@edentravels.bsky.social explores Central Asia through landscapes, communities, and cuisine, tracing journeys across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. From desert mosques to walnut forests, she shows how food and culture shape life. Read here – https://loom.ly/88Cn76M

Nasuh Uslu, Maksat Ajykan Uulu & Zalina Adobasheva of the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University compare the food and drink cultures of the Tuvan and Kyrgyz people and discover a legacy of the past. Find here - https://doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2025.2523931

Fiona Katherine Smith of @humboldtuni.bsky.social finds out what Chorkhona handbags and ‘made in China’ toqe can tell us about Pamiri cultural resilience in times of rupture. Find here - https://doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2025.2517710

Suman Das of Gauhati University asks why India is scoring so low when it comes to deploying cricket in its soft power initiatives towards Nepal. The potential is there but the finishing is poor. Find here - https://doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2025.2509100

Following a bruising confrontation with Israel and the US earlier this year, #Iran's regional influence is waning. Jack Roush explains how Tehran is turning to cultural diplomacy to project nationalism and shore up ties with Armenia. Read here - https://loom.ly/IiP6QEw

Being a Foreign Academic Imprisoned in Thailand - join us for this online lecture with Dr Paul Chambers, hosted by ‪@billhayton.bsky.social‬ on 20 November 2025 at 15.00 GMT. Find out more and register here - https://loom.ly/1ULjecA

Ronan Lee of @lborouniversity.bsky.social & @leverhulme.ac.uk and Rokon Uddin of @stockholm-uni.bsky.social show how it’s possible to make sense of public opinion surveys in autocratising Bangladesh. Find here - https://doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2025.2519632

Amit Ranjan of the National University of Singapore & ISAS-NUS discusses the ‘two-level game’ over the Ganga/Ganges Waters Treaty between India and Bangladesh and how renewal of this crucial agreement is being stymied by domestic politics. Find here - https://doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2025.2519631

Tim Summers of The Chinese University of Hong Kong investigates the politics of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, 2014-2024 and how it has been wielded as a diplomatic tool by both China and the UK well beyond its actual wording. Find here - https://doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2025.2510454

Ilhan Niaz of Quaid-i-Azam University proposes a framework for assessing the performance of Chief Justices of Pakistan – and finds a catalogue of failure. Find here - https://doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2025.2518861

Unfamiliar Asia - Pushkar Fair ☸️ Today marks the midway point of this week-long extravaganza of colorful and vibrant exhibitions, exciting competitions and fascinating events. Find out more here - https://loom.ly/_FPDaFA #india

The latest issue of Asian Affairs is out: Pakistan judiciary, Hong Kong Joint Declaration, Ganges Water Treaty, Bangladesh public opinion, China and the GCC, cricket in India-Nepal ties, Pamiri cultural resilience & Kyrgyz-Tuva food connections - see https://loom.ly/mwkIpik

Beijing and Shanghai are household names but what about Tianjin? Sean Paterson takes us on a whistle stop tour of the city's modern history and explains why this cosmopolitan city should be a go to destination when visiting #China. Read here - https://loom.ly/qwWxb8E

Are you aged 21-28 and working on research or a project related to colonialism, exploration, technology, or memory politics in the context of #Asia? The RSAA Travel Awards 2026 could help fund your travel plans. Find out more and apply here - https://loom.ly/I4W4-e4

Trump 2.0: US Policy Towards Asia - join us on 7 November 2025 for day two of our online conference hosted with the FCDOA and IIAS. Three panel discussions will look at US policy towards Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and East Asia. Find out more here - https://loom.ly/D6lUIJE

Trump 2.0: US Policy Towards Asia - join us on 6 November 2025 for day one of our online conference hosted with the FCDOA and IIAS. Three panel discussions will look at US policy towards India and South Asia, China, and Central Asia. Find out more here - https://loom.ly/D6lUIJE

Yesterday's panel discussion saw Professor Ali Ansari, Dr Banafsheh Keynoush and Holly Dagres, moderated by Sir Richard Dalton KCMG, discuss Iran's domestic politics, foreign relations and security as well as what the future might hold for the Islamic Republic. Catch up here https://loom.ly/nCjFfrY

