India has approved molnupiravir to treat adult patients.
COVID vaccines

India approves 2 more COVID vaccines, Merck's antiviral drug

Inoculation to be expanded to 15-18 age group in anticipation of omicron wave

29 December 2021
Narendra Modi, pictured in New Delhi on Nov. 29: there has been no change to the Modi playbook.
Opinion

2022 look ahead: India's economy will not meet expectations

A slew of state elections will be a crucial test for Narendra Modi

29 December 2021
As the pandemic continued in 2021, Myanmar military leader Min Aung Hlaing seized power, the U.S. and U.K. agreed to share nuclear submarine tech with Australia, Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai made an explosive revelation and BTS ruled the airwaves. 
Asia Insight

From Myanmar to AUKUS to BTS: Newsmakers that shaped Asia in 2021

As COVID raged, the security landscape shifted and superstars made their mark

28 December 2021
Muslim architects, masons and artisans rush to complete the renovation of St. Luke's Church in Srinagar, Kashmire region, India. (Photo by Raihana Maqbool)
Society

Christmas in Kashmir: Muslim artisans help restore Catholic church

One of the restorers' ancestors built the Gothic gem back in the 1880s

24 December 2021
Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Narendra Modi ahead of their meeting in New Delhi on Dec. 6: India is more interested in broadening its multilateral foreign policy vision rather than siding with particular groups.
Opinion

Putin's Indo-Pacific play rattles existing regional alliances

Recent military exercises with ASEAN a Russian foreign policy milestone

20 December 2021
The India-funded Chabahar Port in Iran in early 2019. New Delhi wants the site to become a gateway to trade with Central Asia. (Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
International relations

Spotlight on trade gateway as India hosts talks with Central Asia

Sunday discussions look set to focus on New Delhi-funded port in Iran

18 December 2021
A ban on cryptocurrencies would negatively impact the country at large.
Opinion

Crypto ban would move India closer to an authoritarian nightmare

Proposal threatens nation's foundations as a liberal democracy

18 December 2021
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the star campaigner of his Bharatiya Janata Party, has given his government something to campaign on ahead of crucial polls in Uttar Pradesh. (Source photo by Reuters)
Politics

Politics loom behind scrapping of India's farm laws

Analysts see crucial state polls as main reason for rare U-turn by Modi

17 December 2021
An drug user lies unconscious by the side of a road in Kapurthala, Punjab, in October 2019: the use of drugs such as heroin among people has become so rampant in the northern Indian state.
Opinion

Drug problem in India's Punjab looms over crucial state election

Once an economic powerhouse, region has suffered a reversal in fortunes

16 December 2021
Ministers and delegates of the Pacific Rim trade bloc attend a joint press conference in Tokyo in January 2019: current CPTPP members should proactively lobby the U.S. to join the trade agreement.
Opinion

U.S. must rethink its approach to a flexible and inclusive Indo-Pacific

Washington needs to properly anchor itself into regional frameworks

14 December 2021
A plantation laborer in Mizoram's Kolasib District with palm oil fresh fruit bunches. (Photo by Varsha Torgalkar)
Environment

India's palm oil ambitions for northeast frontier stir concern

Opponents fear environmental degradation if monoculture is promoted

11 December 2021
Stream article image
Podcast

Asia Stream: Democracy summit and the future of India's republic

Nikkei Asia's podcast premieres, finds gaps in Indian democracy

11 December 2021
Military vehicles carrying DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missiles drive past Tiananmen Square in October 2019: Beijing is relishing the international attention its nuclear-weapons buildup is getting.
Opinion

Xi's nuclear frenzy aimed at shielding China's expansionism

Weapons buildup casts doubt on whether U.S. can defend Taiwan

9 December 2021
India's Chief of Defense Staff Bipin Rawat was in a helicopter that has crashed in southern Tamil Nadu state.
Politics

India's military chief and wife among 13 killed in helicopter crash

Rawat served as chief of defense staff, overseeing all 3 branches of the military

9 December 2021
The summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may see the start of Indian production of Russian AK-203 assault rifles. (Nikkei montage/AP/Gettty Images)
International relations

India, Russia deepen defense ties with AK rifle production deal

Agreement signed on sidelines of Modi-Putin summit and 2-plus-2 talks

7 December 2021
The Lowy Institute, an Australian think tank, says the U.S. increased its influence in Asia this year, but warns of a grater risk of war as tensions between Washington and Beijing rise.
US-China tensions

China loses path to 'undisputed primacy' in Asia as U.S. rebounds

Lowy's Asia Power Index shows Beijing's ongoing challenge to Washington

5 December 2021
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019. 
Your Week in Asia

Modi-Putin meeting, Summit for Democracy, China WTO anniversary

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

5 December 2021
Millions of Afghans are facing food insecurity or worse as winter approaches. (Photo by Kanika Gupta)
Afghanistan turmoil

Afghanistan food crisis prods India, Pakistan to cooperate on aid

Archrivals close to arranging emergency transport of 50,000 tons of Indian wheat

2 December 2021
India's plans to resume regular international flights is now on hold due to the spread of omicron overseas.
Coronavirus

Omicron scuppers India's plan to resume international flights

PM Modi asks officials to review easing of curbs as 'proactive' move

1 December 2021
A man holds up a photo of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a demonstration on Nov. 19 organized in New Delhi by the Chin Refugee Committee.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar troops' northwest push fuels humanitarian crisis

India caught between concern for Chin refugees, fear of angering neighbor

1 December 2021
Israel displays the Iron Dome missile interceptor at the Bangalore Aero-India air show. New Delhi is keen to gain access to Israel's advanced military technology.
International relations

India, Israel aim to boost ties through defense tech and trade

Two sides are resuming long-stalled talks on free trade agreement

28 November 2021
Shipping containers at the main port of Colombo. Sri Lanka's location in the Indian Ocean and its deep harbors have made it strategically important under China's Belt and Road infrastructure initiative. 
International relations

Sri Lanka awards port project to China after dropping Japan, India

Beijing steps up Belt and Road spending with support of friendly president

25 November 2021
 U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai addresses the Geneva Graduate Institute. 
Indo-Pacific

U.S. scores small wins during trade czar's Indo-Pacific tour

Tai makes bid for new order in visits to Japan, South Korea and India

24 November 2021
Narendra Modi and BJP decided to cut their losses.
Opinion

Modi's retrograde move to spike farm laws will set back reform

Decoding the politics behind government's surprise decision

23 November 2021
The Merak village, Eastern Bhutan, pictured from the footpath heading towards Sakteng in May 2015: Xi Jinping's expansionism has not spared China's smallest neighbor.
Opinion

China's bullying of tiny Bhutan risks South Asian stability

David and Goliath struggle exposes Beijing's expansionist intent

22 November 2021