https://www.scmp.com/rss/287411/feed Narendra Modi's crushing election win over the governing Congress party in May 2014, signalled a fresh opportunity for India to make major economic and social changes that the defeated Congress party-led United Progressive Alliance failed to achieve during its long rule. After his victory, Modi opted for a slimmer government than the previous administration, which he said would help speed up decision-making and slash India's notorious bureaucracy.  The Hindu nationalist leader has also made... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Rescue teams including navy divers in Bangladesh have recovered 24 bodies from a bus that plunged into a river at a ferry crossing, officials said on Thursday. The bus sank into the deep waters of the Padma river in Goalanda on Wednesday, about 65km (40 miles) west of the capital Dhaka. It had around 50 passengers on board, many of whom managed to escape. A fire service report said that 24 bodies, including those of five children, had been recovered by midday on Thursday. Some were pulled out by... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3348011/bangladesh-recovers-24-bodies-after-bus-plunges-river?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3348011/bangladesh-recovers-24-bodies-after-bus-plunges-river?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:56:46 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju As the Iran war reshapes West Asian geopolitics, Pakistan has unexpectedly emerged as a backchannel mediator between Tehran and Washington, potentially sidelining India’s efforts to assert itself as a credible global diplomatic actor. India, despite its growing partnerships with the US, Israel and the Gulf states, has been absent from any meaningful conflict-resolution initiative on Iran. Umer Karim, a political science researcher at the University of Birmingham, said India’s strengthening... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347999/pakistan-steps-iran-mediator-while-india-watches-wings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347999/pakistan-steps-iran-mediator-while-india-watches-wings?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:21:12 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow A visit by a top American official to India this week has raised expectations that bilateral defence ties are getting “back on track” amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. But analysts warn that both sides are unlikely to reach full agreement on New Delhi’s energy and security concerns, while the US-Israeli war against Iran could unsettle the relationship. Speaking in New Delhi on Wednesday, US Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby said India would play a central role in... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347980/india-and-us-seek-reset-defence-ties-iran-war-threatens-be-wild-card?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347980/india-and-us-seek-reset-defence-ties-iran-war-threatens-be-wild-card?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:07:43 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju As the world reels from the fallout of the Iran war, India is seeking to manage its risks and interests in the Middle East and beyond while maintaining its neutrality in the widening conflict. This can be seen in New Delhi engaging with combatants US and Iran, as well as other nations caught in the crossfire of the war, according to political analysts. In the past two weeks, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has spoken four times with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, while Prime... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347402/why-india-faces-dilemma-over-iran-war-while-seeking-diplomatic-flexibility?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347402/why-india-faces-dilemma-over-iran-war-while-seeking-diplomatic-flexibility?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 08:00:17 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow India’s move to supply Bangladesh with diesel as fuel prices soar amid the Iran war reflects its “first responder” role in the region and clout through the use of its critical commodities to deepen ties with neighbouring states. If the fuel shortages were to persist, however, India would have to balance between its own energy demand and that of its neighbours, according to observers. Bangladesh will be importing 45,000 tonnes of diesel from India by April, with 5,000 tonnes having been delivered... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3347372/india-steps-regional-energy-diplomacy-supplies-bangladesh-diesel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3347372/india-steps-regional-energy-diplomacy-supplies-bangladesh-diesel?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 12:52:25 +0000 Ambuj Sahu Ambuj Sahu In April 2020, as the world struggled with the Covid-19 pandemic and soldiers from India and China moved towards a large-scale border stand-off, New Delhi amended its foreign direct investment (FDI) policy to require prior government approval for all investments from countries sharing a land border with India – a measure directed at China. Nearly six years on, India has changed its FDI policy again. It is a significant move for India-China relations. During the pandemic, the FDI regulation... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3346614/indias-reopening-chinese-investment-reflects-strategic-pragmatism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3346614/indias-reopening-chinese-investment-reflects-strategic-pragmatism?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters Iran ⁠has allowed two Indian-flagged liquefied ⁠petroleum gas carriers to sail through the Strait of Hormuz, ⁠four sources with direct knowledge of the matter said, a rare exception to the Iranian blockade that has disrupted global energy supplies. The Indian-flagged LPG tanker Shivalik crossed the Strait under escort from the Indian Navy, said two of the sources, and the second vessel, Nanda Devi, was expected to clear in the ‌next few hours. Since the United States and Israel launched a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346565/iran-lets-2-india-flagged-gas-tankers-sail-through-strait-hormuz-insiders-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346565/iran-lets-2-india-flagged-gas-tankers-sail-through-strait-hormuz-insiders-say?