Asia

Pariah politics

Myanmar’s junta chief finally goes to China

It is the first visit since he staged a coup four years ago

Indonesia’s foreign policy

Will Prabowo Subianto cosy up to Donald Trump or to China?

The first foreign trips for Indonesia’s new president raise awkward questions

Crime and punishment

Why suspects in Japan are almost never acquitted

And it is facing renewed criticism

A burning issue

South-East Asian Muslims are incensed by the war in Gaza

A few may become radicalised off the back of it

Banyan

What Narendra Modi’s third term may look like

Reading the tea leaves of parliaments past

Cut down to size

Pakistan’s politicians seize control of the judiciary

Powerful judges were seen as a threat to the government

Banyan

Yes sir: a bizarre initiation ritual for Indonesia’s cabinet

The newly-inaugurated president sends his ministers to boot camp

Hard ball

Australia is trying to ruck China in Papua New Guinea

Funding for a rugby team might be one way to do so

Prayer and profit

India’s startups pray for a Hindu super-app

The business of God could yet create an Indian unicorn

Neighbourhood strife

North Korea’s fanatical regime just got scarier

A new missile test, troops to Russia and death sentences for K-pop

Japan shakes

Voters deliver a historic rebuke to Japan’s ruling coalition

But the Liberal Democratic Party may still hang on to power

Prabowo’s plans for nickel

Making nickel is a nightmare. Unless you are Indonesian

Gluts and shortages notwithstanding, Indonesia wants to double down on resource nationalism