Female workers in Bangladesh's garment factories face numerous pressures and hurdles.
Society

Bangladeshi women in garment industry held back by knowledge gap

'Magic bullet' of education seen as key to opening up managerial opportunities

25 August 2024
New Gwadar International Airport, set to be Pakistan's largest air hub by size, was built with a $246 million grant from China. (Screenshot from New Gwadar International Airport's Facebook page) 
Transportation

Pakistan delays China-funded airport opening over security fears

Critics say $246m 'vanity' project risks turning into a white elephant

23 August 2024
A Russian-owned oil tanker. An Indian refiner says the country's "requirement for Russian oil is going to go up as long as there are no further tightening of sanctions."
Trade

India surpasses China to become Russia's top oil buyer in July

Russian crude makes up a record 44% of India's overall imports

22 August 2024
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka in 2019.
Economy

India economic report card triggers debate over China investment

Influential annual review encourages Delhi to loosen FDI rules to boost growth

20 August 2024
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Source photos by Reuters)
International relations

Malaysia's Anwar focuses on BRICS and trade in first India trip

Strong semiconductor partnership possible between the two countries, analysts say

19 August 2024
Vietnam's new leader To Lam, a former police officer, was appointed Communist Party general secretary in August. 
Your Week in Asia

Japan-India 2+2, Thai GDP, Vietnam leader in China

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

18 August 2024
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus at Charles de Gaulle Airport near Paris on Aug. 7. The microcredit pioneer was asked to lead a caretaker government in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh turmoil

Nobel winner Yunus picking up 'mess' left by ousted Bangladesh PM

Microcredit pioneer in charge after nemesis Sheikh Hasina flees

14 August 2024
France's TotalEnergies sold its stake in a network of 800 fueling stations in Pakistan.
Business trends

TotalEnergies' Pakistan exit stirs company exodus fears

French energy major latest Western multinational to quit crisis-hit Asian nation

13 August 2024
Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin, center, swears in Muhammad Yunus, right, in Dhaka on Aug. 8: The interim government is a diverse, nonpartisan team of activists, academics and retired officials. 
Asia Insight

Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus carries hopes of economic change

Optimists look toward post-protest recovery from trade and business disruptions

13 August 2024
Taliban fighters outside the Interior Ministry in Kabul in August 2021, after the militant group retook power in Afghanistan.
Your Week in Asia

Taliban takeover anniversary, Japan GDP, Greater China earnings

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

11 August 2024
A Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts factory that makes transmission systems for hybrid cars in Bidadi, in the southern Indian state of Karnataka.
Opinion

India is well placed to become the 'next China' and drive global growth

Nation faces opportunities and challenges in becoming an economic powerhouse

9 August 2024
The government change in Bangladesh came just after its credit rating was downgraded by S&P.
Economy

Bangladesh crisis leaves global markets bracing for economic impact

Garment exporter faces new financial risks ahead of exiting 'least developed' status

8 August 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris' jump to the top of the Democratic Party's 2024 presidential election ticket caught many Washington diplomats off guard. While they weigh whether she will extend President Joe Biden's current Asia policies, they must also prepare for the prospect of a new, unpredictable term for former President Donald Trump.
The Big Story

Harris takes on Trump: Asia braces as U.S. heads toward poll

As diplomats weigh policy hints, VP picks Walz and Vance vie for working class votes

7 August 2024
People enter former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's official residence in Dhaka after her resignation on Aug. 5.
Bangladesh turmoil

Bangladesh PM Hasina's dramatic fall from grace: 5 things to know

Leader's 15-year hold on power collapsed as mass protests raged over violence

6 August 2024
Men run past a Dhaka shopping center set on fire by protesters during a rally against Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Aug. 4.
Bangladesh turmoil

Bangladesh PM Hasina faces calls to quit as political crisis boils

Critical test for leader's 15-year hold on power as nation plunges into fresh unrest

5 August 2024
Ola Electric founder Bhavish Aggarwal on a scooter at a press briefing in Mumbai on July 29. Ola is set to go public in India's biggest IPO this year.
Your Week in Asia

India's Ola Electric goes public, Australia-U.S. two-plus-two, Indonesian GDP

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

4 August 2024
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, third from left, attends Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony at the presidential palace in New Delhi on June 9.
International relations

Maldives pushes to mend relations with India, eyeing tourism and aid

President thanks New Delhi for financial support; tourism minister visits India

3 August 2024
Protesters engage in a clash in Dhaka on July 16. Bangladesh has been plunged into unrest after demonstrations against government job quotas. 
Bangladesh turmoil

Bangladesh protest movement launches foreign remittance freeze

Campaign calls on nearly 10 million expats to pressure government over violence

2 August 2024
Supporters of the Balochistan Yakjehti Committee listen to their leader speak during the Baloch National Gathering in Gwadar on the southwestern coast of Pakistan on July 28.
Politics

Protests disrupt Pakistan's Gwadar, home of Chinese-controlled port

Turmoil led by group demanding recovery of victims of enforced disappearances

1 August 2024
S&P said in a note on July 30, "Bangladesh's external liquidity is weakening, as indicated by sustained depletion of its official foreign exchange reserves."
Economy

S&P cuts Bangladesh's debt rating to 'B+' from 'BB'

Downgrade reflects continued decline in foreign exchange reserves

30 July 2024
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
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
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
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