Commentary / World May 24, 2019
With a fractured opposition, Indian leader gets second chance
by Ramesh Thakur
Voters trust their strongman over the liberal elite's gentleman for tackling India's most pressing problems.
Asia Pacific / Politics May 24, 2019
Indonesian opposition set to challenge election result in court
Defeated Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto is set to lodge a challenge to the result of the April 17 election in the Constitutional Court on Friday after complaining that the vote was rigged. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo won 55.5 percent of votes in the poll ...
Asia Pacific | FOCUS May 24, 2019
Deadly Jakarta riots revive specter of religion-fueled violence in Indonesia
by Arys Aditya
Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, was eerily calm on Thursday morning after two nights of deadly clashes between protesters and police that left seven dead and hundreds injured. The unusually subdued mood in what is normally a frenetic and noisy urban sprawl of more than 30 million ...
World / Politics | ANALYSIS May 23, 2019
India's Congress leader Rahul Gandhi faces backlash over poor election performance
Honest, intelligent and open to new ideas is how officials of India's main opposition Congress describe their leader, Rahul Gandhi, but the party's election performance has been so poor he now risks losing even his family's traditional seat. As vote-counting trends on Thursday showed Prime ...
National / Politics | FOCUS May 23, 2019
Double Japanese general election looks more realistic as unpopular tax hike approaches
by Sakura Murakami
For the ruling coalition, a snap election would be a major gamble because it would put its current supermajority in both chambers at risk.
Editorials May 23, 2019
Concerns should be addressed to ensure that a national referendum on a constitutional amendment can be held in a fair manner that leaves no questions unanswered.
World / Politics May 23, 2019
May's premiership hangs by thread as key minister quits over Brexit
Theresa May's premiership is hanging by a thread as a high-profile Cabinet minister quit and a growing revolt over Brexit looked set to force the British leader from power. Andrea Leadsom resigned late on Wednesday, saying she no longer believed the government's approach will honor ...
Asia Pacific / Politics May 23, 2019
Narendra Modi promises inclusive India after stunning election win
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to unite the country on Thursday after a huge election win, with his party on course to increase its majority on a mandate of pursuing business-friendly policies and a hard line on national security. Official data from India's Election ...
Asia Pacific May 22, 2019
Jakarta governor says six dead in Indonesia post-election unrest
Six people died in civil unrest that gripped parts of Jakarta on Tuesday night after the election commission confirmed that President Joko Widodo won last month's election, the governor of the Indonesian capital said. Protests on Tuesday by supporters of Widodo's challenger for the presidency, ...
Asia Pacific / Politics | ANALYSIS May 21, 2019
Australia's climate wars set to heat up after coal champion Scott Morrison clinches win
Prime Minister Scott Morrison's surprise victory in Australia's election was a win for the coal industry and ensures the debate about tackling climate change will continue to polarize the nation. Rather than backing the opposition Labor Party's plans for sweeping cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, ...
National / Politics May 20, 2019
From cardboard factory to the kantei? Yoshihide Suga gets PR makeover as rumors of PM bid soar
by Tomohiro Osaki
Unsmiling, tight-lipped and at times appearing heavy-handed, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga was never exactly the type of politician the public would take a shine to — let alone swoon over. But suddenly, he is. A photo of Suga relishing a snack of pancakes — a ...
Asia Pacific / Politics May 20, 2019
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling alliance is likely to win a big majority in parliament after a mammoth general election that ended on Sunday, most exit polls showed, a far better showing than expected in recent weeks. Modi faced criticism early on in the ...