Latest Asia News & Updates

New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) China’s retail sales fell 0.6 per cent year‑on‑year in May 2026 after a weak April, marking the first monthly decline in three and a half years, Stephen Roach, former Chief Economist and Asia Chair, Morgan Stanley, wrote on his Substack account, arguing that the country’s prolonged effort to steer toward consumer‑led growth has failed.Roach said that the failed growth model led to Chinese state, state‑owned enterprises and private firms capturing a disproporti…

New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) The Indian women’s cricket team has become one of the first sides to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, while the men’s team will have to finish as Asia’s highest-ranked side in the ICC Men’s T20I rankings by the end of 2026 to secure direct qualification.The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday confirmed that India, alongside Australia, Great Britain (through England) and South Africa, have booked their places in the women’s T20 competition at LA2…

Washington, June 27 (IANS) The notion that Washington can shape Asia’s future security architecture without placing India at the center of its strategic calculations is increasingly at odds with geopolitical realities, as geography alone makes such an approach untenable, a report has stated. The Indian Ocean is a vital artery for global trade, energy supplies, and maritime commerce, while key chokepoints — from the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb to the Strait of Malacca — lie within Indi…

New Delhi, June 26 (IANS) India generated $110 billion in green revenues in 2025, emerging as one of Asia’s fastest-growing green economies as the country’s clean energy and sustainability-related businesses continued to expand, according to a report.A report by London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) showed that India’s green revenues have grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20 per cent over the past five years, which is higher than Asia’s average growth of 12 per cent and the global av…

Islamabad, June 23 (IANS) The collapse of the arms deal with Sudan marked a strategic setback for Islamabad’s efforts to convert Islamic solidarity, defence exports and regional partnerships into enduring influence in Africa. The development underscores that while Pakistan’s ambitions on the continent are growing, its realisation remains constrained by economic fragility, reliance on external financing and the evolving priorities of the key allies, a report has stated. According to a report in…

Doha, June 22 (IANS) An explosion ripped through Qatar’s key natural gas export infrastructure injuring at least 54 people while 18 others remain missing, according to official reports.The blast occurred in the Ras Laffan industrial area on Sunday night, one of the world’s most important energy hubs, during ongoing efforts to resume operations at the facility following earlier disruptions linked to regional conflict.The incident triggered a major fire at the Barzan gas supply facility, promp…

New Delhi, June 20 (IANS) Nearly 80 million barrels of crude oil are ready to transit the Strait of Hormuz if a tentative US‑Iran deal leads to a sustained reopening of the vital shipping corridor.About 40 very large crude carriers (VLCCs), loaded with non‑sanctioned Gulf crude, are currently stationed inside the Persian Gulf. Apart from them, Iranian oil and smaller tankers are also positioned in this area, making the true volume of supply waiting much higher, multiple reports said, citing …

Mexico City, June 18 (IANS) Mexico and South Korea may not command the same global attention as some of the FIFA World Cup’s marquee fixtures this week, but their Group A encounter has all the ingredients to emerge as one of the most intriguing matches of the tournament.With football fans focused on heavyweight nations such as Argentina, Portugal, England, and Brazil, the clash between Mexico and South Korea could quietly prove to be one of the defining contests of the group stage.Both teams beg…

Tokyo, June 13 (IANS) Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Saturday departed for her first trip to Europe since taking office in October. She is going to visit the UK, Italy and attend the G7 Summit in France.In the UK and Italy, Takaichi will meet the respective Prime Ministers Kier Starmer and Georgia Meloni and discuss issues such as the situation in East Asia, the Middle East, and Ukraine, while also engaging in discussions with the leaders of both countries to strengthen bilateral coope…

New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) India’s real‑time digital payments system Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has been cited by South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago as a model as Pretoria moves to reduce cash use, a new report has said.Kganyago said other countries are further ahead in going cashless and cited UPI as an instant, low-cost payments tool “using simple tools such as a cellphone number or a QR code, instead of an expensive point-of-sale terminal,” the report from South Afr…