Politics

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida talk before meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on March 20.
International relations

Kishida pledges $75bn for Indo-Pacific infrastructure on India trip

Japan PM vows support for Global South, invites Modi to G-7 in Hiroshima

20 March 2023
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, meets with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on Sept. 27, 2022.
Opinion

Japan and India must draw closer to check Chinese expansionism

Relationship central to Indo-Pacific region's power equilibrium and stability

17 March 2023
Eric Garcetti, then mayor of Los Angeles, speaks during the ninth Summit of the Americas, held during June 2022 in the city.
International relations

Nearly 2 years later, U.S. confirms Garcetti as ambassador to India

Washington fills crucial hole in global strategy, after nominee faced scandal

16 March 2023
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Moscow on Jan. 30: Moscow is believed to harbor suspicions about Islamabad's position.
Opinion

India is guzzling cheap Russian oil, but Pakistan cannot afford it

Teetering on edge of default, Islamabad needs IMF aid and exports to U.S.

15 March 2023
Supporters of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan block a road during clashes with police believed to be seeking to arrest the ex-leader in Lahore on March 14.
Politics

Pakistan police try to arrest ex-PM Imran Khan, confront supporters

Former leader urges nation to keep up fight 'if I go to jail or they kill me'

15 March 2023
A suicide blast killed 101 in a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan in January. Terror attacks in the country have increased since the Taliban took power in neighboring Afghanistan in August 2021.
The Big Story

Pakistan faces terrorism surge post-Afghan war

Islamabad helped bring the Taliban to power, now it faces the consequences

15 March 2023
Mumbai's financial district. India overtook the U.K. last year to become the world's fifth-largest economy.
Politics

India's path to overtake China hinges on tighter contract enforcement

With backlog of 50m disputes, modernizing rule of law key to attracting more investment

15 March 2023
Meghan O'Sullivan, the North American chair of the Trilateral Commission, speaks in New Delhi on March 12. O'Sullivan was deputy national security adviser for Iraq and Afghanistan under President George W. Bush. (Photo by Patrick Ishiyama)  
Indo-Pacific

Trilateral Commission calls 2023 'Year One' of new world order

Members discuss China, middle powers and ChatGPT at meeting in India

14 March 2023
India has big ambitions to expand its EV industry, and the "inferred" lithium deposits found in Jammu and Kashmir could help reduce its reliance on imported battery materials.
Commodities

India's big lithium find fuels hopes and fears in Jammu and Kashmir

Deposits could power EV boom but also affect environment, Pakistan tensions

14 March 2023
A U.S. soldier uses night vision goggles in Afghanistan in 2013. Pakistani Taliban militants are apparently using such gadgets to attack police under the cover of darkness.
Terrorism

U.S. arms left in Afghanistan surface in Pakistan Taliban insurgency

Advanced sniper rifles and night vision goggles used in attacks on police

12 March 2023
Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, right, talks with Saudi Minister of State and national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed Al Aiban in Beijing on March 10.
International relations

Iran-Saudi deal is good 1st step: ex-Egyptian foreign minister

Chinese mediation role an interesting new development, Fahmy says

11 March 2023
Private motorbike taxis have long plied the streets of India's sprawling capital, weaving through traffic jams to swiftly carry passengers to their destinations. (Photo by Aakash Hassan)
Transportation

New Delhi clampdown on motorbike taxis hits Uber, Ola

Thousands of drivers face rough road ahead amid government drive to enforce rules

9 March 2023
China has intesified its citizen surveillance while the military junta in Myanmar has imposed martial law, a report on political freedom says (Source photos by Reuters)
Politics

China keeps ranking as one of world's worst freedom abusers: report

Civil liberties, political rights broadly declined across Asia-Pacific last year

9 March 2023
A man carries a sack of vegetables at a main market in Colombo.
Sri Lanka crisis

China relents on Sri Lanka debt, paving way for bailout

Beijing eyes opportunity to extend clout over Global South

9 March 2023
Sri Lankan port workers protest against an income tax increase in Colombo on March 1, 2023. About a year after economic frustration ignited a popular uprising that forced a change of government, citizens are still feeling the strain.
Asia Insight

Sri Lanka says IMF aid in reach after year of anger, hunger and fear

President hints new China letter will seal deal; local elections in focus

7 March 2023
Rohingya refugees at the Kutupalong refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, gather on Aug. 25, 2022, to mark the fifth anniversary of their fleeing Myanmar to escape a military crackdown in 2017.
Myanmar Crisis

Donor fatigue deepens Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh

Amid competing crises, U.N. fears big funding shortfalls for camps

7 March 2023
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi, India, on March 1: India has sharply boosted its purchases of Russian oil since the war began.
Ukraine war

Russia works to ease visa regime for India, other countries: TASS

Closer ties also sought with Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines amid Ukraine war

6 March 2023
A Pakistan Army soldier stands guard near the Line of Control in the Charikot Sector of Kashmir in 2020.
International relations

Kashmir hopes 2-year cease-fire rekindles India-Pakistan trade

Locals say commerce across Line of Control offered glimpse of 'golden future'

5 March 2023
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shake hands in Tokyo in May 2022. 
International relations

Kishida aims to visit G-20 chair India from March 19

Japan's PM, as G-7 chair, wants to work with Modi on issues caused by Russia's war

4 March 2023
From left, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attend a Quad panel discussion at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on March 3.
International relations

Quad slams nuclear threats as 'inadmissible' in India huddle

U.S., Japan, India, Australia ministers urge Ukraine peace; Lavrov lashes out

3 March 2023
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the G-20 foreign ministers via video link in New Delhi on March 2.
International relations

Russia and West spar as G-20 communique remains elusive for India

Blinken speaks briefly with Lavrov, urges Russia to adhere to New Start arms treaty

3 March 2023
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi spoke for just 53 seconds at the upper house budgetary committee session on March 1. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
Politics

Japan foreign minister skips G-20, putting parliament first

Questions swirl over Tokyo's priorities as Hayashi spoke for just 53 seconds at hearing

2 March 2023
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov are set to attend a G-20 meeting in New Delhi. (Source photos by Reuters and Russian Foreign Ministry)
International relations

India hosts fresh G-20 talks with Blinken, Lavrov set to face off

Analysts expect 'rocky ride' as Ukraine war overshadows Global South priorities

2 March 2023
The Supreme Court of Pakistan in Islamabad has ruled that provincial elections must go ahead -- a verdict that poses a serious challenge for the ruling alliance.
Politics

Pakistan court orders provincial polls to go ahead, roiling politics

Imran Khan, government urged to negotiate on elections to avoid deeper crisis

1 March 2023
Voters arrive to cast their ballots during the Tripura state assembly election in Agartala, India, on Feb. 16. During the campaign, the idea of creating a separate state of "Greater Tipraland" fueled debate.
Politics

Does India need smaller states? Recent election reopens old debate

Proponents say breaking up big states would improve efficiency, minority representation

27 February 2023