The agreement on the repair of Soviet-made weapons came into effect this summer. Kabul is now one of the few opportunities for Russia to expand its influence abroad, with Tatarstan serving as a channel for economic and cultural cooperation.
On the eve of the largest Hindu festival, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported at least nine incidents of vandalism and arson between 2 and 23 September. Despite government reassurances and police promises to ensure maximum security, fear is growing among Hindus. This year, more than 33,000 mandaps (temporary pavilions housing idols during the festival) are expected to be set up across the country, nearly 2,000 more than in 2023.
A memorandum from the Union Ministry of the Environment has exempted mining projects from public consultations, reigniting tensions in a state that holds 16 per cent of the country’s uranium reserves. For decades, the Khasi Students' Union has led the movement against mining, speaking out against the risks to human health and to the environment. Local communities are calling for a permanent moratorium, while the Union government intends to pursue its nuclear plans.
Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court scheduled a new hearing on 26 January 2026 after the Singapore-based company responsible for one of the worst environmental disasters in recent history failed to pay the first $250 million instalment of the compensation it ordered.
The Modi government wants to boost nuclear energy production with a new nuclear liability fund to attract investment. The goal is to increase production capacity from the current 8.18 GW to 100 GW by 2047. New Delhi has already opened uranium supply and processing to the private sector, but critical issues remain like high costs, the lack of an independent regulatory authority, and the uncertainties surrounding next-generation modular reactors.
To mark the 50th anniversary of his fashion house, the great Italian designer, who died on 4 September, wanted to create Casa Mariù, a solidarity initiative for educational facilities in some of the poorest areas of the world. Among the eight projects supported are a centre for the disabled in Phrae and two schools in Suihari and Taytay promoted by PIME missionaries and Caritas.
Four civilians die in clashes between protesters and security forces in Leh during rally for statehood and greater protections for tribal communities. A curfew has been imposed, with gatherings, marches, and rallies banned. The government accuses climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, known for his nonviolent protests, of inciting the crowd with “provocative” slogans. The opposition denounces broken promises and calls for sensitive management of the crisis in a region crucial for relations with China.
Bangladesh is celebrating the centenary of the birth of a businessman who remains an inspiration to many in the country. A prominent figure in the Baptist community, he passed away in 2012. During his life, he showed the power of integrity across religious boundaries. His children have taken on his legacy and set up a foundation to carry on his projects and pursue new initiatives, including a mobile clinic providing free healthcare to low-income people in Dhaka.
After 20 years of progress, a recently released World Bank report paints a grim picture: one in four Pakistanis now lives in poverty, with peaks of 42.7 per cent in Balochistan. This is driven by a fragile growth model, based on informal employment, which has left millions of people vulnerable to the crises that have hit the country since 2020. Climate vulnerability, record inflation, and poor public services are exacerbating inequalities.
A price cap on the retail price of rice has triggered economic instability, causing supply shortages. Government moves have failed to solve the crisis. The Consumer Protection Authority has reported difficulties in monitoring and frequent limited results.
An Afghan boy arrived in New Delhi from Kabul hiding in the landing gear of a plane. Indian authorities immediately sent him back. Taliban flatly refuse Trump’s demand for a return of the Bagram Air Base, while ordinary Afghans are still dealing with the effects of a devastating earthquake that struck the country in late August, made worse by cuts to humanitarian aid and new restrictions imposed by the Islamic Emirate.
In an interview with AFP, CEO Shmuel Yoskovitz announced that the Singapore-based company will not pay the first instalment of the $1 billion compensation ordered by the Colombo Supreme Court. "It undermines the principle of limitation of liability on which maritime trade is based. We have already spent $170 million to repair the damage." Sri Lanka had announced criminal proceedings in the event of non-compliance.
A Missionary of the Immaculate Conception originally from Tamil Nadu, aged 46, she assists non-Christians from the Santal indigenous community in northern Bangladesh. Thirty patients a day with skin diseases and pregnancy complications: ‘Serving them is my life's purpose’. Among the difficulties are the relationship with medicines and the use of shamans: ‘They come back to us, thanks to word of mouth.’
Subscribe to the newsletter to receive verified news, analysis and insights from Asian countries every week.
Subscribeto the newsletter
