Bangladesh's garment industry is a major export earner.
Economy

Bangladeshi mismatch in export data cements doubts on official stats

Now-smaller GDP threatens South Asian nation's negotiation capacity with lenders

30 July 2024
The coconut tree meme was originally used by Republican opponents with the intention of casting Kamala Harris in a negative light, but it has since switched sides to become a kind of symbol of her presidential campaign.  
Opinion

What the Coconut Tree meme says about Kamala Harris' Indian heritage

A southern Indian saying reflects the VP's background and values that have shaped her

30 July 2024
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, second from right, attends the country's 76th Independence Day celebrations in Colombo during February.
Politics

Sri Lanka president fails to get backing of largest party for reelection

Reform-friendly Wickremesinghe expected to seek support from splitters, opposition

29 July 2024
From left, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pose as they attend a Quad foreign ministers' meeting in Tokyo on July 29.  
International relations

Quad countries agree to expand Indo-Pacific cyber, maritime initiatives

Australia, India, Japan, U.S. 'seriously concerned' about East and South China seas

29 July 2024
Mumbai-based comedian Azeem Banatwalla said he used to laugh at the death threats he received. Now, he admitted, he is sometimes rattled, although he continues to make jokes against the government. (Courtesy of Azeem Banatwalla)
Life

In India, comedy is no longer a funny business

Stand-up is booming, but performers face political pressure to self-censor

28 July 2024
Stream article image
Photos

Through the lens: Eye on Asia for the fourth week of July

A selection of striking images from across Asia

28 July 2024
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on July 9. (Sputnik/Kremlin via Reuters)
Trade

India and Russia look to boost bilateral trade by 50% by 2030

Target of $100bn set during Modi's Moscow visit comes amid U.S. concerns

28 July 2024
Advertisements for a cram school in Kota, India, feature photos of some of their best-performing students. (B.L.Digital Studio Kota)
Education

India's hypercompetitive exam culture drives students to suicide

Cram school hub sees record deaths as pressure to succeed takes toll on young minds

27 July 2024
David Lammy was received by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his first overseas trip as U.K. foreign minister. 
Trade

India and U.K. eye early FTA under new Starmer government

New British FM calls ties 'indispensable' after signing tech security pact

26 July 2024
Bangladeshi soldiers take a position at the Mohammadpur area during a national curfew in Dhaka on July 20.
Opinion

Bangladesh's quota quagmire shows need for urgent reforms

Hasina must create economic opportunities, give more space to opposition

26 July 2024
Electricity theft and distribution problems caused by line losses have left Pakistan's government short of revenue.
International relations

Pakistan under pressure to renegotiate hefty Chinese power deals

Beijing unlikely to concede to Islamabad's request, experts say

26 July 2024
Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe attends the country's 76th Independence Day celebrations in Colombo, on Feb. 4.
Politics

Sri Lanka to hold presidential election on Sept. 21

Incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe, opposition leader Premadasa expected to run

26 July 2024
A Hyundai showroom in Mumbai in 2022. The company's sales and service network covers hundreds of Indian cities. 
Business Spotlight

Hyundai celebrates Indian success with plan for largest IPO

South Korean carmaker under pressure from Chinese rivals to raise its game in EVs

26 July 2024
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters in New Delhi last month.
Opinion

New coalition governments in Asia must embrace compromise

Thailand, Malaysia, and India have to balance policy and voter expectations

26 July 2024
The G7 summit was held in Italy in June. We are now observing the onset of a less-Western dominated world.
Opinion

The West is no longer the center of global affairs

As populism rises and emerging nations assert themselves, G-7 dominance fades

25 July 2024
India's Neeraj Chopra in action during the Men's Javelin final at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Oct. 4, 2023
Sports

Can India turn from perpetual Olympic minnow into a powerhouse?

South Asian nation looks to possibly hosting 2036 Games as China racks up golds

25 July 2024
A Dhaka shopowner surveys burnt tyres outside his premises following a clash on July 23.
Society

Bangladesh protests cause thousands of Indians to flee

India anxious about spillover effect of unrest as evacuations get underway

25 July 2024
Bollywood actress Sanya Malhotra, left, and an executive of Yakult Danone India launching the new mango flavor in New Delhi on July 24. (Photo by Kiran Sharma)
Food & Beverage

Yakult aims to up probiotic drink sales by 50% in India

Japanese-French JV to launch mango flavor exclusively in South Asian nation

24 July 2024
Smoke rises from the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on July 24, 2024 after a plane slipped off the runway and crashed while trying to take off. 
Society

Plane slips off runway in Nepal, killing 18 passengers

Crash occurred during takeoff; pilot is only survivor

24 July 2024
A boat plies the river in the Sundarbans National Park -- the world's largest mangrove forest. Located in the delta formed by the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, the forest is described by UNESCO as "one of the most biologically productive of all natural ecosystems." (Photo by Charukesi Ramadurai)
Tea Leaves

Tiger spotting among the mangroves

A conservation lesson in South Asia's forested Sundarbans region

24 July 2024
Sri Lanka's inflation dropped to 1.7% in June, a sharp contrast to the 70% in September 2022 during the height of the financial crisis.
Economy

Sri Lanka cuts rates by 0.25% to help fuel economic recovery

Central bank expects inflation to remain below 5% target in medium term

24 July 2024
The Honda Elevate goes on display in New Delhi, India, on June 6, 2023. The model was later introduced to Japan as the WR-V.
Automobiles

Honda's made-in-India SUV grabs Japanese drivers with low price

Japanese brand beats Mercedes-Benz and BMW in importing vehicles in April and May

24 July 2024
Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli is a veteran that has held the office three times before.
International relations

Nepal poised for closer ties with China under new prime minister

Returning PM Oli may bolster economic and military cooperation with Beijing

24 July 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris could become the first Asian American president.
U.S. elections 2024

Will Kamala Harris' Indian roots play a part in her Asia policy?

Vice president has earned criticism from China, but rarely focuses on her heritage

23 July 2024
India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman holds up a folder with the Government of India's logo as she leaves her office to present the union budget in the parliament in New Delhi on July 23.
Economy

Modi government focuses on job creation in post-election budget

Bonanza for states under Indian allies as new administration needs their support

23 July 2024