Bangladesh fulfills an important stabilising role in South Asia. It has been able to perform this function in the last decade because of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s efforts to fortify the domestic scenario by first cracking down on terror outfits – and their political fronts. The clean-up was necessary, but a robust Opposition and democratic institutions need to be nourished too

The protests sweeping the world have reached Pakistan. The issues are similar, such as corruption and rising living costs, but there are significant differences between the Pakistani and global protests.

Partisan media coverage of the anti-government protests in Hong Kong points to a new Cold War between the United States and China. The author examines the divergent approaches of the Chinese and international media and the biases they betray

The immediate panic in the aftermath of the missile attack on Saudi Aramco’s facility at Abqaiq underlines the still-critical role of the Kingdom to the world economy. The subsequent recovery of oil production – with no disruption – showed that Saudi Arabia is a reliable partner/guarantor of energy supplies. Our Energy and Environment fellow Amit Bhandari was in Riyadh recently for a conference, and describes a post-Abqaiq Saudi Arabia

India’s traditions are finally getting their due – with a Geographical Indication tag. This opens up a world of soft power for India. The first GI tag was given to Darjeeling tea. Now, after over a decade, the first ever GI store has opened at Goa’s airport. One of the Goan products on sale is feni, a popular local brew, which, with its new GI tag, can make a global splash

The announcement by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi of a new position of a Chief of Defence Staff is a long-pending and vital appointment for national security, but it will be effective only if the defence apparatus is also overhauled

India and Japan have emerged close strategic partners, particularly in the current decade. They are cooperating for the economic development of India’s landlocked North East Region through connectivity building and infrastructure projects. The Modi government’s Act East policy has been a major impetus in the flow of Japanese assistance. Such cooperation also comes in direct response to China’s BRI

The Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) is a 250-km-long militarised border that divides the Korean peninsula roughly into half. It is one of the most heavily guarded borders in the world. The author, who had a unique opportunity to visit the DMZ, narrates her experience

The reelected BJP government faces the dual challenges of agriculture stress and weak employment. The author believes that India's world standing in food and agriculture gives it a platform to address the issue of genetically modified seeds, and that performance risk insurance should be used to support financing for Small and Medium Enterprises

The U.S.-China trade dispute and Australia’s concerns about China’s growing influence in its internal affairs and the neighbourhood present an opportunity for New Delhi and Canberra to step up their security engagement, bilaterally, and in the Indo-Pacific