Politics

22 September 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump's imposition of a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, almost three-fourths of which went to Indian immigrants last year, is set to hurt Indian IT services companies such as HCL, which deploys thousands of workers on-site to help clients with projects.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus. (Source photos by Reuters and Getty Images)
Opinion

Pakistan and Bangladesh must turn the page on the past

Shared economic needs and climate pressures may succeed where history and politics have long failed

22 September 2025
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a 'Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement' in Riyadh on Sept. 17. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters)
Defense

Pakistan seen as net security provider in Gulf after Saudi agreement

Strategic pact gives Islamabad access to Saudi advanced weaponry

19 September 2025
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Podcast: News Roundup

Vietnam's patriotic blockbuster and Nepal's Gen Z protests

Tune in to Nikkei Asia's podcast, bringing the region's key news to global listeners

19 September 2025
Geetanjali Kirloskar, co-chair of the Japan Council at the Confederation of Indian Industry, speaks at the Nikkei India-Japan Economy and Investment Forum in Bengaluru on Sept. 18. (Photo by Satoshi Iwaki)
International relations

Trade wars boosting India-Japan cooperation, business lobby figure says

Drive for 'self-reliance' is growing, Confederation of Indian Industry rep tells Nikkei event

19 September 2025
Soldiers from the Pakistan Army following a militant attack in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in Pakistan on Sept. 2. At least 19 Pakistani soldiers and 45 TTP militants were killed in multiple clashes earlier this month.
International relations

Pakistan urges Afghan Taliban to choose a side: Islamabad or militants

Warning comes after recent deadly clashes and China's failure in mediation

19 September 2025
Parked vehicles are seen at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan after U.S. troops vacated the site in 2021.
Trump administration

Trump dream of retaking Bagram might look like Afghan reinvasion: sources

Base in Taliban land could need 10,000 troops to reopen and protect from militants, Iran

19 September 2025
Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, speaking during this year's May Day rally, has defied the opposition's doomsday predictions during his first year in office, but faces questions about progress on structural reforms and tackling poverty.
Policy Asia

Sri Lanka's leftist leader ditches dogma for economic pragmatism

President Dissanayake embraces private sector to stay on track with IMF bailout

19 September 2025
President of the Maldives Mohamed Muizzu has ratified a new media law, which could lead to fines of up to $1,620 against journalists and up to $6,485 against media companies for infringements.
Politics

Maldives ratifies controversial law targeting journalists and media outlets

New regulations enable government oversight of broadcasts and content compliance

18 September 2025
A woman in India-administered Kashmir watches a Pakistani drama on YouTube. Indians have been looking to virtual private networks to get around government restrictions on content from Pakistan. (Photo by Quratulain Rehbar)
Media & Entertainment

Indian viewers turn to VPNs for their fix of Pakistani drama

Fans of hugely popular serials use tech to skirt ban amid geopolitical tensions

18 September 2025
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, right, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif embrace after signing a defense agreement in Riyadh on Sept. 17. (Saudi Press Agency via Reuters)
Defense

Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan sign mutual defense pact

Gulf Arab states wary about US security commitment to region

18 September 2025
From left: Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stand together at the start of their meeting of the Quad in Washington on July 1.
Opinion

This is how the Quad dies ... again

If the partnership does end, it would rack up yet another win for China

18 September 2025
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets supporters during a public meeting in Imphal, in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur on Sept. 13.
Politics

Indian opposition slams Modi's belated visit to troubled Manipur

Analysts say move brings hope to people in strife-torn state, boosts BJP image

17 September 2025
Nepal's interim prime minister, Sushila Karki, looks on ahead of administering the oath of office to newly appointed ministers on Sept. 15. The site is a government building that was burned by protesters in demonstrations that earlier swept the nation.
Politics

Nepal's interim PM faces daunting task after deadly protests

Sushila Karki must pave way to elections within six months

17 September 2025
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump greet each other at the White House in Washington on Feb. 13.
Trump tariffs

India says trade discussions with US 'positive,' 'forward looking'

Modi, Trump speak by phone in first known direct discussions in 3 months

17 September 2025
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake gives a speech during a rally organized by the National People's Power party in Colombo, Sri Lanka on May 1. 
Politics

Sri Lanka scraps perks for ex-presidents in landmark austerity push

Former leaders are losing privileges such as official homes, staff and cars

16 September 2025
Shipping containers at Thar Dry Port in Sanand in the western part of Gujarat, India, on Aug. 27.
Trade

India's August merchandise trade deficit narrows, exports to US dip

Full impact of Washington's tariffs expected in September

16 September 2025
The Yarlung Zangbo River In Xizang, China. The river is known as the Brahmaputra after it curves into India. 
Opinion

China's Himalayan mega-dam is a global threat

The largest dam ever conceived symbolizes China's bid, from oil to water, for 21st-century dominance

16 September 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House in Washington on Feb. 13, 2025.
Opinion

India's muddled diplomacy rings hollow

Modi's bid for 'strategic autonomy' looks fragile under Trump's erratic second term

15 September 2025
Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki attends her swearing-in ceremony as Nepal's interim prime minister at the presidential residence in Kathmandu on Sept. 12.
Politics

Nepal sets March elections after naming interim prime minister

Worst nationwide deadly upheaval in years has spurred national reform

13 September 2025
Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki, right, take the oath of office as prime minister in Kathmandu on Sept. 12. (Nepalese President House via AP)
Politics

Ex-chief justice appointed interim Nepali PM in wake of protests

Sushila Karki faces tough task of maintaining order and addressing protesters' demands

13 September 2025
Left to right: Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Shigeru Ishiba and K.P. Sharma Oli. These three prime ministers being forced to cut their terms short and step down shows the instability of Asia's "revolving-door" leadership. (Source photos by Suzu Takahashi, Koji Uema and Reuters)
12 September 2025
Sushila Karki is the first woman to have served as chief justice of Nepal's Supreme Court.
Politics

Nepal's 'Gen Z' protesters eye ex-chief justice, rapper-turned-mayor as interim PM

Protests sparked by social media ban reflect years of resentment toward political elites

12 September 2025
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11 September 2025
A demonstrator holds a knife and Nepal's flag as smoke rises from the parliament complex during a protest in Kathmandu on Sept. 9.
Politics

After protests, what's next for Nepal? 5 things to know

Leadership vacuum and parties' loss of legitimacy complicate talks

10 September 2025
Demonstrators celebrate after entering the Nepal parliament complex during a protest in Kathmandu on Sept. 9.
Politics

Nepal PM Oli resigns as protesters set fire to his home

Cabinet colleagues had quit after protests over social media ban had turned deadly

9 September 2025
A demonstrator in Kathmandu, Nepal, shouts slogans during a Sept. 8 protest against corruption and a government decision to block multiple social media platforms. 
Politics

Nepal lifts social media ban after 19 killed in protests

Shutdown of likes of Facebook prompted large anti-corruption demonstrations

9 September 2025
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks to the media at the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 7.
International relations

Brazil's Lula urges tighter BRICS trade ties as tariffs bite

He rips 'tariff blackmail' in meeting with bloc leaders including Modi, Xi

9 September 2025
Demonstrators gather near Parliament during a protest against corruption and the government's decision to block several social media platforms, in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Politics

At least 19 killed in Nepal amid protests over social media ban, corruption

Curfew imposed near Parliament after protesters break barricade; home minister resigns

9 September 2025
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi walks with U.S. President Donald Trump during a White House visit in February. (White House photo)
Indo-Pacific

US-India rebuild: proposals range from LNG to new alliance

New Delhi ramps up lobbying but Trump likely to skip Quad

9 September 2025