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 18:35:10 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang India has relaxed curbs on Chinese investments in certain sectors to attract more foreign capital, as Beijing and New Delhi continue to gradually repair their economic relationship after years of tense relations. In a cabinet statement released on Tuesday, New Delhi introduced a fast-track approval mechanism for investments from land-bordering countries – including China. The move amends a previous restriction that had mandated government scrutiny for all such capital inflows. Under the new... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346213/india-opens-door-more-chinese-investment-after-6-year-freeze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346213/india-opens-door-more-chinese-investment-after-6-year-freeze?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:34:17 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse For years India’s economy was driven by its vast services sector that saw millions of people working away in low-cost back offices providing consultancy for predominantly Western companies. But over the past decade they have given way to centres that allow firms to tap top-tier talent and technology, where white-collar staff perform tasks ranging from IT and data analytics to innovation and design. Today, these centres are the shiniest parts of India’s red-hot economy but not everyone has been... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3345855/boom-times-indias-economy-opportunities-remain-uneven?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3345855/boom-times-indias-economy-opportunities-remain-uneven?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 05:15:07 +0000 Biman Mukherji,Maria Siow Biman Mukherji,Maria Siow The sinking of an Iranian warship by a US submarine off Sri Lanka’s coast has raised concerns across South and Southeast Asia that the Middle East conflict may be expanding into the Indian Ocean, while also intensifying political pressure in India for a stronger response. Analysts said the strike’s location near key sea lanes linking Asia with the Gulf had heightened fears the conflict could spill into waters vital to regional trade while also raising doubts in New Delhi over its cautious... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345575/us-sinking-iranian-warship-near-sri-lanka-sparks-regional-anxiety-pressure-india?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345575/us-sinking-iranian-warship-near-sri-lanka-sparks-regional-anxiety-pressure-india?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:00:50 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji India wants 100 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by mid-century. It currently has roughly 8GW. Getting there will require not just capital, technology and political will, but a reliable fuel supply that domestic production alone cannot provide. The 10-year uranium agreement signed on Monday when Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney met his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in New Delhi is designed to address exactly that constraint. Analysts say it is a structural commitment – one intended to meet... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345211/indias-100gw-nuclear-push-was-missing-one-thing-canada-just-provided-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345211/indias-100gw-nuclear-push-was-missing-one-thing-canada-just-provided-it?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 04:14:45 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse India and Canada on Monday reached a string of agreements, including on critical mineral cooperation and a “landmark” uranium supply deal for nuclear power, the countries’ leaders said in New Delhi. The pacts, which also covered technology and promoting the use of renewable energy, were announced after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney hailed a fresh start in the relationship between their nations. “Our ties have seen a new energy, mutual trust and... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3345162/india-canada-forge-deals-uranium-renewable-energy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3345162/india-canada-forge-deals-uranium-renewable-energy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 10:58:41 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju For years, India has prided itself on a foreign policy doctrine of “dehyphenation”: maintaining productive, parallel relations with conflicting countries such as Israel, Iran and the Arab Gulf states without letting any one bilateral tie poison the others. That doctrine is now being tested to the limit. The killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by US-Israeli strikes within days of Narendra Modi returning from a high-profile visit to Tel Aviv provided instant ammunition for the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345120/iran-conflict-puts-indias-cherished-middle-east-neutrality-test?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345120/iran-conflict-puts-indias-cherished-middle-east-neutrality-test?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:00:14 +0000 Holly Chik,Jane Cai,Shi Jiangtao,Meredith Chen,Amber Wang Holly Chik,Jane Cai,Shi Jiangtao,Meredith Chen,Amber Wang This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The US-Israel joint military campaign against Iran, now on day 3, has widened rapidly, with Iranian retaliatory missile and drone waves hitting Israel, American bases and Gulf states. Casualties include at least 555 people in Iran, four US service members killed, at least nine Israeli civilians dead, three in the United Arab Emirates and dozens in Lebanon.... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345089/iran-strikes-day-3-markets-open-sharp-sell-futures-and-asian-shares?