Bear trap: Russia is running out of good options in Ukraine
Russia remains powerful and dangerous after 4.5 years of fighting, but that’s not the same as a strong strategic position
China in the crossfire as US widens economic warfare on Iran
Torn between strategic gain and economic risk, Beijing bets on how far it can back Tehran without fully provoking Washington
Japan’s drone sprint poised to hit an industrial wall
Sustaining drone defense at scale hinges on overcoming industrial, testing, procurement, alliance and supply chain hurdles
US transshipment claims in Southeast Asia rest on thin data
Scathing US report relies on national-level trade data, lacking the firm-level detail that would confirm true rerouting of China-made goods
Mystery shrouds CIA chief Ratcliffe’s urgent visit to Moscow
CIA director may have delivered a message to Moscow on how US and NATO would respond to possibly imminent takeover of Ukraine


An indispensable risk-management and opportunity-identification tool
AUGUST 21, 2026
Bond markets defy Bessentโs attempt to force rates lower
- Bessent follows in the footsteps of Kuroda
- Debt deluge drives bond yields to the danger zone
- Ukraineโs wartime political consensus begins to fray
TOP STORIES
MORE TOP STORIES
Opinion
francesco sisci
AT+ Archive
military & security
US Reaper drones near end of the line in a new war era
US is racing to replace costly and vulnerable MQ-9 Reaper with cheaper drones built for near-peer wars of attrition
more news
Tsunami of dirt: what caused Nepalโs deadly glacialย flood?
Itโs too early to say what was the exact cause of the disaster, but climate change is a likely contributing factor
Military and Security
Middle East
BUSINESS & FINANCE
Daily & WEEKLY Report
Start your day right with Asia Times’ top stories


