India
India likely to maintain neutral stance in Iran-Israel conflict
While New Delhi supports non-proliferation, it does not favour unilateral military solutions. A full-scale Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities could lead to regional chaos and spike oil prices, directly hurting Indian economic interests.
India’s civil aviation regulator finds no major safety issues in Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet
India’s civil aviation regulator said it found no major safety lapses in Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, following enhanced surveillance prompted by a recent crash that killed at least 271 people.
What the Iran-Israel war could mean for much of Asia
From energy security and trade disruptions to political polarisation and rising tensions among Muslim-majority nations such as Indonesia, Malaysia and nuclear armed Pakistan, the consequences for Asia could reshape regional dynamics.
COMMENT: Middle East oil shock scenarios pose inflation risk, but economic hit seen as modest
The threat of escalating conflict between Israel and Iran has returned geopolitical risk to the heart of the global oil market. Yet according to Oxford Economics, the macroeconomic fallout – even in the most extreme case – may be mild.
Number of recorded disasters up 50-fold since 1970 – OWID
Tracking the occurrence of natural disasters can save lives by helping countries prepare for future ones, Our World in Data (OWID) reports.
Air India crash toll rises to 270 as families face body identification delays
The death toll from the Air India aircraft disaster has climbed to 270, with relatives expressing anger over prolonged waits to receive severely burnt remains from the crash in Ahmedabad.
Why South Korea must prioritise bilateral nuclear research over fragmented one-off projects
Should South Korea continue spreading its efforts across short-term, individual projects – often tied to specific, time-consuming contracts – or should it double down on long-term, bilateral nuclear research partnerships?
Asia surges ahead in global EV race as the West struggles to keep pace
Asia has firmly established itself as the epicentre of the global electric vehicle revolution, driven by a powerful combination of vast consumer markets, robust infrastructure and unparalleled control over essential raw materials.
Air India crash – no survivors claim now questioned
Air India has released details of those on board listed on the manifest, with 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese and one Canadian among the passengers.
ASIA BLOG: The Russians are coming, and coming, and coming...
Since President Putin announced partial mobilisation in September 2022, hundreds of thousands of Russian men – mainly in their 20s and early 30s – have fled the country to avoid being drafted. Many have ended up in Southeast Asia.
CNG vehicle adoption accelerates across India
Air pollution remains a severe public health challenge in North India, especially during the winter months, with several cities in the region regularly feature among the world’s top ten most polluted.
COMMENT: Despite Pakistan’s hostility, India builds bridges with Islamic world
New Delhi's outreach to the Islamic world has intensified in recent years, particularly towards the Gulf Cooperation Council states, which are pivotal to India's energy security, diaspora well-being, and trade balance.
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ASIA BLOG: How US tariffs are driving Asia closer to itself – and China
What’s striking right now is how ASEAN is operating on two levels. Publicly, it champions inclusivity and dialogue. Privately, it’s hedging harder than ever.
CITIES IN PERIL: Rising seas threaten India’s coastal cities
More than 10% of Mumbai is at risk of submergence by 2040 after it recorded the highest sea level rise among Indian coastal cities in the last three decades.
Global energy investment to reach a record $3.3 trillion in 2025, but problems with grids remain – IEA
Global energy investment is projected to reach a record $3.3 trillion in 2025, despite continued economic uncertainty and heightened geopolitical risks, according to the International Energy Agency.
COMMENT: Asian unity in a fragmenting world boosted by the RCEP
In the face of renewed US protectionism and the use of tariffs as economic weapons, RCEP offers the Indo-Pacific region something far more strategic: a framework for resilience, integration and independence.
COMMENT: Asia's team lists in the Washington VS Beijing bout
While fewer in number, some Asian nations have displayed clear signs of alignment or strategic proximity to China.
BRICS nations formulate first ever joint Climate Crisis policy
The BRICS bloc approved its first coordinated climate finance framework on May 30, marking the group’s first unified policy to fund climate action and setting the foundation for a shared position ahead of the COP30 meeting due to be held in Brazil.
COMMENT: US Defence Secretary Hegseth tells Asian countries war with China “could be imminent”
US Secretary for Defence Pete Hegseth put the cat amongst the pigeons during a speech at the at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31, by telling the leading Asian countries they should join with the US and get ready for war with China.
India overtakes Japan to become world's fourth largest economy in nominal terms
The size of India’s economy has overtaken Japan’s to become the fourth largest economy in the world in nominal terms, worth $4.34 trillion.