South Asia

Cancer crisis intensifies globally, hitting low-resource countries hardest

Once seen as a disease of the wealthy, cancer now affects all regions, with a growing share of cases and deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries

Floods Ravage Asia Rising climate risks leave over 1,300 dead and $20 billion in damage

Severe floods triggered by cyclones and monsoon rains have killed more than 1,300 people across South and Southeast Asia and caused economic losses of at least $20 billion.

Heat could kill 46 people per hour in South Asia by 2045, study finds

A study in the journal Tropical Medicine and Health projects that climate change could double South Asia's annual heat-related deaths to nearly 400,000 by 2045, with India and Pakistan most at risk

East Timor, Asia's youngest nation, officially becomes Asean's 11th member

Also known as Timor-Leste, the country of 1.4 million people is among Asia's poorest and hopes to see gains from integrating its fledgling economy

Datanomics: How India-Afghanistan ties have shifted under Taliban 2.0

India cautiously renews economic engagement with Afghanistan, balancing humanitarian aid and trade ties without extending formal recognition to the Taliban regime

Time to expand bilateral ties between India, Mongolia, says President Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said it is time to further expand bilateral ties between India and Mongolia by adding contemporary dimensions of cooperation. Welcoming Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa and his delegation to Rashtrapati Bhavan, she said that shared cultural heritage and democratic values are the foundation of India-Mongolia relations. India and Mongolia are 'Strategic Partners', 'Third Neighbours', and 'Spiritual Neighbours', the President said. Murmu said India attaches the highest priority to its development and capacity-building partnership with Mongolia, and is fully committed to the timely completion of all the projects currently underway, which will emerge as lasting symbols of India-Mongolia friendship and cooperation. The President also appreciated the close cooperation between the two countries, as members of the Global South, in multilateral fora, including at the United Nations. Both leaders agreed that it is time to further expand the bilateral

World Bank cuts South Asia outlook to 5.8% on Trump tariffs to India

Washington-based institution projected South Asia's growth to ease to 5.8 per cent in 2026, down from 6.6 per cent this year, a sharper slowdown than previously anticipated.

Indonesia's military expanding power, raising authoritarian fears

Groundwork was laid in March, when lawmakers approved changes to the 2004 Indonesian Military Law, which broadened the government's ability to appoint serving military officers to civilian positions

How angry Gen Z kids in Nepal sparked Asia's deadliest uprising of 2025

The protests escalated dramatically on Sept. 8, when police fired on groups of young demonstrators, killing more than 20 people

South Asia lived with inequality. Then 'nepo babies' fuelled public outrage

South Asia stayed calm as the upper-middle class aspired to a globalised life, but slowing growth, tech shifts, and travel limits, amplified by TikTok and Instagram, are stoking frustration

India jumps a place on innovation ladder, leads Central, South Asia pack

India performed better in innovation outputs than innovation inputs in 2025. The country's R&D investments fell to 7.8% in 2019-20, However, in the decade (2010-20) it rose 3.1%

Nepal's convulsions, lessons for India: Rethinking South Asian integration

There have been half-hearted efforts to remake South Asia in the image of the European Union or at least the Asean, but now they seem to have been given up entirely

'With China's rise in South Asia, India's neighbours have greater demands'

Beyond the hard and more visible dimensions of trade, investment, or defence supplies, we show that China's engagements also operate on softer dimensions that shape the governance

Airbus appoints Jrgen Westermeier as President, MD for India, South Asia

Airbus has appointed Jrgen Westermeier as the President and Managing Director for India and South Asia. The appointment of 53-year-old Jrgen, currently the Executive Vice-President and Chief Procurement Officer at Airbus, will be effective from September 1, the aircraft maker said in a release on Wednesday. He will succeed Rmi Maillard, who will become Executive Vice-President Engineering for Commercial Aircraft and Head of Technology at Airbus. India is a key market for Airbus, which has a significant presence in commercial aircraft and defence segments. "In his new role, Jrgen will spearhead Airbus' business in India and South Asia, across Commercial Aircraft, Defence and Space, and Helicopters. He will be responsible for commercial aircraft sales and for expanding the company's footprint in the region, which includes services, engineering, digital, innovation and training. "Jrgen will also help advance Airbus' commitment to 'Make in India' by supporting the company's campaigns

