South East Asia

To reduce dependence on China, India has initiated direct contacts with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). The Indian Ministry of Mines has engaged state-owned IREL and Midwest Advanced Materials, a private firm, to explore potential large-scale exports from Myanmar. Meanwhile, India’s government has decided to exempt mining projects from mandatory public consultations, effectively excluding local communities from vetting mining projects.

The government, through the Ministry of Finance, has allocated more than $12 billion to five credit institutions. The funds will be provided through a ‘demand deposit’ scheme and will also apply to Islamic finance. Scepticism and doubts about the real effectiveness, the logic of the measure and the real impact on the economy.

In Dili, hundreds of thousands celebrated the first anniversary of their meeting with Pope Francis, on his 45th apostolic journey outside of Italy. In Indonesia, currently shaken by violent social tensions, local bishops call for “repentance” and “listening”. In Singapore, the archdiocese launched its 2025-2035 Pastoral Plan inspired by synodality.

The People's Party has conditioned its support on the rewriting of the rules that led to the judicial liquidation of the election winners. But the Constitutional Court has already intervened, arguing that a referendum is first needed in which the popular vote gives a mandate to begin discussing changes. The assumption is that it will be held together with the general elections promised within four months.

The president has set up an independent three-member body to vet dodgy flood prevention projects of the past 10 years. The Conference of Superiors of the Philippines warns that corruption deprives youth of an education, favours the neglect of the sick, and traps millions in poverty.

The city of Denpasar and other districts have been affected, with significant damage to numerous buildings. No foreign tourists involved. State of emergency declared for one week.

During the night, a drone attacked one of the boats off the coast of Tunisia. Suspicions point to Israel. A dozen Asian countries have joined the international initiative of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a symbol of “resilience” as its name suggests in Arabic. Filipino activist: it is important to show “our solidarity”.

State authorities have ordered an investigation into a viral video featuring allegedly supernatural elements during a traditional dance performance in Batu Pahat. Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi reiterated the ban on superstition and rituals contrary to Islamic law, calling on religious authorities and local communities to ensure the purity of the Muslim faith.

The Thai parliament's green light for the new prime minister after the judicial intervention on Paetongtarn Shinawatra replicated a pattern seen many times in Bangkok: the alliance between parties that are apparently irreconcilable in their programmes and leaders to oust their opponent. But the People's Party wants new elections within four months and the amendment of the Constitution used to undermine its electoral success in 2023.

The canonisation of the young man who lived between 1991 and 2006 and used the internet to spread the faith will take place tomorrow in St Peter's, together with Piergiorgio Frassati. Some of his relics are also travelling to Asian countries, where his peers are getting to know him. A ‘great message of hope’ for young Koreans preparing for the next World Youth Day. In Bangkok, young people say: ‘He is one of us.’ A new seminary named after him in Laos.

In an interview with the British newspaper The Independent, he revealed that his mother has asked to be examined by an outside doctor due to the worsening of her condition. Arrested several times since 1988, she has been held in a secret location for more than four years since the coup on 1 February 2021 that swept away democracy in Myanmar. Meanwhile, the generals are organising “their” elections in December.

Tomorrow, the conservatives of Bhumjaithai will attempt to elect a minority government with the conditional and temporary support of the reformists, who won the 2023 elections but were then excluded from the unprecedented alliance between populists and pro-military forces, which was swept away by the conflict with Cambodia. Even the Shinawatra family, after yet another judicial ouster, are now courting the heirs of Move Forward. The army: ‘We will support any government, but we will guarantee stability.’