18th BRICS Summit

The Real Test for BRICS: More Choices for South Asia, or Just New Dependencies?

But the choice test applies to India as much as to the countries it hopes will follow its lead. If BRICS genuinely widens India's menu of markets, technology partners and financing sources without deepening its dependence on any one of them, it becomes a credible model for the rest of the Global South.

BRICS and the Mask of De-Dollarisation: Of Political Rhetoric and Financial Reality

India’s stand for a dollar-based system is not a rejection of BRICS alignment or unity, but it is a determined choice to act in favour of self-interest like any other founding member. The key difference is India’s position has been the most transparent of all founding members rather than standing behind the collective rhetoric.

Welfare Politics and State Borrowing in India: Easy Populism or Developmental Necessity?

The evidence indicates that the increase in state borrowing over the past decade is best understood as the outcome of a changing fiscal federal system rather than simply an expansion of welfare politics.

Slow Pace of Strategic Indian Projects: These Can Potentially be Gateways to Sri Lanka’s Economic Revival

For India, delays in its strategic projects are not merely bureaucratic setbacks but a matter of national security. Colombo’s motives remain opaque, but for New Delhi, a presence in Sri Lanka’s North and East is non-negotiable. 

More on Geoeconomics, Trade and Development

China suspends cargo flights carrying critical medical supplies to India

China's state-run Sichuan Airlines has stopped all its cargo flights to India for the next 15 days, hurting the efforts of the private traders to source the oxygen concentrators and other medical supplies needed to treat the critical cases of COVID-19 even as China offered "support and assistance" to the country to battle the deadly-second wave of the infection, according to media reports

With India's supply uncertain, Bangladesh to join China’s Covid vaccine storage facility

In the wake of uncertainty over getting purchased doses from India, Bangladesh has decided to join China’s COVID-19 vaccine storage facility for South Asia, bdnews24.com reported

Chinese vessel with radioactive material ordered to leave Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port

Sri Lanka officials have asked a Chinese vessel that was carrying radioactive material to leave Hambantota port immediately, reported Newswire

China’s Exim Bank may fund $6.8 billion rail project in Pakistan

The Chinese government has sent a final funding proposal for Pakistan’s $6.8 billion modern rail project, ML-1, to the Exim Bank of China, as per a report in The Express Tribune

China offers six million doses of Sinopharm to Bangladesh

As Bangladesh struggles to procure vaccines, Sinopharm, the Chinese drug firm, has offered to provide six million doses of its COVID-19 vaccines to the country, a report in The Daily Star said

Colombo Port City will not become Chinese colony: Sri Lankan government

Under attack from all sides over the controversial Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill, the Sri Lankan government defended the move, saying the city will not become a Chinese colony

Sri Lanka to get $500 million from China this month

Sri Lanka is expected to receive $500 million in dollar credit from the China Development Bank this month, according to a report in The Sunday Morning

China’s 2049 plan a big challenge before the world

The only way before the US and the world is to confront China in the economic, diplomatic, and military spheres, writes Ivaylo Valchev for South Asia Monitor

China, Pakistan agree to jointly safeguard Asian peace and stability

Pakistan and China have agreed to jointly safeguard peace and stability of the world, especially Asia, and strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism and peacekeeping in the UN framework, according to a report in Dawn

Can Quad stop China’s rise?

China forcibly entered Tibet, then an independent country, a few decades back and violently suppressed the protest by the Tibetans

Would like to see disengagement in remaining areas of East Ladakh: India on standoff with China

India hassaid it would like to see disengagement by Chinese troops in the remaining areas of Eastern Ladakh which would lead to restoration of peace with Beijing

Pakistan continues cotton trade with China's controversial Xinjiang region

Pakistan is still continuing cotton trade with China, especially from the controversial Xinjiang region of the country

Pakistan: Sindh Revenue Board suspends sales tax registration of Chinese company

The Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) has suspended sales tax registration of a Chinese energy company after it failed to produce purchase invoices, media reports said

People have become casual, PM Modi on Covid resurgence

A Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by Speaker Asad Qaiser, was turned back from Kabul on Thursday as their plane was refused landing permission citing “security reasons, media reports say

Nepal starts inoculating essential workers with Chinese vaccines

Nepal on Wednesday started inoculating essential workers using the Chinese Sinopharm vaccines, reported the Kathmandu Post