| PHILIPPINES

Between 31 December and 10 January, the rites of the novena and the Traslación, the procession of the venerated statue in the Quiapo district of Manila. It was the longest procession ever, lasting over 30 hours. Devotee tells AsiaNews: ‘The huge crowd strengthens my faith.’ Bishop Rufino Sescon Jr. against corruption: ‘Humble yourselves for the sake of mercy.’

by Renato Dean D’Costa*

In a new episode of AsiaNews' reportage, the personal story of faith of the communications officer of the Vicariate of Northern Arabia: from Goa to Bahrain, a journey that has not been without challenges and difficulties, but which has also been a ‘grace’ and a “gift” to ‘bear witness to others’. And the hope of ‘remaining rooted in my Christian identity in this land of Arabia’.

 

| 11/01/2026
| ECCLESIA IN ASIA
by Mathias Hariyadi

Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and an associate are under investigation for the management of additional quotas granted to Indonesia for the 2024 Hajj. They allegedly favoured special pilgrims at the expense of regular ones, causing estimated state losses of million. Assets have been seized and potential illicit flows are under investigation.

| 10/01/2026
| INDONESIA
by Andrea Ferrario

The South Korean president's trip to China marked a significant diplomatic rapprochement between Seoul and Beijing after years of frostiness, but leaves fundamental strategic issues unresolved. Despite attempts to engage on the Pyongyang dossier, the Chinese government avoids any reference to denuclearisation. Economic agreements signed by Korean conglomerates on rare earths and strategic minerals

| 10/01/2026
| CHINA - SOUTH KOREA
by Nirmala Carvalho

India has criticised a message of solidarity sent by the mayor of New York (of Indian origin) to the former researcher detained since 2020 for the Delhi riots. Respect for the independence of the judiciary emphasised. International organisations and legislators denounce the prolonged detention and call for a fair trial. Amnesty International: ‘Derailment of justice’.

| 10/01/2026
| INDIA - UNITED STATES

Today's headlines: Indonesia blocks Grok chatbox due to risks of AI-generated pornographic content; Report says Jeju Air fatal plane crash in South Korea could have been avoided without concrete barriers near the runway; Malaysia's unemployment rate lowest in 11 years; Israel carries out 20 raids in Lebanon.

| 10/01/2026
| ASIA TODAY
by Stefano Caprio

The “Donroe doctrine”, as enunciated by Trump, now corresponds perfectly with the principles of Putin's Russkij Mir: both the US and Russia assess the countries within their sphere of influence, be it the American double continent or the former Soviet Eurasian space, as countries to be controlled, conquered, invaded and exploited.

| 10/01/2026
| RUSSIAN WORLD
Editor's choices
 
The 'Yesterday’ project, which reports from abroad on protests in China, selected the 10 most significant collective initiatives of the past year, offering a snapshot of activism in China. It features “unsung heroes” who together ...
| 08/01/2026
| RED LANTERNS
 
The year begins with elections in Bangladesh, Thailand and Nepal, but also with the Vietnamese Communist Party Congress. The Philippines will hold the rotating presidency of ASEAN, while Shenzhen will host the APEC summit. Japan will host the 20th edition ...
| 01/01/2026
| ASIA
 
The list includes Japan's first female prime minister, Nepal's Generation Z, and Field Marshal Munir in Pakistan. We also have Zohran Mamdani, who today speaks to India from his post as mayor of New York; Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul, ...
| 31/12/2025
| THE YEAR THAT IS ENDING
 
by Gianni Criveller
The editorial director of AsiaNews offers his best wishes to “those who oppose war and division, who pay with prison for their fidelity to their ideals, who dedicate themselves for the least. Even in the huge continent where His disciples are few, ...
| 24/12/2025
| ASIANEWS
 
This is a time to see the lights everywhere in the city and hear questions from young Chinese about the "exotic festival" from the West. Local Catholics show a surprising ability to combine mass culture and evangelisation. “I like to think it is ...
| 23/12/2025
| CHINA
 
by fr. Gabriel Romanelli
The parish priest of the Holy Family shares a video testimony of these days of Advent with AsiaNews. Life has ‘slightly improved’ after the ceasefire, but the war ‘continues’. The humanitarian emergency remains current in a climate ...
| 17/12/2025
| ISRAEL - PALESTINE
 
After five years in prison and a one-sided trial lasting 156 hearings, the “exemplary” sentence was handed down today to the Catholic entrepreneur, publisher of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily. The sentence has yet to be determined, ...
| 15/12/2025
| HONG KONG
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”