World news guide: Asia
Regional resources
Asia Times
Good source of political and business news from across the continent. Special sections on Asian and international economy.
Asian Age
India-based online newspaper focusing on South Asia.
Dawn
Reliable and useful Pakistani daily.
Jakarta Post
Indonesian daily in English. Includes the print edition online, breaking news and some web-exclusive content.
South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's leading English-language newspaper. Registration required.
Times of India
Excellent online daily offering critical and probing reporting of national politics and regional news.
Central Asia
EurasiaNet
News and resources on central Asian countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - from the Soros Foundations Network.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
News station funded by US Congress, covering Transcaucasia and Central Asia. Includes local-language internet news broadcasts.
Institutions
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec)
Economic reports on each of the 21 member-states of the free trade area, plus policy statements and business advice.
Afghanistan
Afgha press agency
Slick site allowing you to make comments on articles in the western media and homegrown content. Similar services are listed below.
Afghan News Network
AfghanSite
Afghan Online Press
Sabawoon.com
EurasiaNet: Afghanistan
Excellent English-language news and analysis, funded by the Soros foundation.
UN
UN news centre: Afghanistan
UN news on nation-building, relief and recovery efforts in Afghanistan.
Bangladesh
Daily Star
Quality English-language daily with extensive news and comment. Archives date back to January 1998.
News from Bangladesh
News from the nation's other news sources, plus homegrown analysis.
Bhutan
Bhutan Broadcasting Service
State-owned broadcaster.
Kuensel
The kingdom's only national paper. News content, although pro-government, is broad in outlook. Includes an interesting cultural and historical section.
Government
Bhutan Tourism Corporation
How Bhutan likes to be seen by the outside world.
Brunei
BruDirect
Privately owned site that toes the party line. Much of the news comes 'courtesy of the Borneo Bulletin'.
Government
Government of Brunei Darussalam
The tiny sultanate's official web presence.
Burma (Myanmar)
Burma Project
A huge resource on Burma, funded by the Soros foundation. Hosts Burma News Update, an alternative news source, as well as reports, links and more on opposition groups and other current affairs.
Burma News Update
Democratic Voice of Burma
Norway-based radio station, broadcasting in Burmese. Has news updates in English.
Mizzima
Independent agency.
New Light of Myanmar
Censored news, in the 'minister visits local school' vein.
Government
Official government website
Opposition
National League for Democracy
Party led by Aung San Suu Kyi, who was released from house arrest in 2010.
Cambodia
Phnom Penh Post
English-language news magazine. The full edition costs $50 a year, but the top stories, commentary and letters are free.
Government
Permanent Mission of Cambodia to the UN
Up-to-date press releases and statements on the government policy of this still highly volatile regime, relating to major topics such as the "efforts" to bring Khmer Rouge war criminals to justice (they are, in practice, absorbed into the government establishment).
Amnesty International: Cambodia
China
China Daily
English-language news and business. Toes the party line.
Eastday.com
Shanghai-based English news portal.
Inside China Today
US-based Chinese news and information site, carrying the pick of
international wire copy on China. Registration required.
People's Daily
Communist party newspaper offering selective news and comment on national and international relations. Also available is the Chinese constitution and other gems.
Xinhua
China's largest state-run news agency, under tight government control.
Hong Kong
South China Morning Post
Quality independent daily. Registration required.
Government
Chinese Embassy in the US
Economic updates, embassy press releases, state structures and more detailed information by region.
China Internet Information Centre
India
Hindustan Times
Major English-language daily, published in Delhi.
Rediff.com
Major Indian news portal. Breaking news and many web-exclusive features.
Times of India
Quality online daily offering critical reporting of national and regional news. Good features and business coverage.
All India Internet Radio
National internet radio station broadcasting news and music.
All India Radio
Public service radio station, broadcasting in 24 languages including English. News available in text and RealAudio.
Asian Age
Detailed daily news reports with additional coverage from regional India and the rest of south Asia.
