South Asia

| INDIAN MANDALA

The first round of the legislative elections, held yesterday, was marred by controversy over the revised electoral rolls, which excluded millions of voters, mostly Muslims. The central and state governments have blamed each other, while those most affected belong to vulnerable groups.

 

by Maria Casadei

The measure, adopted a few days before the anniversary of the Pahalgam massacre, targets institutions run by the Islamist organisation banned in 2019. The move is part of a broader security strategy launched by Delhi following the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy, but has drawn criticism for its potential repercussions on the education system and for violations of minority rights.

| 22/04/2026
| INDIA
by Sumon Corraya

On Sunday, a mob attacked Sanka Christian Para, a tribal village, injuring six. The raid stemmed from ongoing tensions over land claimed by Rezaul Islam. Catholics in the area, where PIME missionaries were the first to proclaim the Gospel in 1965, have appealed to the authorities for help and protection.

| 21/04/2026
| BANGLADESH

According to a study by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the region is rapidly aging. The declining workforce and the spread of the informal economy risk accentuating existing inequalities. But greater investment in care services could create millions of jobs and new opportunities for inclusive development.

| 21/04/2026
| ASIA-PACIFIC

Bangladesh’s energy crisis, caused by the war in the Middle East and heavy dependence on imported oil and gas, is jeopardising the operation of data centres, which are crucial to the local telecommunications network. Fuel supplies are low, and operators warn that potential blackouts could disrupt calls, Internet, and text messaging across much of the country.

 

| 20/04/2026
| BANGLADESH
by Arundathie Abeysinghe

A shortfall of 13.2 billion rupees has emerged, caused by staff within the bank. Criticism of the oversight system, with CEO Kelum Edirisinghe also under scrutiny. Analysts and experts describe it as a “failure” in “supervision”. A case reminiscent of similar instances of malpractice that have occurred in the past.

| 20/04/2026
| SRI LANKA
by Nirmala Carvalho

A rare defeat for Modi in Parliament: Bill to reserve 33% of Lok Sabha seats for women in the 2029 elections rejected. The opposition, led by Rahul Gandhi, rejected the bill, denouncing ‘gerrymandering’: the increase in seats to 850 and the redrawing of constituencies based on 2011 census data would have favoured the North at the expense of southern states.Delhi: The constitutional amendment on women and political manoeuvring

| 18/04/2026
| INDIA
Editor's choices
 
The initiative was launched in Washington with the support of UNCTAD, whilst the global problem continues to grow, with as many as 54 countries spending more on debt interest payments than on healthcare and education for their citizens. Caritas Internationalis: ...
| 17/04/2026
| ASIA - WORLD
 
In light of the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, Singapore has drawn attention to ‘chokepoints’, starting with the Strait of Malacca, through which nearly a third of the world’s oil and the majority of global trade passes. The “Malacca ...
| 16/04/2026
| SINGAPORE
 
by Dario Salvi
From Beirut, Oumayma Farah describes a country at risk of being overwhelmed by the conflict. The displacement crisis is a priority, with only a small fraction of people being accommodated in shelters. Schools are being used as makeshift shelters, putting ...
| 14/04/2026
| GATEWAY TO THE EAST
 
The President of the National Assembly in Hanoi presented the Pope with a letter from the President, who is now firmly at the helm of power in Vietnam. It was precisely internal disagreements over the local political balance of power that had slowed ...
| 13/04/2026
| VIETNAM - VATICAN
 
by Gregory
A military-dominated government was approved today following elections deemed a sham by the international community. But while General Min Aung Hlaing consolidates his power by merely changing his clothing, the exiled opposition and the ethnic groups ...
| 09/04/2026
| MYANMAR
 
Talks between Washington and Tehran will take place in Islamabad on Friday after threats of escalation. China has applied pressure, consolidating its influence in the region. Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir has played a crucial role. Uncertainties ...
| 08/04/2026
| PAKISTAN – CHINA
 
The lights of Easter Vigil illuminated a community marked by suffering. After three years, some faithful returned to the Church of Christ the King. It had been occupied by the Myanmar military, forcing the local population to flee. Bishop Celso Ba Shwe ...
| 07/04/2026
| MYANMAR
 
by Alessandra De Poli
In the hills south of Hebron, in the Palestinian village of Umm al-Khair, marked by increasingly frequent Israeli settler attacks, a small music project called Sotna (Our Voice) is trying to carve out some room for normalcy. Two activists, Amalia Kelter ...
| 06/04/2026
| ISRAEL – PALESTINE
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”