Asia


A strongman in the dock

The global importance of Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest

Thugs in high office can be deterred. But only if politics allows

Kiwi exodus

Why New Zealanders are emigrating in record numbers

The government may not be able to reverse the trend

Applying pressure

Indonesia’s shakedown of Apple comes to an end

But the iPhone maker got the better of the negotiations

A scary new game

Asian allies fear being dumped by Trump

America’s friends in the Indo-Pacific live in dread of being abandoned like Ukraine

Aid in Asia

Donald Trump’s cuts to USAID will hurt Asia, too

Even less aid-dependent countries, such as India, will be affected

Faith estate

A new law targets India’s third-biggest landowner: Allah

Narendra Modi’s government seeks control of thousands of Muslim sites

DOGE days in Jakarta

Prabowo Subianto is drastically cutting Indonesia’s budget

The cash saved is going into a new fund he controls

Keeping it in the family

The election in Tajikistan is unlikely to be democratic

Instead it will be a way for Emomali Rahmon, the president, to cement his rule

Banyan

How overt religiosity became cool in India

The Maha Kumbh Mela shows how tradition has become trendy

Demography

The trouble with ancient Indians

India is rapidly ageing. It’s in for some surprises

Watching the watchmen

Singapore’s leader of the opposition is convicted of lying

The city-state’s usually dull politics have taken a turn