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345089/iran-strikes-day-3-markets-open-sharp-sell-futures-and-asian-shares?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 04:39:58 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg At least 10 pro-Iranian protesters were killed in clashes with police as they tried to storm the gates of the US consulate in Pakistan’s main port city of Karachi on Sunday. Security forces opened fire at the consulate, resulting in the deaths of 10 protesters, with 34 injured, said Sukhdew Assardas Hamnani, a spokesman for the Sindh government. “The police reached the site and took the situation into control,” he said. Faisal Edhi, who runs Edhi Foundation, a rescue service, said several of... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3345061/10-killed-karachi-pro-iran-protests-erupt-across-pakistan-india?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3345061/10-killed-karachi-pro-iran-protests-erupt-across-pakistan-india?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 01:12:41 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji As tech titans and world leaders descended on New Delhi for the India AI Impact Summit in February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi set out his ambition for the country to become a major global power in artificial intelligence – a technology currently dominated by the United States and China. “My vision is that India should be among the top three AI superpowers globally, not just in the consumption of AI but in creation,” Modi told Asian News International in an interview about the summit. Top tech... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3344919/indias-ai-superpower-dream-lands-us200-billion-now-comes-hard-part?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3344919/indias-ai-superpower-dream-lands-us200-billion-now-comes-hard-part?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 06:00:13 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji The US Supreme Court’s ruling against President Donald Trump’s broad tariff measures could ease pressure on India over its contentious imports of discounted Russian oil even as New Delhi aims to reach a final trade agreement with Washington, according to analysts. Trump has said he is prepared to reduce the tariff on India’s exports to the US in return for a commitment from Delhi to curb its purchases of Russian oil. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed in early February that Delhi had... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3344916/india-limbo-over-russian-oil-imports-talks-us-trade-deal-continues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3344916/india-limbo-over-russian-oil-imports-talks-us-trade-deal-continues?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:56:59 +0000 Narendra Modi Narendra Modi At a defining moment in human history, the world gathered at the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. For us in India, welcoming heads of state, heads of government, delegates and innovators from across the world was a moment of immense pride and joy. India brings scale and energy to everything it does and this summit was no exception. Representatives from over 100 nations came together. Innovators showcased cutting-edge AI products and services. Thousands of young people could be seen in the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3344463/how-india-can-lead-charge-inclusive-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3344463/how-india-can-lead-charge-inclusive-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s coming trip to India is expected to further efforts for a diplomatic reset and strengthen Canada’s trade links with the world’s fourth biggest economy. Carney arrives in New Delhi on Thursday, as part of a regional tour that also takes in Australia and Japan. Analysts see this as a clear signal of Ottawa and Delhi’s shared intent to prioritise economic ties. Canada has positioned its talks with India as a key step in diversifying trade and reducing reliance... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3344592/canadas-carney-push-pragmatic-reset-india-trade-and-diplomacy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3344592/canadas-carney-push-pragmatic-reset-india-trade-and-diplomacy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 09:08:53 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji India and Brazil are stepping up efforts to boost trade cooperation among developing economies and regional blocs as a hedge against mounting global trade uncertainty, after signing agreements in New Delhi ranging from rare earths to digital infrastructure. The deals were sealed during Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s five-day visit to India, which ended on Sunday, in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In January, India assumed the rotating chair of the Brics... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3344457/india-brazil-intensify-trade-diversification-amid-trumps-tariff-threats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3344457/india-brazil-intensify-trade-diversification-amid-trumps-tariff-threats?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:06:25 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse India and Brazil agreed to boost cooperation on critical minerals and rare earths on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after talks in New Delhi with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. “The agreement on critical minerals and rare earths is a major step towards building resilient supply chains,” Modi said. Brazil has the world’s second-largest reserves of critical minerals, which are used in everything from electric vehicles, solar panels and smartphones to jet engines and... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3344221/india-brazil-sign-rare-earths-deal-build-resilient-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3344221/india-brazil-sign-rare-earths-deal-build-resilient-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 13:20:13 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Once a rival, always a rival. