| VATICAN

Pope Leo XIV met the religious in an audience, together with the Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles, on the occasion of the anniversaries of the two missionary congregations. He recalled the history of the Oblates, founded in 1816 by Saint Eugene de Mazenod in the post‑Revolutionary French context. He highlighted their presence in Europe, Africa, and Asia, which began in 1847 with their arrival in Ceylon. He also emphasized the gift of a “charismatic family and growing interculturality.”

by Dario Salvi

Yesterday, the body created by the US president met for the first time with pledges for funding, and the establishment of an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) with troops from Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania, as well as a Palestinian police force. The first reconstruction projects are set to start in Rafah, but many unresolved issues remain. For Palestinian analyst, it is not just a humanitarian issue.

| 20/02/2026
| GAZA – UNITED STATES

More than half of the members of North Korea’s main decision-making body has been replaced.  Kim Jong-un's loyalists remain central, but some nuclear programme veterans have been removed. The strongman celebrates his “great successes” in the military and economic areas despite sanctions and isolation, reinforced by the axis with Russia. The approach to South Korea remains uncertain.

| 20/02/2026
| NORTH KOREA
by Arundathie Abeysinghe

Less restrictive land use is threatening the 72-year-old structure located in southeast Sri Lanka. Two pillars have been destroyed with five more at risk. Farmers allege favouritism towards a government-affiliated cooperative. For decades, illegal sand mining has generated huge profits.

| 20/02/2026
| SRI LANKA
by Nirmala Carvalho

A ruling has called for a halt to the forced exhumation of the bodies of tribal people who converted to Christianity, which often meets with opposition from villagers. Similar incidents have also occurred in Orissa, where a family was denied burial of their son in the village cemetery.

| 20/02/2026
| INDIAN MANDALA

The skater who brought the Olympic title in women's singles figure skating back to the United States after 20 years is the daughter of a dissident who fled in 1989. In 2022, her family reported “attention” from Chinese agents before the Beijing Games. A story mirroring that of Eileen Gu, the freestyle star who grew up in a California family and chose the People's Republic of China.

| 20/02/2026
| CHINA - UNITED STATES

Today's headlines: two years and eight months added to the prison sentence of a Thai activist accused of violating the lèse-majesté law; Deutsche Welle journalist arrested in Turkey; The ninth Party Congress has begun in North Korea; Mining and oil production decline in Kazakhstan.

| 20/02/2026
| ASIA TODAY
Editor's choices
 
Party leaders urge supporters to refrain from celebrations and pray "for the future of Bangladesh”. Jamaat-e-Islami acknowledges defeat but is "not satisfied" with the electoral process. India, Pakistan, and the United States have reacted. The ...
| 13/02/2026
| BANGLADESH
 
by Dario Salvi
The cardinal who recently left his post in Damascus reflects with AsiaNews on his long service in the country amid the suffering of children and the faces of friends who have disappeared. A nation ‘destroyed and humiliated’ that must find ...
| 13/02/2026
| VATICAN - SYRIA
 
After five years, the landmark trial under the national security law ended. The founder of Apple Daily was charged with conspiracy and sedition. Chief Executive Lee praised the “severe” sentence that brings “relief to all”. Cardinal ...
| 09/02/2026
| HONG KONG – CHINA
 
by Steve Suwannarat
Defying predictions, the Bhumjaithai Party is leading in the seat count by a wide margin. Outgoing Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, a populist businessman who got a boost by the conflict with Cambodia, also won in Pheu Thai strongholds. The reformist ...
| 09/02/2026
| THAILAND
 
With yesterday's landslide victory, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will be able to advance her electoral platform, potentially opening the door to constitutional reform. The prime minister has also proposed cutting consumption taxes and boosting the ...
| 09/02/2026
| JAPAN
 
by Giuseppe Caffulli
The entire area of the ancient city of Samaria north of Nablus has been expropriated and separated from the nearby Palestinian village in the name of promoting only the Jewish period of its history. Meanwhile, the Knesset is discussing the establishment ...
| 09/02/2026
| PALESTINE - ISRAEL
 
The People's Party, heir to Move Forward in the progressive camp, leads the polls for tomorrow's vote in Thailand. But it is taking a more moderate line towards the monarchy and the elite to avoid facing dissolution, as happened to its predec...
| 07/02/2026
| THAILAND
 
by Andrea Ferrario
Despite the tariff war in 2025, China broke through the trillion mark in its trade surplus, 45% of which is now generated in Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America. However, this wealth is not driving domestic consumption, because the fall in producer ...
| 06/02/2026
| CHINA
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”