With their stable voting blocs, Shas and United Torah Judaism have been key allies for Netanyahu. However, the row over conscription for Yeshiva students has changed the equation. Meanwhile, a (minority) reformist religious faction is also on the ballot with a woman as a leading candidate.
Discontent with the institutions in India continues to grow following the arrests of leaders of the “cockroach” movement. According to Jesuit Father Sebasti L. Raj of the Indian Social Institute, the success of the mobilisation hinges on remaining independent of political parties and being open to different religious and cultural communities.
Human rights organisations report that families are avoiding nutritious meals due to high costs, a consequence of rising inflation, which is affected by agricultural imports and high fuel prices. For the CEED, food security requires healthy ecosystems, while CenPEG stresses that food is a human necessity, not just a commodity.
Today’s headlines: Trump opens the door to a possible trilateral meeting with Putin and Xi on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen; Two years into Prabowo’s term, Jakarta deploys 9,000 officers to curb protests; Bangladesh not informed of the execution of two citizens in Saudi Arabia; Gaza: 500 trained in Morocco for the Stabilisation Force (ISF).
While 51 per cent of South Koreans claim no religious affiliation, the sacred is still present in many aspects of life. While Buddhism faces a crisis in a society, the social role of Confucianism persists amid the rise of new religious movements (along with the tensions they bring). Among the various religions, Christianity, all denominations included, now make up 31 per cent of the population.
Another disturbing incident in the state of Chhattisgarh. A parish in an area inhabited by the Kodaku ethnic group has been forced to postpone the ordination ceremony because the authorities are demanding documents regarding the conversion of the deacon’s family, which took place in 1995. Meanwhile, signs have been put up outside churches restricting entry to Christians only.
The government wants to prevent the pro-Tehran movement from becoming involved in the regional conflict; concerns mount over the new front between the Houthis and Riyadh in Yemen. Attention is focused on the elections in Israel and the US. Washington is pressing for dialogue between the Lebanese and Israeli armies as UNIFIL’s mandate draws to a close.
The Japanese MMX mission is designed to bring samples from one of Mars’ moons back to Earth by 2031, the same year that materials collected on the moon by China’s Tianwen-3 mission are also expected to return. India and South Korea are investing in new technologies, infrastructure, and satellites. The commercial importance of space is growing.
In the final statement of their synod, the first held in Rome since the appointment of the new patriarch, Chaldean Bishops issued an appeal to young people to play an active role in their country. Meanwhile, from Jerusalem, patriarchs and heads of the Churches have condemned the escalating attacks in Taybeh.
The city-state is preparing to launch a ferry service for scattering ashes at sea from the second half of 2027. However, Church doctrine requires that cremated remains be preserved and buried with dignity. The issue of space in the face of rising death rates.
Whilst Washington continues to talk of mediation, attacks on ships are intensifying, even in the territorial waters of third countries, along a route that is vital for wheat supplies to many parts of the world. There is a push to involve India, Egypt and Turkey in a negotiated solution.
The Sri Lankan government is set to develop a unified regulatory framework over the 2026–2028 period, covering structural and fire safety, sustainability, and building accessibility. The goal is to harmonise local conditions with international standards and boost resilience against floods, landslides, and high winds.
While the overall population continues to decline, the Japanese capital saw a slight reversal. In 2025, 857 more births were reported than in the previous year. Initiatives under consideration include AI-powered matchmaking services and a programme that encourages couples to share their wedding pictures on social media.
The Italian Ambassador to Syria presented the religious sister with an award for her long service at Saint-Louis Hospital. She dedicatedthe recognitionto the sick and the poor shemetover more than half a century.For her,“Syria has become my second homeland,”
Ignatius Ding Zuyao, a priest born in 1986, was consecrated this morning in Jiangsu province under the terms of the agreement with the Holy See. This diocese saw Bishop Shen Bin moved (by the Communist Party) to Shanghai. Ding becomes the youngest bishop in the world, confirming a clear trend in episcopal appointments in China.
Fires burning for weeks have worsened air pollution in Malaysia and Singapore. While Malaysia has called for greater regional coordination, ASEAN agreements remain contingent on the willingness of individual states to cooperate.
Bishop Ri Iong-Hoon, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, spoke to AsiaNews from Rome, where he is taking part in a gathering convened by Pope Leo XIV, about the challenges facing families in his country. In his view, “the Church should not simply tell young people to marry and have children. We must first listen to their hopes, fears,” while the family and children should be seen “as a subject of evangelization.”
Following Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei may also welcome the Myanmar leader. Meanwhile, the US has initiated direct talks with Myanmar, which is keen to gain international legitimacy.
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