India
COVID is back - a new "NB.1.8.1" strain is spreading across continents
The coronavirus (COVID-19) is back. Reports from health authorities around the world have detected a new highly contagious strain of the virus that has been spreading through Asia and has now reached Russia.
Combined effort to tackle Asian climate change gaining momentum
Over the past five years Asia has witnessed unprecedented heatwaves, with countries like Bangladesh recording temperatures up to 43.8°C in 2024, leading to nationwide school closures affecting tens of millions of children
Inside Malaysia’s $107bn semiconductor gamble
By betting big on chips, Malaysia is not just investing in factories and engineers, it’s investing in long-term technological sovereignty. As the global race for semiconductors accelerates, Malaysia is proving it intends to play for keeps.
India’s remote Northeast emerges as a green energy frontier
India’s Northeast is gaining renewed strategic and economic significance as the country recalibrates its regional posture amid evolving geopolitical dynamics
COMMENT: How Nepal and Bhutan navigate the India-China rivalry
While New Delhi flexes its military posture to signal resolve both to Beijing and Islamabad, neighbouring microstates like Nepal and Bhutan find themselves compelled to recalibrate their security interests and economic alignments.
COMMENT: Ranking the top 60 economies’ exposure to US tariffs
US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 50% tariff hike on the EU has put the cat amongst the pigeons again. If he follows through then Europe, which is highly dependent on US trade, will be amongst the most damaged economies in the world.
MACRO ADVISORY: Mongolia rising, but critically linked to China
Three years ago, Mongolia was broke and facing a possible debt default. It suffered a big drop in the volume and value of copper and coal exports to China during 2020-2021. Now it is doing better, but its fate is tied to China.
Countdown to disaster: timelines to cross temperature thresholds tabulated
The Climate Crisis is accelerating and all the main players predict that the world will warm by more than the 1.5C Paris Agreement target by next year and the 2C maximum will be broached by 2037 – far earlier than previously forecast.
Sunlight heating effect on earth more than doubles in the last decade
Global warming results from man-made greenhouse gas emissions that have doubled the heating effect from incoming sunlight, which is now more than the heat radiated by earth into space in the last decade, according to a research paper.
Indian passenger vehicle sales continue to set fresh records
Domestic PV sales hit a record for April 2025, with 348,847 units sold—up 3.9% year-on-year, according to the latest data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).
Record temperatures around the world – Statista
A heat wave is sweeping across South Asia, with temperatures having reached 44°C in India’s Jaipur and 50°C in Pakistan’s Shaheed Benazirabad in April, Statista reports.
India poised to become world's third-largest economy by FY2030–31
Despite this, India continues to maintain its status as the fastest-growing large economy, even amid a moderation in real GDP growth projected for FY2024–25.
COMMENT: How Europe can win the digital nomad race
Record levels of immigration are dominating political debate in the world’s wealthiest countries. But there is a latent trend, still bubbling under the surface, which might soon occupy the minds of Western policymakers: emigration.
COMMENT: Vying for influence in Southeast Asia – Russia VS America
Although both nations have engaged with the region historically and continue to do so in the present day, their roles, influence, and staying power differ markedly.
EVs to account for one in four car sales this year
Global electric vehicle sales are expected to more than triple by 2030, reaching 45mn units annually, driven by expanding markets in China and strengthening policy support in advanced and emerging economies, according to the IEA.
Could BRICS redefine Asia’s power balance?
For Asian countries outside the current BRICS framework, the stakes are high. Membership could mean enhanced access to financial resources, a larger voice in global institutions, and strengthened ties with emerging powers.
The world is getting darker, absorbing more sunlight, which is accelerating the Climate Crisis
The world is getting darker as the ice melts and that means it is absorbing more and more sunlight, which is accelerating the process.
India asserts regional air superiority with Operation Sindoor success
Between May 7 and 10 during what it dubbed Operation Sindoor, India executed a swift and precise air campaign against Pakistan, showcasing its advanced indigenous aerial capabilities and shifting regional perceptions of air superiority.
India's April inflation drops to lowest level since 2019
The steepest moderation came in food inflation, which eased to 1.78% y/y from 2.69% in March. This is the lowest reading since October 2021.
Russia eyes deeper coal partnership with India amid long-term supply plans
Russia’s coal reserves are sufficient to meet domestic demand for over 500 years, and the country sees significant scope for deepening cooperation with India in the coal sector.