The state government wants to address an inequality affecting women living in convents, monasteries, and ashrams who lack independent income. The decision is also linked to the case of Sister Ranit, a victim of violence, but it comes on the eve of state elections and will need to be monitored for implementation. Sister Nirmalini, president of the Conference of Religious Women of India, hopes that “this is the beginning for other states to follow”.

Held in three phases between December and January, voting saw the victory of the military-backed party, taking almost all the seats according to the official tally. The outcome was a foregone conclusion, since the main opposition forces were excluded. Meanwhile, ASEAN, under the Philippine presidency, also discussed tensions in the South China Sea.

The examination of the Positio of the Italian Jesuit missionary who lived among tribal people in the 17th century has been completed in Rome. The Diocese of Dipolog received a formal communication from the Vatican yesterday, the anniversary of his martyrdom. Bishop Severo Caermare led a Mass to commemorate the day.

The president of Taiwan wrote to the pontiff in response to the latter’s call for a "disarmed and disarming peace” in his message of 1 January. A century ago, Chiang Wei-shui promoted nonviolence in Taiwan. The island, the world's largest semiconductor producer, shares the pontiff’s concern for growing use of artificial intelligence in armed conflicts.

During this period of global instability, the precious metal has broken all records. But this surge is particularly pronounced in India, where women hold the largest share of this safe asset as a guarantee of financial security in marriage. Together, they hold an estimated 11 per cent of the world's gold. Rising jewellery prices, however, are also changing market habits.

An investigation has been launched into a warehouse accused of producing powder mixed with soybeans in Lam Dong province. The product is destined for the domestic market. Vietnam is a leader in exports of the Robusta variety, which is experiencing a boom in sales on international markets: in the first 15 days of 2026 alone, there was an increase of over 20% in sales volumes.