South Asia

In Pakistan-administered Kashmir, protests during local elections have left at least 40 dead. On the Indian side, New Delhi has stepped up arrests and security operations following the killing of a police officer. These two crises confirm that the region remains the flashpoint between India and Pakistan.

The police have cleared the protest camp set up by tribal communities who had been protesting for weeks against India’s first major river interconnection project. Whilst the government defends the project, which is intended to provide irrigation and energy to arid areas, environmentalists and local residents are denouncing forced evictions and environmental risks.

In 2026 alone, there have been over 76,000 cases, with numbers rising following the south-west monsoon. Fifty-six deaths linked to the disease – first recorded in 1962 – have been reported. The country is using military drones to identify mosquito breeding sites. Experts tell AsiaNews: “Peaks show a clear seasonal pattern”.

Following police violence against Cockroach Janta Party protesters, the auxiliary bishop of Bombay calls for an independent inquiry and accountability from the Narendra Modi-led government. For him, “democracies are not weakened by peaceful dissent.”

The movement born on social media after the public exam scandal continues to bring thousands of young people to the streets despite clashes with the police. Calls for reform of a system perceived as increasingly less meritocratic and the support of various figures now mark a new phase of protest.

The memorandum of understanding is part of a post-cyclone reconstruction aid package. Some 600 million rupees (about US$ 1.8 million) will go to Deniyaya Hospital for cutting-edge equipment in several critical areas. Healthcare cooperation is a fundamental pillar of the partnership between the two countries.

The national football team’s victory in the final against Argentina in New York provided an opportunity for many parishes to rediscover the Iberian missionary tradition, which has given rise to numerous educational institutions in India and still maintains a significant presence there. It is no coincidence that Kerala is the football capital of India.

  For the first time since 2021, an armed group seized a district administration, albeit for a few hours. The attack also had to do with control over precious mineral resources, internal tensions within the Taliban, and growing discontent in northeastern Afghanistan.

In the first half of 2026, 8,105 new cases were filed regarding divorce, marriage annulment, and child support, bringing the total pending cases to 16,000. The increase reflects reforms for minorities, marriages of choice, and tensions related to the use of social media like TikTok. The Church insists on support and counselling before legal action.

Pakistan's Supreme Court has overturned the last convictions for one of the most serious incidents of religiously motivated violence in Lahore. The Christian couple was shot to death in 2014 in the brick kiln where they worked. For lawyer Shawaiz Javed, the fight for justice continues.

In Kashmir and Punjab, two films bring some controversial moments in Indian history back into the spotlight. The Modi government is struggling to come to terms with the past and the still open wounds of domestic conflicts.

As part of the ‘Act East’ strategy through which Delhi aims to counter China, the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Jakarta was marked by significant agreements. In addition to the sale of BrahMos missiles, the agreement for the joint development of the port at the entrance to the Strait of Malacca strengthens India’s presence on the region’s main trade route.