Politics

Beijing this week published the 2023 edition of its "standard map" of China. (Screenshot from the Ministry of Natural Resources of China's website)
International relations

Malaysia, India and Taiwan reject China's new territorial map

Indian state and some Malaysian waters now inside 'nine-dash line'

31 August 2023
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year told Russian President Vladimir Putin that "this is not the era for war" but also declared the two countries' friendship to be "unbreakable."
Opinion

Modi needs more than personal clout to salvage the G20 summit

New Delhi summit communique highly unlikely due to Ukraine war divisions

30 August 2023
Families of forced disappearance victims hold photos of the missing in Dhaka on June 25. (Photo courtesy of Maayer Daak)
Politics

Bangladesh disappearances may spike ahead of polls: rights groups

Government rejects link to abductions, torture and extrajudicial killings of critics

30 August 2023
Sri Lankan police patrol at the official residence of then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in July 2022, after it was stormed by protesters. The sign reads "Let's fight against corrupt exploitative economic system!" -- illustrating anger over widespread alleged corruption.
Sri Lanka crisis

Sri Lanka's looming IMF review spotlights anti-corruption drive

New law addresses some problems, but critics question enforcement

27 August 2023
A shipping container yard in Karachi: The EU is Pakistan's primary export market.
Politics

Pakistan blasphemy law and violence risk EU trade status

Recent legislation, church attacks could have economic consequences, experts say

26 August 2023
Indian Ambassador to Japan Sibi George said he was a "salesman" for his country. (Photo by Shigeru Seno) 
Interview

India aims for tenfold boost in Japanese business presence: envoy

Ambassador Sibi George sets sights on Japan's small businesses with new advisory team

26 August 2023
India's G20 logo in New Delhi: The Ukraine war has complicated the country's year as chair of the grouping.
International relations

G20 trade meeting ends with 'concrete' plans, no Ukraine consensus

Ministers agree on supply chain mapping but formal communique still elusive

25 August 2023
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, center, speaks with China's President Xi Jinping, left, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks on at the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg on Aug. 24.
International relations

Xi and Modi agree to maintain peace on border in BRICS chat

Chinese and Indian leaders had 'candid' exchange, Beijing spokesperson says

25 August 2023
A child is enrolled in the Aadhaar national ID system in New Delhi in 2018: The system, linked with a financial inclusion program, could help increase financial access in African states.
Opinion

India has more to offer Africa than just trade

Sharing of public technology platform know-how could have major impact

24 August 2023
The moon is seen from the Chandrayaan-3 lander during its insertion into lunar orbit earlier this month. The craft landed softly on the surface on Aug. 23. (ISRO via Reuters)
Aerospace & Defense Industries

Chandrayaan spacecraft lands on moon in historic leap for India

South Asian country becomes fourth to touch down on lunar surface

23 August 2023
A rally in May in Hyderabad to show solidarity with Pakistan's army: New legislation criminalizes criticism of the country's armed forces.
Opinion

Pakistan's military can now legally do whatever it wants

To keep Imran Khan at bay, PML-N and PPP have further empowered the army

23 August 2023
While global leaders make the trek to Port Moresby to court PNG's leader, rising debt, inflation and sluggish growth could derail Prime Minister James Marape's plan to make his country the world's "richest Black Christian nation."
Asia Insight

Papua New Guinea's Marape: Pacific power broker or PM in peril?

Amid U.S.-China balancing act, PNG leader faces mounting pressure at home

22 August 2023
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, speaks at a news conference at Camp David, Near Washington, on Aug. 18, as U.S. President Joe Biden listens. (Photo by Ryo Nakamura)
South China Sea

South Korea, India rebuke Beijing over South China Sea claims

U.S. leads international support for Philippines as tensions escalate

21 August 2023
A woman votes in Bangladesh's last general election in 2018, which was marred by violence and allegations of rigging.
Politics

Bangladesh election observer controversy casts new doubt on polls

Commission's list of monitors scrutinized over ruling party ties

21 August 2023
A view of the moon from the Chandrayaan-3 lander during Lunar Orbit Insertion on Aug. 5 in this screengrab from a video released Aug. 6. (Photo by ISRO/Handout via Reuters)
Your Week in Asia

China prime rate, Cambodia's new PM, India moon landing mission

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

20 August 2023
A ship carrying Russian crude anchored in Karachi in June: Pakistan's refinery says the oil was processed successfully, but experts and officials have cast doubt on the viability of the imports.
Economy

Pakistan eyes deeper discounts as Russian oil imports hit snag

Current deal economically infeasible despite official denials, insiders say

19 August 2023
Rescue workers conduct a search operation after a landslide caused by torrential rain in Shimla, in India's northern state of Himachal Pradesh, on Aug. 17.
Economy

India's climate extremes force Modi into food-policy balancing act

Northern landslides are latest in string of crises disrupting agriculture

19 August 2023
The multipurpose Padma bridge connects Dhaka with the south of Bangladesh. The repayment of a Chinese loan for a railway portion of the bridge is due to start soon.
Economy

Bangladesh's looming debt bills to China, Russia fuel forex fears

Dhaka must be 'very careful' with reserves as infrastructure loans come due

18 August 2023
A farmer works in a rice paddy in Thailand's central Khon Kaen province. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Commodities

India's rice export ban brings chaos to Thai market

Surging demand sparks speculative hoarding, undercuts export opportunity

17 August 2023
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation during Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi on Aug. 15.
Politics

Modi rails against corruption, dynasties in national day speech

PM previews likely tone of India's upcoming general election campaign

15 August 2023
Anwaar ul Haq Kakar has been selected to serve as Pakistan's caretaker prime minister. (Source photos by AFP/Jiji and AP) 
Politics

Who is Anwaar Kakar, Pakistan's new caretaker prime minister?

Army favorite faces ailing economy, militancy seen in Chinese convoy attack

15 August 2023
An Afghan woman walks past a banned beauty salon in Kabul on July 6. Despite international calls to do more to defend women's rights, there is little consensus on what "more" should be. 
Asia Insight

Afghanistan rulers win tacit acceptance as women face 'apartheid'

World struggles to give aid without helping Taliban as regime enters third year

15 August 2023
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets with folk artists after addressing the nation during Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi in 2022.
Your Week in Asia

India, Indonesia, Singapore leaders to speak; Kishida-Yoon-Biden summit

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

13 August 2023
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a meeting of G20 environment and climate ministers in Chennai, India via video on July 28. (Photo courtesy of Indian government)
Comment

Why India wants a free hand, strategically speaking

Modi prefers a balancing act rather than becoming a semi-ally of the West

13 August 2023
Analysts say China's diplomatic and trade relations with the Taliban are based on pragmatic geopolitical calculations. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
Afghanistan turmoil

China cultivates transactional Taliban ties as Afghan regime turns 2

Investments aim to leave West 'little space,' push Kabul to contain militants

13 August 2023