South Asia

by Sumon Corraya | BANGLADESH

The decision not to recruit music and phys ed teachers comes in for harsh criticism. For a choir director, it “is like removing a part of our humanity.” Human Rights Forum Bangladesh urges politicians to resist “unreasonable demands." Youth protests at the capital's university. Student told AsiaNews that “an entire generation” is “at risk of cultural impoverishment.”

by Maria Casadei

The Indian government wants to introduce strict rules on content generated by artificial intelligence, such as deepfakes. The measure aims to combat abuse and disinformation, but raises serious concerns about privacy and freedom of expression. Critics and legal experts warn that the obligation to label and track content could turn into a tool for digital surveillance.

| 31/10/2025
| INDIAN MANDALA
by Sumon Corraya

A group of Christian community leaders met with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) - widely favoured with the exclusion of the Awami League - calling for inclusive and fair lists. Secretary Alamgir reassures them about a ‘non-sectarian’ country and reforms to protect minorities. Civil society calls for reserved seats for indigenous communities and gender parity. The European Union pledges €4 million for a transparent democratic process.

| 30/10/2025
| BANGLADESH
by Arundathie Abeysinghe

According to CBSL data, declared exports of precious stones in 2024 were less than £382 million. However, the value is much higher for unaccounted exports and clandestine trade. The main destinations are Hong Kong, Thailand and Dubai. Experts find it difficult to intervene because those responsible ‘enjoy political protection’.

| 29/10/2025
| SRI LANKA
by Nirmala Carvalho

The place of worship, dedicated to St Joseph, is located in the village of Munpi, a remote area in the Singngat region. A Catholic couple from Goa made a significant contribution to its construction. The inauguration was presided over by the Archbishop Emeritus of Imphal. For the prelate, the church ‘will contribute to their healing, their relief and their sense of stability’.

| 29/10/2025
| INDIA
by Melani Manel Perera

For more than a year, a shipment of Tamil translations of the Islamic holy text from a Saudi foundation has been blocked in a container. The detention was reportedly requested by an official from the Ministry of Defence. Muslim MPs: ‘Discrimination on religious and linguistic grounds’.

| 27/10/2025
| SRI LANKA
by Nirmala Carvalho

The 2021 legislation, which imposes up to 10 years for converting to another faith, has come under scrutiny. Some of the law’s provisions violate personal rights and privacy. For the bishop of Lucknow, the rulings are a “welcome relief and a sign of hope for the Christian community”, but all "unconstitutional" provisions must be struck down.

| 25/10/2025
| INDIA
Editor's choices
 
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| 06/11/2025
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| 05/11/2025
| INDIA – UNITED STATES
 
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| 04/11/2025
| NEPAL
 
Chinese language teaching is increasingly about memorising and repeating sounds and signs, without the meditative beauty that underlies the language. Pronunciation is not a relevant variable in a codified system of linguistic levels since listening is ...
| 03/11/2025
| CHINA
 
by Andrea Ferrario
Informal employment is exploding in North Korea because of a drop in orders from China and lower wages. Tensions are also rising among the workers Kim supplies to China, fuelled by ever-increasing deductions from their wages to ensure revenue for the ...
| 30/10/2025
| NORTH KOREA
 
by Sarah Bernstein*
Sarah Bernstein, executive director of the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue in Jerusalem, spoke at the Vatican. For her, Nostra Aetate, promulgated by the Second Vatican Council 60 years ago, teaches that dialogue must address the burning realities ...
| 29/10/2025
| VATICAN – ISRAEL
 
by John Ai
Underground Bishop of Zhengding since 1981, he died this morning at the age of 90 in the bishop's residence where he had been confined. After he was jailed during the Cultural Revolution, he was tasked with rebuilding dioceses in several Chinese ...
| 29/10/2025
| CHINA
 
Sebastien Lai spoke to AsiaNews about his father’s ordeal. The 78-year-old Catholic businessman, who fought for democracy in Hong Kong, has been in prison since 2020. Given his poor health as a diabetic, “the fear for his life is very real.” ...
| 25/10/2025
| HONG KONG – ITALY
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”