Deccan Herald
Bangalore daily. Text-only version is easiest to navigate.
Gomantak Times
Goa's online paper in English.
Hindu
Major national daily paper, based in Madras. Most of its regional coverage is devoted to India's southern states.
Indian Express
Established national paper: includes a useful special report on Kashmir. Archive dates back to 1997.
Ranchi Express
Brief English-language reports from Ranchi. More detailed accounts are available in Hindi: fonts are downloadable.
Tehelka.com
Alternative - and alternatively designed - news magazine.
Telegraph
Calcutta daily.
Tribune, Chandigarh
Quality daily with good regional coverage.
Week
Weekly news magazine offering bold, punchy analysis. Daily headlines also available on site.
Jammu and Kashmir
Daily Excelsior
Jammu newspaper aimed at the troubled state's Hindu minority. Tends to lead on Indian national news.
Kashmir Times
Jammu-based paper, daily since 1964. Prides itself on objectivity.
Greater Kashmir
Kashmir-based paper.
Kashmir Observer
News from the Kashmir valley, sceptical of the motives of both India and Pakistan. The literary quotation or proverb at the end of every leader column lends an other-worldly feel.
Government
Government of India
Official portal site linking to India's national institutions, including the websites of the president, prime minister, parliament, ministries, states and universities.
Press Information Bureau
Indonesia
Jakarta Post
Quality daily in English. Includes the print edition online, breaking news and some web-exclusive content.
Antara
Jakarta news agency with free recent news briefs. Full agency services available by subscription.
Kompas
Comprehensive Indonesian news service: English section has a few top stories.
Government
Republic of Indonesia
(In Bahasa Indonesian). Government portal.
Consulate general, New York (English)
Japan
Mainichi Daily News
Colourful, interactive English-language paper.
Asahi Shimbun
Paper published in Japan in association with the International Herald Tribune. Includes Asia Network, an Asian opinion section.
Asahi Shimbun Asia Network
Daily Yomiuri
Online daily boasting full news coverage and market information.
Fuji News Network
Japan Times
English language newspaper first published in 1897.
Japan Today
English language internet-only news service.
Kyodo News
Internet news service with archived features and special reports.
Nikkei Net
Financial news, stockmarket information and a business directory: costs 6,000 yen (¢35) for six months to view the site in full.
Okinawa Times
No-frills Okinawa weekly, published on Saturdays. Editions consist of six or seven reports tackling local interest stories.
Ryukyu Shimpo
Sparse weekly news bulletin from Okinawa, published on Mondays
Government
Japan Directory
Easy access to Japanese government institutions and NGOs.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Kazakhstan
Eurasia Daily Monitor
A publication of the Jamestown Foundation, based in Washington, DC.
Central Asia Caucasus Analyst
English language global web journal devoted to analysis of the current issues facing the Central Asia-Caucasus region. From Johns Hopkins University. More analytical, less journalistic.
IWPR (Central Asia programme)
The Institute for War and Peace Reporting offers up to date news and pictures from Central Asia.
Radio Free Europe: Central Asia report
Quality online analysis.
Khabar Weekly Review
Bland government news.
Government
Government of Kazakhstan
English language version of the official site, with links to government information and institutions.
Kyrgyzstan
IWPR (Central Asia programme)
The Institute for War and Peace Reporting offers up to date news and pictures from Central Asia.
EurasiaNet: Kyrgyzstan
Resource page including recent and archived analysis. Funded by the Soros foundation.
Eurasia Daily Monitor
A publication of the Jamestown Foundation, based in Washington, DC.
Central Asia Caucasus Analyst
English language global web journal devoted to analysis of the current issues facing the Central Asia-Caucasus region. From John Hopkins University. More analytical, less journalistic.
Radio Free Europe: Central Asia Report
Quality online analysis.
Government
Kyrgyz Embassy, Washington DC
Links, flowchart guides to governmental structures, general and economic information, plus all the usual visa and travel information.
