The Economist Asia

Poverty, undernourishment and poor pedagogy make a bad situation worse

Government efforts and foreign ideas both help and hinder progress

Bungling in Canberra opened the door for purpose in Perth

Both the North and South have tested new missiles in recent days

The new AUKUS alliance reflects a shared fear of China

Afghanistan’s old problems and new challenges, as explained by the road linking its biggest cities

Symptomatic infections of covid-19 went down as the use of masks went up

Funerary rites in South-East Asia, updated for the pandemic

The absurdity—and cost—of affirmative action for the majority

The ruling party’s next president will lead it into lower-house elections in November

The region had escaped the worst of the pandemic. But in just three months, the virus has brought devastation

Governance is much harder and less exciting than insurgency

By taking the Panjshir valley the militant mullahs now have a commanding position

A natural experiment in Indonesia showed a rise in sexually transmitted diseases after a ban

Students are up in arms

Japan’s prime minister is unpopular and uninspiring

A period of political uncertainty lies ahead

The new rulers of Afghanistan crave recognition and cash

The Taliban promise openness but some broadcasters have started self-censoring

It would be dangerous for America and its allies to turn their backs on the new Taliban government, argues Pakistan