Religious Identity Reshapes Politics Across Bengal
Religious and ethnic divisions are growing deeper in Bengal, a region divided between India and Bangladesh, as politicians on both sides of the border seek to capitalize on religious sentiment.
Asia
Car bomb and assault at Bannu checkpoint kills 15
Militants detonated a car bomb at a police checkpoint in Bannu, northwestern Pakistan, and opened fire on officers, killing at least 15 people, authorities said Sunday. The attack took place late Saturday in the Fateh Khel area.
Delayed Gulf Remittances Leave Pakistani Families Vulnerable
Samina Bibi, a 34-year-old mother of three, lives in a modest house on the outskirts of Rawalpindi, the fourth-most populous city in Pakistan. One early morning this week, she received a message from her husband saying that his salary would be delayed again. She says she had to fight back tears.
Christians Face Rising Persecution in India's Heartland
On a humid Sunday afternoon in July last year, a small gathering of Christians inside a modest home in India's Uttar Pradesh state was interrupted by a mob.
Teen given life in China sparks calls for execution
In late April, an unusual court trial in China's southwestern Yunnan province led to a landmark ruling, where a local court found a minor guilty of intentional homicide and rape, and sentenced him to life imprisonment. At the time of the crime, the defendant was 14 years old.
Eruption at Indonesia's Mount Dukono Kills Three, Dozens Missing
A rescue mission was underway on Friday in eastern Indonesia as 20 hikers went missing following a volcanic eruption. Three of the missing people, including two foreigners, are reported to have died. What do we know? Mount Dukono, located on the Halmahera island in North Maluku province, erupted on Friday at 07:41 a.m.
Balikatan Drills: U.S. and Allies Test Pacific Deterrence
Soldiers of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division build fighting positions along the beach of the La Paz sand dunes in Laoag City, Philippines, ahead of counterlanding exercises during annual Balikatan drills.
A Year On: India and Pakistan Keep Conflicting Accounts
Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know Today marks one year since India's four-day conflict with Pakistan Modi said Operation Sindoor demonstrated India's 'firm response against terrorism' The military operation was sparked by an attack on tourists in April last year, killing 26 people, mostly Hindu men Trump claims
Nickel's Cost: Mining's Toll on Sulawesi and Indonesia
The cost of mining in Indonesia Reporting by Katerina Barton Photography by Claire Harbage Graphics by Connie Hanzhang Jin Published May 7, 2026 Autoplay video? Over the past decade, Indonesia has rapidly grown its nickel industry and now produces more than half the world’s nickel supply.
Great Nicobar: India’s Strategic Bid in the Bay of Bengal
India is transforming Great Nicobar Island, its southernmost territory in the Bay of Bengal, into a major strategic asset. Located at the tip of the Andaman and Nicobar chain, closer to Indonesia's Sumatra than to the Indian mainland, the island sits near the Strait of Malacca, one of the world's busiest shipping corridors.
North Korea Drops Reunification Language From Constitution
North Korea has removed all references to reunification with South Korea from its constitution, according to a document circulating on Wednesday. The revision marks a sharp break from decades of policy dating back to 1948, when Pyongyang had formally committed to pursuing unification. How has North Korea changed its constitution?
BJP Sweep in West Bengal Expands Modi’s Reach
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a decisive election victory in opposition-held West Bengal, a key eastern state of more than 100 million people, marking a dramatic shift in a state long seen as resistant to the party's rise.