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off the busiest day of India’s AI Summit in New Delhi, he orchestrated a photo op with 13 other business and political leaders, all standing in a line and holding each other’s hands above their heads. Well, all of them except two. Sam Altman and Dario Amodei, CEOs of rivals OpenAI and Anthropic, were positioned next to each other and, awkwardly, refused to clasp each other’s hands. Instead, they stood with their arms crossed in... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3344074/openai-and-anthropic-ceos-refuse-hold-hands-during-modis-india-ai-summit-photo-op?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3344074/openai-and-anthropic-ceos-refuse-hold-hands-during-modis-india-ai-summit-photo-op?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 04:16:23 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji India and France have agreed to strengthen links between two of their largest ports and others, giving fresh momentum for a proposed commercial corridor stretching from South Asia to Europe that analysts say could rival China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The agreement between India’s Adani Ports and France’s Port of Marseille Fos marks a key step towards realising the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The memorandum of understanding, signed on Wednesday, calls for the creation of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343999/india-europe-trade-corridor-gathers-pace-modi-macron-pledge-port-partnership?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343999/india-europe-trade-corridor-gathers-pace-modi-macron-pledge-port-partnership?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 09:00:09 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron have upgraded their countries’ defence ties, a move analysts say signals New Delhi’s drive to curb dependence on foreign arms imports while cementing a closer security relationship with Paris in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific. The two leaders renewed a 10-year defence cooperation agreement and elevated ties to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership” on Tuesday, unveiling more than 20 areas of expanded cooperation... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343933/india-france-elevate-defence-ties-push-strategic-autonomy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343933/india-france-elevate-defence-ties-push-strategic-autonomy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:39:11 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse An Indian professor has falsely suggested a Chinese-made robot dog displayed at a major AI summit was developed by her university, prompting backlash in a situation politicians derided as “embarrassing” on Wednesday. The silver mechanical dog, a model sold by Chinese start-up Unitree, appeared at a booth run by the private Galgotias University at this week’s AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. Following online uproar over the professor’s claim in a televised interview, Galgotias said that while it... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3343900/indian-universitys-chinese-robot-dog-claim-ai-impact-summit-slammed-shameless?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3343900/indian-universitys-chinese-robot-dog-claim-ai-impact-summit-slammed-shameless?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 08:19:02 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse India’s environmental court has given the go-ahead to the strategically significant Great Nicobar infrastructure project despite widespread concerns of ecological damage to the island in the Andaman Sea. The National Green Tribunal on Monday dismissed a batch of petitions objecting to the megaproject on ecologically sensitive Great Nicobar island – around 160km (100 miles) northwest of Indonesia’s Aceh province – saying “adequate safeguards” had been taken into account. The infrastructure plan... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3343811/indias-huge-new-megaport-southeast-asia-gets-green-go-ahead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3343811/indias-huge-new-megaport-southeast-asia-gets-green-go-ahead?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 07:24:59 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Bangladesh has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend Tarique Rahman’s swearing-in as the country’s next leader, a gesture analysts say could help steady relations after months of strain between the neighbours. Rahman’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured victory in last week’s national polls, paving the way for the long-time opposition leader to take office after years on the political sidelines. Modi will not attend Tuesday’s ceremony because of prior commitments, but... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343731/bangladeshs-outreach-india-good-beginning-easing-strained-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343731/bangladeshs-outreach-india-good-beginning-easing-strained-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:00:19 +0000 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar As Western pressure tightens on traditional buyers of Russian crude, analysts say Indonesia’s status as a fast-growing net oil importer with limited fiscal headroom could position it as a potential new market for Moscow’s discounted supplies. But any shift towards Russian barrels would carry diplomatic risks, they add, particularly as Jakarta seeks to conclude sensitive trade negotiations with Washington and avoid complicating ties with the US and its allies. Indonesia has already come under... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343702/western-pressure-russian-oil-trade-brings-indonesia-focus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343702/western-pressure-russian-oil-trade-brings-indonesia-focus?