Laos
Vientiane Times
Laos digest site, consisting of news stories on southeast Asia from various Western and domestic news sources.
Government
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Dry statistics and text on a limited range of subjects, including political organs, sociogeographical indicators and economic performance.
Malaysia
Aliran Online
Independent news source from a reformist movement working towards 'justice, freedom, solidarity'. Has no qualms about criticising the establishment. Comprehensive links to Malaysian NGO's and pressure groups.
Daily Express
Daily paper based in Sabah, at the northern tip of Borneo. Pledges an independent editorial policy.
New Sabah Times
Harakah Daily
Bilingual organ of the Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS),an opposition party which has made gains among ethnic Malay voters. Has come under pressure from the ruling coalition.
Malaysia Kini
Independent site that aims to test the boundaries of free speech and press freedom in Malaysia. Updated throughout the day.
New Straits Times
Mainstream English-language daily that backs the government. Professes a 'strong conviction for stable, progressive nation-building'.
Star
Mainstream English-language daily, with a portal-style website.
Utusan Express
Bland regional and international news: bears the marks of self-censorship.
Government
Prime Minister's Office
The official line.
Bernama
National news agency, managed by a board of governors appointed by the king.
Maldives
Haveeru Daily
Daily paper. mostly in Divehi. A limited number of recent stories, features and special sections are also available in English.
Government
Republic of the Maldives
Government structures, national facts, and tourism information.
Mongolia
EurasiaNet: Mongolia
Resource page including recent and archived analysis. Funded by the Soros foundation.
Montsame
State news agency.
Government
Nepal
Nepal News.com
Online news service which hosts many of the online papers in Nepal - including, in English, the daily Kathmandu Post and Rising Nepal, and weekly Independent, Telegraph and Nepali Times.
Kathmandu Post
Rising Nepal
Weekly Telegraph
Independent
Nepali Times
People's Review
Kathmandu weekly, independent of both government and Maoist insurgents. Includes a review of the Nepali weeklies.
Radio Nepal
Government
His Majesty's Government of Nepal
English-language site.
North Korea
Korean Central News Agency
State news agency. Curt official news: links to People's Korea, which offers features, retrospectives and background on North Korean politics, history and international relations.
People's Korea
Pakistan
Daily Times
A Lahore-based newspaper covering general news.
Dawn
A reliable and useful news source, covering international, local and business affairs. Includes the Herald, a monthly news magazine.
Herald
Friday Times
Independent political weekly.
Frontier Post
National and local news from Peshawar, covering the troubled border with Afghanistan.
News International
Independent daily, covering regional and national news.
Pakistan News Service
Comprehensive, independent internet news service. Registration required.
Pakistan Observer
Basic, independent daily paper.
Pakistan Times
A daily e-newspaper.
Pakistan Today
US-based news and analysis. Not always up to date.
Radio Pakistan
National broadcaster. Two daily news bulletins, in text and RealAudio. English and Urdu.
Government
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Philippines
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Quality daily, founded in the last days of the Marcos regime as a counterweight to the pro-government press. Includes breaking news.
ABS-CBN News
Excellent internet news service, a joint venture between broadcaster ABS-CBN and the Today newspaper.
Business World
Manila business daily.
Filipino Express
Weekly paper, published in the US.
Manila Bulletin
Quality Manila daily
Manila Times
Midmarket daily paper with an international perspective.
Philippine Star
Slick national daily.
Sun Star
Network of local papers from around the islands.
Sunday Punch
Weekly news and analysis from Pangasinan.
Zamboanga Times
Zamboanga city's daily paper.
Government
Republic of the Philippines
Official government portal.
Department of foreign affairs
Embassy to Australia
Singapore
Straits Times
Singapore's most widely circulated English-language paper: has close ties to the government. Daily reporting on events in Asia and the rest of the world.
Singapore Business Times
Electric New Paper
Daily tabloid. Hosted on the AsiaOne news portal.
AsiaOne
Radio Singapore International
State-controlled broadcaster.