The energy transition is a priority for many governments across Asia and #Mongolia is no different. Bolor Lkhaajav explains how Ulaanbaatar is using its foreign policy to incentivise investment and build green energy partnerships. Read here - https://loom.ly/x_kveYA

Unfamiliar Asia - Jidai Matsuri 🏯 Kyoto has a long and fascinating history, serving as the former capital of #Japan for over 1,000 years. This festival celebrates that history and its legacy. Find out more here - https://loom.ly/SbOptsg#Japan#japan #kyoto

The geology of the world is constantly changing creating remarkable landscapes and otherworldly terrains. Photographer Daniel Kordan takes us on a visual journey through the development of the Kyzylkup tract in #Kazakhstan. Read here - https://loom.ly/kbYMMxk

Trump 2.0: US Policy Towards Asia - join us for a two-day online conference hosted by the RSAA, FCDOA and @iias.bsky.social. Dr Edward Howell, Shihoko Goto, Dr Sung-Yoon Lee and Yuki Tatsumi will discuss East Asia. Find out more & register https://loom.ly/D6lUIJE

Trump 2.0: US Policy Towards Asia - join us for a two-day online conference hosted by the RSAA, FCDOA and @iias.bsky.social. Dr James Ryan, Dr Burcu Ozcelik, Steven A Cook and Dr Lina Khatib will discuss the Middle East. Find out more - https://loom.ly/D6lUIJE

Trump 2.0: US Policy Towards Asia - join us for a two-day online conference hosted by the RSAA, FCDOA and @iias.bsky.social. Bill Hayton, Elina Noor, Prashanth Parameswaran and Ann Marie Murphy will discuss Southeast Asia. Find out more - https://loom.ly/D6lUIJE

Trump 2.0: US Policy Towards Asia - join us for a two-day online conference hosted by the RSAA, FCDOA and @iias.bsky.social. Sophie Ibbotson, Annette Bohr, Temur Umarov and Dr Luca Anceschi will discuss Central Asia. Find out more here - https://loom.ly/D6lUIJE

Trump 2.0: US Policy Towards Asia - join us for a two-day online conference hosted by the RSAA, FCDOA and @iias.bsky.social. Prof Kerry Brown, Prof Steve Tsang, Dr James Char and Dr Yun Sun will discuss China. Find out more and register - https://loom.ly/D6lUIJE

Trump 2.0: US Policy Towards Asia - join us for a two-day online conference hosted by the RSAA, FCDOA and @iias.bsky.social. Dr Kamran Bokhari, Michael Kugelman, Dr Rudra Chaudhuri and Dr Jivanta Schottli will discuss India and South Asia - https://loom.ly/D6lUIJE

Food is intrinsically linked to the cultures and identities of Asia. Anna Ansari explains how ingredients like melons, rice, noodles, and spices travel; how they link families, histories, and empires; how they show up in the dishes we make today. Read here - https://loom.ly/f0DbOeA

Nuclear Diplomacy, Instability and the Survival of the Islamic Republic - join us for this online panel discussion with Prof Ali Ansari, Dr Banafsheh Keynoush and Holly Dagres, moderated by Sir Richard Dalton on 23 October 2025 at 14.00 BST. Find out more and register here https://loom.ly/0HWCFK4

Unfamiliar Asia - Tet Trung Thu 🌙 Although mid-autumn festivals originated in China, they are now celebrated across Asia with each country having developed its own traditions and legends. Find out more here - https://loom.ly/uJQdlAM #vietnam

As Donald Trump continues to disrupt geopolitics, little attention has been paid to #Pakistan's development of ICBMs with the aid of #China and what implications this could have for regional and international security. Marcus Andreopolous explains here - https://loom.ly/zaNJIRc

From Geo- to Astropolitics: How Taiwan Builds Outer Space Missions Amid Geopolitical Tensions - join us for this online lecture with 2024 RSAA Travel Award recipient Yi-Ting Chang, guest hosted by Sze Miller, on 1 October 2025 at 14.00 BST. Register here https://loom.ly/c7TDfnw