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 05:59:30 +0000 Reuters Reuters Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push to accelerate the roll-out of rooftop solar power is falling short of targets despite heavy subsidies due to loan delays and limited support from state utilities, vendors and analysts say. The shortfalls represent the latest challenge to India’s efforts to nearly double clean energy capacity to 500 gigawatts by 2030, and come as the government plans to suspend clean energy tendering targets amid a mounting backlog of awarded projects yet to be... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3343665/indias-solar-power-push-misses-targets-red-tape-loan-refusals-hamper-transition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3343665/indias-solar-power-push-misses-targets-red-tape-loan-refusals-hamper-transition?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 01:48:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Award-winning Indian writer Arundhati Roy has said she is withdrawing from the Berlin Film Festival over jury president Wim Wenders’ comments that cinema should “stay out of politics” when asked about Gaza. Roy said in a statement on Friday that she was “shocked and disgusted” by responses from Wenders and other jury members to a question about the Palestinian territory at a press conference the day before. Roy, whose novel The God of Small Things won the 1997 Booker Prize, had been announced as... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3343567/indian-author-arundhati-roy-quits-berlinale-after-stay-out-politics-gaza-comments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3343567/indian-author-arundhati-roy-quits-berlinale-after-stay-out-politics-gaza-comments?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 06:12:02 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is poised to recalibrate Dhaka’s ties with India, Pakistan and China, while also addressing US concerns over Beijing’s growing influence in South Asia, following its decisive victory in Thursday’s general election. Analysts said this foreign policy agenda aligned with the party’s focus on economic development, even as it aimed to restore law and order after months of political unrest. The BNP said on social media that it had won enough parliamentary seats... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343508/bangladeshs-bnp-set-balance-ties-regional-powers-us-avoid-crossing-red-line?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343508/bangladeshs-bnp-set-balance-ties-regional-powers-us-avoid-crossing-red-line?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:08:15 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji India’s approval on Thursday of a 3.6 trillion rupee (US$40 billion) purchase of defence equipment – including 114 French-made Rafale fighter jets – will significantly boost the capabilities of the country’s armed forces amid heightened tensions with Pakistan, analysts say. The move comes as the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) fighter squadron strength has declined to 29, well below the 42 considered essential in the event of simultaneous conflicts with Pakistan and China. French President Emmanuel... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343434/how-indias-us40-billion-order-french-rafales-will-help-local-fighter-jet-makers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343434/how-indias-us40-billion-order-french-rafales-will-help-local-fighter-jet-makers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 05:49:23 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The White House revised its fact sheet on the US-India trade agreement to adjust language around agricultural goods, adding to confusion about the deal already raised by farmer groups. In a revised statement, the US removed a reference to pulses – a staple food in India that includes lentils and chickpeas – and changed some phrasing around India’s offer to buy more American goods. An earlier version on Monday released by the White House said India would “eliminate or reduce tariffs” on a wide... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343201/trumps-white-house-revises-india-trade-deal-sparking-confusion-over-terms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343201/trumps-white-house-revises-india-trade-deal-sparking-confusion-over-terms?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 10:42:40 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma India and China opened a new round of strategic dialogue as US tariffs on their exports spur the two Asian giants to broaden global trade ties and move beyond past disputes. Both countries “uphold the strategic perception that China and India are cooperative partners instead of rivals”, China’s foreign ministry said in a statement after Tuesday’s meeting in New Delhi between Executive Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. “China and India should deepen mutual... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/article/3343183/china-india-find-common-cause-push-multipolar-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/article/3343183/china-india-find-common-cause-push-multipolar-world?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:07:47 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan Senior diplomats from China and India met in New Delhi on Tuesday for what Beijing described as a new round of strategic dialogue, emphasising the need to view each other as partners rather than competitors amid shifting global dynamics. India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri hosted China’s Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, who was in the country for the Brics Sherpa Meeting from February 8 to 10. The two sides’ readouts of the meeting, however, revealed a persistent gap in how the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3343113/china-and-india-seek-reset-talks-old-fault-lines-remain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3343113/china-and-india-seek-reset-talks-old-fault-lines-remain?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 18:16:30 +0000 Reuters Reuters India’s government said on Tuesday ‍social media companies would have to take down unlawful content within three hours of being notified, tightening an earlier 36-hour timeline in what could be ⁠a compliance challenge for Meta, YouTube and X. The changes amend India’s 2021 IT rules, which have already been a flashpoint between Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and global technology companies. The amended rules also relaxed ‍an earlier proposal that would have required platforms to... