All Asia: South & Central
Alliance under strain: Pakistan rethinks Taliban ties after attacksWhat does it take to make a friend an enemy? Pakistan 鈥� once seen as sympathetic to the Taliban 鈥� is reassessing its relationship with the neighboring regime after a series of terror attacks on its soil.
First LookPress freedom erodes further in India with recent raid, confiscationIndian police are facing criticism after raiding NewsClick, a journalism organization in New Delhi. NewsClick has been lauded for its independence, but international press monitors warn that press freedom is eroding in India.
First LookSouth Asia is the fastest growing region. Why are analysts concerned?South Asia is expected to grow by 5.8% this year, according to the World Bank, making it the fastest-growing region in the world. However, analysts are worried that the current rate is unsustainable 鈥� even as growth remains below pre-pandemic levels.
First LookClimate change: Even India鈥檚 monsoon season is wetter than normalIndia has experienced more property damage in this year鈥檚 monsoon season than in the past five seasons combined. The damage is worsened by climate change and exacerbated by unregulated development and lack of state preparedness.聽
Pakistan鈥檚 鈥榤averick鈥� chief justice aims to restore court鈥檚 credibilityPakistan鈥檚 new chief justice is breaking norms by pushing for transparency and accountability 鈥� values that bode well for the country鈥檚 democratic institutions.
In Maldives presidential election, China and India are on the ballotIn the Maldives, voters have an opportunity to recalibrate their foreign policy by electing either a pro-China or pro-India president.
First LookIndia-Canada tensions intensify debate over Sikh independent stateIn Canada, the assassination of a聽Sikh separatist leader has renewed the debate over whether there is widespread support in the diaspora for聽an independent Sikh state.
First LookHotter climate leads to big drop in hydropower in China, IndiaAsia is relying more on fossil fuels after hydropower generation in China and India declined at the fastest rate in decades after record heat. The two countries account for around three-fourths of Asia鈥檚 power generation but are struggling to produce.聽
The ExplainerWhy this Sikh activist鈥檚 killing has divided India and CanadaThe diplomatic drama unfolding between India and Canada has roots in a decades-old movement for an independent Sikh state 鈥� a vision that sparked violence in the 1980s and continues to color India鈥檚 foreign politics.
Can India鈥檚 Eurasian trade corridor give China a run for its money?A newly announced economic corridor stretching from India to Europe could help accelerate economic development, as well as counter China鈥檚 growing international influence.聽
G20 summit: How India put the Global South in the spotlightThe Global South has long demanded better representation in the G20. India helped move the needle forward, laying the groundwork for more robust cooperation in the future, though it faces one final hurdle at this weekend鈥檚 summit.
Sri Lanka searches for solutions amid exodus of doctorsAn exodus of health care workers is straining Sri Lanka鈥檚 stressed medical system. Doctors are weighing their professional responsibility against their own well-being.
G20 face-lift: Delhi removes poor people, but not povertyDelhi鈥檚 push to get beggars off the streets before the G20 summit makes for a more attractive event, but makes life harder for the city鈥檚 poorest people.
Blasphemy claims triggered mob violence. Can Pakistan move forward?As attacks on churches draw attention to the country鈥檚 controversial blasphemy laws and growing intolerance, some worry the promise of a secular Pakistan is under threat.
How India won the race to the moon鈥檚 south poleLanding the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft near the moon鈥檚 strategically important south pole is a major milestone for India鈥檚 space program, demonstrating what can be achieved with modest resources.
Editor jailed, staff evicted, website shut: An Indian newsroom鈥檚 fateThe Indian government has ordered the closure of one of the few independent news outlets in Kashmir, after arresting its editor and harassing staff.
Why a free election 鈥榮eems almost impossible鈥� in PakistanCentral to a functioning democracy is the freedom to choose one鈥檚 own leaders. But as Pakistan enters a transition period, many see familiar cycles of disenfranchisement.
First LookPakistan鈥檚 Imran Khan is in prison for corruption. What comes next?Former Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan has been transferred to a high-security prison after being convicted of corruption. His supporters say a聽flurry of legal filings is part of an attempt to sideline the popular opposition leader.
India鈥檚 opposition parties team up to beat Modi. Is it enough?A common enemy can be a powerful unifier. But in India, a new rainbow coalition will need to dig deeper if it wants to sweep the polls and stop the country鈥檚 democratic backslide.
First LookDeadly attack in Pakistan reflects divisions between Islamist groupsIn Pakistan, a suicide bombing at an election rally for a pro-Taliban cleric killed 54 and injured nearly 200 on Sunday. Although no one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, it appears to reflect divisions between Islamist groups in the region.