Yesterday, the RSAA held its annual Hugh Leach Memorial Lecture in which Sir William Patey KCMG LLD discussed continuity and change across the Middle East. If you were unable to make it you can view a recording of the lecture on our YouTube channel - https://loom.ly/psHpDV4

Last week's online lecture saw Christopher Wilton-Steer, Global Lead for Communications at the Aga Khan Foundation take us on a photographic journey along the Silk Road. If you were unable to make it, you can access the recording on our YouTube channel - https://loom.ly/sIPEoLI

#Brunei is an overlooked country, rarely covered by international media and little studied in the West. Kathrina Mohd Daud and Ampuan Brahim bin Ampuan Tengah explore Brunei's literary traditions and their impact on nation, culture and identity. Read here https://loom.ly/nNk7rD4

Unfamiliar Asia - Nomad 2025 International Film Festival 🎥 Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Central Asia has seen a boom in independent film making and artistic expression. Find out more here - https://loom.ly/HBguuQw #centralasia #kyrgyzstan

What has led to K-pop becoming a global phenomenon and what does it mean for East Asian cultural influence around the world? Adonis Li explains the rise of K-pop and its implications. Read here - https://loom.ly/kBJ-cRg

From Geo- to Astropolitics: How Taiwan Builds Outer Space Missions Amid Geopolitical Tensions - join us for this online lecture with 2024 RSAA Travel Award recipient Yi-Ting Chang, guest hosted by Sze Miller, on 1 October 2025 at 14.00 BST. Register here https://loom.ly/c7TDfnw

Yesterday's Reading Room event saw Sam Dalrymple in conversation with Sophie Ibbotson about his new book Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia. If you were unable to make it, you can access the recording on our YouTube channel - https://loom.ly/kH3CeLk

Across the world, cultural heritage and traditional art forms are being squeezed by popular culture. Joe Luc Barnes explains how #Krygyzstan is trying to buck this trend with its inaugural Festival of Traditional Culture and Music: Ruh-Sanat. Read here - https://loom.ly/7-pfIZs

The Hugh Leach Memorial Lecture 2025 - Middle East: Continuity or Change? Join us for this hybrid lecture with Sir William Patey KCMG LLD on 25 September 2025 at 14.00 BST. Find out more and register here - https://loom.ly/sOL8OYc

Alexander Osipov of the Karelian Institute at the University of Eastern Finland explores the vexed meanings of ‘decolonisation’ in Central Asia - what is authentic? Read here - https://doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2025.2458768

Syeda Zakia Ahsan pays a warm tribute to her father, the oft-jailed Bengali Indian politician Syed Badrudduja. Read here - https://doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2025.2489272

Alfin Febrian Basundoro of The Australian National University & Trystanto Sanjaya of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs look at Indonesia’s strange navy. Read here - https://doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2025.2500635

#SriLanka is a paradoxical island with a complex history, dynamic natural environment and remarkable people. Razeen Sally provides an insight into the story of this country through his own travels and family history. Read here - https://loom.ly/n7-ePYQ

Hersh A Hama Karim of the University of Sulaymaniyah & Matthew Walker examine the rival intelligence services of Iraqi Kurdistan. Read here - https://doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2025.2486356

Paul Chambers & Watcharapol Supajakwattana of Naresuan University expose the ’big man’ politics of Thailand’s ‘Lower North’ region. Read here - https://doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2025.2482793

Buddha Dev Biswas of Karnataka State Law University finds out why some Bengalis who had adopted higher caste identities are now trying to reclaim their origins. Read here - https://doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2025.2482790

Nisrine Abiad of the Dubai Campus of Saint Joseph University of Beirut argues that the UAE’s federal parliament is slowly acquiring a more democratic and representative role. Read here -https://doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2025.2484332

Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia - join us for this online Reading Room discussion with author Sam Dalrymple, hosted by Sophie Ibbotson on 15 September 2025 at 18:30 BST. Find out more and register for free here - https://loom.ly/9DwTh6Q

Philip Reid of The Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research asks whether Tajikistan in Central Asia can live up to its much-hyped role as a strategic bridge between China and Iran. Read here - https://doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2025.2480278