by Santosh Digal | PHILIPPINES

The new president of the Bishops' Conference, Msgr. Garcera, opens dialogue with government agencies and with President Marcos himself, against whom two impeachment requests have been filed. The Church is willing to collaborate in monitoring public works, the failure to complete which triggered the crisis. The president of Caritas: ‘Corruption in the country is systemic, and everyone's contribution is needed to respond.’

 

by Melani Manel Perera

Some officers were detained and suspended after Father Milan Priyadarshana was beaten while returning home from an evening service. This morning, the Archdiocese of Colombo organised a silent demonstration against police violence and abuse.

| 27/01/2026
| SRI LANKA

Human rights and religious organisations denounce the increase in xenophobic rhetoric ahead of the 8 February vote. In a joint statement, they call on parties, candidates and the media to condemn hate speech. Criticism of the government's policies Takaichi: ‘We want a society where the human dignity of all is guaranteed’.

| 27/01/2026
| JAPAN

The decision to join UNCLOS comes after 40 years of delays, opening a new front with Thailand over the disputed oil fields off Koh Kood Island. In 2001, then Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra signed an agreement with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen, for joint exploitation, but this never materialised and is now contested by Bangkok. The issue ties in with the 2016 arbitration on China’s "nine-dash line” with which Beijing claims most of the South China Sea.

| 27/01/2026
| CAMBODIA – THAILAND – CHINA

After years of negotiations, the conclusion of a comprehensive trade agreement has been announced, which reduces tariffs, facilitates trade and investment, and strengthens strategic cooperation, including in the areas of security and defence. The deal follows increased tensions with the United States and competition with China. For New Delhi, the move reinforces the idea of ​​India at the centre of the economic and geopolitical balance between the West and the Global South.

| 27/01/2026
| INDIA
by Mathias Hariyadi

Prayers, thanksgiving and a traditional kethoprak performance marked the celebrations for the archbishop's half-century of priesthood. A tribute to local culture and a profound reflection on the mission of a pastor. The Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs was also present, along with hundreds of faithful.

| 27/01/2026
| INDONESIA
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Prime Minister Kobakhidze declares himself ‘available at any time for discussions with members of the pro-Western opposition’. But these same forces, which do not recognise the legitimacy of his government, remind him of their leaders in prison and the approval of the law against ‘foreign agents’. Meanwhile, Tbilisi is cut off from trade agreements between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

| 27/01/2026
| GEORGIA
Editor's choices
 
The decision to join UNCLOS comes after 40 years of delays, opening a new front with Thailand over the disputed oil fields off Koh Kood Island. In 2001, then Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra signed an agreement with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen, for joint ...
| 27/01/2026
| CAMBODIA – THAILAND – CHINA
 
by Nirmala Carvalho
One of India's highest honours was bestowed upon the Mumbai neonatologist who drastically cut infant mortality. Founder of India's first milk bank, she also put her work in the service of women in the city slums. Many times, “I have felt ...
| 26/01/2026
| INDIA
 
by Father Will Conquer*
From Sihanoukville, a missionary talks about the many ambiguities behind the high-profile operations and arrests targeting the local scam farm system. With so much hypocrisy, he sees “silent complicity” and “utter abdication of responsibility.” ...
| 20/01/2026
| CAMBODIA
 
From 19 January, the 14th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam will decide the country's leadership until 2031. General Secretary To Lam arrives at the event on the back of strong economic results achieved in 2025, so further centralisation ...
| 16/01/2026
| VIETNAM
 
From Indonesia and Saudi Arabia to Sudan and Libya, Pakistan has expanded defence deals in recent months with JF-17 fighter sales, jointly produced with China that proved ITS versatility during the conflict with India last May. This affordable aircraft ...
| 14/01/2026
| PAKISTAN
 
The 'Yesterday’ project, which reports from abroad on protests in China, selected the 10 most significant collective initiatives of the past year, offering a snapshot of activism in China. It features “unsung heroes” who together ...
| 08/01/2026
| RED LANTERNS
 
The year begins with elections in Bangladesh, Thailand and Nepal, but also with the Vietnamese Communist Party Congress. The Philippines will hold the rotating presidency of ASEAN, while Shenzhen will host the APEC summit. Japan will host the 20th edition ...
| 01/01/2026
| ASIA
 
The list includes Japan's first female prime minister, Nepal's Generation Z, and Field Marshal Munir in Pakistan. We also have Zohran Mamdani, who today speaks to India from his post as mayor of New York; Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul, ...
| 31/12/2025
| THE YEAR THAT IS ENDING
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”