Frequent disasters expose climate risks to infrastructure in South Asia

Floods that damaged hydropower dams in Nepal and destroyed the main bridge connecting the country to China show the vulnerability of infrastructure and need for smart rebuilding in a region bearing the brunt of a warming planet, experts say. The flooding of the Bhotekoshi River on July 8 also killed nine people and damaged an inland container depot that was being built to support increasing trade between the two countries. The 10 damaged hydropower facilities, including three under construction, have a combined capacity that could power 600,000 South Asian homes. Another smaller flood in the area on July 30 damaged roads and structures, but caused less overall destruction. Nepal's location in the Himalayan mountains makes it especially vulnerable to heavy rains, floods and landslides because the area is warming up faster than the rest of the world due to human-caused climate change. Climate experts say the increasing frequency of extreme weather has changed the playbook for assessin

South Asia achieves record immunisation coverage: WHO, Unicef data

South Asia has achieved its highest-ever immunization coverage for children, with notable progress in India and Nepal, according to new data released on Tuesday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF for 2024. India reduced its number of zero-dose children those who have not received a single vaccine by 43 per cent, from 1.6 million in 2023 to 0.9 million in 2024. Nepal achieved a 52 per cent reduction, from 23,000 to 11,000, a WHO statement said. Pakistan also recorded its highest-ever DTP3 (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) coverage at 87 per cent. However, Afghanistan continued to struggle, with the lowest coverage in the region and a one percentage point decline since last year, it added. The progress marks a milestone in the region's efforts to protect every child from vaccine-preventable diseases. "This is a proud moment for South Asia. More children are protected today than ever before, thanks to tireless frontline health workers, strong government leadership, ...

Indian Americans increasingly occupy liminal space between self-identities

A new survey finds multiple forms of connectivity with India and Indian-origin identity; interestingly, acknowledgement and appreciation of Indian-ness seems to be rising rather than falling

Critical thinking vital as society adapts to AI: Deloitte South Asia CEO

Artificial Intelligence, the disruptive tech force reshaping industries and daily life, will create far more opportunities than it eliminates, Deloitte South Asia CEO Romal Shetty said emphasising that critical thinking and ethical oversight must stay central as society adapts to this new era. Weighing in on the ongoing debate over whether or not AI may cause a lowering of human cognitive abilities overtime, Shetty told PTI in an interview that developing independent and critical thinking is crucial when it comes to young minds. That said, at more advanced stages, AI can serve as an extremely helpful and a must-have tool, aiding, not replacing, human ingenuity. His comments assume significance against the backdrop of a new study from researchers at MIT's Media Lab on impact of GenAI on critical thinking abilities. It revealed that although AI tools can improve efficiency, in the study those who relied excessively on GenAI, overtime remembered less. To a question on impact of AI on .

PM Modi's five-nation tour to focus on critical mineral partnerships

China, the world's biggest producer of rare earth elements, has begun restricting exports of the minerals as it increasingly uses its dominance for geopolitical leverage

Mamdani's NYC mayoral primary win leaves South Asians, Muslims electrified

The success of Zohran Mamdani in New York City's Democratic primary for mayor is euphoric for Hari Kondabolu, a stand-up comedian who's been friends with the candidate for 15 years. Mamdani stunned the political establishment when he declared victory in the primary on Tuesday, a ranked choice election in which his strongest competition, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, conceded defeat. When he launched his campaign, the unabashed democratic socialist ranked near the bottom of the pack. Now, the 33-year-old state assemblyman has a chance to be New York City's first Asian American and Muslim mayor. Mamdani's family came to the United States when he was 7, and he became a citizen in 2018. He was born to Indian parents in Kampala, Uganda. For Kondabolu, this moment is not just exciting, but emotional. I think so many of us have had those experiences in New York of being brown and in a city that has always been really diverse and feels like ours. But after 9/11, like you start to ...