Government and politics
Singapore Government
The official line.
South Korea
JoongAng Ilbo
Quality daily, distributed in South Korea with the International Herald Tribune. Recommended.
Chosun.com
News in Korean, Japanese and English, plus good business and features sections.
Korea Herald
English-language broadsheet: IT and business news a speciality.
Korea Times
Quality English daily published by Hankookilbo newspaper.
Radio Korea International
Text news briefs, audio bulletins and a weekly video programme.
Government
Korea Government
Government portal. Features include detailed information on the whole Korean peninsula, plus information on public structures and institutions.
Sri Lanka
Daily News
National daily broadsheet. Thorough news reporting plus erudite, worthy features and a user-friendly archive.
Sunday Observer
Island
Outspoken, independent daily.
Sunday Leader
Independent weekly. Suffers continuing government harassment.
Sunday Times
Pro-government weekly.
Tamil Eelam News Service
A Tamil perspective.
Government
Department of Information
Current and archived government press releases, official updates on military activity, and a link to the ministry of foreign affairs.
Taiwan
China Post
Quality online daily in English.
CBS Radio Taipei International
Daily 60-minute English-language news programming, plus text news briefs. Warning: you have to sit through frequency information and the national anthem before you get to the news.
Taipei Review
Monthly news magazine.
Taipei Times
Quality, English-language daily. Thorough reporting and considered editorial judgment.
Government
Government Information Office
Good government information site carrying up-to-date press releases and links to other government news sources, including the Taiwan headlines.
Ministry of foreign affairs
Taipei Journal (weekly)
Tajikistan
AsiaPlus
Tajikistan's first private news agency.
EurasiaNet: Tajikistan
Resource page including recent and archived analysis. Funded by the Soros foundation.
Radio Free Europe: Central Asia Report
Quality online analysis.
Eurasia Daily Monitor
A publication of the Jamestown Foundation, based in Washington, DC.
Central Asia Caucasus Analyst
English language global web journal devoted to analysis of the current issues facing the Central Asia-Caucasus region. From John Hopkins University. More analytical, less journalistic.
IWPR (Central Asia programme)
The Institute for War and Peace Reporting offers up to date news and pictures from Central Asia.
Thailand
Bangkok Post
English-language daily with a good business section and special reports.
Business Day
Financial daily, with a broad spread of business and macroeconomic news from across southeast Asia.
Nation
Customisable internet news service.
Pattaya Mail
Local weekly paper.
Phuket Gazette
Popular online local paper from the south of the country, which also provides the day's top national news.
Government
Thai Parliament
Sketches of parliamentary structures and powers, an archive of Thailand's many constitutions, plus links to other political sites.
Turkmenistan
EurasiaNet: Turkmenistan
Resource page including recent and archived analysis. Funded by the Soros foundation.
Government
Turkmenistan Embassy, Washington DC
Government and political links.
Uzbekistan
EurasiaNet: Uzbekistan
Resource page including recent and archived analysis. Funded by the Soros foundation.
Radio Free Europe: Central Asia Report
Quality online analysis.
Uzbekistan in the News
Daily updated news briefs from world news agencies, plus links to other Uzbekistani news sources - several of them, unfortunately, defunct.
Eurasia Daily Monitor
A publication of the Jamestown Foundation, based in Washington, DC.
Central Asia Caucasus Analyst
English language global web journal devoted to analysis of the current issues facing the Central Asia-Caucasus region. From John Hopkins University. More analytical, less journalistic.
IWPR (Central Asia programme)
The Institute for War and Peace Reporting offers up to date news and pictures from Central Asia and the Caucasus.
Government
Government of Uzbekistan
Official government site, translated to English.
Vietnam
Nhan Dan
Communist party mouthpiece: dry news on official visits, statements and statistics.
Saigon Times Daily
Business news. Basic site.
Vietnam News
Newspaper from the state news agency.
Government
Embasssy of Vietnam in the USA
Vietnam's constitution, historical background, and economic summaries.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs