destinations, on April 24. (Photo by Amila Gamage)
Economy

Sri Lanka's tourism industry defiant after deadly attacks

Minister and merchants expect rebound, despite risk to economy and jobs

26 April 2019
St. Sebastian's Church after bomb blasts: Little attention was paid to the upsurge of Islamic extremist.
Opinion

Sri Lanka confronts Islamist violence

Recent progress in easing social tensions could unravel after Easter terrorist attacks

26 April 2019
Platforms such as WhatsApp with end-to-end encryption provide means to communicate in a safe manner.
Opinion

India internet clampdown will not stop misinformation

New rules threatens privacy and freedom of expression

24 April 2019
This undated image posted by the Islamic State group's AMAQ news agency on April 23 purports to show Mohamed Cassim Mohamed Zaharan, center, the man Sri Lanka says led the Easter bombing that killed over 300 people.
Politics

Sri Lanka's radicalized Muslims have long ties to Islamic State

FBI looks into sophisticated blasts as details of deadly Easter attacks emerge

24 April 2019
A view of the blast damage inside St. Sebastian's Church in Negombo, Sri Lanka, on April 22
The Nikkei View

A barbaric act of mass murder in Sri Lanka

The world should help the South Asian country root out terrorism

24 April 2019
Mourners in Sri Lanka carry the coffin of a victim of Sunday's terror attacks during a mass burial Tuesday.
Politics

Islamic State claims responsibility for Sri Lanka attacks

Bombings are in retaliation for Christchurch massacre, defense official says

24 April 2019
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi speaks with the Nikkei Asian Review in Tokyo. (Photo by Arisa Moriyama)
Interview

Pakistan ready for peace talks after Indian vote, minister says

New IMF bailout and Chinese investment also on horizon as economic ills persist

23 April 2019
The discussions with the IMF have run into resistance from the U.S. over Pakistan's Chinese debt.
Belt and Road

Pakistan's PM Khan eager for closer economic ties with China

Beijing visit for Belt and Road summit to highlight plans for economic corridor

23 April 2019
Sri Lankan soldiers secure St. Anthony Shrine after an attack in Colombo on Sunday. At least 290 people were killed and over 450 injured in eight blasts across the country.
Politics

Terror attacks in Sri Lanka expose new security threat

Recent intelligence reports raised alarm of some Muslims becoming radicalized

22 April 2019
Crime-scene officials inspect the explosion area at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo after deadly blasts April 21.
Economy

Sri Lanka bombings hurt island's tourist destination ambitions

Death toll rises to 290 after Easter Sunday attacks on churches and hotels

22 April 2019
Pakistani Finance Minister Asad Umar holds a news conference in Islamabad in November.
Economy

Pakistan finance minister resigns ahead of visit by IMF

Sudden departure comes after provisional deal on aid worth over $6bn

19 April 2019
The practice of Chinese men paying to marry young Pakistani women has continued for the past couple of years, according to sources.
Belt and Road

Chinese illegal marriage operators exploit young Pakistani women

Belt and Road hype leaves human trafficking of underprivileged unchecked

18 April 2019
The tax amnesty plan is being promoted by Prime Minister Imran Khan as a necessary step to help reform Pakistan.
Economy

Pakistan to unveil new tax amnesty to ease debt burden

PM Khan hopes one-time charge on hidden wealth will relieve cash-strapped economy

15 April 2019
Yangon-based 360ed demonstrates an educational VR headset.
Startups

Emerging Asia's startups open own doors to success

3D flashcards and voice-driven accounting find ways into low-income countries

15 April 2019
Experts say the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan needs to manage the Chinese "debt trap" issue in order to avoid future economic problems. (Nikkei Montage)
Politics

US lawmakers balk at Pakistan rescue, fearing money going to China

IMF bailout would be used to repay debts to Beijing, congressmen say

13 April 2019
Indonesian fishermen work near pipes flushing sewage into the Porong River in the province of East Java.
Environment

Southeast Asia looks for outside help to flush sewage problems

Water treatment projects lure foreign expertise to deal with rising raw effluent

12 April 2019
People raise their hands as they chant slogans to show solidarity with Pakistan Armed Force in a rally Peshawar, Pakistan on March 1.
India elections

Relations with Pakistan to remain tense after India elections

Islamabad wary of Modi's intentions as both sides closely watch US reaction

12 April 2019
Home to one-quarter of the world's population, South Asia is seen as a potential gold mine for 5G equipment makers such as Huawei. 
5G networks

Huawei takes 5G fight to India and Pakistan

Region primed for $1.2tn tech bonanza over next five years

8 April 2019
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, right, with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing last November. Officials in Pakistan’s Balochistan province say it is failing to reap the full benefits of major infrastructure projects in China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Belt and Road

Khan tries to ease concerns over China's Belt and Road

Pakistani province demands fair share of $62bn development project

2 April 2019
Indians watch Prime Minister Narendra Modi's televised address to the nation on Wednesday.
International relations

Modi hails India as a 'space superpower' after satellite kill

Missile test helps New Delhi boost defenses against Beijing

27 March 2019