South Asia

The reuse of contaminated syringes at Valika Hospital has infected scores, with at least 120 testing positive since the scandal broke out in October 2025. Some 78 are children (six of whom have already died). The families' pain is compounded by stigma surrounding the disease.

For Sri Lankan households, air conditioning uses average daily household electricity consumption. In a country hard hit by climate change, even fans are rarely used because of the high costs.

The conviction of two former Nepali ministers involved in refugee status fraud puts the spotlight back on Lhotshampa expelled from Bhutan in the 1990s. Thousands still live in refugee camps, and with expulsions from the United States, some have become stateless.  

A convent where a chapel and cemetery are under constructions was the object of an intimidatory raid. Although Catholic nuns have all the necessary permits issued by the previous state government, Hindu extremists are demanding the immediate demolition of both chapel and cemetery. With the BJP's victory in the state elections, attacks and intimidation against Christians are up.

Following the killing of a man, 14 residents of Jaitun Para have been arrested. The families, deprived of their sole source of income, are facing a severe economic crisis on top of the legal proceedings.

The Kumey River in Arunachal Pradesh submerged many buildings in Parsi Parlo parish, severely damaging the rectory, convent, and school. For Bishop Benny Varghese, “The Word is life- it withstands every trial and continues to bring hope, even in the darkest moments.” Rescue and recovery operations are underway.

Construction work has begun in Puttalam, at an archaeological site rich in valuable plant and animal remains dating back to the Miocene epoch, millions of years ago. A venue dedicated to education and research, but also an opportunity for economic development in Sri Lanka’s North-Western Province.

An alleged fraud estimated at 11.6 billion rupees has been uncovered in Madhya Pradesh, linked to a government programme that encourages the production of ethanol to blend with petrol. But the case also reopens the debate on the appropriateness of using grains for biofuels while millions of Indians depend on food aid.

In Baldia Town, the intervention of religious leaders, students and the police protected a Christian family at the centre of (as yet unproven) allegations of desecrating the Qur’an. Respect for the investigation was called for, and Friday sermons emphasised religious brotherhood. The Justice and Peace Commission told AsiaNews: “An important gesture”.

With the passing of the Women Farmers’ Empowerment Bill, Maharashtra has introduced legislation guaranteeing equal access to financial support and public services for millions of women workers. Until now, they had been excluded because they did not own the land and were considered labourers.

Buddhist monks and farm workers are taking to the fields to defend the rights of livestock farmers in the disputed area of the Eastern Province. The land has come under the scrutiny of rice farmers. In 1974, the area was designated a ‘grazing area’, partly to ensure the balance of the ecosystem. Converting the land would also deprive elephants of their habitat, raising the risk of attacks on villages.

Thousands of people took to the streets to demand the postponement of the 2027 census until the National Register of Citizens is updated. For the majority Meitei, this is a tool against illegal immigration from Myanmar, while for the Kuki-Zo minority, it risks becoming a means of political and social exclusion. The ethnic conflict that broke out in 2023 remains unresolved, exacerbated by competition for land and cross-border routes.