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3343097/india-tightens-social-media-grip-x-youtube-meta-face-3-hour-takedown-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3343097/india-tightens-social-media-grip-x-youtube-meta-face-3-hour-takedown-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 13:38:52 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju The United States’ latest trade deal with India may be linked to a freeze on discounted Russian oil purchases, but analysts say it is unlikely to upset New Delhi’s decades-old defence ties with Moscow. Announcing the agreement last week, US President Donald Trump said tariffs on India imports would be cut from 18 to 50 per cent, tying the reduction to India halting its intake of Russian crude. “India has committed to stop directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil,” Trump said in an... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3342912/why-us-tariff-deal-cannot-sever-india-russia-defence-ties-structural-reality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3342912/why-us-tariff-deal-cannot-sever-india-russia-defence-ties-structural-reality?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 08:30:16 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday warned against allowing disputes over “illegal” houses of worship to spill into communal confrontation, after police detained 19 people linked to a planned rally in central Kuala Lumpur that authorities said risked inflaming racial and religious tensions. The “Anti-Illegal Houses of Worship” rally had been scheduled for around 8pm on Saturday near Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, close to the Sogo shopping complex. Police denied permission on security... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342883/malaysias-illegal-temple-row-pm-slams-vigilantism-after-rally-ban?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342883/malaysias-illegal-temple-row-pm-slams-vigilantism-after-rally-ban?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 05:05:29 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed an interim trade agreement with the United States, saying it would bolster global growth and deepen economic ties between the two countries. The pact cuts US “reciprocal” duties on Indian products to 18 per cent from 25 per cent, and commits India to large purchases of US energy and industrial goods. US President Donald Trump, while announcing the deal Tuesday, had said Modi promised to stop buying Russian oil over the war in Ukraine. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3342753/indias-modi-hails-great-news-after-us-slashes-tariffs-part-new-trade-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3342753/indias-modi-hails-great-news-after-us-slashes-tariffs-part-new-trade-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 06:47:27 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji When India sealed a landmark free-trade pact with the European Union last month, Brussels’ top bureaucrat saw more than an economic deal taking shape. “India has risen and Europe is truly glad about it,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared. “Because when India succeeds, the world is more stable, more prosperous and more secure.” Her words were more than just a diplomatic nicety; they reflected a growing consensus in European capitals that India has become an... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3342704/indias-trade-blitz-seeks-keep-sinking-global-order-afloat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3342704/indias-trade-blitz-seeks-keep-sinking-global-order-afloat?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 00:00:12 +0000 C. Uday Bhaskar C. Uday Bhaskar For the India-China-US triangle, the new US-India trade deal, announced with Trumpian flourish on social media on Monday, has potentially significant economic, geopolitical and strategic implications. US President Donald Trump’s post, which came after a phone call with Narendra Modi, said the Indian prime minister had committed to “BUY AMERICAN”, including over US$500 billion of US products. It also said Modi had “agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3342263/why-new-us-india-trade-agreement-big-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3342263/why-new-us-india-trade-agreement-big-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Fan Chen,Shi Jiangtao,Cao Jiaxuan Fan Chen,Shi Jiangtao,Cao Jiaxuan In the deepening shadow of US-China rivalry, India’s back-to-back trade pacts with the United States and the European Union mark a major tilt towards stronger economic ties with the West. While critical details – especially the scope of any reduction in Russian energy imports under the vague US agreement – remain unclear, experts predict the twin deals will give India leverage in its relationship with China and may slow the fragile thaw between New Delhi and Beijing. Meanwhile, New Delhi is... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342600/could-indias-twin-trade-agreements-set-back-its-improving-ties-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342600/could-indias-twin-trade-agreements-set-back-its-improving-ties-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 08:00:17 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse At least 18 people died on Thursday after an explosion ripped through an illegal coal mine in the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya, officials said. “During the course of the rescue operation, a total of 18 dead bodies have been recovered from the site of the explosion,” local police said in a statement. Eight other people were injured, said Manish Kumar, top official in East Jaintia Hills district where the explosion happened. Rescuers were digging through the rubble at the site to find... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3342565/18-dead-8-injured-explosion-illegal-india-coal-mine-police-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3342565/18-dead-8-injured-explosion-illegal-india-coal-mine-police-say?