The Diplomat

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The global index provider MSCI has threatened to downgrade the country to “standalone market” status, potentially triggering billions of dollars in capital outflows.

China’s economy has a huge problem: Chinese people aren’t spending enough money. And this is not just a problem for China. buff.ly/4s69NOD

From AUKUS to trade, the implications of the upcoming U.S. midterm elections for Australia, are likely to be profound.

China’s economy has a huge problem: Chinese people aren’t spending enough money. And this is not just a problem for China. buff.ly/4s69NOD

For New Delhi, the central question posed by Israel's elections is whether bilateral cooperation is strong enough to sustain momentum under a different Israeli government. buff.ly/PONTqFA

China today has the lowest consumption rate of any major economy in the world – in fact, its consumption rate is lower than any major economy in the past 100 years.  thediplomat.com/2026/10/why-...

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has yet to approve a single complaint involving its projects for dispute resolution or compliance review. buff.ly/YdQ9BeM

Journalists covering Kazakhstan’s parliament are pushing back against new rules that constrict their ability to question officials. buff.ly/7vsuqXV

On Friday, October 16, Indonesia’s stock market suffered its worst one-day decline since the 1998 Asian financial crisis. It's a warning sign of deeper problems. buff.ly/p9xGJku

If Putin, Trump and Xi do meet, what would they talk about? That's the problem. buff.ly/1lMa0Jl

Pakistan is likely looking to counter the Indian Air Force’s future strategy of launching air-launched missiles from standoff ranges. buff.ly/UPhFGiE

"When I started interviewing a Thai sex worker named Ying for my recent book, I was initially looking for something far different from what I eventually wrote." buff.ly/NFCQX58

China’s economy has a huge problem: Chinese people aren’t spending enough money. And this is not just a problem for China. buff.ly/4s69NOD

For generations, the flow of global talent was almost entirely one directional. Now China is increasingly attracting top researchers from U.S. institutions. buff.ly/GQrT4ol

Regardless of the Sino-Vatican agreement, the practical, multifaceted ties between Taiwan and the Holy See have deepened over the past year. buff.ly/IG27zN4

China’s economy has a huge problem: Chinese people aren’t spending enough money. And it's becoming a problem for the world. buff.ly/4s69NOD

In two outbreaks of war last year, Thailand's air force underlined its status as one of the region’s most effective and professional air forces. buff.ly/rTvUUB9

Washington has spent three decades lecturing the world about intellectual property protection. Now it looks as if the United States wants to start stealing economic secrets from China and elsewhere.  buff.ly/Q0Rr8Gy

In the wake of the Pukpuk Treaty, Australia and PNG continued to deepen relations with a new rotation planned, defense infrastructure investment, and expanded ADF recruitment. buff.ly/kVs0l7B

Iran used Rubio's Uzbekistan visit as fodder for social media trolling. Uzbekistan was not pleased. buff.ly/gDrkZu4

China’s economy has a huge problem: Chinese people aren’t spending enough money. And this is not just a problem for China. buff.ly/4s69NOD

Since June, civil society groups and local media warned of PLA encroachments into Arunachal Pradesh. Hitherto, Delhi’s response was to deny and dismiss their claims. buff.ly/Zqzh5ht

In the Maldives, handing over prime land in a land-scarce country, on an island pitched as a lasting solution to an acute housing crisis, warrants deeper scrutiny. buff.ly/1yHe02X

No off-topic questions, Kazakhstan's new parliament told journalists. And its the parliament which decides what counts as on-topic, effectively muzzling the press. buff.ly/7vsuqXV

The largest Hindu religious festival went off smoothly in Bangladesh – a credit to the new BNP government. buff.ly/wuaRk3U

12 years after construction finished, the New Yalu River Bridge is finally open. Will that actually make a difference for North Koreans? buff.ly/QdJ8ojO

In Southeast Asia, organized crime groups and militants alike are stepping up their use of drones. buff.ly/8XoqlH6

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has yet to approve a single complaint involving its projects for dispute resolution or compliance review. buff.ly/YdQ9BeM

Ying grew up in Thailand’s mostly agrarian northeast. She arrived in Bangkok at the age of 17, and began work in a restaurant, where she faced long hours and poor earnings with no hope of advancement. So she became involved in sex work, present in every nook and cranny of Bangkok. buff.ly/NFCQX58

On Friday, October 16, Indonesia’s stock market suffered its worst one-day decline since the 1998 Asian financial crisis. buff.ly/p9xGJku

On October 14, Saudi authorities executed two Bangladeshis, Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Suety Akhter. Bangladesh said it learned of the execution of its nationals only after it happened. buff.ly/E9MK52h

China has a huge problem: Chinese people aren’t spending enough money. And it's a big problem for the rest of the world. buff.ly/GP1utO4

Last week, Pakistan signed the Badr Pact with Türkiye, Qatar, and Indonesia, the latest in a string of defense-related agreements with key partners.

The country’s legal system may provide one of the few remaining means of bringing Myanmar’s generals to justice.

In recent years Indonesian waters have become an important route for the trafficking of Golden Triangle drugs to Asian and global markets.

Southeast Asia’s drug labs are pumping out unprecedented amounts of meth and other synthetic drugs. buff.ly/TfjaYAp

Beijing’s diplomatic officials are adopting the language of the Albanese government to press their demands upon local governments and communities. buff.ly/zfWTkAn

Indonesia’s stock market fell more than 11 percent on Friday, the steepest one-day drop since 1998, after the global index provider MSCI proposed the country’s removal ‌from its global stock indexes. buff.ly/PGHINr8

Trump’s sudden decision to scale back Ulchi Freedom Shield raised concerns about South Korea-U.S. defense readiness, alliance reliability, and Washington’s wider commitment to Asia. But the meaning varied by who was interpreting the event. buff.ly/94CRVVS

Hosts Katie Putz and Ankit Panda take stock of two tiffs: the recent diplomatic tensions between South Korea and Ukraine; and the furor over comments made by the commander of U.S. Forces Korea regarding where South Korean territory begins. buff.ly/zNrCgdp

Kazakh journalists are pushing back against new rules for the legislature saying they can only ask questions on approved topics. buff.ly/7vsuqXV

The U.S. secretary of state’s itinerary in India skipped the corridors of power in Delhi for boardrooms and a refinery.  buff.ly/OrbkgK7

The BJP government in West Bengal stripped the Durga Puja of its secular-cultural uniqueness to impose religious and ritualistic practices that are anathema to Bengalis. buff.ly/zltdbPR

On October 13, Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court set aside the death sentence of Sri Lankan migrant worker Anojan Sivarasa. Sivarasa had been sentenced to death over a Facebook post deemed insulting to Prophet Muhammad and blasphemous against Islam. buff.ly/E9MK52h

Decades of research have identified economic privation as a leading cause of entry into the Thailand's illegal sex trade. buff.ly/vJu3TIN

The BJP government in West Bengal stripped Durga Puja of its secular-cultural uniqueness to impose religious and ritualistic practices that are anathema to Bengalis. buff.ly/C11NMko

Pakistan is likely looking to counter the Indian Air Force’s future strategy of launching air-launched missiles from standoff ranges. buff.ly/8cx2JIJ

The rise of seabed mining will add new complexity to the South China Sea disputes. buff.ly/QzS3tbD

Some of those living in Myanmar's IDP camps were once well off. Now they forage in the fields and forests for food and firewood. buff.ly/GwrgFN8

12 years after construction finished, the New Yalu River Bridge is finally open. Will that actually make a difference for North Koreans? buff.ly/QdJ8ojO