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:20:26 +0000 Richard Harris Richard Harris US President Donald Trump’s trip to Europe to speak at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss alpine town of Davos was possibly one he wished he had never made; such was its failure to impress. First, his plane had to turn back due to a technical problem. Second, he gave a typically hostile speech, but then he lived up to his nickname “Taco” (Trump always chickens out) over threats to invade Greenland that would have imperilled about a third of global trade. Third, he said disingenuously that if... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3342335/how-america-first-many-respects-puts-america-behind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3342335/how-america-first-many-respects-puts-america-behind?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:30:11 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji A trade deal reached between India and the United States could lead to closer geopolitical alignment between the two countries and bring New Delhi a step closer to becoming a leading manufacturing hub. But observers are sceptical that New Delhi may stop buying Russian crude oil, and whether the volume of American exports to India may surge in a short span of time. On Monday, US President Donald Trump said he would reduce the US tariff on Indian imports to 18 per cent from 25 per cent and remove... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3342233/why-india-may-gravitate-back-us-bloc-after-tariff-deal-two-way-trade-set-rise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3342233/why-india-may-gravitate-back-us-bloc-after-tariff-deal-two-way-trade-set-rise?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 09:00:31 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Hong Kong stocks rose on Tuesday amid stabilising risk sentiment, but losses in technology shares capped the upside amid market chatter that Chinese authorities may target financial and internet value-added services for tax-rate adjustments. The Hang Seng Index climbed 0.2 per cent to 26,834.77 at the close of trading, after rising as much as 1.3 per cent earlier. The Hang Seng Tech Index fell 1.1 per cent. On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index gained 1.2 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342166/hong-kong-stocks-rise-easing-geopolitical-tensions-precious-metals-gain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342166/hong-kong-stocks-rise-easing-geopolitical-tensions-precious-metals-gain?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 01:48:07 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan After more than a year of haggling, US President Donald Trump on Monday announced a major trade deal between Washington and New Delhi that significantly de-escalates economic tensions between the two nations. A White House official confirmed to the South China Morning Post that the deal will remove the 25 per cent punitive Russia oil tariffs. Trump in a social media post earlier said that he held a phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “He [Modi] agreed to stop buying Russian Oil,... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3342155/trump-lifts-russia-related-oil-tariffs-india-under-new-trade-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3342155/trump-lifts-russia-related-oil-tariffs-india-under-new-trade-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:00:12 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has sought to douse public speculation after his name appeared in a newly released email exchange involving Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted US sex offender whose web of connections to the rich and powerful remains a source of scandal years after his death. Anwar was among several world figures – including India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, billionaire Bill Gates and Britain’s disgraced former prince Andrew – mentioned in a tranche of Epstein-related... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342056/malaysias-anwar-brushes-epstein-speculation-queasy-emoji-post?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342056/malaysias-anwar-brushes-epstein-speculation-queasy-emoji-post?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 05:40:14 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg India’s government dismissed a reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel made by Jeffrey Epstein in an email in 2017. The US Justice Department released 3 million pages of material related to the late financier, a convicted sex offender, on Friday. In an email addressed to a Y. Jabor in July 2017, Epstein referred to Modi’s trip to Israel, saying the Indian prime minister “took advice. and danced and sang in Israel for the benefit of the US president. They had met a few weeks... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3341980/india-calls-modis-israel-visit-mention-epstein-email-trashy-ruminations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3341980/india-calls-modis-israel-visit-mention-epstein-email-trashy-ruminations?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 05:34:36 +0000 Reuters Reuters Ajit Pawar, the deputy chief minister of India’s wealthiest ‌state, Maharashtra, died in a plane crash on Wednesday when his charter aircraft went down in flames, killing him and four othrs on board, the aviation regulator has said. Pawar, who hailed from a top political family, was en route to his home region ⁠to canvass in local elections, media said. Two of his staff and two crew were also aboard the VSR Ventures-operated Learjet 45 aircraft, the directorate general of civil aviation... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3341594/plane-crashes-india-killing-maharashtra-deputy-chief-minister-and-4-others?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3341594/plane-crashes-india-killing-maharashtra-deputy-chief-minister-and-4-others?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:59:13 +0000